Mar 19, 2025 Commission Meeting

UH, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO CALL, UH, TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION TO CALL FATHER JUAN SOSA FROM ST.

JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH.

AND DON'T WORRY, I WILL.

WHICH WAY DO I RIGHT, SIR, FROM HERE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, SPRINGTIME IS AMONG US AND, UH, OUR MIAMI BEACH SUN SHOWERS US WITH LIGHT AND HEALTH AND PEACE AS WE GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, UM, WE MUST ALWAYS STOP TO APPRECIATE GOD'S GIFT OF CREATION AND LIFE.

SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION IN PROVIDING SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT OF EACH OF ITS MEMBERS TO THE WORK ENTRUSTED TO THEM BY OUR CITIZENS.

SO LET US PRAY BY ECHOING THE PSALMIST, THE, THE BOOK OF PSALMS 36 THAT MAY OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, GUIDANCE TODAY.

LORD, YOUR MERCY REACHES TO HEAVEN, YOUR FIDELITY TO THE CLOUDS.

YOUR JUSTICE IS LIKE THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS, YOUR JUDGMENTS LIKE THE MIGHTY DEEP HUMAN BEING AND BEAST USE OF STAND.

LORD, HOW PRECIOUS IS YOUR MERCY? OH GOD, THE CHILDREN OF ADAM TAKE REFUGE IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS, FOR WITH YOU IS THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE.

IN YOUR LIGHT, WE SEE LIGHT, SHOW MERCY ON THOSE WHO KNOW YOU, YOUR JUST DEFENSE TO THE UPRIGHT OF HEART.

DO NOT LET THE FOOT OF THE PROUD OVERTAKE ME, NOR THE HAND OF THE WICKED DISTURB ME.

SO AS THE PSALMIST EXALTS THE RULE OF DIVINE LOVE OVER MERCY AND OVER GOD'S FRIENDS, SO DO I IN GOD'S NAME DO THE SAME.

OVER THIS GATHERING OF OUR CIVIC LEADERS AND ANYONE ELSE, ALL OF US PRESENT AMONG US, I ASK THAT GOD'S GUIDANCE MAY NEVER CEASE AMONG US FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMON GOOD AND THE WELLBEING OF ALL MIAMI BEACH CITIZENS.

I MAKE THIS PRAYER, IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I MAKE THIS PRAYER PRECISELY ON THE FEAST OF ST.

JOSEPH, OUR PATRON SAINT, OUR PARISH IN NORTH BEACH, AND OBVIOUSLY TWO DAYS AFTER ST.

PATRICK'S, WHICH IS THE OTHER PARISH NEARBY, TWO JUST MEN, JOSEPH AND PATRICK, WHO ALWAYS CARRIED OUT THEIR MISSIONS WITH GOD IN THEIR HEARTS.

SO MAY I PRAY, MAY ALL HERE PRESENT TODAY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY CHORES IN THE SAME MANNER CARRYING ALWAYS GOD IN THEIR HEARTS.

AMEN.

CERTAINLY OUR POLICE CHIEF, UH, AND ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE HELPED US.

THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR YOUR WORDS OF PRAYER.

UM, I'M GONNA ASK, WE'RE GONNA DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND I'M GONNA ASK OUR CHIEF JONES TO COME UP, BUT WANTED TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT DONE YET WITH SPRING BREAK, BUT, UH, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WE'RE HAVING INCREDIBLE SUCCESS.

UH, OUR CITY IS VIBRANT, WELCOMING, AND SAFE.

AND UH, REALLY I THANK OUR CITY COMMISSION HERE IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR EVERYONE'S WORK ON THIS.

IT'S REALLY A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION AND

[00:05:01]

SO PLEASE CHIEF LEAD US IN, IN THE PLEDGE MORNING, MR. MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSION.

THANKS V HONOR OF ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS THIS MORNING.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART FOR ME AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

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 WILL, LIBERTY, INJUSTICE FOR ALL.

SO WHERE, BEFORE WE START SUT HOUR, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY, UH, TO EXPLAIN MY REASONING FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY I WANNA HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA EXTEND SUT HOUR TODAY A BIT.

WE CAN'T DO IT.

UH, AND I THINK BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE, I THINK WE CAN HOPEFULLY ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE.

I WANT TO HEAR EVERYONE'S VOICES.

WE ALL WANT TO HEAR EVERYONE'S VOICES.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WHATEVER OPINIONS ANYONE HAS, INCLUDING MY OWN, THIS IS DEMOCRACY.

I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY, I'M PROUD OF OUR CITY, AND THIS IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

THINGS GET SAID, LEGISLATION GETS PUT ON, HILARIOUS LEGISLATION GETS PUT ON, AND THEN THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN, GIVE OPINIONS, DISAGREE.

UM, SO THE BACKGROUND, IF YOU CAN JUST BEAR WITH ME AND YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MR. MAYOR, BEFORE YOU EVEN START THIS, A POINT OF PRIVILEGE.

UM, NORMALLY WHEN A FORMER MAYOR PASSES, WE START OUR MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MAYOR ALEX DOWD, WHO PASSED, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND.

UH, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN HIS FUNERAL SERVICES WERE WILL BE, BUT, UM, HE WAS MAYOR OF MIAMI BEACH FOR EIGHT YEARS, FROM 1985 TO 1981.

HE WAS ALSO ALSO THE AUTHOR OF SINS OF SOUTH BEACH.

MOST RECENTLY HE HAD BEEN ELECTED TO THE PALM.

WHAT? PALM VIEW.

PALM VIEW, SORRY.

I WAS GONNA SAY, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND HIS PASSING REALLY CAME AS A SHOCK, UH, BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE.

SO IF WE COULD RIGHT NOW, JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALEX DOWD.

REST IN PEACE, ALEX.

UH, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ.

AND, UH, WITH ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY, I, I NEGLECTED TO DO THAT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I DO ASK JUST TO BEAR WITH ME FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT MY THINKING WAS.

AND YOU MAY COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF OUR, OF OUR COUNTRY.

SO THE GENESIS OF THIS IS I WAS WATCHING THE ACADEMY AWARDS AND I SEE THAT THE FILM NO OTHER LAND WON THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

AND, UM, BUT WHAT I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT WAS THE HURTFUL AND WHAT I CONSIDERED HATEFUL COMMENTS MADE BY THE PRODUCERS OF THE FILM AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZED THEY DID SOMETHING SIMILAR AT THE BERLIN AWARDS, WHICH CAUSED MANY COMMENTS, UH, INTERNATIONALLY, INCLUDING FROM THE GERMAN, UH, THE GERMAN, UH, GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY OF BERLIN.

I THEN STARTED RESEARCHING, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE, ABOUT THE FACTS AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS PLAYING IN A LOCAL THEATER OR CINEMA, WHICH IS A GOVERNMENT FACILITY, UH, AND ALSO RECEIVED SOME GRANT FUNDING.

I ACTUALLY THEN GOT A, I WAS ABLE TO WATCH THE MOVIE.

UH, I GOT A COPY OF IT AND, AND WATCHED IT.

SO I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, DID YOU ACTUALLY WATCH IT, MAYOR? AND THE ANSWER IS YES, I DID WATCH IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

I THEN PROCEEDED TO WRITE A LETTER TO SINEMA EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE MOVIE AND ALSO THE HATEFUL COMMENTS MADE, UH, AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS WHAT I DEEMED HATEFUL.

AND THEN, UH, I GOT A LETTER BACK FROM SINEMA, UH, AND I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS WHAT THEY MEANT OR WHAT THEY DIDN'T MEAN, BUT THE ANSWER WAS DUE TO CONCERNS OF ANTI-SEMITIC RHETORIC, THEY WOULD NOT BE SHOWING THE FILM AND, AND REITERATED THAT, UH, SECOND TIME IN THE LETTER.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE END OF THE MATTER.

I THANKED THEM AND THEN I GOT, UH, FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THE BOARD OVERRULED THE DECISION AND WOULD BE SHOWING THE FILM.

AGAIN, REASONABLE MINDS CAN DIFFER, BUT A GOVERNMENT OWNED FACILITY, BRAND FUNDING, UM, IS, THIS WASN'T A PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO WHAT WAS HURTFUL TO ME, IT IS IN THE GUISE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.

AND I THINK, I DON'T PRETEND TO SPEAK FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

I AM JEWISH, BUT I DON'T PRETEND TO SPEAK FOR JEWISH PEOPLE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I SEE AND HEAR FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IS 90%, AT LEAST OF OUR RESIDENTS, NOT ALL SOME JEWISH PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT I THINK I'M SPEAKING ON THE VAST MAJORITY FROM THE LEFT OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO THE RIGHT OF THE POLITICAL POLITICAL SPECTRUM, TO THE RIGHT OF RELIGIOUS SPECTRUM, TO

[00:10:01]

THE LEFT OF RELIGIOUS SPECTRUM FROM PEOPLE WHO SINCERELY DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE ARTS HAVE ACTUALLY COMMENDED ME FOR HIGHLIGHTING AN ISSUE.

AND THE ISSUE IS ANTISEMITISM.

THE BELIEF IS THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE DOUBLE STANDARD IN THE WORLD IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO ANTISEMITISM.

EVERY GROUP DESERVES TO BE PERFECTED.

AND I HAVE PROTECTED EVERY GROUP, WHETHER IT BE RACISM, WHETHER IT BE ATTACKS ON THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE ANY GROUP DESERVES TO BE PROTECTED, BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE THAT GOT LOST.

WHEN IT COMES TO JEW HATRED, WHETHER IT BE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT HARASS AND INTIMIDATED JEWS, WE SEE COLUMBIA, OTHER CITIES, UCLA HAD ACTUALLY WHAT A COURT CALLED A JEW EXCLUSION ZONE.

IF YOU DID NOT DEDICATE AND DENOUNCE THE STATE OF ISRAEL, YOU COULD NOT GET THROUGH THE CAMP.

CERTAIN COURTS, IT'S NOT A LIE.

THAT'S A LIE, LIE.

IT'S WRITTEN ABOUT CENSORSHIP, IT'S WRITTEN ABOUT IN A JUDGE'S DECISION.

WHAT I AM HIGHLIGHTING FOCUS ON, WHAT I'M HIGHLIGHTING IS WHAT JEWISH PEOPLE FEAR IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL, THE BEST COUNTRY FOR JEWISH PEOPLE.

I HOPE MANY GROUPS CAN SAY THAT.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU AS A JEWISH PERSON AND WHAT I HEAR FROM OTHERS, NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS ALLOWED JEWISH PEOPLE TO PRACTICE AND LIVE FREELY AND SECURELY AS THIS COUNTRY HAS.

BUT AS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, JEWISH HISTORY, THAT THAT COMES TO AN END IN EVERY COUNTRY WE'RE IN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE COUNTRY OF ISRAEL SURROUNDED BY ALMOST 500 MILLION ARABS, AND THERE'S ABOUT 9 MILLION JEWS, THE COUNTRY IS UNDER ATTACK.

THIS IS RELEVANT, THIS IS RELEVANT TO WHY I BRING THIS UP.

WE NEED TO NOT HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD.

I'LL FINISH OFF AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.

AND THE REASON WHY THIS HAS RESONATED, YOU MAY AGAIN AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT THE REASON WHY THIS HAS RESONATED SO MUCH, AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF BACKLASH AND I UNDERSTAND IT, BY THE WAY, WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ACTUALLY THOUGH, IS THE HATE MAIL.

I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF VERY NICE CONSIDERATE EMAILS.

MAYOR, YOU'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT WRONG.

I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE.

BUT HALF OF THE STUFF I'VE GOT IS NOT THAT IT'S HATE, IT'S VILE, IT'S DISGUSTING.

SOME OF IT'S THREATENING IT, IT'S NOT OKAY, BUT I'LL F I'LL FINISH OFF WITH THIS.

AND THIS IS WHY THE PERSPECTIVE IS IMPORTANT.

I DON'T, AND AGAIN, I THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR ALL THE VAST MAJORITY OF JEWISH PEOPLE, THERE'S A WAR GOING ON.

