Oct 30, 2024 Commission Meeting

AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE RABBI MINDY DETER TO, UH, PROVIDE OUR INSPIRATIONAL INVOCATION.

RABBI DETER IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE, WHICH IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, IS A TREMENDOUS ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS, UH, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES.

UH, AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE, UH, THE DEDICATION AND SELFLESSNESS TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING A TREMENDOUS, UH, BIKE RIDE THEY DO ANNUALLY.

ALSO.

CONGRATULATIONS, RABBI, YOU RECENTLY BECAME A CHAPLAIN WITH OUR MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO CONGRATS ON THAT, MATO.

IT'S AN HONOR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR ALMIGHTY.

GOD, WE STAND BEFORE YOU IN PRAYER.

LOOK FAVORABLY UPON THE MAYOR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY, COMMISSIONER OF OUR GREAT CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

WE BESEECH YOU ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD TO EXTEND YOUR GRACE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS OGO BODY AND BESTOW UPON THEM THE JOY OF LIFE, GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

BLESS THESE DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO MAKE LAWS AND DECISIONS FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY.

GRANT THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN THEIR NOBLE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

GUIDE THEM SO THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR PRESENCE AND WILL STRIVE TO ENACT LAWS WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN ATTENDANCE WITH YOUR WILL.

MAY THEY HAVE THE WISDOM TO TURN ADVERSITY INTO OPPORTUNITY AND TO TRANSFORM THE DEMANDING CHALLENGES WE FACE TODAY INTO THE SEAS FROM WHICH WE WILL SPROUT THE GROWTH OF TOMORROW.

MAY OUR CITY SERVE AS A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND WALKS OF LIFE.

MAY MIAMI BEACH HELP ACHIEVE THE GOAL SO POWERFULLY STATED IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SO THAT AMERICA IS TRULY ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN DIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

UM, AT THIS POINT WE'LL DO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR NEW BUILDING DIRECTOR VINCE SEJA TO, UH, TO LEAD US.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE RISE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AMEN.

OKAY, LET'S COMMENCE THE

[R9 C DR. STANLEY SUTNICK CITIZEN'S FORUM. (8:35 A.M./1:00 P.M.)]

SUT HOUR.

AND MITCH, THAT IS VERY, UH, GRACIOUS OF YOU TO ALLOW JOE TO GO BEFORE YOU.

THAT'S, UH, I WAS HERE BEFORE.

OH, YOU WERE FROM HERE BEFORE.

OH, OKAY.

I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT MITCH WAS BEING A NICE GUY.

WELL, HE IS A NICE GUY.

HE IS.

UM, MY NAME IS JOE MANNING.

I'M HERE TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR CONTINUING THE SUT NECK HOUR, WHICH I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO AIR THEIR THANKS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES AND ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP.

WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS, UM, R FIVE AD, WHICH IS THE, UM, THE STREET VENDORS PROPOSAL.

I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I THINK THE STREET VENDORS ADD A GREAT DEAL TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE ON MIAMI BEACH.

I ALSO THINK THERE'S A VERY THIN LINE BETWEEN ARTISTS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND THAT REALLY HAS TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY.

I KNOW ARTISTS, JEWELRY DESIGNERS, THIS IS FROM ONE OF THEM.

I KNOW CINDY VEGA, CHRISTINE KING, WHO ARE JEWELRY DESIGNERS, BUT I ALSO REMEMBER THE GENTLEMAN WHO DID THESE BEAUTIFUL

[00:05:01]

MINIATURES OF OUR ICONIC LIFEGUARD STATIONS YEARS AGO.

HE WAS AN ARTIST, OKAY? HE DIDN'T DESIGN THOSE STATIONS HIMSELF, BUT HE MADE THESE THINGS IN HONOR OF THEM, AND THEY WERE IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN WE HAVE VISITORS TO THE CITY, WE WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TAKE BACK.

YES, THEY TAKE THE PHOTOS, THEY TAKE THE TOURS, THEY ENJOY A WONDERFUL ART DECOR ARCHITECTURE, OUR ENTERTAINMENT, OUR NIGHTLIFE, BUT IT'S SO NICE FOR THEM TO HAVE A SOUVENIR TO TAKE BACK AN AFFORDABLE SOUVENIR.

LET'S FACE IT, GUYS.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO TO ART BASEL AND BUY ROTTING BANANAS OFF A WALL.

I'M MITCH NOVIK.

I ACTUALLY HAD NOT PLANNED TO SPEAK HERE TODAY, BUT I WAS INSPIRED BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ'S EMAIL WHERE SHE ALLUDED TO THE $20 MILLION IN GO BOND MONEY WE HAVE FOR, UH, UH, AVAILABLE.

THAT MONEY IS ONLY PART OF A MONEY GRAB THE UNINSPIRING PLAN THAT WE PAID IN EXCESS OF $650,000 BY A, UH, SOMEONE I CONSIDER A MEDIOCRE PLANNER, UH, ENTAILS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS REDO PHIL PARK.

ALL WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS SPEND THE $5 MILLION AVAILABLE IN GEO PARK, UH, GEO BOND MONIES TO REPLENISH THE PARK WITH PALM TREES AND A FEW SEA GRAPE TREES.

UH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I, I ALLUDED I MENTIONED THE MONEY GRAB.

IF OCEAN DRIVE REMAINS WHERE IT IS, THAT MONEY, UH, LARGELY CAN'T BE TOUCHED.

OCEAN DRIVE IN ITSELF HAS VERY LITTLE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT MONEY IS BY RELOCATING OCEAN DRIVE ATOP THE VESTIGES OF THE ORIGINAL LUMP PLANTATION FROM THE 1870S.

SO I, I WOULD ASK YOU TO FINALLY FOCUS IN ON THAT BOONDOGGLE PARK PLAN AND STOP WASTING OUR MONEY.

AND, UH, ONE OTHER, ON A SIDE NOTE, I'VE BEEN MENTIONING, UH, THE TRAFFIC GATES, UH, FOR THE CLOSURE OF OCEAN DRIVE BETWEEN 13TH AND 14TH PLACE.

UH, WE HAD ANOTHER BREAKAGE OF ONE OF THOSE GATES.

EACH ONE HAS COST US $3,000.

THE LATEST ONE IS, UH, THE OTHER GATE ON 13TH AND OCEAN.

UH, THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD BROKEN GATE IN SIX WEEKS.

GREETINGS COMMISSIONER MAYOR.

MY NAME IS BRENDA JORDAN.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 30 YEARS HERE AT MIAMI BEACH.

I'M AN ARTIST.

I'VE BEEN AN ARTIST PROBABLY LONGER THAN MOST OF YOU WERE BORN.

I HAD A DEVELOPED AN ARTS NONPROFIT CALLED WATA, BRINGING THE FLAVOR OF MY HERITAGE AND CULTURE TO MIAMI BEACH.

I PUT ON SUCCESSFULLY THE YAMAYA OR FESTIVAL, UH, AFRICAN EXTRAVAGANZA, SO MANY THINGS.

SO BEFORE ART BASEL CAME HERE, UM, THERE WAS A MAN WHO RAN THE ARTS COUNCIL, UH, DAVID WHITMAN.

AND HE WAS FAMILIAR SHARING THAT, UM, THAT I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT HE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING THAT HE ONLY HEARD ABOUT IN BRAZIL.

MY POINT IS ART BASEL CAME HERE, HE WENT TO BASEL WITH ANOTHER PERSON AND BROUGHT ART BASEL HERE.

AND THE REASON WHY ART BASEL CAME HERE IS NOT ONLY 'CAUSE OF THE WATER AND THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE, BUT THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

I WORKED AT THE ARTS CENTER OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

I WORKED COUNTYWIDE TEACHING ARTS.

I EVEN HAVE MY OWN ART CAMP HERE ON MIAMI BEACH.

I FEEL THAT THIS PROGRAM FOR THE ARTIST VENDORS WAS SET UP WITHOUT ANY ARTISTS INCLUDED IN DECIDING THE CITY HAS ONE PART OF THE COIN.

THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY COIN.

AND IN ORDER TO HAVE A VIABLE ARTS PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE THE ARTIST.

SUPPOSE I WAS SETTING UP SOMETHING FOR THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL.

HOW COULD I DO THAT WITHOUT INTIMATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED, HOW TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM A VIABLE PROGRAM? NO, I DON'T LIKE TO SEE THE TACKY LITTLE, UH, TABLES SCHLEP WITH A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF.

I'M AN ARTIST.

MY TABLE LOOKS LIKE A GALLERY, AS YOU MENTIONED, CHRISTINE KING, WE KNOW WHO THE REAL ARTISTS ARE, BUT NO ONE CAME TO US.

I SENT A LETTER TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

NOBODY RESPONDED EXCEPT THE MAYOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE GOT MY LETTER.

BUT DID IT GO ANY PLACE? NO, NO ONE GAVE THE RIGHT.

SWEATING, SO I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME.

IF YOU WANNA COME TO MY TABLE, FOLLOW ME OUT TO SEE WHAT I DO.

110 DEGREE WEATHER.

YOU ARE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING OFFICE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

I'M OUTSIDE

[00:10:01]

ANYONE WHO REALLY WANTS TO MAKE A VIABLE PROGRAM NEEDS TO INVOLVE ARTISTS.

IT'S A ARTIST.

VENDOR PROGRAM.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO NOW VIRTUALLY TO ALICIA CASANOVA.

ALICIA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

MY NAME IS ALICIA CASANOVA.

I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MIT BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UM, THE MID BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MBNA APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS OF OUR MAYOR AND OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS ON NUMEROUS EFFORTS THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING THAT WILL MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITY.

WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S, R FIVE J REGARDING CHARTER VESSELS, HOURS OF OPERATION, WHICH WILL SERVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

WE APPRECIATE HIS EFFORTS ON MAKING OUR WATERWAYS SAFER AND QUIETER.

WE ALSO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S REFERRALS TO THE FINANCES AND THE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DIVIDE THE MID BEACH AREA INTO TWO ZONES EAST OF INDIAN CREEK AND WEST OF INDIAN CREEK.

WE SUPPORT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR EFFORTS AND THOSE OF THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE PAINTING THE ENTIRE BIKE LANE ON INDIAN CREEK DRIVE GREEN THROUGHOUT, NOT JUST ON THE CONFLICT POINTS AS ARE CURRENTLY APPROVED BY THE FDOT.

THIS WILL PROMOTE A COHESIVE AND UNINTERRUPTED AESTHETIC LOOK FOR THE BIKE LANE AND MAXIMUM VISIBILITY, WHICH WILL SERVE TO IMPROVE SAFETY.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY ON THE AESTHETICS OF THE JERSEY.

BARRIERS ARE IN ON INDIAN CREEK THAT ARE CURRENTLY AN EYESORE AND ON THE MUCH NEEDED CONTINUOUS PATHWAY.

BOTH OF THESE ARE URGENTLY NEEDED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS VALUABLE AMENITY.

NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

IS THAT ME? YES.

SORRY.

MY NAME IS ROBIN RICE.

MY ADDRESS IS 44 55 NORTH MERIDIAN AVENUE, AND I REPRESENT A GROUP OF HOMEOWNERS ASKING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING ON MERIDIAN AVENUE BETWEEN 42ND AND 47TH STREET.

UM, I'VE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 24 YEARS.

IT'S A VERY BUSY STREET.

I BELIEVE THE SPEED LIMIT'S 25, BUT PEOPLE REGULARLY GO 35, 40 MILES AN HOUR, SOMETIMES THEY PASS EACH OTHER.

UH, THERE ARE FAMILIES WALKING ON THE STREET OFTEN TO GO TO TEMPLE.

THERE ARE CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL AND TO THE PARK ON THEIR SCOOTERS AND BIKES.

UH, IT'S AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

THERE WAS A SPEED BUMP INSTALLED PARTIALLY A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ONE HOMEOWNER OBJECTED TO IT, SO IT WAS NEVER FINISHED.

SO THERE'S A SIGN ON MERIDIAN AVENUE AND THERE'S PAINT ON THE GROUND, BUT THERE'S NO BUMP.

UM, IF YOU COME AND STAND AND WATCH IN RUSH HOUR, YOU'LL SEE HOW FAST THESE PEOPLE GO.

IT IS NUTS.

AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT, I MEAN, WE NEVER LET OUR KIDS OUT IN THE STREET ON THAT STREET FOR ALL OF 18 YEARS BECAUSE OF IT.

SO, UM, WE'VE DONE A SURVEY OF ALL THE HOUSES AROUND WHERE THE BUMP WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

MOST HOUSES ARE IN FAVOR.

THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE NOT, UM, BUT MOST OF US ARE.

SO I'M HERE REPRESENTING THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN FAVOR.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH RETO.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

THAT'S HER GUESS.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES PLEASE.

MY NAME IS LIZ RETO.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

UH, THE BOARD IN 2023, UM, UH, SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE COMMISSION THEN AND SUPPORTS, UM, THIS ITEM.

IT'S ALSO RESOLUTION.

I'M, I'M ADDRESSING RESOLUTION FIVE A, B AND SEVEN J.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER NOT REPEALING THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED AND ALLOWING THE VOTERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TO ONCE AGAIN OPINE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE PARTICIPATION OF MIAMI BEACH ON THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CATS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS HOMELESS SERVICES.

UM, IN NINE 2019, THERE WAS A STUDY, UM, THAT WAS DONE BY THE, UH, COMMITTEE OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT NOTED MIAMI BEACH WAS THE FIFTH LARGEST MUNICIPALITY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS.

UH, WE APPRECIATED THE CITY RECOGNIZING THAT AND, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING AND PROVIDING A GRANT TO THE TUNE OF $125,000.

FOR TWO YEARS, WE'VE MADE GREAT USE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ACTION AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, OF THOSE FUNDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO VICTIMS. WE SUPPORT THE PARTICIPATION OF MIAMI BEACH IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX.

CURRENTLY, WE CANNOT BUILD THE TA, THE TAX GOES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM.

DOMESTIC THANK YOU.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND

[00:15:01]

MY NAME IS JANET FIGARO AND I'M ONE OF THE ARTIST VENDORS HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

I DON'T LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH.

I ACTUALLY LIVE IN WEST PALM BEACH AND I DRIVE ALL THE WAY HERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF EVERY DAY AND BACK HOME TO DO MY ART.

AND I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND, YOU SEE THIS, IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A NECKLACE TO YOU, BUT WHEN YOU GET IT CLOSER TO YOU AND YOU GET A CLOSER LOOK AT IT, YOU SEE THE INTRICACY THAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS.

THIS IS DONE WITH A NEEDLE AND THREAD.

OKAY? IT TAKES HOURS TO DO THIS.

IT TAKES DEDICATION, PATIENCE, LOVE FOR WHAT THE CRAFT THAT YOU DO.

AND IT HAS MEANING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ART IS IMPORTANT.

THEY THINK ART IS ONLY ART.

NO ARTS AND CRAFT BELONGS TOGETHER BECAUSE IN YOUR MIND YOU'RE CREATING THE IDEA, THEN YOU'RE GETTING THE FINDINGS TO MAKE THE IDEA, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CRAFTMANSHIP TO ABLE TO CREATE IT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU.

THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN THE TOURISTS COME HERE AND THEY SEE THIS, THEY SAY, WOW, YOU DID THAT.

AND I SAY, YES, AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE DON'T YOU DO IT IN THE AREA THAT YOU LIVE? I SAID, NO, ONLY MIAMI BEACH HAS THE PERMIT.

THE GIVES US THE PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

AND THEY SAY, WOW, THAT'S GREAT.

THEY TAKE THAT IMPRESSION BACK AND THEY TAKE SOMETHING BACK THAT WE MAKE.

BUT THEY KNOW THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IS BEHIND THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE THIS PROGRAM.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP GOING BECAUSE EVERYBODY, WHEN YOU SAY, OH, THIS ARTIST IS ONLY GONNA KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR LIMITS.

ONE PERSON COULD BE A SIMPLE ARTIST, YOU HAVE A SECOND LEVEL OR MASTER'S LEVEL, AND THEN BEYOND LEVEL.

SO EVERYBODY WORKS AT THEIR OWN RATE AND AT THEIR OWN PACE IN THEIR ART.

IT'S UP TO THE PERSON TO GO TO THE OTHER BEYOND THE LIMIT.

IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE A MAYOR, YOU MIGHT WANNA BE A PRESIDENT.

NOBODY COULD TELL YOU.

DON'T GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

ALRIGHT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SHOW IT TO YOU.

WANT OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS JOHAN MOORE.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

GOOD MORNING, JOHAN MOORE, 7 1 7 JEFFERSON AVENUE.

UH, I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ENTIRELY MUNICIPALLY RELEVANT MUNICIPALLY .

UH, AND I WANT TO SUPPORT A FEW ITEMS ON IT.

UH, ITEM R FIVE AG FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDES, I THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HOUSING EQUITY MEASURE.

90 DAYS TENANT NOTICE OF, UH, OVER 10% RENT INCREASES AND A FEW OTHER, UH, TENANT PROTECTIONS IN THAT I WANNA SUPPORT R SEVEN G, THE WATER TAXI PROPOSAL AS A STEP FORWARD FROM THE FAILED, UH, UM, FERRY SERVICE.

UM, I JUST, UH, CAME ACROSS, UH, C SEVEN AS, UH, WHICH WOULD MANDATE THAT FIRE STATION ONE'S NEW LOCATION NOT IMPACT THE TRACK.

UH, AND I THINK I CAN SAY ON BEHALF OF MY ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALBEIT INFORMALLY, THAT WE ARE VERY HAPPY, UH, IF THAT PASSES AND IF THAT IN FACT PROVES TO BE THE CASE.

UM, LIKEWISE, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BOT FOR C SEVEN A Q TO BUY THE VACANT AND, AND MOSQUITO FILLED, UH, UH, KAPU SITE ON WASHINGTON AVENUE AT 12TH STREET.

AND FINALLY, ON BEHALF OF MY COMMITTEE, UH, IN, UM, UH, EXPRESS, UH, EXPLICIT EXPRESS EXPRESSION OF OUR POSITION, WE REALLY URGE THAT THE TURTLE, UH, ORDINANCES INCLUDE A FINE SCHEDULE.

WE THINK IT'S REALLY, UH, A MINIMUM, UH, EFFORT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SHIELD THE TURTLES ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM THEIR LIGHTS.

UH, AND WE ALSO, UH, WERE NOT HAPPY THAT THE LEGISLATION NOW ONLY APPLIES TO BUILDINGS, COMMON AREAS.

AND I WANT TO CONTRAST THAT IF I HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT, UH, WITH A PIECE OF, UH, AN ITEM THAT WE JUST PASSED THAT WILL COME TO YOU AS AN LTC IF IT HASN'T DONE SO ALREADY URGING THAT RETAIL BUSINESSES WITH THEIR AIR CONDITIONING ON NOT BE COMMITTED.

I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

MY NAME IS TRACY SLAVIN.

MY ADDRESS IS 1900 PURDY AVENUE, APARTMENT 1909 MIAMI BEACH.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A RESIDENT AND AS A VOTER.

I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOTUS HOUSE, UH, A SHELTER THAT PROVIDES OVER 1500 WOMEN AND CHILDREN A YEAR WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SHELTER SERVICES, AND THE ABILITY TO HELP GET

[00:20:01]

THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

I AM COMMITTED TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF RESIDENTS UNITED TO END HOMELESSNESS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESS VICTIMS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY DESERVE THE HELP.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEMS R FIVE A B, AND R SEVEN J.

THE COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY RIGHTFULLY DETERMINED THAT THE 1% FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX TO SUPPORT HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE VOTERS.

NOTWITHSTANDING MY POSITION ON THE ISSUE, AND I, I'M HERE TO STATE MY OBJECTIONS TO THE RECORD FOR THE, ON THIS, FOR THIS COMMISSION, RESCIND THE QUESTION AND REMOVING IT FROM THE BALLOT.

THIS IS A VIOLATION OF OUR CIVIC RIGHTS AND OUR RIGHT TO VOICE OUR RESPECTIVE CHOICES.

IT'S AN ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY.

THE QUESTION WAS PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE, AND THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF USURPING THAT PROCESS.

THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS CRITICAL.

OUR NATION'S SUCCESS DEPENDS ON IT, AND THE VOTERS BEING ASKED THE QUESTION SHOULD BE TRUSTED TO ANSWER IT.

SO WITH THAT, I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE REPERCUSSIONS OF PASSING R SEVEN J TODAY.

IT HAS A TREMENDOUSLY NEGATIVE IMPACT.

IT WILL AFFECT OUR RIGHTS AND IT WILL AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS MHFA MIAMI HOMES.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

MY NAME IS ANNIE LORD.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT MIAMI HOMES FOR ALL.

UM, ADDRESS IS 32 50 SOUTHWEST THIRD AVENUE, MIAMI 3 3 1 2 9.

AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING PROTECTION ORDINANCE, R FIVE AG MIAMI HOMES FOR ALL PROMOTES HOUSING SOLUTIONS IN MIAMI-DADE ADDRESS THE FULL SCALE OF OUR NEEDS.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE FACILITATED, UH, THE EVICTION TASK FORCE, WHICH WAS A CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATIVE THAT PREVENTED EVICTIONS IN REAL TIME BY COORDINATING SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR VULNERABLE TENANTS.

AND WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS, WE LEARNED SOMETHING REALLY INTUITIVE, WHICH IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PREVENT MORE DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS WHEN WE STARTED REACHING OUT PROACTIVELY TO TENANTS EARLIER IN THE EVICTIONS PROCESS.

AND GIVEN THAT MIAMI BEACH IN MIAMI BEACH, 50% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS ARE COST BURDENED OR PAYING MORE THAN THEY CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR, UH, HOUSING COSTS.

MANY MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY AT RISK OF BEING DISPLACED BY RISING RENTS AND POSSIBLY FACING HOMELESSNESS.

UH, WHAT THE HOUSING PROTECTION ORDINANCE COULD DO IS TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND ITS PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT COULD HELP TENANTS WEATHER, RENT INCREASES, AND PREVENT THEIR DISPLACEMENT IN HOMELESSNESS.

SO WE AT MIAMI HOMES FOR ALL HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING IT.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COMMISSIONER IS MY NAME IS MATTHEW ALTOFF AND I LIVE AT 1 25 JEFFERSON AVENUE.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS C FOUR KC FOUR D AND R FIVE Y.

THEY ALL RELATE TO BEACH WALK SAFETY.

MANY OF THESE ITEMS WERE ALSO RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE.

WE SENT THOSE TO YOU ALL IN AN LTC.

MANY THANKS FOR LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING R FIVE Y.

WHILE IN SUPPORT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

A SPEED LIMIT IS A BEST PRACTICE ALONG SHARED USE PATHS AND IS COMMONLY FOUND IN CITIES BOTH BIG AND SMALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S WIDE SUPPORT ON MIAMI BEACH FOR THIS AS WELL.

PLEASE GET THE POLICE ON BOARD.

CHIEF JONES, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS.

I URGE R FIVE Y TO BE EXPANDED, NOT TO JUST INCLUDE SENIORS, BUT EVERYONE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS PETER JAMES FUNG.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS PETER JAMES FUNG.

I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PALMS OF ALTON, 10 25 ALTON ROAD.

I'D LIKE TO URGE THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY TO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND ALSO RESIST ANY ATTEMPT TO TAKE ANY GREEN SPACE AWAY FROM FLAMINGO PARK WITH REGARDS TO BUILDING A FIRE STATION OR BASICALLY ANYTHING INSIDE OF THE PARK.

GREEN SPACES ARE RARE, THEY'RE VALUABLE, AND THEY SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO ENJOY.

WHOEVER WAS, WHOEVER WAS.