NO, YOU'RE NOT.

NO, NO.

THERE'S A WAR GOING ON.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WAR WITH GUNS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WAR WITH PROPAGANDA.

AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE WAR THAT'S GOING ON.

AND EVERY JEWISH PERSON THAT I SPEAK WITH FEELS THEY'RE A SOLDIER IN THAT WAR.

AND THIS IS PART OF IT, AND THIS IS PART OF IT.

WHEN WE CALL OUT HATE.

NOW, IF YOU WANNA SHOW A FILM, IF YOU WANNA SHOW A FILM THAT BY THE WAY, AND I'M SURE I'M GONNA HEAR THE BOOZE ON THIS, I DID THE RESEARCH, THE FILM SHOWS AN INTERESTING STORY AND FOR SOME, AND IN MANY RESPECTS A TRUE STORY.

BUT WHAT IT LEAVES OUT CHANGES THE WHOLE NARRATIVE.

IT'S A HARD WATCH.

I WATCHED IT, IT IS A HARD WATCH, BUT IT TELLS YOU A STORY OF ISRAEL BULLDOZING HOMES.

IT'S SAD.

NOBODY WANTS TO SEE ANYBODY MOVED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, HAVING THEIR HOMES LOST.

BUT WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IN THE MOVIE IS THAT IT WAS A MILITARY TRAINING ZONE THAT HAD, WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS, WE DON'T NEED YOU.

I GET THAT AND I WILL LET YOU SPEAK, BUT IT WAS A MILITARY TRAINING ZONE.

IT WAS EMPTY LAND FOR 20 YEARS UNDER INTERNATIONAL OSLO, UNDER INTERNATIONAL OSLO ACCORDS.

THE MOVIE DOESN'T SHOW YOU THE MOVIE DOESN'T SHOW YOU.

WELL, YOU'RE CENSORING ME RIGHT NOW.

THE MOVIE, THE MOVIE DOESN'T SHOW ANY OF THAT HISTORY.

THE MOVIE DOESN'T SHOW YOU THAT THIS WENT THROUGH THE COURTS FOR 20 YEARS.

THE ISRAELI SUPREME COURT, WHICH BY THE WAY OFTEN RULES AGAINST THE ISRAELI ARMY, OFTEN RULES AGAINST THE ISRAELI ARMY, WHICH IS A HOT TOPIC OF DEBATE IN ISRAEL RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY WE WANNA SEE THE MOVIE FOR LEAD ICE ASIDE.

ON THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, I THINK SOMEONE CAN EXPECT A RESPONSE.

AND WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IF WHAT'S FAIR IS FAIR, WE'RE IN THE HEART OF MIAMI BEACH, A VERY HIGHLY POPULATED JEWISH AREA.

IF YOU WENT INTO THE HEART OF A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOWED A RACIST FILM, OR IF YOU WENT INTO THE HEART OF A CUBAN NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOWED A FILM THAT GLORIFIED CASTRO AND THE REVOLUTION OR INTO THE HEART OF A GAY COMMUNITY, THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND SHOWED ATTACKS

[00:15:01]

I THINK WHAT'S FAIR IS FAIR AND MY ISSUES, AND BY THE WAY, I WILL SAY PUBLICLY, SMA HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER.

THIS HAS BEEN, UH, AN ISSUE OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS, HAS BROUGHT UM, I THINK SOME ISSUES TO, TO THE FOREFRONT.

BUT THEY'VE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER.

THEY'VE SHOWN A LOT OF FILMS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.

WHAT BOTHERED ME ALSO IS THERE HASN'T BEEN A FILM THAT SHOWS THE CURRENT ISRAEL PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU'RE GONNA SHOW THE FILM FROM A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE, SHOW A FAIR AND BALANCED SHOW, A FAIR AND BALANCED FILM SHOWING.

SO WHAT I'M DOING TODAY IS I HAVE PUT ON A RESOLUTION R SEVEN G THAT URGES ENCOURAGES A FAIR AND BALANCED SHOWING AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA BRING FOR A VOTE AFTER THE SUT HOUR.

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

UH, FIRST SPEAKER, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE TO, AND WE'RE GOING TO, THE TIME ALLOTTED WILL BE ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER TO ACCOMMODATE ALL PARTICIPANTS.

SO PLEASE START.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES ME ALMOST ONE MINUTE TO OPEN MY MOUTH, SO I WILL BE REALLY VERY BRIEF.

I AM WENDY JOSEPH, RUG COORDINATOR OF THE LECTURE SERIES AT BELL PLAZA CONDOMINIUM, OF WHICH MANY OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED.

I WANNA START OFF WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE.

I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE DURING SPRING BREAK.

IT'S DUE TO YOU AND WHAT YOU IMPLEMENTED AND HOPEFULLY THE NEXT TWO WEEKENDS WILL BE THE SAME.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA CURTAIL MY SPEECH SO THAT I'M FAIR TO ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE OUR FIRST VIRTUAL SPEAKER, SPEAKER, ALEX HECKLER.

WE'VE LOST MR. HECKLER.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHAN MOORE.

UH, I WILL TAKE HALF OF MY TIME TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, R FIVE ONE.

WE THANK COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE.

WE HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THAT TODAY.

UH, FOR TWO YARD SALES A YEAR, UH, C SEVEN R, COMMISSIONER BOTS, NEIGHBORHOOD WALKTHROUGHS INVALUABLE.

WE HAVE FOUND C SEVEN W.

WE REALLY WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER FERNANDES FOR THE WATER RATE INCREASE MORATORIUM AND I WANT TO THANK POSSIBLE PROSPECTIVE COMMISSION CANDIDATE MITCH NOVIK FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

C SEVEN A ONE RAISES A CONCERN IN ONE OF ITS ITEMS, UH, THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SLUSH FUND.

UH, AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO STRIP THAT DETAIL OUT.

UH, I OPPOSE R SEVEN G JUST AS I OPPOSED C SEVEN AA.

BOTH OF THEM ARE ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND IN LIGHT OF THE MAYOR'S JEWISH SUPREMACIST ZIONIST STATEMENTS IN HIS, UH, REMARKS.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

AND IN THE ITEM, OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER, PLEASE REPORT THE PODIUM IF UP.

GO.

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

MY NAME IS DR. ARNOLD LEHMAN.

25 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR OF THE SECOND LARGEST ART MUSEUM IN THE UNITED STATES, THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM IN NEW NEW YORK CITY, MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI TRIED TO SHUT DOWN OUR MUSEUM BECAUSE WE WERE SHOWING A WORK OF ART THAT HE FOUND OFFENSIVE.

HOWEVER, THE MUSEUM SUED HIM IN THE CITY AND FEDERAL COURT AND WON ON EVERY COUNT AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS THE COUNTRY'S MOST PUBLICIZED FIRST AMENDMENT CASE.

I HOPE THAT OZ CINEMA VERSUS THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH DOES NOT BECOME THE SECOND ONE.

I'M 80 YEARS OLD, A VISITOR OR PART-TIME RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH FOR 79 YEARS, I AM JEWISH HANDICAPPED AND FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE ARTS DOES NOT ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO PLAY THE ROLE OF CENSOR.

ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBSIDIZE ARTS PROGRAMS ONCE IT DOES SO IT CANNOT RESCIND FUNDING OR THREATEN EVICTION BECAUSE IT DISAGREES WITH A VIEWPOINT EXPRESSED IN A PARTICULAR WORK OF ART.

THANK YOU SIR.

SUCH AS A DOCUMENTARY.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

ALRIGHT, GREETINGS EVERYONE.

NO OTHER LAND.

[00:20:01]

MY NAME IS BRENDA JORDAN, BETTER KNOWN AS IMA TO MOST OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHICH MEANS MOTHER.

I CAME HERE AS AN ARTIST VENDOR, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING, UM, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION HERE IS AN ARTIST OR HAVE EVER WORKED OUTSIDE ON THE STREET.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU'RE SETTING UP A PROGRAM, YOU GET AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD TO GUIDE YOU ON HOW TO SET UP THE PROGRAM AND THAT WASN'T DONE.

AND WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS ROAD AND NONE OF YOU EXCEPT ONE CAME TO VISIT MY TABLE OR HAS TAKEN A STROLL OUT TO GET THIS RIGHT THIS TIME.

THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO SET UP THIS PROGRAM DID IT WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ARTISTS.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE A STROLL OUT ON THE STREET AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON SO THAT WE CAN REGULATE THIS TOGETHER.

BUT WHEN I CAME HERE AND I HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, I WAS WONDERING WHAT EVERYBODY WAS HERE FOR.

YOU KNOW, AS LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, IT'S IMPORTANT.

SOMETIMES WE ARE GROWN WITH RELIGION AND WE TAKE THAT VIEW.

AS LAW, WE NEED TO OPEN UP TO ALL SIDES.

YOU CAN'T GET A BALANCED SOCIETY UNLESS YOU LOOK AT ALL THINGS.

SO PLEASE OPEN YOUR HEART AND NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE TRAINED IN A CERTAIN WAY, YOU FOLLOW THAT PATH.

OPEN YOUR HEART AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT THERE'S A BIG LARGE LINE AND MIND HUMANITY.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF JUDAS.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS.

I AM JUDITH SMI OF THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM A JEW.

I WAS RAISED IN THE KOSHER THAT CHERISHED ISRAEL, WHICH GAVE A REMNANT OF SLANDER, DESPISE, OR CANCELED EUROPEAN JEWS THAT OWN HOMELAND.

I AM MAD, VERY RELUCTANT TO HAVE STARTED FINDING FAULT WITH ISRAEL, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? FACTS, TRUMP BELIEFS.

I LOVE MIAMI BEACH.

I'VE BEEN CONCERNED SINCE THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION CAME IN WITH THE MAYOR BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE IN THESE MEETINGS THAT EVEN TODAY CUT OFF A RESIDENT BECAUSE APPARENTLY HE SAID A WORD THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T LIKE OR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T LIKE.

AND SPECIFICALLY FOR EQUATING CRITICISM OF ISRAEL WITH ANTISEMITISM.

I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT CAME TO TALK ABOUT OPPOSING RESOLUTIONS TO DEFUND OR CONTROL O CINEMA.

I APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR TIME IS UP.

NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

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

MY NAME IS BRANDON BLOM.

I AM JEWISH AND I'M A FORMER SMA EMPLOYEE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF C SEVEN AA.

CONTRARY TO THE MAYOR'S RANSOM LETTER TO SMA, HE DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ALL JEWISH RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH OR ALL JEWS AT LARGE.

PUNISHING A CULTURAL INSTITUTION FOR SCREENING A FILM ABOUT THE LIVES OF PALESTINIANS CONTRADICTS THE JEWISH VALUES THAT I WAS RAISED WITH.

THE JEWISH VALUE OF JUSTICE COMMANDS US TO SEEK TRUTH, NOT SUPPRESS IT.

THE TRADITION OF WELCOMING STRANGERS INVITES US TO LEARN FROM OTHERS, NOT TO EXCLUDE THEM.

AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IS FOUNDATIONAL TO JEWISH LIFE.

AS MANY OF YOU ON THE DAYS KNOW, WE ARE A PEOPLE OF DEBATE, NOT CENSORSHIP, THE DESTRUCTION OF A SCHOOL, THE THE DESTRUCTION OF A SCHOOL, THE SHOOTING OF CIVILIANS, THE POURING OF CONCRETE INTO A WATER.

WELL, THESE ARE NOT HATEFUL INACCURACIES, IT'S NOT PROPAGANDA, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO PORTRAY IT.

THEY ARE DOCUMENTED REALITIES, SILENCING THEM, DOES NOT MAKE THEM UNTRUE.

AND TO INVOKE THE JEWISH VALUES IN NAME OF REPRESSION IS TO BETRAY OUR FAITH.

THE MAYOR SEEKS NOT TO DEFEND THE JEWISH TRADITION, BUT TO DISTORT IT.

AND AS A JEW, I CANNOT STAND IDLY BY.

MELANIE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS MELANIE RYAN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, THIS IS ACTUALLY DAVID ROLAND, SEVEN 60 EQUI AVENUE.

I'M A LONGTIME MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT AND VOTER.

IN FACT, I VOTED FOR MAYOR MINOR IN THE LAST ELECTION.

THAT ALONG WITH BEING A FILM LOVER, A JEWISH PERSON AND AN AMERICAN, MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED BY HIS THREAT TO EVICT SMA.

FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AS A FILM CRITIC, I HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE ON THE CRITICS PANEL FOR THE MIAMI JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

MANY OF WHOSE FILMS ARE SCREAMED AT ARE SCREAMED AT SMA.

WHILE MANY JEWISH PEOPLE I HAVE MET HAVE DIVERSE OPINIONS ON ISRAEL, ALL JEWISH PEOPLE ARE UNITED

[00:25:01]

IN THEIR LOVE FOR MOVIES.

THERE IS A FAMOUS QUOTE I ASK THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER BEFORE VOTING AND THE MAYOR TO CONSIDER.

I MAY NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY, BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH, THE RIGHT TO SAY IT.

PLEASE KEEP O CINEMA OPEN.

HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.

GO.

MY NAME IS ADAM SAER, A JEWISH RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH AT 10TH AND LENNOX SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO C SEVEN AA AND R SEVEN G.

IT IS NO WORSE TO CENSOR ART THAN IT IS TO MANDATE ITS DISPLAY.

THE MAYOR'S FIRST RESOLUTION TO SHUTTER O CINEMA IS BOUND TO FAIL BECAUSE IT IS UNSUPPORTABLE BY MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS, BY THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND BY THE LAW.

RESOLUTION R SEVEN G IMPOSING A CULTURAL MANDATE IS EQUALLY UNSUPPORTABLE.

IN BOTH RESOLUTIONS, THE MAYOR SEEKS TO DENY THE LEGITIMACY OF A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE PROPOSES TO CODIFY HIS PERSONAL BELIEFS ABOUT THE MORALITY OF ISRAEL'S DEADLY VIOLENCE AS OFFICIAL CITY POLICY.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT BALANCE, IT IS ABOUT CONTROL.

AND CONTROLLING A NARRATIVE FOR A POLITICAL PURPOSE IS QUITE LITERALLY THE DEFINITION OF PROPAGANDA.

WHEN GOVERNMENTS DEMAND THAT ART SERVE THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA, THEY DO NOT PROTECT THE TRUTH.

THEY MANUFACTURE IT.

I ASK THE REST OF YOU, COMMISSIONERS DO NOT BE A PART OF THAT MACHINE.

THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON CLIMATE, RESILIENCY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS BAN'S IPHONE.

THAT'S YES.

UH, GO AHEAD.

I I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME.

UM, I'M THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HIALEAH AND I WANTED TO SHOW MY SOLIDARITY WITH, UH, MAYOR MINOR AND HIS COURAGE TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU, AS I COULD TELL BY THE AUDIENCE AND ITS REACTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO HIDE UNDER THE GUISE OF ART TO PROMOTE HATE.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN NOW IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF ANTISEMITISM ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES, FOLKS THAT COME INTO THIS COUNTRY AS GUESTS WITH VISAS JUST TO SPEW HATE AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND SOONER OR LATER AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS.

THE FACT THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN MIAMI BEACH IS TO BASICALLY STICK IT TO THE EYES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW MANY IN THE AUDIENCE MAY BE JEWS AND BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE RIGHT FOR THE PALESTINIAN STORY TO BE TOLD.

AND ABSOLUTELY IT SHOULD BE, BUT IT SHOULD BE BALANCED.

SO MAYOR, I CONGRATULATE YOU.

STAY STRONG AND WE'RE WITH YOU FROM THE CITY OF HIALEAH.

OKAY, UH, CHANGE OF SUBJECT HERE, MITCH NOVIK.

FOR ONE YEAR, I'VE STOOD HERE AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES EXPRESSING MY CONCERN ABOUT STATE PREEMPTIONS TO OUR HOME RULE.

THE FORMER CITY ATTORNEY WHO IS NOW EMPLOYED BY A PROMINENT PRO DEVELOPMENT LAW FIRM ISSUED A FLAWED OPINION SUGGESTING MIAMI BEACH NOT CHALLENGED THIS LEGISLATION.

THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS EXPIRES SOON AND I CONTINUE TO URGE THIS BODY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AS WE NOW HAVE A DEMOLITION REQUEST FOR TWO HISTORIC BUILDINGS BYPASSING ALL REVIEW BY THE CITY.

ONCE THESE TWO BUILDINGS ARE TORN DOWN, I BELIEVE THE WHOLESALE DEMOLITION OF OUR HISTORY WILL HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED.

I IMPLORE YOU TO TREAT THIS AS AN EMERGENCY MATTER AND FULFILL YOUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECTATIONS.

TO CONTINUE DOING NOTHING IMPLIES COMPLICITY IN ERASING MIAMI BEACH'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY.

WOO.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS FRANKLIN PEREZ.

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

HI, MY NAME IS FRANKLIN PEREZ.

MY ADDRESS IS 5 9 8 KENWOODS TRAIL OF VITO, FLORIDA.

DO NOT VOTE FOR OUTRAGEOUS RESOLUTION.

C-A-A-A-A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD REVOKE SIMA'S LEASE FOR MERELY EXERCISING SIMA'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT IN SHOWING THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY NO OTHER LAND.

THIS FILM CHRONICLES AND EXPOSES THE DESTRUCTION OF A PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK BY THE ISRAELI APARTHEID REGIME BETWEEN YEARS 2019 AND 2023.

ENOUGH, ISRAEL IS A JEWISH SUPREMACIST APARTHEID STATE THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTING ETHNIC CLEANSING, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, AND NOW GENOCIDE AGAINST PALESTINIANS FOR 76 PLUS YEARS.

STOP SUPPORTING ISRAEL, STOP GIVING IT WEAPONS.

STOP GIVING IT MONEY.

IT'S EPIDEMIC FOR WHAT? IT'S ON APARTHEID AND GENOCIDAL TRAIT THAT HAS MURDERED 186,000 PLUS PALESTINIANS IN GAZA NOW ON OUTRAGEOUS REVOLUTION C SEVEN AA.

IT IS NOTHING BUT CENSORSHIP.

[00:30:01]

GOT THANK YOU TWO.

YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR FIRST, OUR OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

MY NAME IS KEVIN ARO.

I'M A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT VOTER AND A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS WORKED IN THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY SINCE THE 1980S.

I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE CENSORSHIP AND DEFUNDING OF A SMALL ART HOUSE CINEMA IS A VERY LOCAL TRAGEDY.

IT IS AN ACT OF CULTURAL REPRESSION AND SHOULD ALARM EVERY CITIZEN REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL BELIEF.

ANYTIME A GOVERNMENT TARGETS CULTURE, IT IS A CAUSE FOR GRAVE CONCERN.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS STORY BEFORE AND IT NEVER ENDS.

WELL ESTEEM COMMISSIONERS, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS.

DOCUMENTARY FILMS EXIST TO CHALLENGE, TO ILLUMINATE AND TO FOSTER DISCOURSE.

THAT IS WHAT ART DOES AND THAT IS WHAT FREE SOCIETY ALLOWS.

AND IF MIAMI BEACH TRULY WANTS TO BE A BEACON FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, IT CANNOT SIMULTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN SPACES THAT ALLOW FOR CONVERSATIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

KILLING A MOVIE THEATER IS NOT FOSTERING ARTS AND CULTURE.

IT IS THE OPPOSITE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A PHONE NUMBER THAT ENDS IN THREE, THREE, FOUR TWO.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING, THIS IS MAYOR OF FRANCIS SUAREZ FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI, UH, MAYOR MINOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM BEFORE YOU YOU START OVER.

IT WAS A LITTLE, UH, YESTERDAY.

IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR YOU.

YEAH, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME BETTER NOW.

THIS IS MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.

JUST YESTERDAY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ON 82ND AND BISCAYNE, WE HAD SOMEONE GRAFFITI, HEINOUS AND DISRESPECTFUL AND ANTISEMITIC, UH, TROPES ON ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS.

UH, THIS WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, NOT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

WE CONTACTED THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY PUT IT DOWN WITHIN AN HOUR.

IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY STANDING TOGETHER TO BE UNIFIED ON THIS ISSUE.

UM, WE BELIEVE THAT IN MIAMI AND IN MIAMI, THE BROADER MIAMI, MIAMI BEACH, HIALEAH, AND ALL THE OTHER CITIES OF DADE COUNTY, IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE, PLACES AND PLACE FOR JEWS TO LIVE ON THE PLANET.

AND WE'RE, WE ARE COMPLETELY, UM, IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU MAYOR MINOR IN YOUR CONCERNS OVER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN A PUBLIC THEATER.

WE HAVE PUBLIC THEATERS AS WELL.

UH, AND IF, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WHO OPERATES A PUBLIC THEATER IS ALSO A STEWARD OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.

AND THAT PERSON SHOULD HAVE, THAT PERSON SHOULD, SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING FILMS AND SHOWING FILMS IN, AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

AND SO THE FACT THAT I'M SPEAKING AND PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING THE FACT THAT I'M SPEAKING AND EVERYONE'S SHOUTING, THE FACT, THE FACT THAT I'M SPEAKING, THE FACT THAT I'M SPEAKING AND EVERYONE IS SHOUTING AT THE TIME THAT I'M SPEAKING MEANS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WANT TO CENSOR ME.

SO I FIND IT VERY, VERY INTERESTING THAT MANY OF THEM ARE MAKING THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CENSORSHIP AND ARE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO SHOUT DOWN SOMEONE WHO'S SPEAKING AND GIVING THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

SO I I I STAND WITH YOU.

UH, AND I WOULD DO SIMILARLY IF IT WERE A SIMILAR SITUATION IN MIAMI, UH, OFFENSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT IN PERSON CALL, UH, SPEAKER.

SAYS CRIME HAS BEEN FLAT THE LAST 10 YEARS.

GOOD MORNING, ROBERT LANDSBERG, 90 ALTON ROAD.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, SPRING BREAK MEASURES.

DON'T COME TO MIAMI BEACH.

IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET.

THERE'S A BILLBOARD ON I 95 THAT SAYS, THINKING ABOUT COMING TO MIAMI BEACH.

DON'T COME HERE AS EARLY AS THE SEVENTIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAD TO LEAVE ITS SUNSET.

THEY WEREN'T WELCOME HERE IN THE THIRTIES.

ADVERTISEMENTS ALWAYS A VIEW, NEVER A JEW.

WE FORCED THEM OUT AGAIN.

THE UNPRIVILEGED PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD OUR UPSCALE LIFESTYLE, NOT WELCOME HERE TODAY.

MILITARY STYLE BLOCKADES, 1215 POLICE OFFICERS SHINING LIGHTS IN YOUR CAR AS YOU CROSS OVER THE CAUSEWAY.

IF YOU WERE A PERSON OF COLOR, A YOUTH, WOULD YOU THINK IT'S FAIR? WHAT WE'RE DOING? WHAT IS OUR GOAL TO STOP CRIME TWERKING? COUPLE OF PEOPLE PUTTING THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I NEED YOU TO WRAP UP.

FBI CRIME REPORT

[00:35:01]

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS ALEX HECKLER.

MR. HECKLER, UNMUTE YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU COMMISSION FOR TAKING UP THIS ITEM.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ITEM TO BE DISCUSSED.

I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF ON GOVERNMENT LAND, ON THE GOVERNMENT, LEASE EQUAL TIME FOR PERSPECTIVES.

THIS IS A LARGE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

THE MAYOR HAS CONSTITUENCY THAT HE'S REACHING OUT TO, THAT HE'S STICKING UP FOR, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS DIALOGUE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA SHOW A FILM IF'S REALLY A FICTION FILM, NOT A NONFICTION FILM, YOU COULD AT LEAST GIVE EQUAL TIME.