[00:25:01]

NEXT CALL.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

UH, KAREN JAMES LUMAN, 15TH AND LENNOX AVENUE.

SO I'M BACK TO ALSO URGE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR TO RECONSIDER THE FLAMINGO PARK LOCATION FOR THE FIRE STATION.

BEEN APPRECIATIVE OF THE DIALOGUE.

TO DATE, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AN OPEN BOOK.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT, UM, NO MATTER HOW THINGS PROCEED, IF CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY STARTS, WE'LL SEE A LARGE PERIOD OF TIME, PERHAPS PERPETUAL IN WHICH THE TRACK AND FOOTBALL STADIUM ARE UNAVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

I FORGIVE MY CYNICISM, BUT THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE OF HOW THESE THINGS GO IN IN MY LIFE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A CONVENIENT LOCATION.

THERE'S NO NEGOTIATION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T APPEAR REALLY DIRECTLY IMPACTED, BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

UM, PEOPLE USE THE STADIUM ARE HUGE IN NUMBER A COUPLE HUNDRED YESTERDAY.

I WAS THERE AS I AM MOST DAYS.

UM, AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

THESE PEOPLE CARRY INSURANCE.

THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BE BIG TRUCKS, MATERIALS MOVING IN AND OUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

YOU OFTEN SEE DELAYS FROM PUBLIC PROJECTS OF THIS NATURE.

SO AGAIN, I'M QUITE SKEPTICAL AND WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO ANOTHER LOCATION.

MATT, WHO'S STANDING NEXT TO ME, HAS PROPOSED A COUPLE.

UM, I WE'RE ALL HAPPY TO HELP IN THE SEARCH IF, UH, I HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME IF THERE'S A REAL MANDATE FROM HEAVEN.

UM, IN ANY CASE, UH, EVERYONE ALSO MENTIONED, UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE MENTIONED IN THE, THE LAST MEETING, UM, EVERYONE WOULD PREFER OUTSIDE THE PARK, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE PARK, THE PARKING AREA, UM, IS PROBABLY MUCH PREFERRED TO THE GREEN SPACE NEAR THE TRACK.

UH, IN THE SENSE THAT THERE'S BEEN PROPOSALS, I THINK FOR A DECADE NOW ON FILE THAT COULD HAVE A NO NET LOSS OF PARKING.

AND IT'S AN AREA WHERE YES, PEOPLE PARK, BUT IT'S NOT AN ACTIVE USE, UH, BY PEOPLE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THEIR FITNESS GOALS, ET CETERA.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

DON'T PUT THE FIRE STATION IN THE PARK.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS DARREN MID DAME STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

UM, YES, UH, NINE 10 JEFFERSON AVENUE.

UM, MIAMI BEACH.

UH, SO I'M AGAINST ALSO BUILDING THE, UH, FIRE STATION, UH, WITHIN THE FLAMINGO PARK.

UM, AND, UM, I BELIEVE, UH, EVEN IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, THERE WILL BE STILL DISRUPTIONS PLUS, UM, THE FACT THAT THERE WILL BE A FIRE STATION, A BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRACK, UH, WHILE WE ARE RUNNING, THERE WILL BE LOTS OF DISRUPTIONS, UH, NOISE THERE, THAT POLLUTION, RIGHT? UM, AND IT'S NOT CONDUCTIVE FOR ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, I WOULD, UM, URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ANY OTHER LOCATION BUT THE, UH, FLAMINGO PARK.

UM, AND, UM, ON A SIDE NOTE, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ENFORCEMENT OF THE, UH, ALSO THE, UH, SMOKING BAN, UH, AT THE BEACH.

UM, I'VE BEEN ACTUALLY TALKING TO VARIOUS LIFEGUARDS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO, UH, THEIR LIFEGUARD JOB.

MEANWHILE, THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING OVER, RIGHT, UH, PEOPLE SMOKING.

UH, I ALWAYS FIND, UM, CIGARETTE BUTTS, UH, IN, AT THE BEACH.

UH, SO I, I'M WONDERING WHO IS ENFORCING IT? THEY SAID, UH, CODE COMPLIANCE SUPPOSED TO GO AROUND AND ENFORCE THAT.

AND, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND ALSO LATE NIGHTS, WE, WE WALK A LOT AT THE BEACH AND, UH, I SEE PEOPLE STILL CAMPING AT THE BEACH, SO I DON'T SEE ANY POLICE PRESENCE ENFORCING LIKE THE NO CAMPING RIGHT, UM, LAW.

SO I THINK THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ENFORCEMENT VERSUS PASSING LAWS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR, GO AHEAD.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS.

WHICH WE STILL REALLY DO.

HI, MATT ROSENBERG PASS, SOUTH BEACH TRACK CLUB AND SAFE FLAMINGO PARK.

THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, TO EACH AND EVERY COMMISSIONER AND YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR ALL THE TIME YOU SPEND AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE EFFORT.

AND AGAIN, UH, NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PREFER NOT TO BE IN THE PARK AS PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE SAYS.

WE REALLY WOULD PREFER THE FIRE STATION BE SOMEWHERE ELSE VERY STRONGLY.

THAT BEING SAID, VERY GRATEFUL FOR COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE C SEVEN AS, UH, IN REGARD TO MAKING SURE THE TRACK WOULDN'T BE MOVED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE THE INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD WORD DEFINITIVELY IN THE TITLE VERSUS IN THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION LANGUAGE AND MOVEMENT OF TRACK VERSUS THE WAY I INTERPRET IT AS AFFECTING THE TRACK.

SO AGAIN, I UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T ABLE TO EMAIL EVERYONE EARLIER THAN I WOULD'VE PREFERRED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE CAN SORT IT OUT TODAY OR MAYBE IN THE FUTURE.

THAT LANGUAGE OF, UH, IF WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE IT ELSEWHERE,

[00:30:01]

AND WE ARE SUBMITTING THE, UH, THE PROPOSALS TO YOU ALL FOR THE WALGREENS LOCATION AS WELL AS THE SOUTH BEACH HEALTH AND SAFETY CORRIDOR, WHICH YOU HAVE FOR EVALUATION FOR OTHER LOCATIONS.

BUT THE ABILITY OF THAT WORDING OF, WE WOULD MUCH PREFER IT NEVER TO AFFECT THE USAGE OF THE TRACK VERSUS UNDO, WHATEVER THAT OTHER WORD WAS, WHICH COULD BE A DAY TO US AND SIX MONTHS TO SOMEBODY ELSE OF UNDUE AFFECTING OF USAGE.

SO, UH, WITH A GREATEST OF RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR KEEPING THE TRACK, WE'D LOVE TO KEEP IT THIS WAY.

WE'D PREFER THE FIRE STATION BE ELSEWHERE.

WE'RE GLAD TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN A VERY FRIENDLY WAY TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND AGAIN, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING.

I KNOW SITTING IN THAT CHAIR IS DIFFERENT THAN STANDING OVER HERE AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE EFFORTS OF MAKING SURE THE TRACK WOULD NOT BE MOVED, AFFECTED OR CLOSED.

AND WE'D LIKE TO, TO NEVER BE CLOSED FOR EVEN CONSTRUCTION.

AND AGAIN, VERY APPRECIATIVE.

AND WHETHER THIS GETS SORTED TODAY ON C SEVEN AS OR A LITTLE BIT LATER, EITHER WAY, VERY APPRECIATIVE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS ALFRED CRIO.

STATE YOUR NAME.

GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ALFRED RIA.

I RESIDE AT 60 39 COLLINS AVENUE.

I'M CALLING ABOUT THE F AND B UH, PROPOSAL.

VOTING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

ALL CITIZENS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN A DEMOCRACY, YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE.

IT SHOULD NOT BE SILENCED.

IS THIS COMMISSION GOING TO BE A BARRIER TO THE BALLOT BOX? VOTING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE FOR ALL THOSE MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS WHO SAY HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A TOP ISSUE FOR THEM.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET AND SCALE UP RESOURCES AND DRIVE DOWN HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT CRIMINALIZATION.

THAT'S GOOD FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.

I DIDN'T SEE WHO WAS NEXT.

SO WHOEVER IT IS, STATE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES? YEAH.

MY NAME'S RICHARD KY.

I'M PRESIDENT OF PALMS ASSOCIATION OF TON ROAD 10 25 TON ROAD.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO ON THE PREVAILING OPINION OF OVER A HUNDRED RESIDENTS OF PALMS ASSOCIATION.

OUR VOICES REPRESENT A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF FLAMINGO PARK.

OVER THE PAST 32 YEARS, WE'VE WITNESSED NUMEROUS GRABS OF LAND IN FLAMINGO PARK.

THIS IS NOW THE FIFTH ATTEMPT TO ENCROACH ON THIS TREASURED PARK AND WE STRONGLY OPPOSE IT.

THE RUNNING TRACK AND THE GREEN SPACE AROUND IT ARE SOME OF THE MOST LOVED AND UTILIZED AREAS IN MIAMI BEACH.

ENJOYED DAILY BY COUNTLESS RESIDENTS, I ASK YOU, WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY, WOULD THEY TAKE LIMITED CITY PARK LAND TO BUILD A FIRE STATION SUCH AS THIS? AND THE ANSWER IS NOWHERE.

WE URGE YOU TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR THE FIRE STATION.

WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT.

YOU CANNOT HAVE AN INCH.

MORE OF OUR PARK PAST MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN TOO MUCH.

DAVID GREER, 1754 MERIDIAN AVENUE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS DAVE GREASER.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM C FOUR AI, UH, THE MIAMI BEACH MARINE PARK PROPOSAL.

I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR THIS ITEMS COMMISSIONER'S BOT SUAREZ MAGAZINE.

UH, THE BENEFITS FOR THE CREATION OF A MARINE PARK OFF OF MIAMI BEACH ON OUR SWIMMABLE UNIQUE NEAR SHORE HABITAT.

THEY'RE IMMENSE.

UM, HUGE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC BENEFITS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, PROVIDING A SAFE HABITAT FOR OUR MANY ENDANGERED SPECIES.

UM, CORAL FISH AND MAMMAL LIVING.

JUST A REALLY SHORT SWIM FROM OUR SHORES.

UH, THIS PARK ALREADY EXISTS AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND PROTECT IT.

UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING ABOUT THIS CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM IN GREATER DETAIL, UM, WHEN IT'S THAT COMMITTEE.

SO THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

WE'VE TAKEN UP ALREADY THE 30 MINUTES THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO SUT NEXT.

SO FOR THE NEXT SPEAKERS, WE'RE GONNA DO ONE MINUTE, SO PLEASE HAVE THAT IN MIND PLEASE.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS.

I BELIEVE YOU WERE.

SO STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND I'LL START THE CLOCK.

GOOD MORNING, ALL.

MY NAME IS SYLVIA LAURA, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND I'M, UM, REPRESENTING SOME OF THE OWNERS AND THE APOLLO CONDOMINIUM.

I'M JOINING MY BOYS TO, UH, RICHARD, WHO JUST TALKED TO YOU.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE JUST, WE, I'M JUST REPRESENTING HERE.

I'M JUST WANNA ASK YOU TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO THE FIRE STATION.

LIKE I SAID, WE SUPPORT, WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE THEIR BUILDING, BUT ACTUALLY WE DON'T WANT, UH, ANY MORE GREEN SPACES TAKING AWAY.

UH, PLEASE TRY TO DO YOUR BEST EFFORTS.

UH, LET US REMEMBER YOU LIKE THE COMMISSION THAT DID SOMETHING BECAUSE I KNOW THIS PROBLEM

[00:35:01]

AS THE FIRE STATION.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG.

BUT LET US REMEMBER YOU AS THE ONES THAT TRY, UH, FOUND A PLACE AND WE CAN FIX THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU, YOU FOUND A SOLUTION.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICK BRE , UH, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICK CHER.

I LIVE AT 1754 MERIDIAN AVENUE RIGHT ACROSS FROM PIKE PARK AND CITY HALL.

I'M CALLING TODAY ABOUT THE SPECTACULAR CORAL REEF THAT WE HAVE A SHORT SWIM FROM THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BEACH.

THE REEF IS FULL OF ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE SEA TURTLES, MANATEES, QUEEN COS, AND ALL SORTS OF COLORFUL FISH.

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, DOMINGUEZ HAS PUT FORWARD AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN CO-SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER'S MAGAZINE, BOT AND SUAREZ TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN PROTECT THIS AREA FOR BOTH THE FISH, UH, THE CORALS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT THE REEF IN PERSON.

UM, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER, UH, PART OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS.

NEXT PLEASE, DO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS SOPHIE RINGLE.

I LIVE IN TWO, UH, 3 9 5 LAKE PANCO DRIVE ON THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOMELESS TAX AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S AGENDA ITEM TO VOID REFERENDUM AID ON OUR CURRENT BALLOT.

THIS ITEM IS MIDDLE, MISLEADING, NOT TRANSPARENT, AND NOT IN THE INTEREST OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.

THE ADVERTISEMENTS I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING IN THE MAIL ARE MISLEADING AND DO NOT INCLUDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

IT'S STATED MIAMI BEACH VISITORS END UP SHOULDERING THE MAJORITY OF THE COST.

AND HERE, QUOTE, THE PENNY INITIATIVE BY THE HOMELESS TRUST USES REVENUE, REVENUE FROM TOURISTS TO FUND HOUSING FOR THE UNHOUSED END QUOTE.

ALSO, MISLEADING ESTABLISHMENTS IN HOTELS WHERE THE TOURISTS STAY ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS TAX.

UH, SO WHY IS IT STATED IN THE A IN THESE ADS? WHAT IS ALSO LEFT OUT IS THAT THESE FUNDS DO NOT STAY LOCALLY IN MIAMI BEACH.

THEY GO TO THE HOMELESS TRUST FUND AND THERE'S NO PRINT TRANSPARENCY WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS, UH, INITIALS, UH, A AND B.

PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

HELLO, ARTHUR BARU, 5 2 1 WEST 30TH STREET.

I'M HERE SUPPORTING, UH, COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ'S AGENDA TO RESCIND THE, UH, AGENDA MIGHT HAVE FOR THE HOMELESS TAX.

UM, EVERYONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE SPOKE TO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS WAS.

THEY'VE BEEN TOTALLY MISLED.

THEY WEREN'T AWARE THAT THIS IS A 1% ON TOP OF 2% ALREADY ON RESTAURANTS.

AND, UH, FRANKLY, WE'D LIKE TO VOTE WITH THIS NEW COMMISSIONING, PUTTING, UH, AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE ON THAT ACTUALLY HAS MIAMI BEACH IN CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS MONEY AND HOW WE DIRECT IT.

SO PLEASE SUPPORT, UH, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S AGENDA TO RESCIND THIS FROM THE BALLOT.

PLEASE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PLEASE.

UH, NEXT, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

YES, GOOD MORNING.

YAZI RAMOS 2395 LAKE PANCOAST.

I AM HERE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING ADDENDUM EIGHT FROM THE BALLOT AS I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY MISLEADING.

UH, THE CITY ALREADY DOES AN AMAZING JOB IN SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS.

THERE'S ALREADY PROGRAMS HERE THAT SOMEBODY SPOKE EARLIER OF THE AMAZING JOBS THEY DO TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS.

OUR TAX DOLLARS ALREADY SUPPORT THIS.

WE PROVIDE FOOD, HOUSING, MEDICAL, WE PROVIDE ALL, EVERYTHING THEY NEED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER TAX ON TOP OF THE TAX THAT WE ALREADY PAID TO DO THIS.

ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE MANAGED BY THE CITY.

IT'S GONNA BE MANAGED BY A THIRD PARTY.

ALSO, AS SOMEBODY ALREADY MENTIONED, THIS IS VERY MISLEADING.

IT SAYS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE TOURISTS, BUT REALLY IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT EVEN THE HOTELS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS TAX.

INSTEAD, THIS IS GONNA BE APPLIED TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT, THAT US RESIDENTS GO TO VISIT.

SO THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE PAYING FOR THIS TAX THAT'S ALREADY, ALREADY ON TOP OF ANOTHER TAX THAT WE ALREADY PAY.

PLEASE REMOVE THIS.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

IT'S MISLEADING, IT'S FALSE.

AND IT HAS MORE PROGRAMMING FOR RESIDENTS THAN EVER AND GUESTS TO OUR CITY.

OUR NEXT, UH, VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS LORI BAKER.

OOPS.

LORI COMB.

HELLO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

UM, I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF POWER ACCESS AND THE SOUTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL 1616 MICHIGAN AVENUE.

WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY FOR R FIVE AK COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S ITEM THAT SPEAKS TO CITY SPONSORSHIP AND THE DISBURSEMENTS OF FUNDS.

THIS WILL GREATLY IMPACT THE ABILITY TO DO WORK IN MIAMI BEACH FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS, SMALL NONPROFITS THAT PRODUCE GREAT THINGS IN OUR CITY.

WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU JOIN US AT THE SOUTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL.

THIS WILL BE OUR NINTH ANNUAL.

IT'S THE BIGGEST EVER IN MIAMI BEACH, AND WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE ANNOUNCED OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

UH, NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

UH, MY NAME IS WENDY WALSH.

MY ADDRESS IS 1 52 NORTHEAST 89TH STREET EL PORTAL.

I SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER FOR UNITE HERE, LOCAL 3 55.

WE'RE THE HOTEL WORKERS UNION HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT I'M ALSO THE NATIONAL, UH, GENERAL P UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL UNION.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON RD UH, RDA ONE ON THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.

UM, AND THE STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO MOVE AGAIN ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.

UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A HOTLY DEBATED ISSUE YEARS AGO AND THE VOTERS ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO HAVE THIS HOTEL, BUT IT'S BEEN STALLED FOR SO LONG AND WE FEEL IT'S SO IMPORTANT OBVIOUSLY, FOR PROVIDING GOOD JOBS TO LOW WAGE WORKERS HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

BUT ALSO IT IS THE WAY TO ATTRACT HIGH QUALITY CONVENTIONS TO MIAMI BEACH.

WE'VE SHOWN THIS OVER AND OVER NATIONALLY AND WE REALLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION, UH, BOTH AT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP GET THAT OFF THE GROUND.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS WAYNE.

WAYNE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

LEE ROBERTS, SOUTH FIFTH.

I WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING HOW AMAZING THE CITY IS.

UM, THE RABBI WHO OPENED UP THE REMARKS ABOUT, UH, ABOUT HIS FAITH AND HIS HOPE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY WAS AMAZING.

UH, JOE MANNING, UH, UH, UH, MITCH NOVAK, EVERYBODY THAT FOLLOWED CARES ABOUT THE CITY AND I'M SO IMPRESSED BY THE, THE DOZENS OF PEOPLE ALREADY SPOKEN AND LISTENING.

UM, IT, IT'S A SPECIAL CITY OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, WHETHER RICH OR POOR, IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH A LOT OF VARIATING THEORIES OR THOUGHTS AND, AND, AND, AND EXPERIENCES OF LIFE.

BUT I LOVE THIS CITY.

UM, UH, I I I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE TAX.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

UM, THE HOMELESS TRUST HAS SHOWN THAT THEY'RE NOT THE BEST STEWARDS OF MONEY AND THAT, UM, I, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE REDRAWN SO THAT THAT MONEY'S APPLIED DIFFERENTLY.

THANK YOU SIR.

I APOLOGIZE, BUT YOU HE'S NOT, WE HAD ONE MINUTE.

I APOLOGIZE.

I'M GOING TO THE NEXT PERSON.

UH, YES.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JAMIE LOWKEY, 3 2, 1 OCEAN DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I RECENTLY VOTED YES ON THE 1% HOMELESS CARE TAX, BUT NOW I FEEL DECEIVED AND, UH, REALLY DECEIVED BY THE BALLOT.

ALL THE EXTRA TAXES IN MIAMI BEACH HAVE RAISED OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING COSTS BY 30%.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MOST PLACES ARE ADDING A 20% TIP PLUS SEVEN PLUS THREE PLUS ANOTHER THREE, BUT I STILL VOTED YES FOR THE 1% HOMELESS CARE, UM, TO HELP MIAMI BEACH TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB THIS YEAR.

UM, BUT NOW I FIND OUT THAT THIS MONEY'S NOT GOING TO MIAMI BEACH.

IT'S GOING TO MIAMI-DADE, WHO I FEEL DOES A TERRIBLE JOB.

SO I'D LIKE MY TO HAVE MY VOTE BACK AND I AGREE WITH, UH, WHAT MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS MORNING.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS SOMEONE WITH A SCREEN NAME OF DANCE NOW MIAMI, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS HANNA BAUMGARTEN, 900 BAY DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH.

I'M CO-FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF DANCE NOW MIAMI.

I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF OF C SEVEN Z COMMISSIONER, BOT COMMISSIONER BOT'S MEASURE AND PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THE ARTS WITH A, A FUNDING GAP FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I WAS THERE AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING SPEAKING WITH UM, HOWARD HERRING OF THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY.

AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A VISIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE THERE IS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, UH, REGARDING, UH, SUPPORTING THE ARTS OR RATHER NOT SUPPORTING THE ARTS.

IT IS A VISIONARY MEASURE.

IT WILL HELP CONTINUE TO IDENTI IDENTIFY MIAMI BEACH AS A PLACE WHERE ARTS THRIVE AND ARE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY.

AND WE DO HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.

NEXT PLEASE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.

SINCE THE FULL TIME, UH, RESIDENTS AND THE POPULATION IN MIAMI BEACH HAS GROWN.

MY NAME'S ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, 45 40 NORTH MERIDIAN AVENUE.

I'M HERE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BRINGING UP THIS TRAFFIC CALMING PROBLEM WE HAVE ON MERIDIAN AVENUE ONCE AGAIN TO THE AGENDA.

UM, I'VE LIVED ON MERIDIAN FOR OVER 13 YEARS.

I HAVE A NINE AND 11-YEAR-OLD.

WE ALSO HAVE A DOG.

WE WALK TO POLO PARK REGULARLY.

I WALK MY SON TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING AND WE WALK THE DOG REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE SPEEDING AND RECKLESS DRIVING ON OUR STREET.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE

[00:45:01]

UH, AFTER COVID, DESPITE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS.

IN 2017, THIS A STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON MERIDIAN AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS IDENTIFIED THAT THE STREETS WITH HISTORICALLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE AMBULANCES WHEN THE RITZ RESIDENCE IS SERVED AS A HOSPITAL, CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SPEEDING PROBLEM.

OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL CALLER IS JULIANA TMA.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

NAME AND ADDRESS.

JULIANA TMA 7 3 4 MICHIGAN.

ALSO A BOARD MEMBER.

UM, I AM CALLING REGARDING THE FLAMINGO PARK FIRE STATION.

I'M URGING YOU TO FIND A NEW LOCATION.

UM, THE GREEN SPACE IS VITAL FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT.

IT HELPS TO REDUCE THE HEAT LOAD EFFECT, UM, ON THE CITY AND IT ALSO WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE STORM WATER, UM, UH, TO, TO DRAIN THE STORM WATER.

WHEN WE HAVE THESE HEAVY INUNDATIONS OF RAIN, I URGE YOU TO FIND A LOCATION OR HOST A WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, FOR AN EXISTING BUILDING THAT WE CAN REVITALIZE ADAT REUSE THAT ALREADY HAS SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE THAT WE CAN THEN MAYBE ENLARGE BUT NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM OUR VERY LIMITED GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE ON THE BEACH.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE HAT IS THE LAST PERSON.

MY NAME IS SONIA RAQUEL BARIENTOS AND I AM FROM, UH, 69 89 COLLIN AVENUE AND WITH GOD'S CREATION MINISTRIES.

AND UH, I AM OVER HERE OPPOSING TO R FIVE A, B, AND R SEVEN J AND I SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE AND I THINK THE BORDERS SHOULD BE GETTING THE ISSUE.

AND IN FACT, PEOPLE ARE DOWNSTAIRS VOTING AND, UH, THEY HAVE TO HAVE AND HAVE THEIR VOICE, UH, TO BE HEARD.

NOT, UH, THE COMMISSION.

YOU KNOW, WE NOT, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE, UH, AND THIS IS A DEMOCRACY AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE VOTE, UH, BE HEARD.

OUR LAST VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE.

STEPHANIE, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BERMAN.

MY ADDRESS IS 7 9 7 0 BI POINT CIRCLE.

I'M PRESIDENT OF PARKOUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND MIAMI BEACH NATIVE.

I WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE COMMISSION NOT TO PASS RBA FIVE AND RCJ MIAMI BEACH, INCLUDING MIAMI BEACH.

RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE ITS FAIR SHARE TOWARDS CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTY.

WHY SHOULD ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE COUNTY BE ONE OF THE FEW? TO CON NOT TO CONTRIBUTE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A COMMENT MADE BY AN EARLIER SPEAKER ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

THERE ARE A FEW BODIES THAT ARE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THE HOMELESS TRUST.

THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE HOMELESS TRUST CONTINUUM OF CARE.

ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WELL ATTENDED.

ALL BUDGETS AND FUNDING DECISIONS ARE OPENLY DISCUSSED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY WOULD YOU NOT ALLOW YOUR CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE SILENCING YOUR CITIZENS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF US THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE TIME TO GO AND VOTE.

I URGE YOU TO ALLOW YOUR CITIZENS TO HAVE A VOICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR.

YOU'RE THE LAST SPEAKER.

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

YEAH, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JESUS ALBERTO MENEZES AND I LIVE IN 6 7 0 2, UH, 13TH STREET AND CLE IN SOUTH BEACH.

I BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 25 YEARS AND I'M AN ARTIST.

AND WHAT I SEE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE BEGINNING IT USED TO BE A VERY BEAUTIFUL ART COMMUNITY, BUT EVERYWHERE YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF ART AND MORE AND MORE I SEE LESS ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, LESS ART, THE LOCAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.

AND ONE IDEA THAT I HAVE SINCE I LIVE IN EUROPE BEFORE, TO CREATE ONE DAY A WEEK, ONE DAY A MONTH LIKE IT USED TO BE, WHERE YOU CAN SHOW ART IN LINCOLN MONROE AND THAT WILL CREATE MORE OF AN ARTISTIC NEIGHBORHOOD THAN JUST SELLING AND SELLING AND SELLING AND BUYING.

BUYING AND BUYING.

SO WILL ATTRACT MORE INTERESTING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND CREATE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BECOME ARTISTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR.

I HOPE YOU TAKE MY RECOMMENDATION SERIOUSLY, THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CALLED IN AND CAME IN.

AND ALSO EVERYONE WHO EMAILS AND TEXTS US.

UM, WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND IT IS VERY HELPFUL.

LET'S CALL, UM, WE HAVE A 10 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH SOME ITEMS BEFORE THEN.

LET'S DO THE, UH, BOARDING

[R9 A BOARDS AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.]

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.

R NINE A.

[00:50:01]

YES SIR.

EVERYONE ON THE DA HAS A PAPER.

UH, WITH THE LIST OF THE NOMINEES, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THERE IS ONE NAME FOR EACH POSITION.

SO EACH ARE UNPOSED.

WE COULD DO THIS BY ACCLIMATION OR I COULD DO THEM ONE BY ONE, WHATEVER YOUR ACCLIMATION SO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS.

SO FOR THE RECORD, MR. DOER IS BEING APPOINTED, UH, AND YOU'RE THE, THE COMMISSION IS FINDING THAT HIS DISPOSITION HA HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF OR EXPERTISE, UH, TO ACHIEVE THE COMMITTEE'S OBJECTIVES.

UH, MR. FRANK KAK, MR. DONALD GOLDBERG AND YO ALVAREZ AND ALLISON SLACKMAN IS BEING, UH, THE WAIVER OF, UH, OF, UH, RESIDENCY.

SO ALL DONE BY ACCLAMATION MOVED.

THE APPOINTEES HAVE BEEN MADE.

MAYOR, YOU WANT I MAY REPORT ON THE PULLED ITEMS FOR THE CONSENT OR YES.

ITEMS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DID THAT COVER R NINE A AND B? YES SIR.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO FOR THE RECORD, THE FOLLOWING

[CONSENT AGENDA]

UH, THE MAYOR MINOR IS NOT SEPARATING ANY ITEMS. COMMISSIONER BOT IS SEPARATING TWO ITEMS. C SEVEN A KC SEVEN A S.

AGAIN, COMMISSIONER B SEPARATING C SEVEN AK C SEVEN A S COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ IS SEPARATING TWO ITEMS, C FOUR S AS IN SAM AND C SEVEN A B AGAIN C FOUR S, C SEVEN A B VICE MAYOR.

UH, FERNANDEZ IS SEPARATING SIX ITEMS. C TWO HC TWO FC SEVEN PC SEVEN A, AI C SEVEN A KC SEVEN A S, AGAIN C TWO HC TWO FC SEVEN PC SEVEN A IC SEVEN AK C SEVEN A S.

COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE IS SEPARATING TWO ITEMS, C SEVEN A, B, AND C FOUR Z.

AGAIN C SEVEN A BC FOUR Z.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ IS SEPARATING ONE ITEM C SEVEN Z AS IN ZEBRA.

C SEVEN Z.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS SEPARATING FOUR ITEMS. C SEVEN JC SEVEN KC SEVEN PC SEVEN V.

AGAIN, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS SEPARATING C SEVEN J, C SEVEN KC SEVEN PC SEVEN B.

AND FOR THE RECORD THERE WAS ONE ADDENDUM ITEM C SEVEN AS BUT THAT HAS BEEN PULLED SO IT WILL BE HEARD AND THE COMMITTEE'S GONNA HAVE TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO ADD THAT ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THAT TIME.

IS THERE A MOTION TO SET THE AGENDA? I MAKE MOTION.

OKAY, THE MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER BOND.

I'LL SECOND.

IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ AND WE CAN SHOW THE AGENDA SET BY ACCLAMATION WITH THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BACK TO YOU MR. MAYOR, MAY WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.

WELL, MR. MAYOR THAT, DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? UM, I MOVED THAT.

DID ANYBODY SECOND? YEP.

COMMISSIONER BOT SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

YES SIR.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR ANY NOSE.

UH, SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED EXCLUDING THE SEPARATED ITEMS. NICE.

LET'S DO SOME SECOND READING ITEMS. CAN WE DO THOSE NOW? I DON'T THINK SO, MAYOR, I THINK LEMME SEE.

I THINK THE FIRST ONE IS AT 10 10.

SO NO, FIRST WE COULD DO FIRST READINGS IF YOU WISH.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ ANY INTEREST IN DOING YOUR ITEM NOW WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FINISH IT BEFORE OUR 10 O'CLOCK TIME, SIR.

WE'D HAVE TO CONTINUE ANY INTEREST IN DOING THAT? NO.

J IS REPU RESOLUTION 2023.

THAT IS, UH, WHAT NUMBER IS IT? IT'S THE, UH, HOMELESS TAX ITEM.

YEAH, TWO ITEMS. R SEVEN J AND R FIVE AB SEVEN J AND R FIVE AB? YEAH.

R SEVEN J AND R SEVEN

[R7 J A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2023-32719, WHICH CALLED FOR A CITY OF MIAMI BEACH SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH A QUESTION ASKING WHETHER A 1% TAX ON FOOD/BEVERAGE SALES IN MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE LEVIED TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION/OPERATION OF HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTERS, AND SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION; FURTHER, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO IMPLEMENT THIS RESOLUTION BY COORDINATING WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS REFERENCE GUIDE 0007 ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENTS TO POST OFFICIAL NOTICES IN ELECTION OFFICES, AT POLLING PRECINCTS, EARLY VOTING SITES, IN VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS, AND ON COUNTY WEBSITES, ADVISING THE CITY’S VOTERS THAT THE CALLING OF THE REFERENDUM HAS BEEN REPEALED AND THE SUBJECT BALLOT MEASURE ORDERED REMOVED FROM THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 BALLOT BY THE MIAMI BEACH CITY COMMISSION, AND THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID REFERENCE GUIDE 0007, ANY VOTES CAST FOR THIS BALLOT MEASURE WILL NOT COUNT FOR ITS APPROVAL OR REJECTION NOR SHALL ANY SUCH VOTES CAST BE COUNTED AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH’S NOVEMBER 5, 2024 SPECIAL ELECTION.]

3 2 7 1 9.

VALID QUESTION FOR 1% TAX.

AND WHAT WAS THE R FIVE AGAIN? WHAT'S THE R FIVE NUMBER FIVE? AB AB.

SO R FIVE AB IS AN ORDINANCE OF A MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

REPEALING ORDINANCE 20 23 4 5 6 7 BY AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 2 OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

CODE ENTITLED TAXATION BY AMENDING ARTICLE FIVE

[00:55:01]

ENTITLED LOCAL BUSINESS TAX BY REPEATING SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 3 88 THEREOF ENTITLED LEVY COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF 1% LOCAL OPTION FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX, HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TAX, THEREBY STRIKING FROM THE CITY CODE.

ALL PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO LEVY COLLECT AND ADMINISTER THE 1% LOCAL OPTION FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TAX WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MAYA BEACH AS PROVIDED IN SECTION TWO 12.0306 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, RE, REPEATER, FAVORABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A FIRST READING.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE A B.

MAYOR, MAYOR MCGINN.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED COMMISSIONER, COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES OVER THE LAST WEEK AND LITERALLY RIGHT THIS SECOND.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE VOTING ON A REFERENDUM QUESTION THAT WAS PURPOSELY ENGINEERED TO MISLEAD AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

DEMOCRACY ISN'T JUST ABOUT HAVING A VOTE, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT VOTES ARE CAST WITH CLEAR, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT INFORMATION.

AND UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS INFORMATION IS DISTORTED AND MANIPULATED FOR SPECIAL INTERESTS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

WHAT I'M HOLDING UP HERE, WHAT I'VE PASSED AROUND TO YOU ALL IS A DONOR LIST OF SPECIAL INTEREST DEVELOPERS AND LOBBYISTS OF A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE BARELY FORMED OVER A MONTH AGO WITH A WAR CHEST OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND LET ME READ THROUGH THIS LIST AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DONATION.

LENNAR CORPORATION INDUSTRY IS DEVELOPERS MIAMI FOR EVERYONE INDUSTRY.

IT'S ANOTHER PACK THEY DONATED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP, A VENDOR.

A VENDOR, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HOME TO SWEETS DORAL, MIAMI AIRPORT.

THIS IS A HOTEL THEY GAVE $30,000 ATLANTIC PACIFIC COMMUNITIES REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS, $20,000 R MOG, THREE LLC REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, $10,000 JEB BUSH AND ASSOCIATES, JEB BUSH, $5,000.

LET'S BE CLEAR, THEY'RE NOT DONATING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

AN ROI THAT PUTS TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR $10 MILLION EACH YEAR TO BANKROLL THE HOMELESS TRUST AN ORGANIZATION OUTSIDE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH THAT HAS NO WRITTEN OBLIGATION TO ALLOCATE ANY FUNDS BACK TO OUR CITY.

THIS PROPOSED HOMELESS TAX IS A MASTERCLASS IN BAD GOVERNANCE.

NOW ASK YOURSELF, WHY ARE DEVELOPERS PUMPING BIG MONEY INTO THIS? IT'S NOT OUT OF COMPASSION OR CHARITY.

IT'S A MONEY GRAB.

IT'S LIKE A REVERSE ROBINHOOD TAKING FROM HARDWORKING LOCAL HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T PART OF LUXURY HOTELS AND HANDING IT RIGHT INTO THE INTEREST OF BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS, LOBBYISTS, AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.

THIS RESIDENCE UNITED TO END HOMELESSNESS PAC WAS CREATED JUST LAST MONTH.

YET IT'S ALREADY RAISED MORE MONEY FOR THIS SINGLE ISSUE THAN ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS DAY RAISED DURING THEIR ENTIRE CAMPAIGNS.

THIS PAC HAS RAISED MORE MONEY TO LOBBY OUR VOTERS THAN ANY OF YOU WHO RAISED THEM.

WHO, WHO HAVE RAISED THEM TO SERVE THEM IN OFFICE.

LET THAT SINK IN FOR A SECOND.

SOME OF YOU MAY ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT LET'S NOT RE LET'S NOT IGNORE THE REALITY HERE.

THIS VOTE IS A MANIPULATION WITH HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FUNNELED INTO MISLEADING ADS AND BALLOT LANGUAGE DESIGNED TO CONFUSE AND MANIPULATE.

THIS IS HARDLY AN HONEST APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S A STACKED DECK, BIG MONEY UP AGAINST ZERO OPPOSITION, AND THE VOTERS ARE BEING MISLED BY POWERFUL INTERESTS PUSHING FOR A TAX HIKE UNDER THE GUISE OF COMPASSION HELL.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S THREE GUYS STANDING OUTSIDE A CITY HALL GETTING PAID $25 AN HOUR TO MARKET THIS SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS TAX.

THE TRUTH NEVER STOOD A CHANCE.

[01:00:01]

HERE, ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU DOING A SERVICE TO THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED US TO PROTECT THEM IN THEIR FINANCIAL INTERESTS OR A SERVICE TO THE DEVELOPERS AND THE LOBBYISTS WHO FUNNELING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS INTO THIS PACK? AND PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE, WE ALL VOTED TO RESCIND A $1 MILLION CASH OUT PAYMENT TO THE HOMELESS TRUST.

IF WE RESCINDED A $1 MILLION CASH OUT PAYMENT TO THE HOMELESS TRUST, WHY DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAND OVER $10 MILLION A YEAR IN TOITY? NOW, BEFORE I GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF MY PRESENTATION, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS TAX IS BEING MARKETED AS A TOURIST TAX.

YET IRONICALLY, IT EXCLUDES RESTAURANTS LOCATED WITHIN HOTELS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF TOURISTS STAY AND DIME.

WHAT DOES THIS DO? THIS WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT OUR MOM AND POP LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN THAT THEY DIDN'T CREATE.

OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS DIDN'T CREATE HOMELESSNESS.

THEY CREATE WORKING CLASS JOBS AND THIS TAX INCREASE WILL PUNISH THEM.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS VOTE IS A LITMUS TEST OF WHERE WE STAND AND WHERE OUR PRIORITIES LIE.

ON ONE HAND, WE HAVE BILLION BILLIONAIRES AND THEIR NETWORK OF DARK MONEY PACS FUNDED BY THE LIKES OF LENNAR CORPORATION AND JEB BUSH ASSOCIATES, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE THE RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES OF MIAMI BEACH WHO ELECTED US TO DEFEND AND SAFEGUARD THEIR BEST INTEREST.

NOW, PJ, CAN YOU PLEASE PULL UP THE PRESENTATION NOW I'D LIKE TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS ON THIS BALLOT MEASURE AND WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS A MISLEADING AND DISINGENUOUS BALLOT QUESTION.

AS I SHOWED EVERYONE, UH, ON MY COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL HAVE A HANDOUT OF ALL THE DONORS ON THIS, UH, ON THIS PACK THAT WAS CREAMED CREATED OVER A MONTH AGO.

OKAY, SO I WANNA GO INTO SOME OF THE MISLEADING CLAIMS THAT THIS PAC HAS HAS PUT OUT INTO OUR, UH, INTO OUR PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I FIND REALLY DISINGENUOUS IS THAT THIS IS A ONE PENNY TAX.

THIS IS A 1% TAX.

AND IT'S, IT'S A, PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO ME, THEY SAY, SAY, HEY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GONNA BE ONE PENNY, BUT, UH, OUT OF THE BILL.

NO, IT'S 1%.

AND ALMOST EVERY MAILER THAT I HAVE HERE, INCLUDING THIS ONE, ONE PENNY CAN END HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS ON THE BEACH.

RIDICULOUS.

ANOTHER ONE.

A COMPASSIONATE SOLUTION TO END TO END HOMELESSNESS IN MIAMI BEACH.

OKAY, NEVERMIND THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY A COMPASSIONATE CITY FOR HOMELESSNESS.

OKAY? UM, WE PROVIDE SEVEN OVER $7 MILLION A YEAR FOR HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES.

THAT INCLUDES PARK RANGERS POLICE, THAT HOUSING COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND THE CLAIM HERE THAT THIS WILL END HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

MORE TAXES WILL NOT END HOMELESSNESS.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY SAY THAT THIS IS GONNA BE FUNDED BY TOURISTS YET SOMEHOW EXCLUDES RESTAURANTS, ESTABLISHMENTS INSIDE HOTELS WHERE TOURISTS STAY.

IT IT, IT IS, IT IS VERY DISINGENUOUS.

HOW MANY SLIDES, BY THE WAY, DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONABLE LOBBYING? THIS PACK CALLS ANTI CAMPING LAWS, A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK.

SO WHAT WE ALL PASSED HERE, OR IT SAYS, WE, WE, WE PASSED OUR ANTI CAMPING LAWS.

THEY'RE CALLING THIS A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK.

OKAY? THIS DOESN'T ALIGN WITH OUR MIAMI BEACH POLICY STATE LAW OR THE SUPREME COURT.

YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO OUR HOUSING DIRECTOR AND SHE SAID, HOUSING DOESN'T CHANGE BEHAVIORS.

AND THIS IS WHAT THIS TAX AIMS TO DO.

IT, IT AIMS TO TRANSFER WEALTH FROM MIAMI BEACH TAXPAYERS TO AN UNOR TO AN UNELECTED COUNTY ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTROLLING $10 MILLION A YEAR OF MIAMI BEACH MONEY.

THIS IS WHERE THE MISLEADING BALLOT QUESTION COMES IN.

APPROVE A 1% TAX ON FOOD AND BEVERAGE SHALES, MISLEADING, CRITICAL CONTEXT.

THERE IS ALREADY A 2% RESORT TAX ON FOOD AND BEVERAGE SHALES IN MIAMI BEACH.

THIS WOULD INCREASE IT TO 3%.

INSTEAD OF SAYING APPROVE 1%, IT SHOULD SAY AN ADDITIONAL 1%.

FALSE EXPECTATIONS.

THE HOMELESS TRUST HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT IT CAN END HOMELESSNESS IN TWO YEARS.

EVERY, EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT THE HOMELESS TRUST, THEY ALWAYS SAY IT'S GONNA BE END IN

[01:05:01]

TWO YEARS.

WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.

AND THROWING MONEY, THROWING MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT HOUSING DOESN'T SOLVE HOMELESSNESS OR THE FLOW OF CRIMINAL HOMELESSNESS INTO OUR CITY.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE BIG MONEY COMES IN, AND YOU HAVE DEVELOPERS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS POURING MONEY INTO THIS PACK.

YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY AT THE COUNTY, THE HOMELESS TRUST IS PAYING MORE THAN IS PAYING $4 MILLION OVER THE APPRAISED VALUE.

FOR A, FOR A HOTEL TO BE CONVERTED $4 MILLION OVER THE PRAISE VALUE, I THINK IT CAME IN AT AVERAGES NINE.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE, BE PAYING $14 MILLION FOR IT WITHOUT A SINGLE BIDDING PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, THAT COMES OUT TO $136,000 PER BED.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY ONES WHO, WHO GAINED TO PROFIT FROM THIS ARE DEVELOPERS IN SPECIAL INTEREST WHO ARE GOING TO BE MAKING MILLIONS IN PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF, AT THE EXPENSE OF MIAMI BEACH TAXPAYERS.

THIS WOULD MAKE US THE HIGHEST TAXED JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTY.

JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE, WE WILL BE AT 10%.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

85% OF THE TAX WOULD GO TO THE HOMELESS TRUST.

THAT'S AND APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS PER YEAR.

THE CITY HAS NO CONTROL OVER, OVER THE SPENDING O OF THIS MONEY.

THEY'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO GIVE IT BACK.

OKAY? IN FACT, IN 2017, THE HUD INSPECTOR GENERAL DETERMINED THAT THE HOMELESS TRUST DID NOT PROPERLY OVERSEE ITS SUB RECIPIENTS, AND WAS ORDERED TO REIMBURSE HU NEARLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RECEIVES LESS THAN $1 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE HOMELESS TRUST PER YEAR.

WHY SHOULD WE EXPORT MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO THIS COUNTY ORGANIZATION? NEXT SLIDE.

JUST RECENTLY, AND I SPOKE TO, UH, COMMISSIONER HIGGINS, THERE ARE, THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A, A, A NON-COMPLIANCE, UM, VIOLATION FROM THE COUNTY.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT AUDITS AS REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

THE HOMELESS TRUST HASN'T AGREED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT.

IN YEARS COUNTY VIOLATION ISSUES, COUNTY VIOLATION NOTICES HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THEY HAVE BEEN SILENT.

AND JUST SO EVERYONE IS AWARE, THE HOMELESS TRUST DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY SERVICES.

THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS OF WHO GETS THE MONEY, WHO THE PROVIDERS ARE.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S SO MANY BIG DONORS HERE? IS BECAUSE THEY AIM TO BE FIRST IN LINE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY.

WE'RE I IMPORT, DO, DO WE REALLY WANT TO ENABLE AN ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS MORE BENEFITS TO THE COUNTY TO ATTRACT MORE HOMELESSNESS? THROWING MORE MONEY AT A PROBLEM ISN'T GONNA SOLVE IT.

IT'S JUST GONNA ENABLE IT MORE.

I CERTAINLY HOPE OUR TAXPAYERS AND FUTURE YEARS REMEMBER HOW WE VOTE TODAY.

SO, LOOK, WE CANNOT ALLOW A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FUNDED BY BILLIONAIRES, DEVELOPERS, SPECIAL INTERESTS, OR HIGH POWERED LOBBYISTS TO MISLEAD OUR VOTERS INTO A TAX INCREASE IN EXCHANGE FOR A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

THE $450,000 TO LOBBY OUR VOTERS COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON HOMELESS SERVICES INSTEAD OF A DECEPTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

AND YOU CAN CLOSE THE SLIDE.

JP, LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS TOUGH.

I KNOW THE TIMING IS NOT IDEAL.

I UNDERSTAND THE OPTICS THAT MIGHT, THAT SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR A PERSONAL GREEN.

I'M NOT TRYING TO WIN A GOLD MEDAL.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE'VE BEEN HANDED, THE EASIEST PATH FORWARD UP HERE WOULD BE INACTION.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AFTER ALL, WHAT YOU'VE SEEN, IF YOU BELIEVE THIS REFERENDUM QUESTION IS MISLEADING, DECEPTIVE, AND AIMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR TAXPAYERS, THE RIGHT DECISION IS TO RESCIND THIS BALLOT QUESTION AND NOT ALLOW A PREVIOUS COMMISSION'S MISTAKE TO COST OUR CITY'S TAXPAYERS $10 MILLION A YEAR INDEFINITELY.

ULTIMATELY, WE WERE ELECTED TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS AND SAFEGUARD OUR CITY'S BEST INTEREST AGAINST THOSE WHO AIM TO EXPLOIT US.

[01:10:01]

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

COMMISSIONER LAURA DOMINGUEZ.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER SUAREZ FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

UM, I AM IN DISAGREEMENT OF REPEALING SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY VOTING ON, AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE TIMING IS NOT IDEAL AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE COME SOONER.

UM, I ALSO DISAGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THE HOMELESS TRUST HAVING, UM, SEEN AND READ AND, UH, UH, HAD MEETINGS WITH THE HOMELESS TRUST PEOPLE.