YOU COULD AT LEAST GIVE EQUAL TIME TO OTHER FILMS THAT TELL THE TRUTH AND OTHER FILMS THAT ARE NOT ANTISEMITIC OR ANTI-ANYTHING.

AND I THINK OZ CINEMA, IF YOU SEND A LETTER ADMITTING THAT THIS IS AN ANTISEMITIC FILM AND THEN YOUR BOARD TRIES TO RAISE MONEY AROUND IT BY SENDING OUT MASS EMAILS AND NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING, SHAME ON YOU.

YOU WERE A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN, YOU WERE A GOOD NONPROFIT CITIZEN.

AND LET'S GET BACK TO THAT.

THANK YOU MR. IF YOU WANNA SHOW, IF YOU WANNA SHOW THIS FILM, SHOW A FILM ABOUT OCTOBER 7TH.

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

MY NAME IS ED DEVEREAUX.

I RESIDE AT 20 ISLAND AVENUE HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE DROP ALL PROPOSALS REGARDING SMA AND GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING OUR CITY.

PLEASE VOTE.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON ANY ATTEMPTS TO CENSOR, CENSOR OR POLITICALLY CORRECT, POLITICALLY CONTROLLED THE PROGRAMMING OF SMA.

OUR CITY IS A DIVERSE, MULTI-ETHNIC, MULTI-RELIGIOUS CITY AND THESE PROPOSALS ARE ALREADY DAMAGING MIAMI BEACH'S WELL-DESERVED REPUTATION FOR OPENNESS AND DIVERSITY.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND RESIDENT AS A MOVIE GOER AND ALSO AS A BOOK SELLER WHO OWNS UNDER BRIDGE BOOKSTORE IN CHICAGO, WHICH I STARTED 44 YEARS AGO.

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT TRENDS TOWARDS CENSORSHIP BOOK BANNINGS AND ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT MOVIES WE SEE AT A LOCAL THEATER SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED BY THE MAYOR OR OR THE CITY COUNCIL PERIOD.

WE VALUE ALL THE ARTS AND CULTURE INSTITUTIONS WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY THAT MAKE MIAMI BEACH SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST ITS BARS AND BEACHES.

PLEASE SAY NO TO ALL FORMS OF CENSORSHIP AND YES TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

PLEASE DO NOT INJECT POLITICS INTO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES OF THE OATH THEATER.

OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS RO GUTIERREZ.

RO GO AHEAD PLEASE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HI, I AM SPEAKING TODAY, UH, URGING THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION TO VOTE NO ON REMOVING FUNDING FROM A BELOVED CULTURAL INSTITUTION, OSMA, WHICH I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING SINCE HIGH SCHOOL FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW.

UM, AND I WOULD ALSO LOVE THE MAYOR TO STOP CENSORING THE TRUTH.

I THINK WHAT HE'S AFRAID OF IS THAT THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE AND NOW THE WAR THAT HE'S SAYING IS ACTUALLY JUST THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING TO SEE THE OTHER PERSPECTIVE THAT HAS BEEN CENSORED FOR SO LONG BY THE ZIONIST REGIME OF ISRAEL.

VOTE NO AND KEEP SMA OPEN.

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

GO AHEAD MA'AM.

MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE LEBOFF.

I'M A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT AND I'M JEWISH PRO-ISIS ISRAEL, A JOURNALIST AND AN AUTHOR AND NONE OF THAT IS RELEVANT BECAUSE I'M HERE TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

BUT, BUT LAST NIGHT, MAYOR MINOR FLIPPED THE, THE SCRIPT AND PUT IN A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR FAIRNESS.

WHEN CIN SCREENS FILMS, THAT'S ALSO IRRELEVANT.

THIS ISN'T THE FCC, WE DON'T HAVE A FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPARENTLY THOUGHT THIS WAS, UM, REASONABLE, ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND BY NOW AFTER HEARING FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS THIS ISSUE ISN'T MOOT.

THERE IS NO ISSUE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WE SHOULDN'T MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS.

UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, TO STRIP US OF THIS FREEDOM, WHICH IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMISSION GO ON RECORD SO I KNOW WHO I'M VOTING FOR WHEN I ENTER THE VOTING BOOTH IN NOVEMBER.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF THE INITIALS D AND G.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS,

[00:40:01]

AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

MORNING.

MY NAME IS DAVID GOLDWASSER, I LIVE AT 45 45 NANOS COURT.

UM, GOOD MORNING EVEN MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE MAYOR'S AGENDA.

UH, ITEM REGARDING SINEMA, I'M JEWISH AND I HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THE OPPOSITION'S VIEW VIEWPOINT REGARDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

HOWEVER, I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT IF THE FILM WAS SUPPORTIVE OF ISRAEL, THEY WOULD BE PROTESTING IT AS FASCIST AND HATE.

THE PREVIOUS VIRTUAL SPEAKER WHO SOUNDED LIKE A PRERECORDED MESSAGE PROVES THAT I HEAR THE ARGUMENT OF FREE SPEECH.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST HERE, THIS ISN'T A PROTEST ABOUT FREE SPEECH.

IT'S ABOUT, IT'S A PROTEST ABOUT ISRAEL BEING THAT SIMA IS OCC OCCUPYING CITY PROPERTY.

THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHO OCCUPIES AND WHO HAS WHO.

AND THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SANCTION A TENANT IF IT CHOOSES TO.

WE VOTED FOR THIS COMMISSION AND THIS MAYOR THE COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR SHOULD VOTE THEIR CONSCIOUS.

OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE .

HELLO, I'M ORAL BAKI, THE CONS GENERAL OF ISRAEL IN MIAMI.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS FROM BRINGING ME TO MIAMI BEACH ON SPRING BREAK.

THAT DOES NOT, UH, HAPPEN LIGHTLY.

UH, LET ME FIRST COMMEND YOU, UH, MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION FOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART.

AND I WANT TO OF COURSE, THANK ALSO THE RESIDENTS OF OF MIAMI BEACH FOR THEIR, UH, LONG TIME, LONG TIME SUPPORT.

AND I SHOULD ALSO COMMEND THE OLD CINEMA.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS AND THEY HAVE SHOWN, UH, JEWISH FILMS AND, AND FILMS ABOUT HOLOCAUSTS AND, AND, AND ISRAEL FILMS. AND, AND, AND, AND I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT I AM TOTALLY AGAINST CENSORSHIP OF ART AND I'M ALL FOR A FREEDOM OF ART AND, AND, AND ART AND CULTURAL INSTITUTION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THIS FREEDOM OF ART, IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THE, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO SHOW THE FULL PICTURES AND TO SHOW THE CONTEXT THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE IN.

AND WE ARE IN A VERY, VERY, UH, COMPLICATED SITUATION IN WHICH THE FULL CONTEXT SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE SHOWN.

AND I WANNA SAY SOMETHING, ONE LAST SENTENCE I HATE TO BREAK IT OUT TO, TO THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PEREZ ONTO THOSE SPEAKERS THAT ARE THOSE, UH, UH, CHANTERS IN THE BACK.

YOU ARE ANTI-SEMITES AND I HATE TO BREAK IT OUT TO YOU.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF SOPHIA.

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

HI, I AM, UH, SOPHIA SONOS.

I LIVE AT SIX 50 WEST AVENUE, UM, ON MIAMI BEACH.

I AM A ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHER AND UH, I AM VERY OPPOSED TO MAYOR MINOR'S, UH, REVOKING OF O CINEMA'S LEASE.

AND LIKE CHARLOTTE, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS REALLY AN ISSUE OF, OF FREEDOM, OF SPEECH, THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

YOU EITHER STAND WITH THAT OR YOU OPPOSE THAT.

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CONFEDERATE FLAGS ON THEIR LAWN.

PEOPLE DRESS UP AS KKK MEMBERS, PROUD BOYS AND ALL OF THAT.

AND IT'S HORRIBLE AND HORRIFYING.

BUT TO HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, YOU HAVE TO FACE THE OPPOSITION AND THAT THAT'S WHAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SAY GOOD THINGS AS OPPOSED TO BAD THINGS.

IN TERMS OF A DOCUMENTARY, A DOCUMENTARY IS A PERSPECTIVE BY THE FILMMAKER.

YOU HAVE SPOKEN OF TRUTH, MA'AM, I NEED TO WRAP IT UP, BUT YOU DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LAW REGARDING ISRAEL AND THE SETTLEMENTS IN GAZA.

SO IF, IF A PERSON NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

JO MUNOZ.

5 0 1 NORTHEAST 14 AVENUE.

I'M A TEACHER OF MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, CULTURAL WORKER STANDING UP POSITION TO THE RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP AND FUNDING OF THOSE CINEMA.

MAYOR AS AN ELECTOR OFFICIAL VOTED WITH 5,000 VOTES IN A ROUND OF ELECTION.

LET US REMIND YOU THAT YOU ASSUME THAT POSITION MEANT TO REPRESENT A CONSTITUENCY OF OVER 79,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

AS AN OFFICER OF THE CITY AND A RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, YOU TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, BOTH PROTECTED UNDER THE US AND FLORIDA STATE IN CONSTITUTIONS.

THIS OATH ALSO REQUIRES YOU TO RENOUNCE ALLEGIANCE TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE END TO THIS PERIOD OF RESOLUTION AS WELL AS ANY FUTURE RESOLUTIONS THAT INFRINGE UPON OATH CINEMA'S PROGRAMMING AND END TO CONFLATING JUSTICE SEEKING NARRATIVES WITH ANTI-SEMITISM OBSERVANCE OF US AND STATE LAWS INTENDED TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAELI BONDS, A TOTAL OF 20 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS THESE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS UNDERMINE OUR NEEDS AND OUR TRUST IN YOUR GOVERNANCE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF WAYNE WAYNE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS,

[00:45:01]

AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

UM, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ANY EMM IS NOT NEW.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS SINCE, UH, THE ROMAN EMPIRE, UH, THREW US OUT OF ISRAEL.

AND, UH, WHETHER IT'S THE, UH, THE, UH, BIZARRES OF RUSSIA OR THE SPANISH INQUISITION OR THE GERMAN NAZIS ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD WE'VE SUFFERED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND, UH, THE SYRIANS AND THE LEBANESE ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF THESE SAME MONSTERS CALLED HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH.

THEY KILLED A MILLION OF ARABS IN THOSE COUNTRIES, DISPLAY 70% OF THEIR POPULATION PERMANENTLY, AND THEY WANT TO DO THE SAME TO THE JEWS OF ISRAEL.

AND YES, WE SHOULD HAVE A ALTERNATIVE VIEW ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN ISRAEL AFTER FIVE WARS THAT WERE INSTIGATED BY THE ARAB LEAGUE.

AND IRAN IS TAKING ON THE FLAG THESE PROXIES OF IRAN AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEAH, SORRY.

NEXT.

PLEASE GO AHEAD, MR. MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ALFRED SPELLMAN.

I'M A MIAMI BEACH NATIVE AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE ISLAND.

THE MAYOR'S PROPOSALS REGARDING THE SINEMA HAVE SUBJECTED THE CITY AND ALL OF YOU TO INTERNATIONAL HUMILIATION AND RIDICULE.

THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THE MAYOR INTRODUCED IS BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IF PASSED MIAMI BEACH, TAXPAYERS WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES.

I'M SURE YOUR ATTORNEYS CAN TELL YOU HOW THE CITY OF MIAMI DID IN FEDERAL COURT IN 1991 WHEN IT TRIED TO EVICT THE CUBAN MUSEUM OF ARTS FROM A CITY BUILDING.

UNDER NEARLY IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION HERE.

THE CITY COULD EXPRESS ITS VALUES BY PROGRAMMING FILMS AT VENUES.

IT ALREADY CONTROLS LIKE THE SYMPHONY WALL CAST OR THE NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL.

YOU COULD SIMPLY CHOOSE TO COMPETE IN THE FREE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

ONE MORE THING, MR. MAYOR, YOU SEEM TO FORGET THIS HISTORICAL FACT.

US US JEWS ARE SAFEST IN LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES WHERE CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE CHERISHED AND RESPECTED.