THEY ARE AN HONEST ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY TRIES HARD TO HELP WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

AND A FEW THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT IF I'M WRONG ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, BUT, UM, WHAT THIS TAX MEANS, IT'S FOR EVERY $150 RESTAURANT TAB, IT'S A DOLLAR 50 THAT'S DEDICATED TO COMBATING HOMELESSNESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

THE PENNY PROGRAM ONLY APPLIES TO ESTABLISHMENTS THAT GROSS OVER $400,000 AND HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE.

IF YOU EAT AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, IT DOESN'T APPLY IF YOU EAT AT A RESTAURANT THAT DOESN'T SERVE ALCOHOL, IT DOESN'T APPLY IN RESTAURANTS THAT GROSS LESS THAN 400,000.

IT DOES NOT APPLY IF YOU EAT AT A RESTAURANT WITHIN A HOTEL, THAT RES ROOM SERVICE TO IT DOESN'T APPLY.

IF YOU DON'T EAT OUT, IT DOESN'T APPLY.

SO IT'S NOT A PROPERTY TAX.

AND OF ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ONLY THREE DON'T PARTICIPATE.

AND WE'RE MIAMI BEACH IS ONE OF THEM.

AND BECAUSE OF OUR TOURIST DESTINATION, WE DO ATTRACT HOMELESS.

WE HAVE AN AMAZING HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM, AND I THINK THAT THIS, UM, PROGRAM THAT THE VOTERS ARE CURRENTLY VOTING ON WILL ONLY HELP, UH, WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE.

AND RICK, UH, CITY, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, YOU CAN, UH, IF ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT I MENTIONED ARE, ARE NOT, SO PLEASE CORRECT THEM.

NO.

YOU, YOU ACCURATELY STATED THAT IT APPLIES TO, UM, ESTABLISHMENTS OTHER THAN AT HOTELS AND, UH, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND MOTELS THAT HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE.

AND IT DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY ESTABLISHMENTS WITH GROSS REVENUES OF $400,000 OR LESS.

THAT IS ACCURATE.

MR. MAYOR, JUST, JUST TO PUT THINGS INTO CONTEXT, I, I DON'T KNOW ANY RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T SERVE WINE OR ANY FORM OF ALCOHOL.

AND BY THE WAY, GROSS SALES OF $400,000 A YEAR, THAT'S ONLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S, SO LET'S, LET'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL LOCAL MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS IN MY COMMISSIONER.

LET'S HEAR FROM EVERYONE ELSE.

OBVIOUS.

YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK AN ARGUMENT HAS BEEN MADE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE THE MUNICIPALITY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT IS GOING TO BE PAYING THE HIGHEST, UH, SALES TAX RATE THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THIS TAX.

I KNOW, I WANNA KNOW, IS OUR CFO IN THE ROOM? MR. GREEN, IF YOU COULD APPROACH THE PODIUM.

WHAT ARE THE SALES TAXES? THE TAXES? I'M SORRY.

WHEN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EATING OUT IN MIAMI BEACH, WHAT ARE THE TAXES THAT THEY PAY? SO THERE'S THE BASE 7% SALES TAX THAT EVERYONE IS GONNA PAY, WHETHER IT'S MIAMI BEACH OR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE 2%, UH, RESORT TAX FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

SO THAT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 9%.

AND IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WHAT ARE THE TAXES THAT INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF MIAMI BEACH, UH, PAY? IT WOULD BE, AGAIN, THE 7%, UH, BASE SALE TAX, THE 1%, UH, TAX TOWARDS THE HOMELESS FOR EIGHT.

UH, BUT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL 2% FOOD AND BEVERAGE ON, UH, FOOD AND BEVERAGE INSIDE HOTELS.

AND WE PAY THAT 1% TAX ON HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, JUST HOW EVERY OTHER AREA IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PAYS, WE'RE GONNA BE THE HIGHEST JURISDICTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, NOT BECAUSE OF THE 1% HOMELESS TAX THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS PAYING, BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 2% RESORT TAX THAT WE PAY IN MIAMI BEACH THAT THE REST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DOES NOT PAY.

SO, SO IN THE REST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, OUTSIDE OF HOTELS, 8%, IT'S 8%? CORRECT.

AND THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING THE 1% TAX? CORRECT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND MIAMI BEACH IS THAT IN MIAMI BEACH, UNLIKE THE REST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WE'RE PAYING A 2% TAX.

CORRECT.

SO WE ARE PAYING, UH, IN TOTAL 9% VERSUS 8% IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

SO IF WE COME IN NOW

[01:15:01]

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

I THOUGHT BELL HARBOR AND SURFSIDE DO ALSO DO NOT CONTRIBUTE THE 1% TAX.

THAT IS CORRECT.

BELL HARBOR AND SURFSIDE MAYA BEACH, WERE THE ONLY THREE MUNICIPALITIES.

SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

MR. MR. MAYOR, BUT MR. ATTORNEY OR OR MR. CLERK, BELL HARBOR IS ALSO, THEY ARE, ARE THEY ALSO CONTEMPLATING, UH, THE 1%, UH, SALES TAX? THEY HAVE THE OTHER BALLOT QUESTION RIGHT NOW, SO THEY HAVE THE QUESTION AS WELL.

WELL, WELL, WELL, I HAVE THE FLOOR.

YEAH.

AND I DID NOT INTERRUPT YOU AND SO AND SO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HERE VERY, VERY CLEARLY.

WHY IS IT THAT MIAMI BEACH WOULD END UP BEING HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY? IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING THE SAME TAX THAT THE REST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PAYS.

IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RESORT TAX.

NOW, MR. CFO, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT RESORT TAX? UH, THE RESORT TAXES IS, UH, UTILIZED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS UTILIZED TO KIND OF OFFSET THE EXPENDITURE, THE EXPENSES THAT ARE RELATED TO RESORT TYPE ACTIVITIES.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING THINGS OUT OF THERE RELATED TO, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CO COMPLIANCE, CLEANLINESS, SANITATION, THINGS THAT, UH, KIND OF OFFSET AND TAKE THE LIFT OFF OF THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN OF THE CITIZENS.

AND IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE RESORT TAX, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT DO TO THE MILLAGE RATE THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER, THAT EVERY HOMEOWNER THAT EVERY RESIDENT IN MIAMI BEACH PAYS? IT WOULD EITHER BE ONE OR TWO, OR A BLEND OF TWO, TWO THINGS.

IT WOULD BE, UH, PROBABLY A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE AND OR A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN, UH, LEVEL OF SERVICE.

AND IF THE RESORT TAX IS IMPACTED, LET'S SAY, WELL, LET ME ASK, LET ME, LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION AND PERHAPS MR. MANAGER, YOU MIGHT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER THIS.

IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS HOMELESS ISSUES, WOULD THE RESORT TAX COLLECTIONS BE AFFECTED OR COULD WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE RESORT TAX COLLECTIONS WOULD BE AFFECTED IF WE DON'T ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS? SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A ONE-TO-ONE CORRELATION, BUT CERTAINLY THEY'RE INTERRELATED SOMEHOW THAT THE MORE THAT PEOPLE PRESERVE PERCEIVE THE CITY TO BE SAFE AND CLEAN, THE MORE WE'RE LIKELY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME VISIT MIAMI BEACH.

SO, SO, SO BY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROPERLY ADDRESSING HOMELESS ISSUES, AND NOT JUST US INDIVIDUALLY IN MIAMI BEACH, BUT AS A REGION, WE HELP SUPPORT THE RESORT TAXES AND THE SERVICES THAT GENERATE THE RESORT TAX REVENUES THAT HELP US BALANCE OUR BUDGET, THAT HELP US AVOID MILLAGE INCREASES OR OTHERWISE, THAT HELPS US AVOID A CU OF SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO, TO, TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN ISSUE UNIQUE TO MIAMI BEACH HOME.

AND, AND, AND I THINK I'M DONE WITH YOU, MR. CFO, FEEL FREE TO SIT DOWN.

I DON'T WANNA THANK YOU.

I DON'T WANNA KEEP YOU THERE.

BUT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT IS UNIQUE TO MIAMI BEACH.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE.

WE TAKE VERY STRONG POSITIONS ON HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE CAN'T ADDRESS IT ALONE WITHOUT BEING A PARTNER AT THE TABLE WITH THE REST OF THE REGION.

BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.

HOMELESSNESS IS A VERY TRANSIENT ISSUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF ALBA'S HERE, DR.

TARA, THE DIRECTOR OF OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, DR.

TARE.

AND SO IF WE'RE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ONLY IN OUR CITY WITHOUT CONTINUING IN THE COLLABORATION ON THE REGIONAL SERVICES, IT'S HARD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.

HOW MANY OF THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY NECESSARILY, UH, ARE, ARE COMING IN FROM OTHER AREAS OF, OF, OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY OR THE REGION? I WOULD PROBABLY SAY MORE THAN 80%, 85%.

[01:20:02]

WE HAVE IN MIAMI BEACH, WE HAVE A VERY TRANSIENT HOMELESS POPULATION.

AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THIS TAX, AND IT IS A TAX AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE NEED THIS TAX.

IT GOES TO THE REGIONAL ENTITY THAT ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S THE HOMELESS TRUST.

AND I SEE VICKI MILLETTE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOMELESS DRESSES HERE.

MS. MILLETTE, IF, IF YOU WOULD APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.

AS IT RELATES TO I'D LIKE REPRESENTATION, ARE THERE, UH, ARE THERE REPRESENTATIVES OF, OF, LET'S SAY, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT SERVE ON THE HOMELESS TRUST? YES.

WE HAVE A 27 PERSON BOARD.

WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER.

AMONG THOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OLIVER GILBERT.

UM, ALSO THE MAYOR SITS ON THE BOARD AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

WE HAVE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, OF WHICH YOU ARE ONE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND SERVICES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

WE ALSO HAVE JUDGE STEVEN LIFEMAN.

HE IS THE CHAIR OF OUR FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.

HE'S BEEN DOING HOMELESSNESS WORK HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

AND IT HAS ADVISED THE STATE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS.

AND HE HAS BEEN OUR LONGTIME FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

SO, SO, SO MS. MILLETT, IF I UNDERSTAND RIGHT, THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HAS A SEAT ON THE HOMELESS TRUST.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MIAMI-DADE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS A SEAT ON THE, ON THE HOMELESS TRUST COMMISSIONER BAIN, UH, WHO, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AT THE COUNTY HAS A SEAT AT THE HOMELESS TRUST.

AND THERE ARE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND NOW ONE FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF, OF, OF, OF THE BENCH, UH, JUDGE LEMAN, WHO AS YOU JUST STATED, UH, UM, HAS ADVISED THE SUPREME COURT ON, ON HOMELESS RELATED ISSUES.

CORRECT.

AS WELL AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SO, AND SO I'M JUST GONNA END WITH ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY A NUMBER, JUST JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

WE APPROVED A BALLOT QUESTION, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THE BALLOT QUESTION, IS THAT A REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA? YES.

THE STATE REQUIRES A MUNICIPALITY WHO IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED, THAT WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE WHICH WAS DONE, AND THEN TO SEEK VOTER APPROVAL OF THAT ORDINANCE.

AND THE STATE IS ASKING US TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE URGED THE STATE TO DO THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? TO PASS THAT STATUTE, WE URGED THE STATE TO PASS THAT STATUTE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THERE, THERE WAS INTERACTION WITH THE STATE, YES.

THE WORK THAT THE HOMELESS TRUST HAS BEEN DOING OVER THE COURSE OF 30 YEARS, BRINGING DOWN THE POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS.

AND, AND WE ASKED THE STATE TO PASS THE STATUTE BECAUSE THE VOTERS ASKED US TO PASS TO URGE THE STATE.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DO NOT HAVE THE DETAILS, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WAS A STRAW BALLOT AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

ALRIGHT.

AND THAT'S STRAW BALLOT.

53% OF OUR VOTERS ASKED US TO URGE THE STATE TO PASS THE STATUTE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO THE VOTERS.

DOES THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE? CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? DOES RESIDENTS UNITED TO END HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS, HAS REFERENCED, DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ANY CONTROL, ANY OVERSIGHT, ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE? IT SHOULD NOT.

IT, IT SHOULD NOT.

SO IT'S EASY TO ATTACK A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO ATTACK AN ENTITY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPERS, FROM HIGH POWER NAMES LIKE JEB BUSH AND, AND OTHER, AND OTHER IN INDIVIDUALS.

BUT THIS HAS, THIS IS NOT THE ENTITY THAT IS GETTING THE MONEY.

THIS IS NOT THE ENTITY THAT PUT THE QUESTION ON, ON, ON THE BALLOT.

THERE ARE, THERE ARE MANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES OUT THERE THAT DO THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOOK FAVORABLY ON AND PROBABLY MOST OF THE TIME LOOK UNFAVORABLY ON.

BUT THEY'RE INDEPENDENT OF CANDIDATES, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT OF ISSUES ON, ON THE BALLOT.

AND, UM, AND, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO JUDGE

[01:25:01]

AT ONE POINT AT IT, SPEAK OF 8,000 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO ABOUT 1000 NOW BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT'S INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

THE COUNTY HAS NOTHING TO, TO DO WITH THAT.

THE HOMELESS TRUST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, AND PERHAPS YOU MIGHT SEE HOUSING DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PACK TO END HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT HOMELESSNESS, YEAH, IT MAKES IT HOME HARD TO SELL A HOUSE IF YOU'RE MAKING A DEVELOPMENT WHO WANTS TO BUY A HOUSE OR A PROPERTY IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS.

WHO, WHO ONE LEADER, UH, ONE LEADER WANTS TO SEE A COMMUNITY BE AFFECTED BY, BY, BY HOMELESSNESS.

WHAT PRIVATE ENTITY, WHAT DEVELOPER, WHAT FORMER POLITICAL FIGURE.

AND SO I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING TO, TO THE IMPACT.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S LOOKING TO, UH, TO, TO, TO SUPPORT THIS TAX.

'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE AND WE HAVE A GREATER HOMELESS ISSUE.

AND WE DO, WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, STUDIES TELL US THAT MIAMI BEACH HAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT DO NEED HOUSING THAT THIS TAX WILL HELP ADDRESS.

UM, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT AT THIS POINT TO TAKE THIS AWAY FROM THE VOTERS.

I THINK THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD HAPPEN TO OUR BUDGET OTHERWISE.

AND I ALSO DO THINK THAT IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR US TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE REST OF THE REGION ON THIS TAX BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN ISSUE UNIQUE TO MIAMI BEACH.

IT IS A REGIONAL ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING IT REGIONALLY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COMMISSIONER BOT.

THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ.

WE DO HAVE A 10 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE HAVE A, I LIKE TO CALL THE, THE BIG SIGNIFICANT ITEMS EARLY AND WHICH I DID, BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK SOON AND CONTINUE THIS ITEM AFTER THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL ITEM.

BUT LET'S HEAR COMMISSIONER BOTEN, DEPENDING ON TIME TIMING, WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

UM, I AGREE THAT PAX ARE THE BANE OF OUR POLITICAL EXISTENCE.

AND CITIZENS UNITED WAS ONE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUSLY DAMAGING DECISIONS, UM, EVER MADE, UH, BY THE SUPREME COURT WHEN IT COMES TO FREE SPEECH IN POLITICS AND, UM, LETTING INDIVIDUALS HAVE THEIR VOICES.

I DO NOT AGREE, AND I WILL NEVER AGREE THAT TAKING A BALLOT QUESTION OFF OF THE BALLOT WHEN CLOSE TO 20,000 RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY VOTED, WHEN WE HAD AMPLE TIME AS A BODY TO DELIBERATE ON WHAT WAS GOING TO BE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS GOING TO BE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT, BOTH AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, THAT MET WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM, UM, AND OUR CHARTER AMENDMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, MEMBERS AND ALL OF US, NO, NO, NO ONE, NO, NO ONE ON THE COMMITTEE GOT THIS, EXCUSE ME.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S JUST A LIE.

I'M, EXCUSE ME, SAYING WE DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT THIS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 19TH WHEN THE SAMPLE BALLOTS CAME OUT.

NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THIS ONE.

WE HAD A COMMITTEE OF A HOLD TO GO OVER REFERENDUM QUESTIONS ONE THROUGH SEVEN.

NO ONE BROUGHT THIS UP TO US.

NO ONE.

THE ONLY TIME THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS IS WHEN I GOT A SAMPLE BALLOT IN THE MAIL IN SEPTEMBER 19TH.

AND AS SOON AS I DID, I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOW KNEW ABOUT THIS.

OUR COMMITTEE OF A WHOLE, WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS.

NUMBER EIGHT, NEVER.

RICK, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOCUSED ON THE CHARTER REVIEW QUESTIONS.

THERE WERE LETTER TO LETTERS TO COMMISSION, UM, SEVERAL, I THINK INCLUDING ONE IN AUGUST THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE BALLOT QUESTIONS.

BUT THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT THE COMMITTEE OF THE, OKAY.

SO, EXCUSE ME.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MY MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN, WE HAD BEEN ADVISED IN WRITING OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS, AND THERE ARE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

I THINK IT IS A TERRIBLE PRACTICE AND IT GOD AWFUL PRECEDENT FOR SMALL D DEMOCRACY FOR US TO START TELLING VOTERS THAT WE'RE JUST KIDDING.

YOU'RE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO MAKE A DECISION.

YOU'RE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THROUGH THE POLITICAL BS THAT WE ARE ALL SUBJECTED TO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE CANDIDATES.

BUT ANYBODY WHO VOTES IN THIS CITY FOR SURE, AND PROBABLY IN ANY CITY IN, IN THE THIS COUNTRY, IS SUBJECTED TO LITERALLY POUNDS OF JUNK MAIL TELLING PEOPLE HOW AWESOME ONE CANDIDATE IS OR HOW DEMONIC ANOTHER CANDIDATE IS, OR THE SAME ON THE ISSUES THEMSELVES.

[01:30:01]

I THINK THAT IF, IF WE START HERE AND, AND I'M DEEPLY TROUBLED THAT WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION TODAY THAT TALK ABOUT TAKING SOMETHING OFF THE BALLOT, I THINK THAT IS AN UNHOLY TERRIBLE, UH, DECISION.

UH, UH, UH, UH, PRECEDENT IS SET.

AND I, FOR ONE, WILL NOT SUPPORT THEM REGARDLESS OF THE MERITS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN PLACE ABOUT THE ITEM ON DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ, UH, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

UM, YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THAT BALLOT QUESTION.

UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION.

DID THIS BODY VOTE TO PUT THAT HOMELESS BALLOT QUESTION ON THE BALLOT? THIS WAS DONE BY THE PRIOR COMMISSION.

IT'S NOT ALL OF YOU ARE ON THERE.

WHY WEREN'T WE TOLD? AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS A LETTER TO COMMISSIONER, AT LEAST ONE THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE BALLOT QUESTIONS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD DISCUSSIONS 'CAUSE IT'S NOT A CHARTER REVIEW QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER B BRINGS FORWARD A VERY IMPORTANT POINT, WHICH IS THAT WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS HERE THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE.

AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE IN MY ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PRIVATE MEETING OF THE WHOLE FOR BALLOT QUESTIONS.

NORMALLY WHEN MIAMI BEACH PLACES SOMETHING ON A BALLOT, WE GO QUESTION BY QUESTION AT A PUBLIC MEETING, WE PUT THE BALLOT QUESTION UP FOR EVERYONE TO READ.

AND AT THAT MOMENT, PUBLICLY, WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BALLOT.

AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN THIS TIME, THIS TIME.

UM, A PRIVATE MEETING WAS CALLED A MEETING OF THE WHOLE.

AND IN THAT MEETING, UH, WE DISCUSSED CERTAIN ITEMS, BUT WE NEVER, IT'S, IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME THAT DURING THAT MEETING, QUESTION NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH BY THE WAY, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHEN THIS WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT A YEAR AGO, AND I WAS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, SAID, WE ARE GOING TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THIS BALLOT QUESTION SO THAT YOU CAN REEVALUATE IN THE FUTURE.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

UM, WE NEVER KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING ON THE BALLOT.

AND FRANKLY, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW IT ON THE BALLOT AND WHEN I SAW THE CAMPAIGN STARTING TO BE RUN, UM, I WAS, I, I, YOU KNOW, I I FELT VERY HELPLESS BECAUSE WHEN THE STRAW BALLOT QUESTION CAME ON, WE HAVE THE SAME PACK WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEVELOPER DOLLARS, UM, RUNNING A CAMPAIGN.

SO IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS OPPOSED THIS TAX COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

MARK SAMUEL WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UM, OPPONENTS OF THIS TAX COMMISSIONER MALAKOFF.

WE HAD TOLD, WE TOLD THE HOMELESS TRUST, THEY WOULD COME BEFORE US EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THEY WOULD SAY, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UM, APPROVE THIS TAX? AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WE SAID, NO.

SO WHAT DID HE DO? THE HEAD OF THE HOMELESS TRUST, HE WENT TO TALLAHASSEE AND HE CHANGED THE STATE LAW, BUT INCLUDED IN THAT STATE LAW WAS OUR ABILITY TO HOLD A REFERENDUM.

SO I I SAY, I WOULD SAY IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

UM, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO WERE LEAVING, SOME OF WHOM WERE RUNNING FOR OTHER OFFICES, AND THEY NEEDED MONEY FOR CAMPAIGNS .

SO THEY PUT THIS QUESTION ON THE BALLOT KNOWING THAT THIS COMMISSION DID NOT VOTE ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION.

SO THE ENTIRE THING WAS A DECEITFUL MOVE.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION IN THE FUTURE THAT BALLOT QUESTIONS NEED TO BE HEARD AT A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON THEM, QUESTION BY QUESTION BEFORE ANYTHING GOES ON THE BALLOT.

AND IF ANYBODY IS AT FAULT HERE, I'M SORRY, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I WAS FURIOUS.

AND ALSO, I'M FURIOUS ABOUT QUESTION THREE BECAUSE EXTRA LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO THAT QUESTION TOO.

AND THAT, AND EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON QUESTION THREE WAS NOT DISCUSSED.

SO WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO HAVE THIS MEETING OF THE WHOLE, BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW, I, I SHOULD HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID SOMETHING THAT BECAUSE I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, WHO DECIDED THAT WE WERE GONNA HEAR THE BALLOT QUESTIONS AT A MEETING OF THE WHOLE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED IN THE PAST.

SO I WAS FOLLOWING PRECEDENT.

IT'S A COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC MEETING, BY THE WAY.

I I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT A PRIVATE MEETING.

WELL, THERE WAS NOBODY REALLY FROM THE PUBLIC THERE.

I, IT WAS, IT'S NOT THE SAME AS HEARING IT AS A COMMISSION MEETING AS FOR THE RECORD, IN MY EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

SO MOVING FORWARD, I'M GONNA BRING SOME LEGISLATION THAT BALLOT QUESTIONS NEED TO BE HEARD.

THEY SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A COUPLE OF HEARINGS BEFORE THEY GO ON OUR BALLOT, AND WE NEED TO VOTE PUBLICLY ON THEM.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE FAIREST WAY.

SO WE ARE NOT INTERVENING OR RUINING AN

[01:35:01]

ELECTION PROCESS.

WE'RE WRITING SOMETHING THAT WAS HIDDEN FROM THIS BODY UP HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE WOULD'VE VOTED TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, ESPECIALLY AFTER WITHDRAWING OUR $1 MILLION TO THE HOMELESS TRUST.

I WILL TELL YOU, UM, OVER THE YEARS, I'VE GOTTEN VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE FOUND ABOUT THE HOMELESS TRUST IS THAT IT IS A GROUP OF DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE APARTMENTS ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN VERY EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE.

AND THEY HAVE A POLICY THAT THEY CALL HOUSING FIRST.