THANK AND OUR, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS ANNA GOMEZ.

MS. GOMEZ STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

UM, MY NAME IS ANNA GOMEZ.

I LIVE IN 2101 BRICKELL AVENUE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF MIAMI AID AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS A DEEPLY DISTRESS DISTRESSING AND UNLAWFUL SITUATION I ENCOUNTERED AT THE HANDS OF BEACH TOWING SERVICES .

UM, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH, MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WHEN I CAME HERE, BEACH TOWING SERVICES VIOLATED MY RIGHTS.

DESPITE MY LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO PAY WITH A DEBIT CARD AS OUTLAND IN THE MIAMI BEACH TOWING BILL OF RIGHTS, I WAS FORCED TO PAY IN CASH.

THE WORKERS AT BEACH TOWING SERVICES REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY DEBIT CARD PAYMENT, ANY MONEY ORDERS.

AND DESPITE CHARGING ME NEARLY $700 IN TOWING AND STORAGE FEES, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN EXPLAIN WHAT AMOUNTED TO THIS TOTAL.

THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH MY LEGAL RIGHT WAS BOTH FRUSTRATING AND UNJUST.

I URGE THE CITY OF MIAMI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM.

I CO I CO I I CO-SIGNED WITH HER CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE AS WELL.

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

BILLY CORBIN, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER WITH AN OFFICE ON LINCOLN ROAD FOR 20 YEARS.

ONCE AGAIN, THE HUMILIATING MISCONDUCT OF THIS GOVERNMENT HAS, UH, MADE THE CITY AN EMBARRASSING INTERNATIONAL LAUGHING STOCK AND CREATED A DISTRACTION THAT DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH IS WHAT ALL OF YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO.

YOU ARE NOT PUBLIC SERVANTS TODAY.

YOU ARE GOVERNMENT CENSORS.

MR. MAYOR, PLEASE STOP YOUR UNWANTED ADVANCES ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OZ CINEMA.

YOU ARE GETTING A LITTLE TOO HANDSY WITH THEIR PROGRAMMING DECISIONS.

YOUR INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING OF THEIR CURATION DECISIONS HAS GOT TO END.

DO NOT ABUSE THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT TO URGE OR ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE OR INTIMIDATE ARTISTS TO CHANGE THEIR CONTENT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT SUPPORTING ISRAEL.

THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING AMERICAN VALUES.

IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR CONSTITUTION.

OUR FIRST AMENDMENT TO PARAPHRASE THE FAMOUS MARTIN E MUELLER QUOTE THAT ADORNS THE WALL AS THE FINAL WORDS OF THE EXHIBITION OF THE US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE O CINEMA AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT SINEMA.

WE ALL KNOW WHERE THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE GOES, MR. MAYOR.

THEY COME FOR US ALL EVENTUALLY.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER THE TALIBAN WHEN THEY TOOK CONTROL OF AFGHANISTAN IN 1996, THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS SHUT DOWN THE CINEMA.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF JENNIFER.

OUR OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER.

[00:50:02]

JENNIFER, GO AHEAD.

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

JENNIFER, GO AHEAD.

THAT'S SANKO TO NIKKI ZAPO.

NIKKI, UNMUTE YOURSELF.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

NIKKI ZEAL.

2 4 4 5 FLAMINGO PLACE, MIAMI BEACH.

MY FAMILY HAS OWNED A PROPERTY ON MIAMI BEACH FOR OVER 60 YEARS, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO USE AS A FAMILY GATHERING PLACE.

I AM JEWISH.

THE SOLUTION THAT IS NOW UNDER, UH, CONSIDERATION AND WAS JUST PUT OUT LAST NIGHT, UM, IT APPEARS TO BE FAIR, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT RUNS THE RISK THAT THE CITY WILL BE THE ARBITER OF FAIRNESS RATHER THAN PUTTING IN THAT DECISION IN THE HANDS OF THE O INE ITSELF.

IF THE MIAMI BEACH MAYOR AND COMMISSION ARE GIVEN THE FINAL SAY, THIS DECISION TODAY WILL BE SEEN AS A CAPITULATION TO THE, THE AUTHORITARIANISM THAT IS RAPIDLY TAKING OVER OUR ENTIRE NATION.

NEXT PLEASE.

MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE ELLEY AND I'VE LIVED IN MIAMI BEACH SINCE 2001 WITH MY HUSBAND WHO IS PALESTINIAN AND WE HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS.

IT HAS BEEN HARD AS A MOTHER TO SEE PART OF MY CHILDREN'S IDENTITY TREATED AS CONTROVERSIAL.

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT PALESTINIANS HERE, BUT RARELY FROM THEM.

OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE SEEN HOW EVEN GRIEF IS A PRIVILEGE.

SOME LOSSES ARE MOURNED PUBLICLY WHILE OTHERS FEEL INVISIBLE.

EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY FAMILY'S PAIN FEELS LIKE IT'S MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT FOR SOME PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY NO OTHER LAND O CINEMA MEANT SO MUCH.

THIS FILM SHOWS MORE THAN THE BRUTALITY OF OCCUPATION.

IT SHOWS PALESTINIANS AS PEOPLE, IT SHOWS THEM NOT AS NUMBERS.

IT SHOWS THEM AS PARENTS, CHILDREN, AS FRIENDS.

CENSORING THIS FILM AND THREATENING TO SHUT DOWN O CINEMA NOT ONLY STIFLES FREE SPEECH, IT TELLS FAMILIES LIKE MY OWN, THAT THEIR STORIES DON'T MATTER, BUT THEY DO.

AND THIS CITY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF ERASING THEM.

OUR OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF DAVID HALSTON.

DAVID, UNMUTE YOURSELF.

PJ, LET'S GO TO BRIAN'S IPHONE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BRIAN OREN.

I'M AN AMERICAN ISRAELI JEW.

I USED TO LIVE AT 47TH AND PINE STREET DRIVE.

FIRST OF ALL, THE CONSUL GENERAL DOESN'T SPEAK FOR ALL ISRAELIS.

DON'T VOTE TO CENSOR SMA.

YOU SHOULD POSTPONE AND REWRITE A NEW RESOLUTION THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR EARNEST ASPIRATION FOR OPEN DIALOGUE.

I'LL EVEN HELP YOU DO IT.

THIS NEW BILL IS FILLED WITH SO MUCH RAGE AND FRAGILITY AND DISTRUST IN ENGAGING SMA WITH THIS CONVERSATION.

AND EVEN THIS BILL MAYOR, YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE A CULTURE OF BALANCED DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING AROUND THE WAR AND THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY ADMIRABLE, BUT THIS ISN'T THE WAY TO DO IT IN THE RESOLUTION.

YOU DANGEROUSLY CONFLATE HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

I KNOW YOU'RE SCARED OF ANTISEMITISM AND I SHARE THAT CONCERN, BUT PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN.

NO ONE IS SAYING THAT OCTOBER 7TH WASN'T HORRIFIC.

NO OTHER LAND ISN'T ABOUT THIS WAR AND ISN'T STEALING ATTENTION AWAY FROM OCTOBER 7TH OR THE HOSTAGES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.

YOU MENTIONED THE MILITARY FIRING ZONE.

WHAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLING INTO? QUESTION IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND JUSTICE.

JUST BECAUSE THE ISRAELI MILITARY, THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION AND EVEN THE SUPREME COURT DESIGNATES MATA FIRING ZONE DOESN'T MAKE THAT JUST, AND THAT'S WHAT BASIL ADRA AND YUVAL ABRAHAM ARE CALLING ATTENTION TO.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP YOU REWRITE THIS.

THAT IF THEY WERE BEING HONEST.

GO AHEAD SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GABRIEL GROSSMAN FROM BALL HARBOR, FLORIDA.

I, I'M HERE JUST TO POINT OUT THE NAKED HYPOCRISY OF THE CROWD HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY.

UM, IF SINEMA WAS PLAYING A MOVIE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEY WOULD ALL BE HERE AS WELL, UH, URGING THE CITY TO CANCEL THE LEASE OR TO CANCEL THE, THE SHOWING JUST LIKE THEY WOULD IF IT WAS AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY PRETENDING THAT IT'S ABOUT FREE SPEECH IS LAUGHABLE AND IT'S AS LAUGHABLE AS IT IS WRONG.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

PEOPLE WERE SIGNING ALL THESE OLD CASES, SUDDENLY EVERYBODY'S A CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT.

BUT I URGE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT THE WALKER CASE FROM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH STATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.

AND IF THIS IS A GOVERNMENT FACILITY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT IS SHOWN THERE AND WHAT IS NOT.

AND THE PROPOSAL AND THE PROPOSAL THAT IS BEING, THAT IS BEING PUT FORWARD TODAY ABOUT FAIRNESS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE SAYING WE'RE ALL FOR FREE ART, FOR ARTS AND FOR ALL DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.

WE SHOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF MOVIES IN THIS THEATER.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING

[00:55:01]

THEY'RE NOT BEING, THEY'RE NOT BEING HONEST ARBITERS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

AND I URGE THE COMMISSION TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, NOT JUST TO ANSWER TO THE CIRCUS THAT'S HERE TONIGHT.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS DANNY PINSON.

HI.

UM, YES, UM, MY NAME IS DANNY.

I AM ACTUALLY FROM HIALEAH MIAMI GARDENS AND HONESTLY JUST LIKE A LONG-TERM LOVER OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT IS THERE AT A CONSTANT BASIS.

I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT MIAMI BEACH ISN'T JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS, IT'S FOR EVERYONE THAT SURROUNDS IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IN MY AREA WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH DIVERSITY INTO ARTS AND CULTURE AS WE DO OVER THERE A LOT.

BUT BOTH CINEMA HAS REALLY CREATED A SPACE FOR US ALL TO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO LEARN AND DISCUSS AND SHARE OUR THOUGHTS OVER MOVIES.

AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A PILLAR OF CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION FOR SO MANY OF US.

SO I REALLY DEEPLY URGED THE PANEL TO VOTE NO, UM, AND VOTE NO ON CENSORSHIP AND JUST VOTE NO ON, YOU KNOW, JUST CENSORING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

UM, THIS IS REALLY PROTECT IT IS REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS OURSELVES NO MATTER WHAT THE PERSPECTIVE.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT THE MAYOR'S LAST MINUTE DECISION ON CREATING LIKE THIS FAIRNESS.

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

MY NAME IS DONNA NEVILLE.

I LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST BOTH OF THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTIONS IN RELATION TO SINEMA.

I SPEAK AS A JEWISH WOMAN WHO GREW UP IN MIAMI BEACH.

THE MAYOR CALLS THE FILM ANTISEMITIC.

NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO SHUT DOWN A THEATER FOR SHARING THE STORIES OF OF PALESTINIANS LIVING UNDER ISRAEL'S BRUTAL OCCUPATION.

IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE MAYOR'S ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE AND PENALIZE THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TO LIVE FREE OF VIOLENCE ON THEIR LAND IN THEIR HOMES.

THESE FALSE ACCUSATIONS OF ANTISEMITISM ALSO DERAIL THE FIGHT AGAINST ACTUAL ANTISEMITISM, WHICH WE KNOW IS COMING FROM WHITE NATIONALISTS.

AS PART OF ATTACKS ON SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ANTISEMITISM MUST BE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE ALL FORMS OF INJUSTICE, INCLUDING ANTI PALESTINIAN RACISM.

THE MAYOR CLAIMS THAT HIS VIEWS REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF MOST JEWISH PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

THEY CATEGORICALLY DO NOT.

ON THE SECOND RESOLUTION, IT'S MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW THANK YOU, SHOW A FILM FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE OPPRESSOR AND OCCUPIER AFTER YOU HAVE SHOWN A FILM ABOUT THOSE BEING OPPRESSED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LIVING UNDER OCCUPATION.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS LIANA.

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

WOW.

HI, I AM LEANNA.

I LIVE AT 43 0 1 COLLINS.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COMMISSION FOR PROVIDING THIS FORUM.

IT'S SUPER INTENSE.

UM, I AM, WOW.