THIS HOUSING FIRST POLICY IS $30,000, UM, PER YEAR PER HOMELESS PERSON, ROUGHLY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE THING IS, IS THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO LIVE IN THESE APARTMENTS.

SO THEY GET THESE APARTMENTS, THE DEVELOPERS ARE PAID $30,000 PER YEAR, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, AND THEN THE HOMELESS GO BACK OUT ON THE STREET .

SO WHEN I STARTED TO QUESTION THIS PRACTICE, I SAID, WHY ARE WE HOUSING THESE HOMELESS IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI? WHY AREN'T WE BUILDING SOMETHING IN HOMESTEAD OR SOMETHING LESS EXPENSIVE? UM, I COULDN'T GET AN ANSWER.

THEN I REQUESTED THE FINANCIALS ON A $60 MILLION BUDGET.

AND I LITERALLY GOT ONE PAGE WITH LIKE FIVE LINE ITEMS ON IT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS TRANSPARENT AT ALL, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE COUNTY IS UPSET THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN AUDIT.

AND WHICH IS WHY THIS BODY ESPECIALLY HAS ALWAYS VOTED NO ON THIS.

SO I AM A NO TODAY, I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER SUAREZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UM, I WAS GONNA TRY TO WRITE ABOUT IT IN MY EMAIL, BUT IT WAS SO COMPLEX AND CONVOLUTED THAT I DIDN'T WANNA WASTE PEOPLE'S NOT THEIR TIME, BUT I'M HOPING THAT TODAY THE BODY DOES THE RIGHT DECISION AND REPEALS SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY DID NOT APPROVE, UM, DID NOT APPROVE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT.

SO THERE'S JUST TWO OF US LEFT WHO HAVEN'T SPOKEN, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

AND I'M GONNA SPEAK, UH, BRIEFLY TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS ITEM BEFORE OUR HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL ITEM.

I GUESS I SEPARATE THIS INTO TWO, TWO ASPECTS.

ONE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIVE ASPECT OF THE TAX.

I DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL, AND I'VE MADE THAT SO CLEAR IN EVERY VOTE, UH, THAT I'VE TAKEN, I'VE SAID IT PUBLICLY, I VOTED NO TO PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT.

I BELIEVE, IF I'M NOT CORRECT, I DIDN'T GO BACK AND CHECK, BUT I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ AND I, THIS IS A FORMER COMMISSION, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT VOTED NO SO TO IT.

SO THE TWO OF US, UH, DID, UH, WE'RE BEING CONSISTENT HERE.

UM, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SAID BEFORE.

I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT EVERYTHING, BUT OUR CITY SPENDS MILLIONS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP THE HOMELESS.

AND REALLY THE CRUX OF IT, AND YOU POINTED THIS OUT, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, IS WE, WE DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THESE FUNDS.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE TAX IN OUR BUSINESS, OUR BUSINESSES.

IT WOULD MAKE US THE HIGHEST TAX IN THE STATE.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR REASONING, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, BUT IT STILL MAKE, WOULD MAKE US THE HIGHEST TAX IN THE STATE.

UM, IT IMPACTS OUR RESIDENTS, IT IMPACTS OUR BUSINESSES.

AND MY CONCERN IS WE DO NOT CONTROL THOSE FUNDS.

UM, SO I, I BELIEVE THERE'S BETTER USE OF THE MONEY.

THIS IS NOT THE REASON I'M AGAINST IT, BECAUSE I WAS AGAINST IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THE, WHEN THE ISSUE FIRST CAME UP.

BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THE SAME PLAYERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE HOMELESS TRUST, AND I WON'T MENTION PEOPLE BY NAME, BUT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE BY NAME, BY NAME.

THEY ARE OUT THERE FRONT AND CENTER.

WHEN YOU OPEN THE NEWSPAPER AND READ ABOUT HOMELESS, THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES QUOTED IN, IN, IN, IN MY OPINION, HARSH TONES CRITICIZING OUR COMMISSION FOR THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS THAT WE TAKE AGAINST THE HOMELESS.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THEY'RE ASKING US TO SEND THEM MONEY.

THEY'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE TAXES.

BUT YET WHEN WE TAKE THE MEASURES, AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP THE HOMELESS, TO GET THEM TO SHELTER, TO GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED, BUT WE CANNOT PUT BLINDERS IN OUR EYES AND SAY, WE DO NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL ELEMENT AMONGST THE HOMELESS AMONGST US.

WE GET THE REPORTS LITERALLY EVERY DAY OF WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM.

AND OUR RESIDENTS KNOW IT.

AND OUR RESIDENTS TELL US ALL THE TIME, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

I GIVE OUR POLICE CREDIT, WE NEED TO DO MORE.

AND I THINK OUR COMMISSION IS, IS DEMANDING THAT WE DO EVEN MORE.

BUT WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB COMPARED TO MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THE COUNTRY, AND WE GET CRITICIZED FOR IT ALL THE TIME.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT MATTERS, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES, THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE JOB WE'RE DOING.

BUT ANYWAY, I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE IT, IT DOESN'T IMPACT MY VOTE.

IT'S NOT THE REASON I'M TAKING, SAYING THESE THINGS BECAUSE I VOTED, UH, AGAINST THIS TAX ON THE BALLOT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BEFORE ALL THIS CAME UP.

BUT I, I FIND IT DISINGENUOUS THAT YOU'RE COMING IN ON THE ONE HAND ASKING FOR MONEY.

BUT YET WHEN WE TAKE THE MEASURES THAT ARE NOT JUST HUMANITARIAN, BUT THEY'RE ALSO THE RIGHT MEASURES TO TAKE TO PROTECT OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, AND THAT WE GET WHACKED OVER THE HEAD FOR IT.

BUT, UM, THE SEPARATE ISSUE THOUGH IS NOW WE HAVE A BALLOT MEASURE.

UM, I'M, UH, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

I, I, I JUST, AND I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

[01:40:01]

COMMUNICATION.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA COME A LITTLE BIT TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

UM, THERE WASN'T LTC THERE PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN MORE ROBUST.

I'M ALSO REMEMBERING THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING PROCESS THAT WHEN, WHEN OUR COMMISSION, AGAIN, YOU AND I HAD VOTED NO TO IT, BUT OUR COMMISSION HAD APPROVED IT, THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS THAT IT WAS GONNA TAKE, HAD TO GO BACK TO THE STATE, AND IT WAS GONNA TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET BACK ON THE BALLOT.

UM, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT AGAIN, THERE IS A NEW COMMISSION.

UH, MOST OF US, UH, HERE ARE, ARE NEW.

UM, SO, UM, UH, I GUESS I, I WAS AWARE OF IT.

UM, AND, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE QUESTION NOW COMES, DO WE TAKE A BALLOT MEASURE THAT'S ON THE BALLOT? PEOPLE HAVE VOTED OVER 20,000 PEOPLE, I THINK, TO MIAMI BEACH ALREADY.

THERE'S GONNA BE MORE, UH, WHO PROBABLY WON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T COUNT.

UM, SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT HANGING IN THE AIR AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

UM, I'M GLAD , GLAD I'M NOT THE SWING VOTE ANYMORE.

UH, SO I COME AT THIS WITH A BIT MORE NUANCED VIEW.

I GET THE FEELING A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, FOR BETTER OR WORSE OR, OR ENTRENCHED ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, UH, REALLY WRESTLED WITH THIS IN THE PAST WEEK, UH, UP THE LAST NIGHT.

I ALSO WILL BIFURCATE THE, THE DISCUSSION HERE INTO TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. ONE IS THE MERIT OF THE TAX.

UH, I'VE BEEN ADAMANTLY AGAINST THIS, UH, FOUR YEARS.

UM, I'VE CALLED INTO PUBLIC MEETINGS AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND NOW AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I TAKE MOST SERIOUS, IF NOT THE MOST SERIOUSLY, IS OUR FISCAL POLICY IN THE CITY.

AND AS A LEADER, AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, ALMOST A DERELICTION OF DUTY TO, UH, ALLOW TAXES TO BE RAISED, UM, FOR ITEMS THAT ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE HURTING AT A TIME OF INFLATION.

WHEN WE SAW PARKING RATES THAT WERE APPROVED BY PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS WERE PROPOSED, WE ALL SAT THERE, SAT UP AND SAID, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO RAISE ANY TYPES OF FEES, BUT ESPECIALLY NOW TAXES, TAXES THAT ARE GONNA TAKE $10 MILLION OUT OF OUR CITY.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR CITY, MIAMI BEACH HIGH SCHOOL, IT HAS A READING PROFICIENCY RATE OF 56%, RIGHT? MATH RATE OF 35%.

EXCUSE ME, IF I GOT THOSE NUMBERS MIXED UP.

IF WE'RE GONNA BE RAISING TAXES, WHICH I'D BE AGAINST IN 99% OF SCENARIOS, LET'S PUT IT TOWARDS EDUCATION.

LET'S PUT IT TOWARDS THINGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT TANGIBLE EFFECT.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT SPENDING MORE AND MORE MONEY ON THE HOMELESS ISSUES IS A WAY TO SOLVE IT.

IT PROVIDES IN MY MIND AT TIMES PERVERSE INCENTIVES FROM, NOT TO GET OFF TRACK HERE, BUT, UH, IN INDIA, UH, FROM 1858 TO 1947, THE BRITISH RISE RULED AND THEY SET UP INCENTIVES TO, UH, CONTROL A, UH, COBRA PROBLEM.

AND THEY PROVIDED BOUNTIES WHERE PEOPLE COULD ESSENTIALLY TURN IN SNAKES, UH, FOR MONEY.

AND WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY DID IS IT CAUSED PEOPLE TO BREED MORE SNAKES, AND IT COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM.

AND THROWING MONEY AT SOME OF THESE NGOS, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, I BELIEVE, REALLY DOESN'T ALWAYS SOLVE PROBLEMS, BUT ALMOST DRAWS MORE ATTENTION AND MORE NEED TO THEM.

WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH HOMELESS, AND THIS ISN'T TO DISCOUNT THE WORK THAT'S DONE BECAUSE THERE ARE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE COMMITTED TO AND MAKE A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY, I ASK MYSELF, WOULD MORE MONEY HAVE SOLVED THAT? I HAD A LOADED GUN PULLED ON ME BY A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL IN THE GROUND FLOOR OF MY FAMILY'S APARTMENT? WOULD PUTTING $10 MILLION OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE HOMELESS TRUST HAVE PREVENTED THAT? THERE'S A HOMELESS PERSON THAT RAPED A YOUNG WOMAN ON LINCOLN ROAD TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.

WOULD GIVING THE HOMELESS TRUST $10 MILLION HAVE PREVENTED THAT? I DON'T THINK SO.

FEEL FREE TO ARGUE OTHERWISE.

BUT THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES THAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING IN OUR CITY, I DON'T THINK ARE SOLVED BY PUTTING MORE AND MORE MONEY TOWARDS A NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.

AND TO SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN TWO YEARS, JUST BECAUSE WE NEED MORE MONEY.

WE'RE PUTTING $7 MILLION PER YEAR ALREADY TOWARDS HOMELESS SERVICES.

SO WITHOUT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, I'M JUST NOT CONVINCED THAT MORE MONEY IS THE ANSWER.

SO I'VE BEEN STEADFAST AGAINST THAT.

UH, BUT THE PART THAT REALLY KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS, IS THIS THE CORRECT PATH FORWARD? THIS HAS BEEN PUT TO THE BALLOT TO VOTERS, AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN DEMOCRACY.

[01:45:01]

AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I, I LOATH THE CITIZENS UNITED, AND I THINK IT'S THE BANE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT IT'S THE PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN.

AND IT WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL FOR ME TO SIT THERE AND RAISE MONEY FOR MY CAMPAIGN TO SEND OUT MY SLANTED MAILERS TO SAY, WELL VOTE FOR THIS AND THEN CRITICIZE OTHERS FOR DOING SO.

SO I GET THAT THAT'S PART OF DEMOCRACY, BUT ALSO WE'RE ELECTED LEGISLATORS.

AND THIS WASN'T A RESIDENT DRIVEN PETITION.

THIS WASN'T SOMETHING IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

THIS IS A MEASURE THAT WAS VOTED ON BY A PREVIOUS COMMISSION TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT.

LIKE MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS.

AND I VIEW THIS AS LEGISLATORS, PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

LEGISLATORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS OFF THE BALLOT.

WE ARE ELECTED AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO.

THIS ISN'T TAKING AWAY OUR CHOICE, OUR ABILITY TO BE HEARD, OUR FREEDOM OF DEMOCRACY, ELECTED POSITIONS, RIGHT? THIS ISN'T IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

I DON'T VIEW THIS THE SAME AS SITTING THERE, TAKING AWAY OUR CITIZENS' VOICES.

I SEE THIS AS A NEED FOR US TO BE BOLD, TO BE LEADERS AND TO EXERCISE OUR TRUE CONVICTION.

AND ONE THING I JUST WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH IS BY STANDING BY.

'CAUSE I PROMISE YOU, I PROMISE YOU THAT WOULD BE THE EASIER DECISION.

AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MORE POLITICALLY SAVVY THING TO DO, EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF CALLS I STARTED GETTING FROM 6:00 AM ON THIS MORNING.

OKAY? THAT WOULD BE THE EASIEST THING TO DO, IS SIT THERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? GO AHEAD.

I, I I'M JUST GOING TO SIT BACK AND WATCH.

BUT AT A TIME WHEN EVERY SINGLE DAY I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HURTING, HURTING MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF LIVING BUSINESSES SHUTTING DOWN, RIGHT? DESPITE ALL THE ECONOMIC, UM, INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HURTING.

AND THIS IS HITTING SMALL BUSINESS.

$400,000 OF GROSS REVENUE FOR A RESTAURANT IS NOT YOUR POPPY STEAK.

IT'S NOT YOUR CARBONE.

IT'S THE GUY THAT INVESTED HIS MONEY TO OPEN UP A BURGER SHOP ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.

AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME.

AND I GAVE THEM MY COMMITMENT THAT I WOULD STAND UP FOR THEM.

'CAUSE THEY SAID, OUR BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY HURTING, OUR STAFF ARE ALREADY HURTING.

AND TO SIT THERE AND THEN IMPOSE WHAT WILL BE THE HIGHEST TAX IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS NOT SOMETHING I COULD JUST SIT BY AND EASILY DO.

UM, SO I'M GONNA BE IN SUPPORT OF TAKING THIS OFF THE BALLOT.

I DON'T VIEW THIS AS A CHILL TO DEMOCRACY.

IT KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT, UH, SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS, BUT THIS WAS LEGISLATIVELY DRIVEN BY A PREVIOUS COMMISSION, EVEN CONTEMPLATING PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT.

AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT OFF.

SO I APPRECIATE NOW I LEAVE YOU HANGING ALL GOOD.

I I AS MUCH AS I WANTED.

I DON'T LIKE THIS TAX AT ALL.

I I DO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE TIMING OF IT, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU DID IT AS QUICKLY AS YOU COULD HAVE AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MAKE THIS INTO A STRAW VOTE? SO IT'LL BE NON-BINDING, AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO THIS COMMISSION TO VOTE AFTERWARDS? WELL, I, I'D ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY.

I MEAN, WHAT IF THIS PASSES? ARE WE BIND, UH, BECAUSE YOU GAVE ME INFORMATION BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED SAYING THAT IF THIS GOES THROUGH, THERE'S GOING TO BE, UH, IT'S GONNA BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDO.

SO IF YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT, THE, THE LEGAL SAFER, LEGALLY SAFER APPROACH, IF, IF THIS IS WHAT THIS BODY WISHES TO DO WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE QUESTION FROM THE BALLOT AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU LET IT GO THROUGH AND THEN DECIDE THAT IT WAS A STRAW BALLOT, OR YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE, THERE COULD BE CHALLENGES THAT, UH, THAT THE, THE CITY MUST MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

SO, UM, IF THE WILL OF THE BODY IS NOT TO HAVE THIS TAX, THIS WOULD BE THE BETTER TIME LEGALLY TO, TO DO THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHY WE WOULD HAVE LEGAL CHALLENGES IF WE'VE DONE STRAW BALLOTS BEFORE? ACTUALLY THE 2:00 AM 5:00 AM ALCOHOL ITEM WAS A STRAW BALLOT, UM, WHICH I ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE 2:00 AM SO IT, IT HAD CLEAR MAJORITY ON THAT.

SURE.

WE NEVER PASSED IT.

WHY WOULD, WHY WOULD THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN THAT VOTE? BECAUSE THOSE QUESTIONS WERE WORDED AS STRAW BALLOTS.

THIS QUESTION, YOU WERE, YOU'RE INDICATING YOU WANT TO TREAT IT AS A STRAW BALLOT, WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO LATER.

BUT ONCE, ONCE THE, THE, THE BALLOT IS PRINTED AND IT

[01:50:01]

DOESN'T INCLUDE THE WORD STRAW BALLOT.

IT, IT IS NOT A STRAW BALLOT.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT FROM THE DAYS.

I'M, I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH THE LEGAL, THE LEGAL NUANCES OF, UH, AND THIS IS A NICE HEALTHY DEBATE AMONGST LAWYERS, WHY THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN REMOVING THE BALLOT QUESTION.

BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGES, BUT CONVERTING IT INTO A STRAW BALLOT, LETTING THE VOTERS CONTINUE TO VOTE, IT'S A VALID, IT'S STILL A QUESTION.

WHY, WHY, WHY THE DISTINCTION? UM, EVEN IF YOU REMOVE IT FROM THE BALLOT, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT NOT CHALLENGE IT.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A, WE WILL HAVE A MORE DIFFICULT TIME DEFENDING IF YOU ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE AND THEN WISH TO REPEAL THE, THE TAX.

I'LL, I'LL ALSO ADD, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THIS WOULD BE IDEAL.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE VOTE WILL GO.

I THINK I SUSPECT BASED ON A PRIOR STRAW BALLOT, HOW IT WILL GO, PARTLY BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A COMPASSIONATE ITEM WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF SORT OF LEGAL ASPECTS AND POLITICS INVOLVED.

SO IT'S, BUT THAT, YOU CAN'T GET THAT INTO A 75 WORD VALID QUESTION.

BUT ULTIMATELY, COULD OUR COMMISSION OVERTURN, NOT OVERTURN, BUT COULD WE INDEPENDENTLY MAKE A DECISION ON THE TAX POST THE VOTE? YES.

AND THAT IS WHERE I WAS SAYING THAT THAT COULD BE CHALLENGED WITH MORE IMPACT THAN A CHALLENGE TO THE REMOVAL FROM THE BALLOT.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, TWO THINGS.

UM, SO, UH, C ATTORNEY, WHEN YOU CAME TO ME, UH, THIS MORNING, YOU TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NEW INFORMATION, THAT IT WOULD BE EVEN HARDER.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT WOULD, UH, IMPACT ANY SORT OF IDEA THAT POST, UH, ELECTION, THIS WOULD MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT? AND, AND AFTER THAT, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ONE MORE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD MAKE IT ANY CLEARER THAN I JUST DID.

UM, I THINK THAT ONCE THE, ONCE THE THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, THERE IS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMEBODY WILL CHALLENGE AND SEEK TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT, WHAT THE WILL OF THE VOTE, WHAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IS.

AND, AND ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT.

THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR THIS.

I BELIEVE IN 2016 OR 17, WE DID RESCIND, WELL, NOT WE, BUT A PREVIOUS COMMISSION DID RESCIND A BALLOT MEASURE, UH, FOR ALCOHOL SALES AT TWO O'CLOCK, TWO O'CLOCK.

UH, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED.

IT WAS ALREADY ON THE BALLOT.

PEOPLE WERE TECHNICALLY VOTING FOR IT.

YES, THERE WAS A PIECE OF PAPER, UH, AND A SIGN IN FRONT OF THE, THE, THE PRECINCTS THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS QUESTION IS INVALID.

I'M ASSUMING THAT ONCE WE PASS THIS, THIS IS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT JUST LIKE, LOOK AT THAT FOR A SECOND.

YOU KNOW, THE, JUST, JUST LOOK AT THE, THE ISSUE THERE.

YOU KNOW, A PREVIOUS COMMISSION ROLLED BACK 2:00 AM ALCOHOL SALES , AND YOU KNOW, WHERE, JUST WHERE DOES THE PRIORITY LIE ON THAT? SO IF WE'RE WILLING TO ROLL BACK, IF WE'RE WILLING TO RESCIND A 2:00 AM ROLLBACK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NO BRAINER TO TO, TO RESCIND A 1% TAX THAT'S GONNA BE IN PERPETUITY FOR MIAMI BEACH DURING THE WORST ECONOMIC TIMES THAT WE'VE SEEN AS FAR AS SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, AND SMALL MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS IN MIAMI BEACH.

AND, AND MAYOR, I, I, I TOTALLY, I I, I UNDERSTAND AND I'M SYMPATHETIC TO, TO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.

MAYBE I CAN MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO SAY THAT NEXT, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WE CAN PUT ON, UH, ANOTHER BALLOT MEASURE WHERE WE HAVE WITH THE HOMELESS TRUST, UH, A BETTER NEGOTIATED CONTRACT WHERE, UH, WE, WE HAVE OUTLINED TERMS ON HOW THE MONEY WILL BE, UH, RECEIVED, UH, BACK TO MIAMI BEACH AND HOW IT WILL BE SPENT.

BUT TO BLINDLY GO AHEAD AND JUST DOLL OUT $10 MILLION A YEAR TO AN ENTITY THAT HAS, HAS HAD A LOT OF ISSUES AS FAR AS TRANSPARENCY GOES, HAS CURRENTLY ISSUES WITH THE COUNTY.

IT'S JUST A REAL, IT'S A REAL DERELICTION OF DUTY, A AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

BUT I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SPONSOR AN ITEM TO BRING THIS BACK NEXT YEAR, WHERE I WILL, MYSELF OR COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WHO'S O WHO WHO SERVES ON THE HOMELESS TRUST, CAN PUT TOGETHER, UH, A, A A BALLOT QUESTION THAT IS MORE SINCERE AND, AND, AND COLLABORATIVE WITH MIAMI BEACH AND, AND WITH THIS COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION THAT WE'RE STANDING HERE, THAT, THAT, THAT SERVES THE RESIDENTS.

SO, UM, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, TO MEET HALFWAY ON THAT, UH, MAYOR MINOR IF, UH, THAT IS, IF THAT DISSUADES YOUR, YOUR, YOUR FEELINGS ON THE MATTER.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO JUST THE CITY ATTORNEY, JUST TO GO OVER THIS, BASICALLY THREE OPTIONS WE HAVE.

ONE IS TO, UM, REMOVE IT RIGHT NOW, TWO, TO DO A, CONVERT IT TO A STRAW BALLOT, OR THREE, WAIT TILL AFTER THE VOTE, AND THEN REMOVE IT.

YOUR LEGAL

[01:55:01]

OPINION IS THAT OUR MOST LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE POSITION IS TO REMOVE IT RIGHT NOW CONSISTENT WITH COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S ITEM.

WELL, I WISH TO CLARIFY, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF, OF TURNING THIS INTO A STRONG BALLOT.

THE QUESTION IS PRINTED AND IS ALREADY OUT WITH THE VOTERS.

SO YOU, YOU HAVE THE TWO OPTIONS, AND ACTUALLY THE THIRD THAT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ PRESENTED, WHICH I GUESS IS A, AN AMENDMENT, WHICH IS TO PROCEED NOW AND THEN TO RETURN TO BEING A BALLOT QUESTION BACK IN 2026, BECAUSE THESE ELECTIONS CAN ONLY OCCUR ON EVEN YEARS.

AND YES, TO REITERATE MY PRIOR, UM, OPINION, I THINK THE, THERE WOULD BE A MORE DIFFICULT, UH, DEFENSE INVOLVED IF THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY, UH, SPOKEN, IF THE ELECTION HAS GONE THROUGH.

SO JUST, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.

WE COULD NOT, WE COULD NOT, RIGHT NOW, I THOUGHT YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS NOT A LEGALLY DEFENSE POSITION, BUT YOU'RE SAYING NOW THAT WE COULD NOT CONVERT THIS INTO A NON-BINDING STRAW BALLOT VOTE AT THIS TIME? THAT IS CORRECT.

YOU CANNOT.

COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, YEP.

THANK YOU, MR. CITY ATTORNEY.

UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HONORING DEMOCRACY IN, IN 2022, UH, THERE WAS A REFERENDUM QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER THERE PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY 62%.

AND THAT VOTE CAME TO THE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT IT.

AND THE COMMISSION SAID, WELL, THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS, IS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM ALLOWING THE VOTE TO OCCUR AND THEN REPEALING, I MEAN, YOU'RE SAYING, WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPEAL IT.

SO IF YOU REPEAL IT, THEN YOU HAVE THE SAME QUESTION OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.

IF YOU ALLOW IT TO GO THROUGH, THEN IT'S A NON-ISSUE.

MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, I, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GONNA KNOW WHERE WE STAND.

I THINK, MR. MAYOR, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE SWING VOTE ON THIS.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'LL, UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT YOU.

I AM NOT PLEASED TO REMOVE THIS FROM THE BALLOT AT THIS TIME.

I, I, I DETEST IT ACTUALLY.

UM, THAT BEING SAID, ULTIMATELY, AND I THINK YOU SAID THIS, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, I'LL QUOTE YOU, PARAPHRASE.

ULTIMATELY, WE WERE ELECTED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES.

AND I HAVE BEEN UNEQUIVOCAL EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WHETHER IT BE THE HOMELESS TAX, WHETHER IT BE THE MILLIONS THAT THIS COMMISSION THEN RESCINDED TO THE HOMELESS TRUST.

AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING GOOD WORK AND THEY DO THINGS, IT'S JUST FUNDAMENTALLY, IT'S WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEST SPENT.

AND IT'S ALSO, I THINK THERE'S ALSO A DIFFERENT VIEW AS TO HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

CALIFORNIA HAS SPENT MORE MONEY ON TRYING TO SOLVE A HOMELESS PROBLEM THAN ANYBODY, AND THEY HAVE CLEARLY NOT SOLVED IT.

SO, UM, I THINK THIS COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY THIS, THIS LITERALLY, THIS COMMISSION IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK USING HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, USING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF HARDWORKING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO HELP HOMELESS, BUT ALSO USING OUR ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT ARE HOMELESS, OUTREACH AND OBVIOUSLY OUR POLICE.

AND WE KEEP DEMANDING MORE, OR WE'RE APPRECIATIVE, OBVIOUSLY, OF THE EFFORTS.

'CAUSE I THINK I, I, I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS, A LOT OF TIMES WE GET COMPLAINTS, BUT ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE HOMELESS ISSUES, UM, THAT, THAT MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES EVEN SURROUNDING US HAVE.

SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT YOU AS, AS DIFFICULT AS THIS MAY BE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.

MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

UM, IT'S, THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A HEALTHY AND ROBUST DISCUSSION BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

NO ONE LIKES TAXES.

NO ONE LIKES PASSING ATTACKS, UH, TO TO, TO THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T LIKE US TAKING AWAY THE COMMUNITY'S VOTE, UH, WHILE THEY'RE ACTIVELY VOTING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT.

AND NAUM AT THIS POINT, UM, I DO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE WORDS WE PUT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT OUR IMAGE AND OUR REPUTATION THAT WE WOULD BE THE HIGHEST TAXED COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THAT, OR THAT ORLANDO, UH, ORLANDO, UH, IS, I BELIEVE 13%.

UH, I THINK THEY HAVE, UH, THERE'S A 0.5% FROM ORANGE COUNTY.

THERE'S A 6% TAX, UH, FROM, UH, FROM, FROM THE STATE.

THERE'S A, THERE'S, UM, THE CITY ITSELF HAS A 6% TAX.

SO ORLANDO IS, IS ABOUT 13 OR MORE THAN 13, UH, PERCENT.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO PUT OUT

[02:00:01]

THERE.

ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE PUT OUT THERE IS THAT THE HOMELESS TRUST IS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID HERE, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, THAT THEY'RE A PRIVATE ENTITY, THAT THEY HAVE NO OVERSIGHT.

THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SITS ON THE TRUST.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER SITS ON THE TRUST.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION SIT ON THE TRUST AS WELL.

I SIT ON THE TRUST AS WELL.

AND MR. MAYOR, UM, IF THIS VOTE PASSES WITH YOUR VOTE, SINCE YOU APPOINTED ME TO THE HOMELESS TRUST A POSITION THAT I DID NOT WANT, AND THAT I ASK YOUR OFFICE NOT TO APPOINT ME TO, I'M NOT GONNA BE SAD TO GO IN ON A FAILED MISSION.

AND I WILL RESIGN EFFECTIVE TODAY FROM THE HOMELESS TRUST IF THIS, IF THIS VOTE PASSES.

BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.

IF WE DO WANNA SOLVE IT, IT, WE ALWAYS SAY WE, WE LEAD WITH COMPASSION.

WHAT WE'RE NOT LEADING WITH COMPASSION.

IF WE'RE NOT CREATING AVENUES FOR HOUSING, WE'RE NOT LEADING FOR COMPASSION.

IF WE'RE NOT CREATING HOUSING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, WHICH OUR COMMUNITY IS THE ONE LEADING IN THE COUNTY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS THAT THIS TAX WILL HELP ADDRESS.

WE'RE NOT LEADING WITH COMPASSION IF WE ARE NOW NOT CREATING AVAILABILITY IN SHELTERS SO THAT WE CAN PLACE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN SHELTERS AS OPPOSED TO ARRESTING THEM.

AND SO, AND SO, I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PASS THIS MOTION.

AND I RESPECT, I RESPECT EVERYONE'S POSITION BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING IN HIGHLIGHTING DISINGENUOUS, MISLEADING, FALSE ADVERTISING.

AND I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.

AND THE PAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND THE PAC LET THIS BE A LEARNING LESSON.

PEOPLE DESERVE HONESTY AND TRUTH IN THEIR ELECTIONS.

AND COMMISSIONER DAVID SUAREZ IS ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD IN HIGHLIGHTING THE MISTRUTHS THAT ARE PUT OUT THERE IN, IN, IN THE PACK.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE TAKING AWAY FROM THE VOTERS.

'CAUSE THERE ARE EDUCATED VOTERS OUT THERE WHO KNOW TRUTH FROM FICTION, AND WE COUNT ON THEIR VOTE WHEN WE GET ELECTED AND THEY GET S ME ADVERTISING ABOUT EACH ONE OF US FUNDED BY THOSE SAME PACS AND WE TRUST THEM THEN TO USE THEIR JUDGMENT IN A DEMOCRATIC WAY.

AND NOW WE'RE PULLING THE RUG UNDER THEM, AND WE'RE, AND WE'RE TELLING THEM, WE DON'T TRUST YOU VOTERS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND WE'RE GONNA PULL THAT AWAY FROM YOU.

SO, MR. MAYOR, UH, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS, OF, OF THIS, OF THIS RESOLUTION, IF IT PASSES, I WILL BE RESIGNING FROM THE HOMELESS TRUST.

I AM NOT GONNA SET OUT ON A FAILED MISSION.

I THINK WE'RE STICKING OUR HEAD IN THE SAND THAT WE THINK WE WILL ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

IT IS A REGIONAL ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TRUST.

WE NEED TO CREATE AVAILABILITY IN OUR SHELTERS, UH, BECAUSE THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE.

AND THIS HELPS US CREATE AVAILABILITY IN THOSE SHELTERS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO, BEFORE COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, UM, YES.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THE HOMELESS TRUST.

I DID APPOINT YOU AND YOU HAD MENTIONED TO ME AT THE TIME YOU DID, IT WASN'T A POSITION YOU WANTED, ALTHOUGH I SUBSEQUENTLY YOU DID SAY YOU WERE HAPPY THAT I DID APPOINT YOU.

I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

I'LL OBVIOUSLY, YOUR, YOUR RESIGNATION IS ACCEPTED.

I THINK YOU SHOULD NOMINATE COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

I WAS JUST ABOUT SAY THAT I'M A HOMELESS TRUST.

I I WAS JUST ABOUT TO OFFER THAT.

IF YOU REALLY WANNA SHAKE IT UP, I THINK THAT HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT ADDITION.

THEY WILL LOVE THAT ADDITION TO THE HOMELESS TRUST BOARD.

UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS WITH THE $60 MILLION IN HOMELESS TRUST FUNDS EACH YEAR, AND WITH JUDGE STEVEN LEMAN AS SITTING ON THE BOARD AND THE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHY IS THE HOMELESS TRUST NOT GIVING HIM THE OPERATING FUNDS TO OPEN THAT FACILITY THAT HE HAS CREATED SO THAT WE HAVE A PLACE TO PLACE THE HOMELESS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO JAIL THEM? THAT TO ME IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION BECAUSE WE WENT TO SEE THE FACILITY.

HE'S DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO BUILDING THE FACILITY.

HE GOT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE COUNTY TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GIVE HIM THE FUNDS.

AND NOW THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GIVE OPERATING FUNDS.

AND THOSE FUNDS AREN'T EVEN COMING FROM THE HOMELESS TRUST.

SO REALLY, IF THE HOMELESS TRUST CARED ABOUT THE HOMELESS, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE HOMELESS TRUST WOULD BE TO FUND THE OPERATING FUNDS FOR JUDGE STEVEN LEMANS FACILITY.

AND THAT IS NOT BEING DONE.

AND THAT IS, FOR ME, IS PROBABLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS THING BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY FACILITY THAT IS COMPASSIONATE, THAT WANTS TO BRING IN THE HOMELESS AND HAS A HAIRDRESSER.

TATTOO REMOVAL, EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, BEDS.

THEY ACTUALLY WASH THE HOMELESS PEOPLE'S FEET WHEN THEY WALK IN SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL, UM, SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL INTIMIDATED AND THEY, AND THEY ACCEPT MEDICATION.

AND WHEN I SAW THE TOUR OF THIS FACILITY, I SAID, WELL, WHY ISN'T THIS FACILITY OPEN? THIS COULD HOUSE 150 PEOPLE.

'CAUSE LITERALLY TAKE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, GET THEM THE MEDICINE THAT THEY NEED.

IT'S THE ACTUAL SOLUTION.

AND YET THE HOMELESS TRUST ISN'T FUNDING

[02:05:01]

THAT.

I DON'T GET THAT.

THAT TO ME MAKES NO SENSE.

SO I, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.

SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

A SECOND BY A SECOND, PLEASE.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.

I HEARD ROSA GONZALES YES.

MAGAZINE.

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

SUAREZ? YES.

AND MAYOR MINOR? YES.

SO ITEM PASSES R SEVEN J.

WE NOW HAVE TO DO COMPANION ITEM.

I'M GONNA DO THE SAME IF IT'S OKAY.

[R5 AB AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-4567, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED “TAXATION,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE V, ENTITLED “LOCAL BUSINESS TAX,” BY REPEALING SECTION 102-388 THEREOF, ENTITLED “LEVY, COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF 1% LOCAL OPTION FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX (HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TAX),” THEREBY STRIKING FROM THE CITY CODE ALL PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO LEVY, COLLECT, AND ADMINISTER THE 1% LOCAL OPTION FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX (ALSO KNOWN AS THE “HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TAX”) WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 212.0306 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ.

UH, THIS IS ON ITEM R FIVE A B, THE THE ORDINANCE COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

SHOULD WE, THIS IS A ROLL CALL ON THE COMPANION ORDINANCE.

VICE MAYOR FERNANDEZ.

NO.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ? NO.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER B? NO.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ.

THIS IS THE COMPANION ORDINANCE TO REPEAL? YES.

PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20TH.

THIS IS ITEM R FIVE AB.

UH, WE ARE GONNA DO FIRST TWO ITEMS, OR WE'RE GONNA DO RDA ONE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

NICE LIGHT.

MORNING.

UH, LET'S CITY, UH, CITY, UH, CLERK.

CAN WE PLEASE CALL THE, UH, HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER ITEMS? SO WE ARE NOW RECESSING THE COMMISSION MEETING AND, AND STARTING AS THE RDA,

[RDA-1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (AGENCY), APPROVING THE GRANT AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE AGENCY, MB MIXED USE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC AND PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY TO FACILITATE THE EXPEDITIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTER HOTEL BY INCURRING UP TO $92,500,000 IN AGENCY INDEBTEDNESS; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TO EXECUTE THE GRANT AGREEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION FOLLOWING FORM APPROVAL THEREOF BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE STEPS, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS. FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF. JOINT CITY COMMISSION AND RDA]

IT IS INCUR IN DEUS GRANT AGREEMENT.

MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.

AND IT IS A COMPANION ITEM TO R SEVEN A, WHICH IS PUBLIC HEARING IN CURRENT DEBT APPROVED GRANT AGREEMENT.

MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.

THESE ARE BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS.

R SEVEN A RDA ONE.

GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

RAQUEL WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE SEVEN A R SEVEN BRDA ONE, AND RDA TWO ARE A REFLECTION OF A TREMENDOUS EFFORT.

ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OF APPROXIMATELY 250 SQUARE FEET ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE HOTEL WHERE OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD UTILIZE THE SPACE.

IF YOU'RE WE'RE CALLING THOSE, LET ME, LET ME READ THOSE TWO.

I APOLOGIZE.

SO WE ARE ALSO DOING THEN R SEVEN B, WHICH IS JOINT APPROVED SIX AMENDMENT RDA INTO LOCAL AGREEMENT.

AND RDA TWO SIX AMENDMENT TO THE RDA INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

THE, THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THANK YOU, MR. CLARK.

SO THESE ITEMS ARE A REFLECTION OF A TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO CATALYZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTER HOTEL.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, UH, IN 2018, THE CITY APPROVED A LEASE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW FOR THE HOTEL.

UH, SINCE THEN, UH, THE IMPACTS OF COVID AND THE FINANCIAL MARKETS HAVE STALLED THE PROJECT.

AND IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, THE RDA BOARD REQUESTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS AS WELL AS CLOSING THE FINANCIAL GAP IN ORDER TO GET THE HOTEL UNDERWAY.

UH, LAST MONTH, OR EARLIER THIS MONTH, ACTUALLY, AT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THEY APPROVED A SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE RDA, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND THEY ALSO APPROVED THE RDA TO INCUR DEBT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO CLOSE THAT FINANCIAL GAP AND BE ABLE TO REACH, UH, FINANCIAL CLOSING AND THEN BEGIN VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION.

SO STAFF HAS MET WITH THE DEVELOPER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WE HAVE ALSO COORDINATED WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WHICH THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY PROVIDED APPROVAL FOR.

AND WE ARE NOW ASKING THAT THE CITY AND THE RDA DO THE SAME AND ALLOW FOR THE SIXTH AMENDMENT AS WELL.

SO SOME OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS NEGOTIATED INCLUDE WAIVERS OF THE JUNIOR BALLROOM, AND THAT WOULD BE FOUR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO BE DIVIDED AMONG THE RDA AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

AND SO THE RDA WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH ACCESS AND THE COUNTY WITH THE ACCESS.

ONCE THE RDA WOULD TERMINATE, UH, ALL OF THE BENEFITS WOULD THEN GO TO THE CITY.

SO ALL OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE RDA, THE CITY WOULD THEN RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS.

UH, SO THERE ARE 20 WAIVERS FOR CONFERENCE ROOMS THAT CAN BE USED ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

SO IF THE RDA OR THE COUNTY NEEDED TO UTILIZE SPACE THERE, WE COULD HAVE MEETINGS AT THE HOTEL.

WE WOULD

[02:10:01]

THERE WOULD BE 70 NIGHTS ANNUALLY FOR DELEGATION.

SO THINK SISTER CITY'S DELEGATIONS.

WE OFTEN HAVE TO, UH, RELY ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ASSIST US WITH APPROPRIATE RATES.

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE THOSE ROOMS AVAILABLE.

ALSO, REIMBURSEMENT OF 100 ROOMS FOR WEATHER EMERGENCIES.

SO THINK HURRICANES AND STORMS. IF WE DO NEED TO HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS OR, UH, SENIOR EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AVAILABLE IN THE CITY, WE WOULD HAVE THE ROOMS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

THE DEVELOPER IS ALSO PROPOSED TO HAVE A CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM FOR MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS A JOB FAIR.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME FINANCIAL BENEFITS IN THE FORM OF, UH, PARTICIPATION FEE.

AND I'LL ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE JASON GREEN, CFO TO GO THROUGH THAT.

UH, THANK YOU, UH, JASON GREEN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

SO I'LL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THOSE ITEMS. UH, THERE IS A, WE NEGOTIATED A SUBORDINATE PARTICIPATION PAYMENT THAT WOULD START AT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BEGINNING FIVE YEARS AFTER THE, UH, OPENING OR STABILIZATION OF THE HOTEL.

AND IT WOULD CONTINUE FOR 50 YEARS, ESCALATING AT 3%, UH, PER YEAR.

SO THIS WOULD BE STARTING AT HALF A MILLION IN THE 50TH YEAR.

IT WORK OUT TO, UH, APPROXIMATELY 2.1 MILLION OVER THAT 50 YEAR TIMEFRAME.

UH, WE WOULD COLLECT ABOUT $56.4 MILLION OF PAYMENTS.

THOSE PAYMENTS WOULD BE SPLIT 50 50 BETWEEN THE RDA AND THE COUNTY.

UH, AND UPON DISSOLUTION OF THE RDA, UH, WHICH COULD BE BETWEEN 2036 AND 2044, UH, THOSE DOLLARS WOULD THEN REVERT, UH, TO THE CITY ON THE THE RDA FORTUNE.

UH, ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THAT WOULD BE, UH, THERE'S A 2% ONE-TIME TRANSFER FEE ON THE GROSS SALE, PROCEEDS LESS DEBT AND CLOSING COSTS, UH, UPON AN ARMS LENGTH, UH, TRANSACTION TO A THIRD PARTY.

BASICALLY, IF THE HOTEL GETS, UH, SOLD, UH, TO ANOTHER ENTITY AT ANY TIME DURING THIS AGREEMENT, UH, WE WILL BE GETTING A, UH, 2%, UH, BACK TO THAT TO US.

AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE SPLIT IN THE SAME MANNER OF THE 50 50 BETWEEN THE CITY AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

UH, THE GRANT ITSELF WILL BE $75 MILLION PAR TO THE DEVELOPER TO COMPLETE THEIR FINANCING TO GET THE HOTEL COMPLETED.

IT WOULD BE THROUGH A CONDUIT ISSUER, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY.

UH, I DID WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, THEIR FINANCING TEAM, UH, BASED ON THE STRONG FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OF THE RDA, WE TRIED TO, UH, MAKE THAT AS SHORT A TIMEFRAME, UH, DEBT AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR, UH, PAYBACK.

OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE IS AROUND 85.6 MILLION.

OBVIOUSLY THAT CHANGES EVERY DAY BASED ON THE MARKETS AND, AND SUCH.

THAT'S, WE HAVE THE 92.5 AS AN UPPER LIMIT.

WE DON'T THINK THAT WE WILL COME, UH, CLOSE TO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND THERE'S ALSO AN OPTION THAT WE CAN CASH FUND PART OF THAT GRANT AT CLOSING, UH, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF CASH AVAILABLE IN THE RDA AS WE CLOSE OUR FISCAL YEAR.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE PARTICIPATION FEE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTEL WILL ALLOW THE CONVENTION CENTER TO REALIZE ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL.

WE KNOW THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE THIS YEAR ALONE, ABOUT 98 EVENTS, UH, AT THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT AN ELEVATED AND MORE CURATED, UH, PORTFOLIO OF EVENTS TO THE CENTER BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE THOSE 800 ROOMS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS ADJACENT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER ADJACENT TO LINCOLN ROAD AND OCEAN DRIVE WILL BE A, WHICH WILL BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR NOT ONLY MIAMI BEACH, BUT ALSO FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

IN ADDITION TO THE PARTICIPATION FEE, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE DIRECT PAYMENTS OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

NOTE THAT THE LEASE WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL IS FOR 99 YEARS.

BUT JUST BY WAY OF AN EXAMPLE, OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, WE CAN ANTICIPATE PAYMENTS OF ABOUT $188 MILLION DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.

IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE PROPERTY TAXES, UM, FUNDING THAT GOES TO THE RDA.

WE'LL HAVE CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX AS WELL AS RESORT TAXES TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $540 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

SO IT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO NECESSARILY JUST LOOK AT THE PARTICIPATION FEE AND THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WILL COME WITH THE AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT.

BUT TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT THIS HOTEL WILL BRING TO MIAMI BEACH AND TO MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

THIS ALL RIGHT, SEEING THAT THE MAYOR'S NOT HERE.

I WAS IN QUEUE TO, UH, SPEAK AND I'M JUST GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR OUR CITY AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A VERY

[02:15:01]

LONG TIME.

THIS UNLOCKS SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER IN CONVENTIONS, HIGH CALIBER CONVENTIONS, PROFESSIONAL CONVENTIONS THAT TAKE US OUT OF THE TRADE SHOW BUSINESS AND ACTUALLY ATTRACT INTO OUR COMMUNITY THE HIGH PAYING VISITORS THAT CAN SUPPORT THE ECONOMY ON LINCOLN ROAD, THAT CAN SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES IN COLLINS PARK, THAT CAN HE HELP US ACHIEVE THE TRANSITION IN ON WASHINGTON AVENUE AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY THAT NEED THE INJECTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, GOOD PAYING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE EMPLOYERS OF OUR CITY.

SO IT REALLY IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ELEVATE OUR CONVENTION BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THREAT OF A CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL JUST UP NORTH, VERY CLOSE TO, TO US.

THEY ARE BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS.

BUT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THAT MARKET NOW.

'CAUSE WE WILL HAVE THE ADJOINING CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL AND OUR ICONIC BEACHES TO COMPLIMENT IT.

SO IT REALLY IS A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR ECONOMY, NOT JUST FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN OLIVER GILBERT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER EILEEN HIGGIN, UH, HIGGINS FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.

UH, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO ASK, BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH GENERAL FUND IS GOING INTO THIS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND BY IN TURN, WE'RE PUTTING NO MONEY INTO THIS, BUT THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE $500,000, UH, PARTICIPATION, UH, FEE, UH, AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND OVER 30 YEARS, WHAT IS THE LEASE PAYMENT AMOUNT? I READ SOMEWHERE WAS ABOUT 149 MILLION, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UNLOCKING HERE.

I THINK THE 180 8 IS BOTH A MIX OF THE LEASE PAYMENT AND, UH, A VOLUNTARY SURCHARGE THAT, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ADDING ON.

SO 188 MILLION OVER 30, $188 MILLION WE'RE UNLOCKING HERE.

AND WHAT ARE WE UNLOCKING ON PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY IN THE BEGINNING? PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LOW WHILE THE RD IS STILL IN EXISTENCE.

BUT, UH, THE TOTAL ON TAXES OVER THE 30 YEAR PERIOD, UH, 543 MILLION, THAT'S TO THE CITY.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME COUNTY TAXES AS WELL.

BUT 543, THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA COME TO THE CITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

SO WE'RE UNLOCKING $543 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY.

WE'RE UNLOCKING OVER $180 MILLION IN LEASE PAYMENTS TO THE CITY, IN ADDITION TO A NEW, UH, PARTICIPATION FEE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE GETTING WITHOUT HAVING TO INVEST A SINGLE DOLLAR FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL, FROM, FROM THE CITY'S BUDGET INTO, INTO THIS.