I'M CUBAN AMERICAN.

I'M THE SHABOS GO IN MY BUILDING.

I'M THANKFUL.

UM, FIRST LET ME SAY IT TO KRISTEN ROSEN GONZALEZ FOR BEING SO AVAILABLE.

COMMUNICATIVE.

UM, I'M THANKFUL FOR THE, FOR THE CONTROVERSY BECAUSE I GOT TO SEE THIS DOCUMENTARY AND I'M NAIVE MAYBE, BUT THIS IS A LOVE STORY.

I THINK, UH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD SEE AND THEY SHOULD DISAGREE ABOUT.

UM, I OPPOSE R SEVEN G.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, MINUTE JUDY MARTINEZ.

93 33 BYRON AVENUE.

I'M A FILM PRODUCER, A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FILM COMMUNITY AND I'M CO-CHAIR OF THE RESORT TAX BOARD OF THE CITY OF CSET.

WE INVITED MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL FOR A SCREENING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THE SCREEN WAS A SUCCESS ON APRIL 6TH.

WE ARE BRINGING THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL TO THE CITY AND WE HOPE THE MOVIE WE HAVE CHOSEN IS A SUCCESS AS WELL.

WE OPEN THE DOORS TO FILMS WITHOUT CENSORSHIP.

TODAY I'M HERE AS A NEIGHBOR WHO BELIEVES THAT THE AUDIENCE DESERVES THE FREEDOM TO ELECT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND EXPRESS, EXPRESS FREELY ABOUT IT.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT CINEMA, THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION, THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY NO OTHER LAND CINEMA O IS A GEM LIKE NO OTHER CENSORSHIP THE WAY MAYOR MAYER IS DOING EQUALS DICTATORSHIPS.

WE ALL DESERVE AN APOLOGY FROM YOU MAYOR, FOR UNDERMINING OUR FREEDOM OF OUR EXPRESSION.

TO FINISH COTA DIRECTOR, I ADMIRE MOVIES ARE THE MEMORIES OF

[01:00:01]

OUR LIFETIME.

THEY TOUCH OUR HEARTS AND A AWAKEN OUR VISION.

CHANGING THE WAY WE SEE THINGS, CINEMA IS THE BEST MEDIUM FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW WE SEE THE WORLD.

MARTINEZ COR.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS ELIO MENDE.

MENENDEZ.

ELIO, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

ALAN LEVINE, MIAMI BEACH.

MY NAME IS ELIO MENENDEZ.

I LIVE IN WESTCHESTER, FLORIDA.

AND O CINEMA IS A PLACE WHERE MANY FILMS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH AND JUST LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HERE, IT HAS BEEN A PLACE OF EDUCATION.

I VERY STRONGLY AM AGAINST THE CENSORSHIP AND THE ENDING OF THIS PLACE.

IF YOU WANT TO END A PLACE FOR JOY, IF YOU WANT TO END A PLACE FOR EDUCATION, GO AHEAD.

BUT YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF IN A RUT FOR UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANNA ASK QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO OPEN THEIR MINDS AND THEIR THOUGHTS.

PLEASE KEEP THIS PLACE OPEN.

I'M NOT AS WELL VERBOSE AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY ON IT.

THIS PLACE DESERVES TO EXIST AND WE DESERVE TO WATCH FILMS THERE NO MATTER WHAT THE FILM IS.

NO, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR PLACE OF GETTING RID OF SMA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

WE HAVE NOW GONE 45 MINUTES.

IT IS USUALLY 30 MINUTES, SO WE RECOMMEND THAT THIS END AT THIS POINT AND WE GO TO SUT AT ONE 30.

I'LL GIVE FIVE MINUTES.

FIVE MORE MINUTES.

OKAY, GO AHEAD SIR.

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

MR. MINOR, FOR 18 MONTHS, YOU'VE DONE WHAT YOU CAN TO BELITTLE AND TO SILENCE THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN THIS CHAMBER AND ON THE STREETS OF MIAMI BEACH CALLING ATTENTION TO THE GENOCIDE IN ISRAEL.

AND NOW IN THE SAME SPIRIT, YOU PROPOSE CENSORING AN AWARD-WINNING FILM THAT ALSO TRIES TO EXPOSE ISRAEL'S INHUMANE TREATMENT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

YOU CALL THE FILM HATE SPEECH, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT FOR YOU ALL TALK ABOUT ISRAEL'S CRIMES IS HATE SPEECH.

YOUR ORIGINAL RESOLUTION IS FLATLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO NOW YOU'VE OFFERED A RESOLUTION THAT SIMPLY ENCOURAGES SMA TO TAKE A FAIR AND BALANCED APPROACH.

THE THREAT TO SMA CANNOT BE CLEARER.

AND WHAT'S NEXT? ART BASEL.

IT'S IN A CITY OWNED BUILDING.

ARE YOU GONNA DEMAND THAT THEY PRESENT EXHIBITS THAT ARE FAIR AND BALANCED? YOU HOLD YOURSELF OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AS AN ART WELCOMING CITY.

THESE RESOLUTIONS MAKE A MOCKERY OF THAT.

WELCOME.

AND CITY COMMISSION HAVE NO RIGHT TO DICTATE WHAT FILMS SHOULD BE SHOWN AT THE THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS WESLEY.

WESLEY.

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

YES SIR.

MY NAME IS WESLEY CHOW, 1690 SOUTHWEST 27TH AVENUE, BUT I'M SPEAKING AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF MIAMI.

I HAVE GREAT ISSUE WITH WHAT MANY OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE SAID ON THIS CALL.

MAYOR MINOR HIMSELF CALLED HIMSELF A SOLDIER IN THE PROPAGANDA WAR.

NO, SIR.

YOU ARE A ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO GUARANTEES THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS OUR PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE POINTED OUT, AMERICANS FLY CONFEDERATE FLAGS, AMERICANS BURN AMERICAN FLAGS.

THAT IS ALL ALLOWED.

FREE SPEECH IS OFTEN ABOUT CHALLENGING OUR VIEWS, AND THAT IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING.

THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THIS HEARING HAS ITSELF DEMONSTRATED WHY FREE SPEECH AND NO CENSORSHIP IS NEEDED.

WHO IS ON THE SIDE OF SHUTTERING SMA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WHO IS ON THE SIDE OF KEEPING IT OPEN? THE PEOPLE AMERICANS MUST SPEAK UP ABOUT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM.

THAT'S TRUE, AND THAT'S WHY I EXPECT MAYOR SUAREZ TO DENOUNCE ELON.

MUCH, MUCH WHO HAVE SPENT YEARS ACCORDING.

SIR, GO AHEAD.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, SIR.

MY NAME IS KIM BARNES.

I'M JEWISH AND I LIVE IN MIAMI.

TODAY YOU ARE CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION ABOUT THE O CINEMA, THE SMA, THE MERE FACT OF WHICH WOULD'VE A CHILLING EFFECT ON THE SHOWING OF FILMS AT THE CINEMA.

THIS IS AFTER HE THREATENED TO CUT FUNDS AND CLOSE THE CINEMA, ESSENTIALLY ACTING AS THE CENSOR OF FILMS. THE ISSUE BRINGS TO MIND SOME HISTORY.

FILM PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROPAGANDA OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST PARTY.

A WRIGHT FILM LAW PASSED IN 1920 AND AMENDED IN 1934.

ESTABLISHED A CENSORSHIP COMMITTEE ENABLING, ENABLING THE NAZIS TO BAN TROUBLESOME MOVIES.

NO OTHER LAND IS A TROUBLESOME MOVIE AS IT CHALLENGES US AS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY TO RETHINK OUR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT, CHRONICLING THE DESPAIR OF THE DISPLACED IN THEIR HOME TERRITORY.

SEEING TROUBLESOME MOVIES IS REQUIRED OF US NOW MORE THAN EVER.

THE MAYOR

[01:05:01]

IMPOSING ITS MORALITY AND IN PARTICULAR SHOULD NOT MAKE EFFORTS TO SILENCE PRO-PALESTINIAN VOICES.

THANK.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS DAVID SEXTON.

DAVID, UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE GO AHEAD, DAVID.

HI, MY NAME IS DAVID SEXTON.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL AND THE 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH.

UM, I AM, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT SMA AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME.

I DID SUPPORT THE SUSPENSION OF FUNDING FOR OLI ARTS WHEN THEY SHOWED THE ART DISPLAY THAT FEATURED THE PHRASE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.

THAT WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

IT WAS PUBLIC FACING, IT WAS A CALL FOR VIOLENCE.

IT WAS NOT A JEWISH ARTIST THAT PUT IT OUT THERE.

THIS IS ART CREATED BY CO-CREATED BY JEWS.

THAT SHOWS A PERSPECTIVE.

I WISH THE MAYOR HAD STARTED WITH THE SECOND RESOLUTION, WHICH WOULD'VE GENTLY ASKED SMA TO SHOW THE OTHER ONE.

BUT I, I FEEL LIKE TODAY WE NEED TO STEP BACK, PULL BOTH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS, LOOK AT SOME WAY TO WORK THROUGH THIS SITUATION, AND, AND I HOPE WE CAN COME TO A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.

I, I THINK CINON DOES AMAZING WORK AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

YOU'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH PJ.

YOU CAN ASSIST.

UH, YOU'LL BE THE LAST SPEAKER.

WAIT, CAN I SAY ONE THING? THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HEAR THEM.

THEY'RE SPEAKING FOR ONE MINUTE.

UM, I HAVE NO, I HAVE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH LISTENING TO MORE PEOPLE AND MAYOR, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK.

I SEE ONE STUDENT FROM RANSOM EVERGLADES WHO PRE, YOU KNOW, WHO HE'S COMING HERE TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING AND NOW HE'S GOING TO BE SENT LIKE, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

I, I LOVE YOU.

I'M HEARING FROM MY COMMISSION EVERYONE WHO, WHO ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK? LEMME JUST, OUR MICROPHONES AREN'T WORKING, SO, UH, IT'S A PERFECT TIME.

WE WANNA INTERRUPT YOU.

GO AHEAD MA'AM, GO AHEAD.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS SO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GENEVA CLAUS AND WHETHER THE MAYOR LIKES IT OR NOT, I'M A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI JEWISH COMMUNITY AND REGARDLESS, CRITICISM OF ISRAEL OR DEPICTING LIFE FOR PALESTINIANS UNDER ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION, AS THE FILM DOES IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.

TO THE CONTRARY, IT'S AN URGENT CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR US ALL.

SHUTTING DOWN THE FILM DOES NOT ERASE ISRAEL'S VIOLENCE.

IN FACT, PREVENTING THE FACTS FROM BEING TOLD ENABLES THE VIOLENCE AND MAKES US COMPLICIT IN THAT VIOLENCE.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JEWISH PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE TOGETHER WITH MILLIONS OF OTHERS, ARE CALLING OUT FOR JUSTICE FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

THE PROPOSED CANCELLATION OF THE LEASE AND FUNDING OF SMA AND THE RESOLUTION FORCING SMA TO SHOW FILMS THE CITY ARBITRARILY SEES FIT FOR PUBLIC VIEWING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, EMBARRASSING AND SHAMEFUL.

I URGE YOU ALL TO PROTECT YOUR LEGACY, YOUR DIGNITY, AND DO THE RIGHT.

SO THING IN VOTING NO.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS YONA STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, MY NAME IS JOANNA POPPER.

I'M A LONG, LONG TIME MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT.

I'M A PROPERTY OWNER IN SOUTH POINT AND I'M JEWISH WITH GRANDPARENTS WHO ESCAPED THE HOLOCAUST.

MANY OF THE COMMENTS HERE HAVE BEEN VERY DISTURBING.

THAT SAID, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO.

THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER WAYS THE MAYOR COULD HAVE HANDLED THIS ONE.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE MOVIE? DON'T SEE THE MOVIE.

TWO, THIS IS AN ART HOUSE FILM.