SO I, THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR OUR ECONOMY IN, IN MIAMI BEACH, MR. MAYOR, WHENEVER THE MOMENT IS RIGHT, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WITH AN AMENDMENT TO REFLECT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT, THAT WE, UH, GET THE CITY'S, UH, PORTION OF THE TRANSFER FEE, UH, AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT.

THIS IS A GOOD MOMENT.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MAYOR.

AND, UM, THANK YOU BOTH RAQUEL AND JASON.

AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS, BUT IT WAS SO MUCH INFORMATION QUICKLY, I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER SAMUEL AND WHEN THIS WENT TO THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON, INCLUDED FOR APPORTION TO GO TO EDUCATION AND RESILIENCY.

'CAUSE I KNOW THAT FUNDING THE PRIVATE PROPERTY ADAPTATION PROGRAM WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

YES, I BELIEVE IN THE INITIAL, UH, LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, THAT THE CITY DETERMINED HOW THE REVENUE SHOULD BE ALLOCATED.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UH, ROSE GONZALEZ.

IS THAT IT? YES.

UM, I HAD ONE QUESTION.

WHEN WE REOPEN THIS AGREEMENT NOW, UM, IS THERE A CERTAIN TIME, IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER NEEDS TO BE BUILT? YES.

SO, SO THIS IS NOT A REOPENING OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

THIS IS A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THE RDA AND THE AGREEMENT STIPULATES THAT NINE MONTHS AFTER EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT THAT THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO BREAK GROUND OR START CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOTEL.

AND SO THE DEVELOPER'S FULLY AWARE OF THAT AND THEY ARE HERE TODAY, UH, TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE SCHEDULE.

CLOSED SUSHI GARAGE, CLOSED LINGERIE, CLOSED TGI FRIDAYS CLOSED CHITO MATE, JU AND SOBI A PIZZA PLACE.

UM, I WANTED TO WRITE SOME OF THIS DOWN.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU WALK AROUND THE CITY, YOU'RE SEEING THAT OUR SIDEWALKS ARE EMPTY, THE STOREFRONTS ARE VACANT, THE FREEZE CLOSED YARD, HOUSE

[02:20:01]

UM, OUR TOURISM TAXES ARE CURRENTLY DOWN BY HOW MUCH THIS YEAR, JASON? I THINK WE ENDED THE FISCAL YEAR, YEAR OVER YEAR.

UH, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT OKAY.

AS OF OCTOBER.

BUT IF YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN THE STREETS, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT HOTEL ROOM RATES ARE, UH, LOW VACANCIES ARE HIGH, THERE'S WORRIES THAT WE'RE HEADING INTO SOME SORT OF RECESSION.

MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, I WATCH THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES FLOURISHING, AND I THINK OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA COMPETE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF LUXURY GOODS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN DISTRICT.

WE'RE NOT COMPETING WITH WYNWOOD FOR THE COOL, YOU KNOW, TO BE COOL.

WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW LEFT IN MIAMI BEACH IS OUR CONVENTION BUSINESS.

AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIRE THIS UP WITH THE HOTEL IS DISAPPOINTING.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY HURTING OUR ECONOMY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH THE RESTAURANTS CLOSING, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND OUR HOTEL ROOM'S NOT FULL.

UH, I WORRY THAT IT'S GONNA BE HIGHER THAN THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT LIKE YOU'RE STATING RIGHT NOW, JASON.

AND THAT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN OUR, IN OUR BUDGET.

SO, UM, I'M OKAY WITH THIS.

I WAS NOT HAPPY AT THE BEGINNING WITH SUCH A LARGE GRANT, AND I DID WANT A PERCENTAGE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED, UH, FOR THIS HOTEL.

UM, IF WE CAN BOOK THESE MASSIVE CONVENTIONS, WE REALLY NEED TO GET THIS HOTEL BUILT IN ORDER TO FILL THE, HOW, HOW MANY HOTEL ROOMS DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, RAQUEL? IS IT 23,000? ABOUT 21,000.

21,000.

AND HOW MANY ADDITIONAL ROOMS IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW? LIKE AN ADDITIONAL COUPLE THOUSAND, RIGHT? IF YOU INCLUDE THAT, WE THINK ABOUT 3000 MIGHT BE IN THE PIPELINE, BUT THEN SOME WILL COME OFFLINE FOR RENOVATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS SOMETIMES COME OUTTA SERVICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF, YOU KNOW, AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE TODAY, AND AS WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T WANT TRANSIENT USES, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY WANT RESIDENTIAL USES IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE MOST MASSIVE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, POSSIBLY APART FROM ORLANDO.

I DON'T KNOW IF ORLANDO HAS OVERTAKEN US IN TERMS OF CONVENTION BUSINESS AT THIS POINT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR BUSINESS IS VERSUS OURS.

DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER? WELL, THEY, THEY HAVE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR HEADQUARTER HOTELS THAT ADJACENT TO THEIR CONVENTION CENTER.

SO THEY'RE PULLING IN BUSINESS.

UM, WELL, LIKE HOW MUCH ARE THEY DOING COMPARED TO US IN TERMS OF LIKE OVERALL REVENUE AND CONVENTIONS? OH, THEY, THEY PULL IN MORE THAN WE DO FOR SURE.

THEY DID.

THEY'VE REALLY GROWN THEIR CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS.

IT'S BOOMING.

I WAS ACTUALLY THERE, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND BECAUSE MANGOES, WHICH WE HAVE ON SOUTH BEACH WAS OPENING A, A NEW RESTAURANT THERE.

AND IT WAS AMAZING TO ME TO SEE EVERYTHING FLOURISHING AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND HOW ORLANDO HAS SERIOUSLY EMBRACED, UH, THE CONVENTION BUSINESS.

AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE FORWARD GIVEN THE $700 MILLION INVESTMENT, UM, IN THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THE FACT THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE SERIOUSLY SUFFERING AND, AND AS A BODY, A LOT OF OUR POLICIES, AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS MOVING FORWARD, OUR TAXING OUR BUSINESSES MORE, THANK GOODNESS WE JUST REPEALED THE TAX THAT WE HAD RIGHT HERE, UH, BANNING THINGS, UH, CLOSING HOURS.

AND I THINK THAT INSTEAD OF ALL OF THIS BANNING, BANNING, PROHIBITING, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE.

UH, SO I JUST THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS, IS VOTE FOR THIS.

UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY TO DAVID MARTIN, THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS PROJECT, 75 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE WANT THAT HOTEL BUILT AND ARE DO AND, AND WE NEED IT BUILT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE IF IT TAKES NINE MONTHS TO GET THE SHOVELS ON THE GROUND, HOW LONG TO BUILD THE PROPERTY? 28 MONTHS.

28 MONTHS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AFTER COVID, ET CETERA.

THE SOONER OR THE BETTER COMMISSIONER BOT.

UM, AS SOON AS IT'S, UH, APPROPRIATE.

I'D LIKE TO, UH, SECOND THE MOTION.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME COMING.

IT IS LONG OVERDUE.

UM, AND I THINK WE ALL WHERE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ALL STARTED ON THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS A, A DISCUSSION ITEM AMONG ACTIVISTS AND RESIDENTS, IT WAS A, A BALLOT ITEM.

UM, ANYBODY WHO WAS IN TOWN TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THE ADOBE CREATIVE CONFERENCE WAS IN TOWN AND HAD THAT, THAT BUILDING ROCKING AND ROLLING AND HAD THE ENTIRE CITY BUZZING WITH PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND OUR, OUR NIGHTLIFE AND ON OUR BEACHES AND, UM, HAD CREATIVE POPUPS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WE NEED THIS YESTERDAY.

AND DAVID, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF FISH IN THE, IN THE, BUT LET ME MIX MY FIT MY METAPHORS HERE, IRONS IN THE FIRE, LET'S SAY.

UM, BUT THIS, THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT ONLINE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE MANNER, THE HIGHEST QUALITY, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, NO MISTAKES, FULL SPEED AHEAD.

UM, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO ADD SO MUCH TO OUR CITY IN COUNTLESS WAYS.

NOT JUST THOSE ENUMERATED FINANCIALLY, WHICH ARE CRITICAL, BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF HELPING OUT THE BUSINESSES THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFERING,

[02:25:01]

UM, THIS, WE NEED THIS AND, UH, LET'S GET IT GOING.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

THIS, UH, CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL IS A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR CITY.

I I ADDRESSED IT IN MY REMARKS YESTERDAY AT THE G-M-C-V-B ANNUAL MEETING.

IT'S KIND OF THE BUZZ GOING AROUND ABOUT THE HOTEL AND THE COUNTY.

AND I ACKNOWLEDGED CHAIR GILBERT FROM THE COUNTY WHO, UH, AND THEY APPROVED IT.

SO I MEAN, YES, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS, GET IT ON THE RECORD.

UM, I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME WHEN I MET WITH STAFF, CITY STAFF ABOUT THIS, ASKING THIS QUESTION, DO WE HAVE THE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THIS HOTEL GETS BUILT IN A TIMELY FASHION AND THAT, THAT WE CAN'T MOVE THE GOALPOST BECAUSE I PERSONALLY AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS PASSED IN 2018 AND HERE WE ARE SIX YEARS LATER, AND NOW WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE COMING UP WITH THIS 75 MILLION RDA MONEY.

AND THE QUESTION I'LL ASK, AND I'M GONNA POSE IT TO YOU AGAIN, IS THERE SOMETHING MORE WE CAN DO IN THIS CONTRACT TO MAKE A FOOLPROOF, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

YOU MENTIONED THE NINE MONTHS AFTER EXECUTION, THEY HAVE TO BREAK GROUND.

ARE THERE, IS THERE A CARVE OUT FOR THAT FOR POTENTIALLY IF THEY COULDN'T GET THE PROPER FINANCING? I BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT IN PLACE, BUT IF THEY COULD'VE, DOES THAT NULL AND VOID THAT NINE MONTHS? SO THE COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THAT PROVISION AND THEY TOO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THIS PROJECT.

AND ESSENTIALLY THERE, THERE IS NO WORK AROUND TO MY UNDERSTANDING AROUND THAT NINE MONTH CRITERIA.

SO THEY NEED TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN THE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT AND, AND NINE MONTHS TIME, OTHERWISE IT'S VOID.

I WAS JUST, JUST CHECKING WITH THEM.

SO OBVIOUSLY THE FOUNDATION WORK IS ALREADY, IS IS PERMIT SIR IN AND THE VERTICAL PERMITS ARE READY TO GO JUST PENDING A, UH, A PAYMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

SO THAT WOULD BE REALLY THE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT, IF ANYTHING WAS GONNA GET SLOWED UP.

SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT.

WELL THEN I'LL TURN IT TO ERIC, OUR CITY MANAGER, TO ADDRESS WHAT JASON JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE PERMITS.

AND, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS CONTRACT YOU WOULD WANT SEE IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT THIS HOTEL WILL BE BUILT TIMELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE DATES THAT WE'RE HEARING? SO THE UNDERLYING LEASE AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS EXECUTED, UM, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS AGO HAS CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN IT THAT PROTECT BOTH THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE STILL IN EFFECT AND, AND FULL ENFORCEMENT.

UM, WE'VE GOT THE NINE MONTH PROVISION IN THE GRANT AGREEMENT, WHICH I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

I'M HOPING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOONER THAN THE NINE MONTHS.

'CAUSE WE'D ALL LIKE TO SEE THIS HOTEL DONE AND OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.

I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A COMMITTED DEVELOPER, THEY'VE GOT MORE THAN $20 MILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY ALREADY IN THE PROPERTY, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE COMING TO THE TABLE WITH THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND THEY'RE GONNA BE COMING TO THE TABLE WITH MORE THAN $500 MILLION OF PRIVATE EQUITY, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA BE A WIN-WIN.

WAS A CHANGE TO IT, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE COUNTY WOULD ALSO DELAY THAT REFUNDING.

SO YOU SHOULD KNOW EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING, BUT EVEN DAVID MARTIN, I'LL SAY IT STRAIGHT TO YOU.

I ACTUALLY WAS THROWING OUT SOME IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF THESE TIMELINES.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM NOT DOING IT IS I WAS INFORMED BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT IF WE DID THAT, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE COUNTY TO GET THEIR APPROVAL.

AND OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T WANNA DELAY, DELAY THE PROCESS.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT.

I WILL GIVE YOU A COMPLIMENT, DAVID, AND PART OF THIS, UH, OBVIOUSLY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY AND, UM, BUT YOU'VE BEEN STRAIGHT WITH ME ALWAYS.

AND YOU'VE SAID TO ME STRAIGHT OUT, THIS IS GONNA GET DONE AND I BELIEVE YOU AND I, AND I TAKE YOU, I TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD AND ALSO YOU, YOU PUT TOGETHER A BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT WHEN IT'S DONE, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE WORLD CLASS.

UM, SO LET'S, LET'S GET THIS DONE AND, AND, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE TIMELINES ARE IMPORTANT.

I THINK YOU'RE HEARING IT CLEAR CUT HERE.

WE DON'T WANT ANY, ANY DISAPPOINTMENTS.

MAYOR, IF I MAY, I THINK YOU, YOU JUST MADE A A REALLY GOOD POINT THERE, UM, THAT THE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE SET UP, THAT AND THE, OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT ARE SET, UH, AND WERE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY THAT, SO, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S ANY KIND OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE OUTSIDE OF A, YOU KNOW, DOTTING AN I OR CROSSING A T ON THE GRAIN AGREEMENT.

IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO BACK TO COMMISSION BECAUSE I BELIEVE, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CHIME IF I'M OFF ON THIS IS THEN IF THERE WERE ANY, UH, CHANGES MADE TO THE GRANT AGREEMENT HERE TODAY, UH, THEN THE, OUR LOCAL WOULD THEN BECOME NULL AND VOID.

AND, AND I DIDN'T MENTION PART OF THAT IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT, FERC AND THE COMMISSIONER APPROVED UNDERWRITERS, WE ARE REFUNDING TO ABOUT 250 MILLION ISH IN RDA DEBT.

AND THE RD UH, THIS RDA IN OUR LOCAL AMENDMENT ALLOWS FOR THAT.

SO ANY DELAY IF, IF THERE

[02:30:01]

AND WE'RE UP AGAIN.

I'M UP AGAINST THE, UH, DECEMBER 31ST DEADLINE BASED ON SOME, UH, DOCUMENT, SOME INFORMATION THAT'S IN, UH, WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING, OUR LOCAL.

SO IF EVERYTHING GOES TODAY AS IT IS, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ALSO, UH, START WORKING ON THAT.

UM, REFUNDING.

I'LL, ONE FINAL QUESTION AND I'LL ASK THIS TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO TO DAVID AND HIS AND HIS TEAM.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU NEED? DO YOU ANTICIPATE COMING BACK TO COMMISSION FOR ANYTHING BEFORE THIS HOTEL GETS COMPLETED? I HOPE NOT.

NO, SIR.

LOVE THAT .

WE GOT THAT ON TAPE, RIGHT? .

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

SO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, VICE MAYOR FERNANDEZ.

SO, UM, WITH A MOTION ON THE TABLE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT IT REFLECTS THAT THE CITY IS EXERCISING ITS RIGHT TO GET ITS PORTION OF THE PARTICIPATION, UH, OF THE, OF THE TRANSFER FEE, WHICH BY THE WAY, THE TRANSFER FEE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ADDED TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.

UH, AND THIS IS A 2% TRANSFER FEE THAT RIGHT NOW IS SHARED BETWEEN THE RDA AND THE COUNTY.

AND, UH, AND THE COUNTY HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT AT THE CITY INSTEAD OF IT GOING TO THE RDA.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MOTION ON THE TABLE REFLECTS THAT AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT.

SO IF I UNDERSTAND, YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MOTION ON THE TABLE TO SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATE INTO THE AGREEMENT, UM, THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE ITS PORTION OF BOTH THE ANNUAL FEE AND THE TRANSFER FEE AND ANY OTHER BENEFITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING, UH, SPLIT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE RDA, THAT THE RDA THAT'S CORRECT.

WILL COME TO THE CITY.

YES, WE WILL AMEND THE MOTION ACCORDINGLY.

AND, AND I BELIEVE, OH, THE VOTE, IT, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING AND I HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WAYNE, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

UH, LEMME JUST SAY THAT I HAVE NO FINANCIAL IN INTEREST IN THE CITY, UM, THAT, UH, I GO, I HAD SPOKEN TO, UH, DAVID ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I TRUST A MAYOR.

UH, I'VE COME TO GO FROM, UH, ANTAGONIST TO SUPPORTER.

UM, AND THAT, UH, I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS A GAME CHANGER FOR MIAMI BEACH, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CONVENTION SET, BUT UM, I UNDERSTAND THE MEETINGS AND CONVENTION BUSINESS.

I DID THE CIRCULATION FOR THE, FOR 80% OF THE, OF, OF THE CONVENTIONS WORLDWIDE THROUGH MY MARKETING COMPANY OVER MY LIFETIME.

UM, AND UH, WHAT THIS PRESENTS US IS NOT JUST THE 800 MILLION TAXES, BUT BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

UM, IT IS A WIN-WIN.

UM, AND, UH, HE NEEDS THAT 75 MILLION TO GO FORWARD AND IT'S BEEN STUCK IN MUD FOR TOO LONG.

AND I, I, I WANT THIS TO GO FORWARD.

UH, I WILL, UH, GIVE THIS ADVICE TO THE CITY THAT, UH, THERE'S COMPETING FORCES, RIGHT? THERE'S THE LOWS, THERE'S FOUNTAIN BLUE, AND NOW THIS HOTEL.

AND, UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA TALK TO EACH OTHER VERY WELL BECAUSE THEY'RE COMPETITORS FOR, FOR MEETINGS FOR HOTEL ROOMS. AND SO I WANT THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT WHO REALLY COME UP WITH A BUSINESS PLAN TO ENGAGE THE, THAT COMMUNITY THAT PUTS ON MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS EFFECTIVELY, UH, INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY'S, UM, UH, UH, EFFORTS.

AND, UM, REALLY WRITE DOWN LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET TO THAT AUDIENCE, HOW WE'RE GONNA BRING THEM INTO THE CITY.

AND, UH, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT THE CITY COULD DO RIGHT NOW, UH, PLANNING OUT 24 MONTHS FROM NOW.

I RUN DANIEL ERALDO WITH MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

UH, SO I WAS IN ANOTHER LIFE INVOLVED IN A FEW OF THE BALLOT QUESTIONS THAT DID NOT PASS, UH, FOR THE HOTEL.

AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS PROJECT HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER EACH TIME.

PERSONALLY, I THINK IF THE ONE IN 2018 HAD BEEN BUILT AND OPENED AROUND THE TIME OF COVID, WE MAY HAVE ACTUALLY HAD BIGGER ECONOMIC ISSUES WITH AN EMPTY 800 ROOM HOTEL.

SO I THINK EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON AND, UH, EXCITED FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.

I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER BOT SAID ABOUT THE ADOBE CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING, AND I HOPE WE HAVE MORE OF THOSE.

AND ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE THOSE ENZO GALLO MURALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BE RESTORED, SO POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE THEY COULD GO IN THE CONVENTION HOTEL.

SO THANK YOU.

HE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN ZOOM AND NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

IF WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING,

[02:35:01]

PLEASE.

YEAH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING ME.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY, UH, NOTABLY CHAIRMAN GILBERT, OUR OWN, UH, REPRESENTATIVE THAT, UH, REPRESENTS THE AREA, COMMISSIONER HIGGINS.

I KNOW THEY WERE INTEGRAL AS WERE THE OTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORTING THIS.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO HELP FACILITATE THIS MOVING FORWARD.

UH, IT IS TIME IN MIAMI BEACH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST HARDENING ABOUT, UH, THIS NEW COMMISSION UP HERE IS WE ARE UNAFRAID TO EMBRACE GREATNESS, RIGHT? WE ARE UNAFRAID NOW TO SIT THERE AND BE PROUD THAT WE HAVE TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT ALONG COLLINS AVENUE.

WE ARE UNAFRAID TO SAY WE SHOULD BE THE PREEMINENT DESTINATION FOR ATTRACTING THE WORLD CLASS CONFERENCES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

SO I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS.

UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT THAT DOES IT.

THIS IS JUST ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLKIT.

UH, I'M HOPING THAT WE DON'T JUST SIT HERE FOR THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS AND THWART PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER COMING ON, RIGHT? WE NEED TO RESTORE OUR FULL-TIME RESIDENTIAL POPULATION BECAUSE WHILE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE WORLD CLASS CONVENTIONS, MIAMI BEACH IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST BEING A ONE TRICK PONY, RIGHT? WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER THE WORLD.

SO I VIEW THIS AS ONE TOOL IN OUR TOOLKIT TO TRULY BECOMING THE BEST COMMUNITY AND CITY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO LIVE, TO WORK, TO VISIT, TO RAISE A FAMILY, TO COME FOR CONVENTIONS.

AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT THIS IS GOING FORWARD.

PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEAM BEHIND IT.

NOW, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

AND I'VE ACTUALLY PERSONALLY VISITED MULTIPLE ESTABLISHMENTS, MOSTLY RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES IN LITERALLY EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.

SOUTH BEACH, MID BEACH, NORTH BEACH.

AND WHEN I'VE GONE AND I DON'T GO ANNOUNCED, I JUST SHOW UP, THEY'VE BEEN PACKED AND THERE'S A LOT OF HIGH-END, UH, A LOT OF HIGH-END BUSINESSES COMING HERE AND WANT TO BE HERE.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE KEEP PUSHING OUR CITY AND OUR CITY MANAGER TO GET THE PERMITTING PROCESS MOVING.

SWIFTER I'LL EVEN, UH, LYLE STERN IS YOU CAN, HE CAN RATTLE OFF ALL THE AMAZING ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO LINCOLN ROAD.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING TIMES AHEAD, UNLESS ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY.

I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT THE ANSEL GALLO MURALS AND I WOULD LIKE TO INCORPORATE INTO MY MOTION URGING THE DEVELOPER TO CONSIDER THAT AS PART, PART OF THEIR PROPERTY AS AN URGING.

HAVE TO GO BACK TO NO, NO, I'M KIDDING.

, WITHOUT MAKING IT PART OF THE MOTION, I'M URGING HIM TO CONSIDER IT, BUT FAIR.

THAT'S FAIR.

THERE YOU GO.

LET'S CALL A VOTE.

SO THIS IS AN RDA ONE AS AMENDED.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OTT.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

COMMISSIONER HIGGINS IS ABSENT.

A MOTION PASSES.

SEVEN ZERO.

MAY WE DO RDA

[RDA-2. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, A SIXTH AMENDMENT, BY AND AMONG THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH (CITY), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (COUNTY), AND THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA) TO THE NOVEMBER 16, 1993 INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED (THE "INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT"), RELATED TO THE CITY CENTER / HISTORIC CONVENTION CENTER VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION AREA (CITY CENTER RDA); WITH SAID SIXTH AMENDMENT ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT "A" TO THE MEMORANDUM ACCOMPANYING THIS RESOLUTION; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TO EXECUTE THE FINAL SIXTH AMENDMENT, IN THE FORM APPROVED BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL. JOINT CITY COMMISSION AND RDA]

TWO? YES.

SAME MOTION.

SAME MAKER OF THE MOTIONS? YES.

I'LL MOVE THE ITEM.

SO, MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOT RDA TWO.

ALL IN FAVOR? IS THIS, UM, THE MOONLIGHT ITEM? OH, YES.

YEAH.

SO MOVED.

SO MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

SECOND, I MEAN A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

ALL IN FAVOR.

RDA TWO.

MOTION CARRIE SEVEN ZERO.

COMMISSIONER HIGGINS IS, IS ABSENT.

ARE WE GOING TO DO THE REMAINDER OF THE RDA ITEMS? SO YOU WISH ME TO GO TO THE COMPANION ITEMS IN THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING.

I'LL MOVE THE REMAINING, UH,

[RDA-3. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIR AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2024-005-ND, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A POOL OF PRE-QUALIFIED CONSULTANTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH DAEDALUS CAPITAL, LLC, AS THE FIRST-RANKED PROPOSER; ERNST & YOUNG LLP, AS THE SECOND-RANKED PROPOSER; HUNDEN STRATEGIC PARTNERS, INC., JONES LANG LASALLE AMERICAS, INC., AND PFM GROUP CONSULTING LLC, AS THE TIED THIRD-RANKED PROPOSERS; WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., AS THE SIXTH-RANKED PROPOSER; L.M. GENUINE SOLUTIONS LLC, AS THE SEVENTH-RANKED PROPOSER; ACCENTURE LLP, AS THE EIGHTH-RANKED PROPOSER; GOMAN YORK PROPERTY ADVISERS LLC AND NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC., AS THE TIED NINTH-RANKED PROPOSERS; VISIONFIRST ADVISORS, AS THE ELEVENTH-RANKED PROPOSER; AND CAMBRIDGE ECONOMETRICS INC. AND ECONSULT SOLUTIONS, INC., AS THE TIED TWELFTH-RANKED PROPOSERS; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH EACH OF THE PROPOSERS UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION. (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) JOINT CITY COMMISSION, RDA, AND NBCRA]

[RDA-4. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA), ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AT ITS APRIL 19, 2024 MEETING, AND APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, AN AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH (CITY) AND THE RDA (COLLECTIVELY, LANDLORD) AND MOONLIGHTER FABLAB, INC. (TENANT) FOR USE OF APPROXIMATELY 7,655 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL SPACE LOCATED AT 1661 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE (DEMISED PREMISES); SAID LEASE ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL RENEWAL TERMS: (1) A THREE-YEAR RENEWAL TERM, COMMENCING ON MAY 17 2026 AND EXPIRING ON MAY 16, 2029, AND (2) A FINAL RENEWAL TERM OF ONE (1) YEAR AND 364 DAYS, COMMENCING ON MAY 17, 2029 AND EXPIRING ON MAY 15, 2031, TO ENABLE TENANT TO SECURE FUNDS NEEDED TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING AT THE DEMISED PREMISES; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE LEASE. JOINT CITY COMMISSION AND RDA]

[RDA-5. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA), AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TO EXTEND, ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS, SUBJECT TO TERMINATION BY THE RDA, THE EXISTING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE RDA (LANDLORD) AND THE MIAMI BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (TENANT) FOR USE OF APPROXIMATELY 721 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL SPACE AT THE ANCHOR SHOPS GARAGE, LOCATED AT 100 16TH STREET, SUITE NO. 6, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.]

[RDA-6. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA), APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE RDA (LANDLORD) AND OPEN VISION ONE, LLC (TENANT), FOR USE OF APPROXIMATELY 4,236 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL SPACE AT THE ANCHOR SHOPS AND GARAGE, AS A FINE DINING RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 1560 COLLINS AVENUE, SUITE NOS. 3-4 (PREMISES); SAID AMENDMENT EXTENDING THE RENT ABATEMENT PERIOD DUE TO UNANTICIPATED DELAYS RELATED TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GREASE TRAP FOR THE RESTAURANT FOR UP TO AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT (8) MONTHS, UNTIL THE EARLIER OF (I) APRIL 24, 2025 OR (II) THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER TENANT OPENS FOR BUSINESS; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE AMENDMENT.]

THE RDA AGENDA.

SO JUST FOR THE COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS MOVING, UH, RDA ITEM THREE, WHICH IS JOINT AWARD RFQ 20 24 0 0 5 AND D, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES FOUR JOINT APPROVED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MOONLIGHT FABLAB 1661 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE FIVE EXTEND MIAMI BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEASE A HUNDRED 16TH STREET AND SIX AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, LEASE WITH OPEN VISION.

ONE LLC 1560 COLLINS AVENUE.

YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND ON ALL ITEMS. 3, 2, 6.

I'LL SECOND.

SO, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RDA ITEMS 3, 4, 5, AND SIX PLEASE SAY AYE.

MOTION PASSES.

SEVEN ZERO.

COMMISSIONER HIGGINS IS ABSENT THE COMPANION ITEMS FOR, WE'RE NOW CONCLUDING THE RDA MEETING.

WE'RE RESET.

WE ARE NOW RECONVENING AS A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

WE HAD TWO JOINT ITEMS ON THE HOTEL MATTER.

RR SEVEN

[R7 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE INCURRENCE BY THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (AGENCY) OF UP TO $92,500,000 IN AGENCY INDEBTEDNESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 163, PART III, FLORIDA STATUTES. AS AMENDED, IN CONNECTION WITH A GRANT AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BY AND AMONG THE AGENCY, MB MIXED USE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC AND PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION TO FACILITATE THE EXPEDITIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTER HOTEL. JOINT CITY COMMISSION AND RDA ]

UH, IT IS JOINT AND CURRENT NESS APPROVED GRANT AGREEMENT.

SO R SEVEN A AS AMENDED MOVED MOVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ AS AMENDED.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ ON R SEVEN A ONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

IT'S APPROVED.

SEVEN ZERO R SEVEN

[R7 B A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, A SIXTH AMENDMENT, BY AND AMONG THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH (CITY), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (COUNTY), AND THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RDA) TO THE NOVEMBER 16, 1993 INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED (THE "INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT"), RELATED TO THE CITY CENTER / HISTORIC CONVENTION CENTER VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION AREA (CITY CENTER RDA); WITH SAID SIXTH AMENDMENT ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT "A" TO THE CITY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM ACCOMPANYING THIS RESOLUTION; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE FINAL SIXTH AMENDMENT, IN THE FORM APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. JOINT CITY COMMISSION AND RDA]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVED? SECOND.

SECONDED BY MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

[02:40:01]

IF I, UM, THIS IS AN R, NOT IF I MAY.

MR. MAYOR AND MR. CLERK.

UH, N-B-C-R-A ONE IS JOINT WITH RDA THREE IF DO THAT? SURE.

IS AWARD IS A JOINT ITEM AWARD.

ONE GIMME ONE SEC.

SO THIS IS, UH, THE NORTH WE'RE, WE'RE NOW RECESS AGAINST THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING RECONVENING.

AS THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY, WE DEVELOP AN AGENCY MEETING IF ITEM ONE

[CRA-1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIR AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2024-005-ND, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A POOL OF PRE-QUALIFIED CONSULTANTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH DAEDALUS CAPITAL, LLC, AS THE FIRST-RANKED PROPOSER; ERNST & YOUNG LLP, AS THE SECOND-RANKED PROPOSER; HUNDEN STRATEGIC PARTNERS, INC., JONES LANG LASALLE AMERICAS, INC., AND PFM GROUP CONSULTING LLC, AS THE TIED THIRD-RANKED PROPOSERS; WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., AS THE SIXTH-RANKED PROPOSER; L.M. GENUINE SOLUTIONS LLC, AS THE SEVENTH-RANKED PROPOSER; ACCENTURE LLP, AS THE EIGHTH-RANKED PROPOSER; GOMAN YORK PROPERTY ADVISERS LLC AND NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC., AS THE TIED NINTH-RANKED PROPOSERS; VISIONFIRST ADVISORS, AS THE ELEVENTH-RANKED PROPOSER; AND CAMBRIDGE ECONOMETRICS INC. AND ECONSULT SOLUTIONS, INC., AS THE TIED TWELFTH-RANKED PROPOSERS; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH EACH OF THE PROPOSERS UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION. (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) JOINT CITY COMMISSION, RDA, AND NBCRA]

RFQ 2024 DASH 0 0 5 ND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON, ON NORTH BEACH, CRA ONE I'LL SECOND COMMISSIONER BOT'S MOTION, I'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES.

UH, SO I HAVE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BOT ON CRA ONE, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR FERNANDEZ.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

COMMISSIONER STEINBERG IS ABSENT.

MOTION IS APPROVED.

SEVEN ZERO.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, YOU HAVE

THANK SO MUCH.

WE'RE NOW BE CONVENING BACK AS A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

[R9 AB DISCUSS/UPDATE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL PROJECT.]

AN R NINE AB DISCUSS UPDATE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? UM, NO, I THINK WE COVERED IT.

OKAY, GREAT.

WITHDRAW DAVID, COME ON UP.

ALRIGHT, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU A FEW THINGS.

UM, DAVID MARTIN, 33 1, UH, 33 1 0 MARY STREET, UH, MIAMI, FLORIDA.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, YOU HAVE MY FIRM'S COMMITMENT.

UH, YOU ALSO HAVE, UH, TURNBERRY MY JOINT VENTURE PARTNER WHO'S HERE.

YOU HAVE THEIR COMMITMENT AND YOU ALSO HAVE BALFOUR BEATTY, OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S COMMITMENT.

WE'RE ALL HERE AND, UH, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, YOUR STAFF, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, RAQUEL WILLIAMS, ERIC CARPENTER, JASON GREEN, RICK DICO, YOUR ENTIRE STAFF HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH.

PROFESSIONAL AND, AND DIFFICULT.

VERY PROFESSIONAL.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

B MAYOR IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE AT CHAPTER TWO ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.

HERE WE GOT TWO SIGNIFICANT ITEMS UNDER OUR BELT.

LET'S GO TO SECOND READING ITEMS R FIVE B.

SO R FIVE

[R5 B ARCHITECT AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT LAND USE BOARD CATEGORIESAN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, AT CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES," ARTICLE I, ENTITLED "LAND USE BOARDS," SECTION 2.1.2, ENTITLED "PLANNING BOARD," AT SECTION 2.1.2.2, ENTITLED "MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT"; SECTION 2.1.3, ENTITLED "DESIGN REVIEW BOARD," AT SECTION 2.1.3.2, ENTITLED "MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT"; AND SECTION 2.1.4, ENTITLED "HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD," AT SECTION 2.1.4.3, ENTITLED "MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT"; AND SECTION 2.1.5, ENTITLED "BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT," AT SECTION 2.1.5.2, ENTITLED "MEMBERSHIP"; TO AMEND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ARCHITECT AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CATEGORIES, AS APPLICABLE; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

ARTICLE ONE ENTITLED LAND USE SPORTS SECTION 2.12 ENTITLED PLANNING BOARD AT SECTION 2.2 ENTITLED MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT SECTION 2.1 0.3 ENTITLED DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AT SECTION TWO ENTITLED MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT AND SECTION 0.4 ENTITLED HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AT SECTION 2.4 0.3 ENTITLED MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENTS AND SECTION 2.5 ENTITLED BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND SECTION ENTITLED MEMBERSHIP TO AMEND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ARCHITECT AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CATEGORIES AS APPLICABLE AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPEAT OF ABILITY OF AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM REQUIRES A FIVE SEVENS VOTE.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE B.

THAT IS COMMISSIONER BOTT.

THAT IS THE LONGEST TITLE FOR THE SHORTEST ITEM .

UM, SINCE IT'S SECOND READING, I'D LIKE TO JUST, UM, MOVE IT SECOND, TODD, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, SO GIMME ONE SECOND.

I SEE NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I NEED TO OPEN MY ZOOM AND I SEE NO ONE IN ZOOM.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I CAN CALL THE VOTE IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION.

ANYBODY, COMMISSIONER BOB CAN ALL LEARN FROM YOUR BREVITY.

THERE YOU GO.

BOY, THAT, THAT'S A SENSE I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR.

THAT'S AN OXY MORON RIGHT THERE.

NEXT UP, ALEX, VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE NEXT UP FOR THAT ONE.

I KNOW, RIGHT? YEAH, LET'S CALL HIM OUT.

LET'S GO.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ.

COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE? YES.

VICE MAYOR FERNANDEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER BOT? YES.

MAYOR MINOR? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS COMMISSIONER BOT AND SECONDED BY FERNANDEZ.

FIVE C IS IN ORDER TO THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

R FIVE CR

[R5 C HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL TOUR REQUIREMENT FOR LUB MEMBERS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, SUBPART B, ENTITLED "MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES," ARTICLE I, ENTITLED "LAND USE BOARDS," AT SECTION 2.1.2, ENTITLED "PLANNING BOARD"; SECTION 2.1.3, ENTITLED "DESIGN REVIEW BOARD"; SECTION 2.1.4, ENTITLED "HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD"; AND SECTION 2.1.5, ENTITLED "BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT"; TO ESTABLISH A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED TO SERVE ON A LAND USE BOARD MUST COMPLETE AN ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR IN MIAMI BEACH; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ]

SO PART B ENTITLED MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE CHAPTER TWO ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.

ARTICLE ONE ENTITLED LAND USE BOARD BOARD AT SECTION 2.1.

POINT TWO ENTITLED PLANNING BOARD AT SECTION 2.3 ENTITLED DESIGN REVIEW BOARD SECTION 0.1 0.4 ENTITLED HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AND

[02:45:01]

SECTION POINT ENTITLED BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO ESTABLISH A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED TO SERVE ON A LAND USE BOARD MUST COMPLETE AN ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOWARD MIAMI BEACH AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION RE REPEAT OBSERVABILITY IN AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS ITEM R FIVE C.

IT IS A SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM REQUIRES FIVE SEVENS VOTE.

R FIVE C.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, GEORGE NERI WHO GAVE ME THIS IDEA.

HE AND I, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN EDUCATING THE PEOPLE, MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS.

AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET APPOINTED TO THESE BOARDS AND THEY ALREADY BEEN FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE HISTORY.

THIS WILL REQUIRE THESE WALKING TOURS THAT I THINK ARE SO PIVOTAL OF BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH BEACH AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I KNOW, UM, DANIEL, YOU'RE HERE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YES.

IF I MAY BE RECOGNIZED.

DANIEL SERATO WITH MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS IDEA, GEORGE, MY PREDECESSOR AND ALL OF YOU.

WE CONTINUE THE WORK TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND PROMOTE.

I DID WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT CHARGING FOR THE TOUR, SO THIS WILL BE, UH, NO COST TO THE MEMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS IN THE DOCUMENT, BUT WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CLEAR AND WE'VE SET UP THE PROCESS ALREADY.

SEVERAL OF YOUR AIDES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE TOURS AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GIVING THEM TO MORE FOLKS.

I I HAD A A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, DANIEL.

UM, IF WE NEED TRANSPORTATION FOR THESE TOURS, CAN THE CITY ARRANGE THAT FOR THE LAND USE MEMBERS? SO THAT, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO ACTUALLY BE INVITED ON THESE TOURS WHEN THE LAND USE MEMBERS TAKE THEM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE A BIG SHIFT IN HOW WE'RE VOTING AND HOW WE'RE TREATING OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS.

ONCE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE TOUR AND UNDERSTAND BETTER.

ARE ARE THE TOURS, THEY'RE JUST GONNA BE REGULAR WALKING TOURS OR ARE WILL WE BE ON A BUS? WELL, JUST, AND I'LL LET TOM ANSWER, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS FOLKS ARE CONTACTING US AND SAYING, WHEN CAN I TAKE A TOUR? AND SO WE'VE BEEN SAYING JUST WHENEVER YOU WANT, UH, BUT MAYBE WE COULD DO LIKE BOTH, LIKE WE COULD HAVE A GROUP TOUR.

THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SUNSHINE OR NOT, BUT I'VE NOTICED, UH, SOME OF THE FOLKS, THEY WANNA JUST TAKE IT ON THEIR OWN TIME.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE OFFER THE TOURS EVERY DAY.

AND SO, BUT WE COULD DO EITHER WAY, COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THESE DISTRICTS WITH THE MEMBERS OF OUR PLANNING BOARD DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD, AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN A SUNSHINE MEETING SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT WILL SHIFT OPINIONS AND JUST EDUCATE.

I THINK IT'S POSITIVE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

SO COMM I'M NOT CHAIRING THE MEETING, BUT MAYOR, COMMISSIONER BOT, I THINK WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.

COMMISSIONER BOND.

YEAH.

I LOVE THIS ITEM SO MUCH.

I THINK IT'S IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE NOBODY THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE NOW.

SO GOOD ON YOU.

UM, I WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A VERY MINOR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IF I COULD, WHICH IS, UM, IN THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, UM, A TOUR OF, UH, THE ART DECO DISTRICT AND OR THE NORTH BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICT, MIMO, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

I'D LIKE IT TO BE AND NOT, AND OR THEY, THERE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT PARTS OF THE CITY WITH VERY DISTINCT HERITAGES AND NEEDS AND ISSUES AND CONCERNS.

AND SO, UM, MAYBE THAT MEANS IT'S TWO SEPARATE TOURS OR ONE LONGER TOUR, BUT I THINK, UM, WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE WELL INFORMED ABOUT ONE PART OF THE CITY AND NOT ABOUT THE OTHER.

UM, I'M FINE WITH THAT AMENDMENT AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN KNOCK THE TOURS OUT IN, IN ONE MORNING INSTEAD OF REQUIRING TWO SEPARATE TOURS, SOMEHOW COVER SOUTH BEACH AND THEN TAKE EVERYBODY UP TO NORTH BEACH AND HOPEFULLY EACH TIME WE DO THESE TOURS RIGHT AROUND WHEN WE DO THE APPOINTMENTS, UM, YOU CAN INVITE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TOO AND MAKE IT A SUNSHINE TOUR BECAUSE I THINK THAT COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, IT'S A HUGE, IT'S A HUGE CURVE, I BELIEVE FROM WHEN YOU START SERVING ON A LAND USE BOARD AND, AND, AND BECAUSE YOU HA YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE OR PRESERVATION UNTIL YOU START TO SEE CASE BY CASE BASIS.

SO, UM, HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALL JOIN IN ON THE FIRST TOUR THIS COMING JANUARY.

WHEN DO WE APPOINT ALL THE LAND USE BOARDS? DECEMBER, USUALLY IN JANUARY.

YOU COULD APPOINT IN DECEMBER BECAUSE THEIR TERMS TECHNICALLY EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31ST, BUT IN THE PAST THE COMMISSION HAS USUALLY MADE THOSE APPOINTMENTS IN JANUARY.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL DO OUR FIRST TOUR JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

AND WITH THAT, I MEAN I WOULD MOVE THE ITEM.

I'LL SECOND ALL THE VOTE.

AND FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

NO ONE ELSE IN ZOOM.

UH, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOT.

COMMISSIONER BOT.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

FIVE F IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR OF CITY, COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE TO CHAPTER TWO ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.

VICE MAYOR FERNANDEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

THAT WAS ITEM R FIVE CR FIVE FR

[R5 F LIVE LOCAL ACT APPLICATION FEES AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, AT CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES,” ARTICLE V, “REZONINGS AND DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS,” AT SECTION 2.5.5, ENTITLED “DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS UNDER THE LIVE LOCAL ACT,” TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENTS PURSUANT TO THE LIVE LOCAL ACT (INCLUDING SECTION 166.04151(7), FLORIDA STATUTES); AND BY AMENDING THE CITY CODE AT “APPENDIX A – FEE SCHEDULE,” TO PROVIDE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENTS UNDER THE LIVE LOCAL ACT; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

FIVE.

[02:50:04]

ARTICLE FIVE, REZONING AND RE AND DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS AT SECTION 2.5 0.5 ENTITLED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS UNDER THE LIV LOCAL ACT TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF RE OF DEVELOPMENTS PURSUANT TO THE LIV LOCAL ACT, INCLUDING SECTION 1 66 0.04151 SUBSECTION SEVEN FLORIDA STATUTE.

AND BY AMENDING THE CITY CODE AT APPENDIX A FEE SCHEDULED TO PROVIDE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPMENTS UNDER THE L LOCAL ACT AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPEALS OF ABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM REQUIRES A FIVE SEVENS VOTE.

IT IS R FIVE F POINT OF ORDER.

THE ITEM IS ADVERTISED FOR 10 30.

OH IT IS? OH, IT'S 1125.

OH MY GOD.

THE DAY IS FLYING.

OH MY GOD.

WHERE DID THE DAY GO? COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

UM, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE, THERE WAS A VERY, UH, TELLING SLIDE AS AS THE CHAIR OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE DO A REGIONAL ZOOM TWICE A YEAR, AND, UH, THEY PUT UP A SLIDE, UM, ON LIVE LOCAL ACTS AND IT WAS A SLIDE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WHAT YOU COULD SEE WAS OF THE 45 LIVE LOCAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 28 OF THEM ARE IN MIAMI, SIX OF THEM ARE IN MIAMI BEACH.

SO 13% OF ALL LIVE LOCAL ACTS STATEWIDE, UM, ARE HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

AND 66% OF ALL LIVE LOCAL ACTS ARE HERE AND RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND WYNWOOD AND THE DESIGN DISTRICT, WHICH I FOUND KIND OF INTERESTING.

UM, .

SO AS WE EMBARK ON THIS, AND HOPEFULLY NOBODY'S MOVED FORWARD IN THEIR STATE FILINGS, CORRECT? WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED THE SIX APPLICATIONS.

OR IS IT MORE AT THIS POINT? IT'S THE SIX, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DEEMED COMPLETE AS OF YET.

SO NONE OF OUR APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETE, BUT WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETE, UH, THIS IS A FEE SCHEDULE OF FOR HEARINGS AND HOW WE WILL CHARGE THEM.

UM, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT OF LIVE LOCAL PROJECTS SIMPLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING ON MIAMI BEACH.

IT'S, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT EVEN WHEN, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT COLLINS PARK WITH VERITAS BEFORE, I KNOW THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH FEES, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION THIS.

I WAS LOOKING AT OUR COLLINS PARK PROJECT WHERE WE GAVE THE LAND, WE GAVE $10 MILLION.

AND HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE? I DON'T THINK .

I THINK IT'S REALLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT THAT PRODUCT.

UM, BUT EVEN WITH THE SUBSIDIES OKAY.

AND FREE LAND, WHAT WE GOT IS REALLY UNSIGHTLY.

I WOULD NOT WANNA PUT, I WOULD NOT WANNA WORK WITH THAT COMPANY, UM, EVER AGAIN.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA BE A TARGET FOR LIVE LOCAL, BUT IF WE ARE, THIS IS JUST A FEE SCHEDULE FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BUT I I WOULD JUST MOVE THE ITEM SECOND.

COOL.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ.

UM, MAYBE THIS IS DIRECTED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY CLERK, BUT THE CITY OF MIAMI IS GOING THROUGH A HIGH PROFILE, UH, LIVE LOCAL APPLICATION RIGHT NOW.

UH, I BELIEVE ON ONE OF THE FORMER SEARS BUILDINGS DOWN IN THE CORAL, UH, WAY OR CORAL GATE NEIGHBORHOOD, I WAS WATCHING THEIR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

UH, I AM A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT.

UM, , IF YOU EVER WANNA FEEL BETTER ABOUT US UP HERE, WATCH THE CITY OF MIAMI .

I SAY THAT SOMEWHAT IN JEST, BUT, UH, I BELIEVE ONE OF THEIR COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER REYES, UH, PLANS TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE TO TALK ABOUT PERHAPS EVEN, UH, DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, LOBBY AGAINST, UH, THE LIVE LOCAL ACT.

BUT IF OUR LEGISLATIVE AID, PETER IS, UH, TALKING, IF THERE ARE CERTAIN CHANGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN MIAMI BEACH, MAYBE WE COULD DO SO IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, THE CITY OF MIAMI AS IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ENGAGED HERE.

THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SUGGESTION.

SO I MOVE THIS TO SECOND, SECOND CALL THE VOTE.

I HAVE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER, UH, ROSA GONZALEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER BOT.

COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.