IT WOULD'VE COME AND GONE QUICKLY, BUT THE MAYOR'S ACTIONS CREATED A STREISAND EFFECT DRIVING MORE INTEREST, MORE SHOWINGS THAT EVEN EXPANDED INTO COCONUT GROVE AND FREE PUBLICITY FOR THE FILM.

THIS IS ART AND IT SHOWS THE DOCUMENTARIES FILMMAKERS POINT OF VIEW.

IT'S INHERENTLY IMBALANCED JUST BY BEING THAT PERSON THAT GROUP'S POINT OF VIEW.

OH, CINEMA HAS HOSTED JEWISH FILM FESTIVALS BEFORE.

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BAN OR SHUT DOWN THE THEATER, THE MAYOR COULD HAVE SUGGESTED NOT DEMANDED VIA LEGISLATION A PANEL DISCUSSED IN OR A DOUBLE FEATURE WITH AN OCTOBER 7TH FILM.

THERE ARE THREE OF THEM EVEN THOUGH THE FILM ISN'T ABOUT OCTOBER 7TH.

NOW IF THE WORRY IS REALLY TAXPAYER MONEY, THERE'S LIKELY A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT THAT THAT WOULD GO TO THE THEM BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF BEING SHOWN FOR TWO DAYS.

BUT NOW WE'LL END UP SPENDING MORE ON A LAWSUIT, GIVING THE FILMMAKERS EVEN MORE INTERNATIONAL PRESS AND PROBABLY A STREAMING DEAL, WHICH THEY HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN UNTIL NOW.

THE MOVIE IS NOT UNLOCKED.

LAST,

[01:10:01]

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS SO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE AGU AND I AM HERE TO OPPOSE THE CITY'S RESOLUTIONS TO RETALIATE AGAINST O CINEMA FOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CIVIC DISCOURSE.

WE ALL WANT TO SEE MIAMI BEACH FLOURISH.

AN OPEN DIALOGUE IS KEY TO THAT GOAL THAT MIAMI BEACH IS SEEKING TO TERMINATE THE LEASE OF OZ CINEMA AND CONTROL.

ITS PROGRAMMING FOR DOING WHAT THE CINEMA WAS CREATED TO DO AND DOES WELL, WHICH IS HOST ACCLAIMED, THOUGHT-PROVOKING ART THAT CREATES A CONVERSATION.

THIS REFLECTS TERRIBLY ON THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND ITS LEADERSHIP AND IT'S QUITE FRANKLY AN EMBARRASSING USE OF CITY RESOURCES AND EVERYONE'S TIME.

WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE WANT TO BE? THE FACT THAT NO OTHER LAND IS UNCOMFORTABLE, AS THE MAYOR HAS SAID IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO WATCH, DOES NOT GIVE THE COMMISSION THE RIGHT TO USE ITS PEN AND PUNISH O CINEMA IN THE MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY.

I URGE THE COMMISSION TO DO BETTER AND VOTE AGAINST THE O CINEMA RESOLUTIONS.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE NEXT PERSON ON THE PODIUM.

GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

HELLO, C YEP.

HELLO CITY COMMISSION.

EXCUSE MY NAME.

EXCUSE, I'M SORRY.

EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND.

WHEN THE MAYOR'S NOT ON THE DAYS.

I'M THE VICE MAYOR AND I'M TAKING A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME WITH THE MICS AND MY VOICE, WHICH I HAVE LOST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE LAST FRIDAY WHEN THE MAYOR OR ANY OF US ARE NOT AT THE COMMISSION DI DAYS, IT'S PROBABLY 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

YOU TRY SITTING HERE DRINKING COFFEE ALL DAY LONG AND NOT, EXCUSE ME, LET ME FINISH MY SENTENCE PLEASE.

YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THIS, BUT THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE BATHROOM SO WE CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE ARE SPEAKERS BACK THERE SO WE CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE MEETING IS BROADCAST OUT IN THE LOBBY OF THE THIRD FLOOR SO WE CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO EVEN IF WE ARE NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT SITTING HERE, WE ARE HEARING, I CAN'T SPEAK TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, UM, UH, HEARING CAPABILITIES, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING LOUD AND CLEAR.

SO IF WE ARE NOT SITTING HERE, IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID SOMETHING, WE WERE ELECTED TO HANDLE THINGS.

GIVE US THE COURTESY OF LETTING US DO OUR JOBS.

HELLO CITY COMMISSION.

MY NAME'S MATEOS ADA AND I CAME HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ORDINANCE R FIVE B REGARDING DOUBLING VENDOR FEES AND LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF BEAD VENDORS.

WHILE I KNOW THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE WAS MOVED TO JUNE, I WOULD STILL LIKE TO COMMENT WHAT I HAVE PREPARED.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ INTRODUCED THIS LAST YEAR TO COMBAT THE AMOUNT OF BEAD VENDORS AND THE $53,000 THE CITY SPENDS ON THE PROGRAM.

IT'S MY PERSPECTIVE THAT THE ORDINANCE IN QUESTION IS AN UNETHICAL COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE AGAINST THE VENDORS BECAUSE YOU'RE FURTHER DESTABILIZING A COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE EVERY DAY.

VENDORS CAN'T SET UP THEIR STANDS WHEN IT'S TOO HOT, TOO WINDY OR TOO RAINY.

AND WHEN THEY CAN, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS TAKING HOME MONEY.

A VENDOR THAT I SPOKE TO GLAD TOLD ME SHE SOMETIMES TAKES HOME AS LITTLE AS 25 TO $5 A WEEK.

DOUBLING FEES WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR MANY VENDORS WHO ARE WORKING HARD AND TRYING THEIR BEST TO PROVIDE.

THE VENDORS HERE ARE A COMMUNITY, AND WHILE I AGREE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A MORE ROBUST QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T MAKE MOST OF THEIR OWN PRODUCTS, THE MAJORITY OF THEM DO.

THIS ORDINANCE IN ITS CURRENT FORM WILL ONLY SERVE AS A DETRIMENT TO AN ALREADY CHALLENGED YET CONTINUALLY PERSEVERING COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE AHEAD.

IS THAT ME? YES, SIR.

OKAY, THANKS.

UH, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS PETE SEIDMAN.

I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTH MIAMI AND I'M SOMEBODY WHO GOES TO SMA AND NEEDS SMA.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE BOTH THE MOTION TO EVICT SMA AS WELL AS THE ONE SEEKING GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING DECISIONS THAT IT MAKES.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE MAYOR MINOR'S CLAIM TO BE SPEAKING FOR ALL JEWS AND IN THE INTEREST OF ALL JEWS WHEN HE MAKES THESE MOTIONS BECAUSE HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME AND OBVIOUSLY MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF MIAMI BEACH, LIKE CARL FISHER AND HENRY FLAGLER WERE ANTISEMITES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 1947 THAT RESTRICTIONS AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE AS GUESTS OR PROPERTY OWNERS IN MIAMI BEACH WERE MADE ILLEGAL.

BEFORE THEN, IT WAS COMMON TO SEE SIGNS IN MIAMI AND MIAMI BEACH THAT READ GENTILES ONLY OR NO JEWS OR DOGS.

ONE HOTEL ADVERTISED ALWAYS A VIEW, NEVER A JEW.

OF THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO TAKE US BACK TO THESE TERRIBLE TIMES.

HOW IRONIC THAT TODAY A JEW WHO HAS BECOME MAYOR

[01:15:01]

AND NOW WE HAVE A SLOGAN.

COME ON IN.

ALWAYS A VIEW, BUT NEVER A PALESTINIAN.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER.

MY NAME IS MONIQUE AYA.

I'M A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT.

I'M A JEWISH WOMAN.

I'M AN ISRAELI WOMAN AND I'M HORRIFIED TO HAVE TO SPEND MY WEDNESDAY HERE WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE MAYOR MINER DECIDED NOT TO TAKE QUESTIONS DURING HIS TOWN HALL MEETING YESTERDAY THAT I KNOW ME AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS TOOK THE TIME TO ATTEND, BUT USE AS A WAY TO JUST EXTEMPORANEOUSLY SPEAK ABOUT HIS VIEWS AND ONCE AGAIN, PUT WORDS INTO THE MOUTHS OF OTHER JEWS.

YOU DO NOT SPEAK ON MY BEHALF AS A JEWISH MAN.

YOU DO NOT SPEAK ON MY BEHALF AS AN ISRAELI AND I'M OUTRAGED TO HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME WITH MY COMMUNITY WHO ALL HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK, GET CHILDCARE, AND DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.

BECAUSE YOU WANT THIS TOWN AND CITY TO BE A RACIST ESTABLISHMENT THAT JUST FURTHERS JEWISH VALUES AND ISN'T AN AMERICAN EXPRESSION OF THE FREEDOM THAT WE ALL LOVE AND TAKE FOR GRANTED, WHICH IS TO SAY HOW WE FEEL AND HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND HAVE OUR COMMUNITY REFLECT THOSE VALUES.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE WITH HIM, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PUT MONEY ON YOUR OWN TOWARDS THIS LAWSUIT SO THAT THE CITY MUCH IS NOT PAYING FOR THIS HORRIBLE.

MY NAME IS JESSICA LANE.

I'M A, UH, MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT AT 100 LINCOLN ROAD.

I'M A GRANDDAUGHTER OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS THAT IMMIGRATED HERE AFTER THE WAR.

A PROUD JEW.

I COME FROM A PROUD ZIONIST FAMILY.

ZIONIST ONLY MEANING SAFETY AND SECURITY AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION RIGHTS FOR JEWISH PEOPLE.

NOTHING MORE.

I'VE SPENT TIME IN ISRAEL.

I'VE STUDIED IN ISRAEL.

YOU EVEN HAVE TO QUALIFY THAT.

I KNOW.

I AGREE.

UM, I'VE SPENT TIME IN ISRAEL.

I HAVE MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION.

I HAVE WORKED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO BRING PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.

I AM A DIALOGUE FACILITATOR.

I'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER ARABS, JEWS, MUSLIMS, ISRAELIS, AND WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WE HAVE TO HUMANIZE EACH OTHER AND CENSORING THIS DOCUMENTARY IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN.

I'M SCARED OF ANTISEMITISM, SO IS MY FAMILY.

WE'RE VERY WORRIED, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

WE NEED FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, WE NEED DIALOGUE.

WE NEED THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO HEARING OUR STORIES.

SO I HOPE YOU, AND JUST FOR RECORD KEEPING PURPOSES, THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE BLUE JACKET IS THE LAST PERSON SPEAKING IS YES, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UH, MY NAME IS NOMINI.

I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH.

UM, IN THE SPIRIT OF LEARNING FROM HISTORY, THERE WAS A MOVIE MADE IN 1915 CALLED BIRTH OF A NATION.

IT WAS MADE BY DW GRIFFITH.

THIS WAS IN THE AGE OF SILENT FILMS. IT WAS TECHNICALLY ADVANCED AND IT WAS THE FIRST MOVIE TO HAVE A MUSICAL SCORE.

IT WAS OVER THREE HOURS LONG.

FIRST MOVIE EVER.

IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST MOVIE SHOWN IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON.

THIS MOVIE WAS MADE AS PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE BLACK POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT SHOWED BLACK PEOPLE IN A HORRIBLE LIGHT, MADE THE KKK OUT TO BE THE SAVIORS OF AMERICA.

THIS MOVIE REVIVED THE KKK LARGE SCALE DISTRIBUTION OF FILM DID NOT EXIST AT THE TIME.

SO THIS MOVIE WAS TAKEN CITY TO CITY LIKE A CIRCUS WAS.

A STUDY WAS DONE IN 2020 BY DESMOND ENG, THE PROFESSOR AT HARVARD THAT SHOWS THAT IN CITIES WHERE THIS MOVIE WAS SHOWN, HATE CRIMES AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE INCREASED FIVE TIMES.

THIS SINGLE HANDEDLY EXTENDED THE SUFFERING OF BLACK PEOPLE INTO THE NEXT DECADES IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION WE'RE FACING NOW.

WE SHOULD LEARN FROM HISTORY AND NOT ALLOW RACIST PROPAGANDA FOOTAGE TO BE SHOWN AGAINST ANY MINORITY COMMUNITY.

MAYOR FIRST SHOWS PEOPLE IN BLACK NEXT, PLEASE THE SAME THING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHAZ.

MAY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME, MR. MAYOR.

UM, I AM A FILMMAKER.

I'M A FATHER AND I'M A HUSBAND, AND I'M ALSO SEPHARDIC.

AND THE REASON WHY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STUDY WITH THE BREAST LOVERS IN NEW YORK CITY WAS BECAUSE I SAW THE SORROW IN THE PITY AT SINEMA.

THESE WERE FILMS THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

I AM NOT, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PAIN THAT THIS CAUSED YOU.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE THE ENEMY.

I THINK YOU ARE REACTING TO IT, AND I WILL.

AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE, UM,

[01:20:02]

THE RABBI NACHMAN.

HOW VERY GOOD IT IS WHEN YOU AWAKEN YOUR HEART AND PLEAD UNTIL YOUR TEARS STREAM FROM YOUR EYES AS MINE.

AND WHEN YOU STAND LIKE A LITTLE CHILD CRYING BEFORE YOUR FATHER, FATHER, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS CANDLE GO OUT.

MY NAME IS MARY, MARY MICHELLE FROM SOUTHWEST RANCHES, FLORIDA.

I'M NO STRANGER TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND IT'S OPPRESSIVE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL TACTICS.

I HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED BY POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE TOLD ME I WAS FORBIDDEN TO WALK DOWN A PUBLIC SIDEWALK OR RISK ARREST.

I HAVE SEEN PEACEFUL PROTESTORS ATTACKED BY POLICEMEN WHO ALLOW VIOLENT ZIONISTS TO PHYSICALLY AND ENCROACH AND ATTACK WHILE THEY STAND IDLY BY.

IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THE MAYOR HAS REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY SHUTTING OFF THE MICROPHONE OF ANYONE WHO DARES TO CRITICIZE ISRAEL.

NOW THE MAYOR WANTS TO DECIDE WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT SEE.

THIS WILL NOT STAND ANY POLITICIAN, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO PUTS THE INTEREST OF A FOREIGN NATION ABOVE THE CONSTITUTION.

AND LAWS OF THIS LAND IS NOTHING MORE THAN A TRAITOR.

THIS IS STILL THE LAND OF MY FATHER'S AND I WILL AND I FOR ONE, WILL DEFEND IT, THE IDEALS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FIGHT AGAINST ZIONISM.

ISRAEL HAS INVITED OUR COUNTRY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.

TO ALL MY ESTEEM COMRADES.

I THANK YOU FOR BEING IN THE PRESENCE AND I THANK YOU FOR GETTING US ALL TOGETHER IN THIS ROOM.

THE MAYOR, YOUR NAME.

YOUR NAME.

OH, MY NAME.

MY NAME IS GABRIEL MERCADO.

I LIVE IN CARROLL CITY, MIAMI GARDENS.

I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE TODAY.

I'M VERY BLESSED.

AND UM, FOR ONE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, LET'S LISTEN MORE AND FOR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE MAYOR, I NEVER HAD AN IMPRESSION OF YOU UNTIL NOW.

IT TOOK THIS OUTBURST AS IT SEEMS FOR ME TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

AS SAME FOR THE FILM AS WELL.

JUST BECAUSE OF FILM WON AN OSCAR DOESN'T MEAN I'M NECESSARILY GONNA WATCH IT.

THE FILM HAS A VERY HEAVY SUBJECT MATTER AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY WILLING TO WATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON A, ON A TYPICAL NIGHT.

BUT NOW I FEEL OBLIGATED TO WATCH IT IN THE MOVIE THEATER, TO BUY A TICKET, TO BRING MY FRIENDS OUT TO WATCH IT.

NOT BECAUSE IT'S A POPCORN FLICK AND AN ACTION MOVIE, BUT BECAUSE YOU TRY TO CENSOR IT LIKE CAVE PAINTINGS ON A WALL.

WE CANNOT CENSOR IT BECAUSE IT IS A PART OF HISTORY, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN IT OR NOT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS, AND SO LET US NOT CRUCIFY HIM THE WAY THAT THE CORRUPT ROMANS CRUCIFIED HIM.

LET US NOT BE A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT.

LET US BE BETTER.

WE ARE THE TEAM, USA TEAM USA.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS SO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

MY NAME IS HILL BLACKETT AND, UH, I LIVE AT 1000 WEST AVENUE, UH, HERE ON THE BEACH.

UM, SO I JUST WANNA, UM, TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TACK THAN, UH, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN TAKING, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHICHEVER WAY YOU VOTE ON THE ONE HAND, UM, IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THESE RESOLUTIONS, UH, AND STAND UP TO THIS GOOFBALL MAYOR AND SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA EVICT OR, OR CENSOR, UH, OR CONTROL THE PROGRAMMING OF THIS, YOU KNOW, BELOVED LOCAL MOVIE THEATER, UM, THAT'S A GREAT WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU VOTE WITH HIM AND YOU DO DO THOSE THINGS, UM, IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE CORRECT.

PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS IS NOT REALLY A FREE COUNTRY.

THIS IS NOT A REAL DEMOCRACY.

AND, UH, WE NEED SOME MAJOR CHANGES.

SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU WHICHEVER WAY YOU GO.

THANKS.

WAR AND IT'S NOT UP TO YOU TO FIGHT IT.

HI, I AM VICTORIA PE ELLIOTT.

I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH.

I LIVE ON PINE TREE DRIVE IN 30TH STREET.

I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, AND I DO WANNA SAY, AND I, MY BROTHERS AND MY CHILDREN HAVE GONE THERE AS WELL AND PROTESTED.

I PROUDLY PROTESTED THERE MYSELF WHEN I WAS AN UNDERGRADUATE.

AND I WANNA SAY MAYOR, THAT RESPECTFULLY, YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROTESTS ARE ILL-INFORMED.

AND ALSO TO SAY THAT THE MATTER HERE, I SUPPORT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE SAID WHAT THEY'VE SAID.

IT SEEMS CLEAR CUT.

THE MATTER OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT SEEMS VERY OBVIOUS THAT WE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DISCUSS IT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I WANNA SAY IS, IN SIX MONTHS TIME, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OSMA IS STILL HERE.

WHEN IT'S OUTTA THE HEADLINES, I WANNA SEE THAT GRANT MONEY STILL GOES TO THEM.

THEY'VE SHOWN THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF JEWISH FILMS. THEY'RE TWO HOURS OF A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT MIMICS AND MIRRORS WHAT WE SEE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT IS A PROPAGANDA

[01:25:01]

I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE PALESTINIANS, I'VE SEEN THE MOVIE.

THERE'S NO PROPAGANDA.

IT'S A DOCUMENTARY.

IT WON AN ACADEMY AWARD.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MONICA RELL.

UM, I AM A RESIDENT OF, UH, NORTH MIAMI.

I'M A FILMMAKER AND PROUD FORMER SINEMA EMPLOYEE, AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE RESOLUTION C SEVEN AA.

YOU HAVE CALLED THIS FILM ANTISEMITIC, THE JEWISH ISRAELI FILMMAKER OF NO OTHER LAND.

YUVAL ABRAHAM HAS RESPONDED TO YOU SAYING, WHEN THIS MAYOR USES THE WORD ANTISEMITISM TO SILENCE US, PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, WHO PROUDLY OPPOSE OCCUPATION, APARTHEID TOGETHER, FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL, HE'S DANGEROUSLY EMPTYING IT OUT OF MEANING.

IT'S INTERESTING AND IRONIC TO ME THAT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, IF JEWISH MAN SHOT ISRAELI TOURISTS IN THE NAME OF ANTISEMITISM, THIS IS THE SAME LOGIC AT WORK.

THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT MIAMI BEACH HAS CREATED.

THIS IS YOUR MIAMI BEACH.

FLORIDA IS DESCENDING INTO FASCISM QUICKLY.

I CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO BE A PART OF THAT PRESIDENT'S MATTERS.

YOUR HURT FEELINGS, YOUR SENSITIVITY TO TRUTH, AND YOUR MISINFORMED BELIEFS THAT ARE SO PAPER THIN, FRAGILE THAT A FILM BY ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN FILMMAKERS TOGETHER CAN SHAKE YOU TO CENSORSHIP ARE NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY WANTS.

THANK AND NEEDS.

I HOPE THE MAYOR CAN HEAR ME BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS HIM SPECIFICALLY.

HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

OH, THERE YOU ARE.

YOU START WITH THE NAME PLEASE.

UM, I WAS LOOKING AROUND YOUR NAME.

HI, MY NAME IS SUSAN SCHEIN AND I LIVE ON WEST AVENUE.

I'VE LIVED HERE AND WORKED AND VOTED HERE IN MIAMI BEACH FOR MORE THAN 32 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN IN THE MEDIA BUSINESS FOR NEARLY 40 AND 34 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF FILM.

AND A DOCUMENTARY IS BY NATURE ONE, ONE-SIDED.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU, MR. MAYOR, SPECIFICALLY AS I WAS ON THE ZOOM CALL BUILD AS A TOWN HALL LAST EVENING WHERE COMMENTS WERE DISABLED.

SO I COULDN'T RESPOND TO WHAT I HEARD.

AS A FELLOW JEW AND VACILLATING SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL, I AGREED WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID REGARDING THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF THE INCREASING ANTISEMITISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

INDEED, WE'VE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

WHERE I DISAGREE IS IN THE WAY YOU'VE CHOSEN TO PORTRAY THAT PARTICULAR SCOURGE AS JUSTIFYING A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

BECAUSE PERSONALLY, BECAUSE YOU PERSONALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS MESSAGE IN THIS CASE, CASE A DOES NOT EQUAL B DOES NOT.

EQUAL C, BOTH CAN BE TRUE.

MY NAME IS JONATHAN DAVID KAIN.

I'M A JEWISH AMERICAN FILMMAKER AND ARTIST, BORN AND RAISED IN MIAMI BEACH AT 43 54 ALTON ROAD.

I'M A PRODUCT OF MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I LEARNED HOW TO USE A CAMERA FILMING BAR MITZVAHS AT TEMPLE BEST SHALOM.

I'M HERE TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF MAYOR MINER'S.

PROPOSAL CENSORSHIP HAS NO PLACE IN THESE HALLS IN THIS CITY, NOR IN OUR AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.

SINEMA IS A PILLAR OF MIAMI CINEMATIC ARTS COMMUNITY.

S CINEMA HAS SUPPORTED THE FILMS AND CAREERS OF COUNTLESS MIAMI-BASED FILMMAKERS AND ARTISTS.

THEIR PROGRAMMING HAS ALWAYS BEEN INSIGHTFUL, EDUCATIONAL, AND THOUGHT PROVOKING.

TO SHUTTER THEIR DOORS IS TO DEEPLY WOUND THE ARTIST AND ART LOVERS OF OUR MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY.

DISAGREEING WITH POLITIC POLITICAL LEADERS IS NOT ANTISEMITISM.

EXPRESSING CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS AND INVITING DEBATE IS NOT ANTISEMITISM DENOUNCING WAR MONGERING IS NOT ANTISEMITISM.

I REMIND YOU THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING US HERE TODAY AND HOW WE HANDLE THIS FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE WILL REVERBERATE.

UH, HI, MY NAME'S UH, GERALD PAYNE.

I'M FROM BROWARD.

I'M A FILMMAKER IN THE AREA.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR GIVING THIS FILM MORE PUBLICITY THAN AN ACADEMY AWARD COULD EVER HAVE.

I GOT UP AT 6:00 AM TO BE HERE.

I DON'T GET UP AT 6:00 AM FOR ANYTHING.

UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BALANCE.

UH, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS AN ISRAELI FILM, THERE'D BE PROTESTS.

I THINK THAT'S CRAZY BECAUSE CAPTAIN AMERICA FOUR HAD AN ISRAELI SUPERHERO IS VERY BOUND.

THIS CAN'T EVEN GET SCREENED IN A THEATER, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT SETS A REALLY BAD PRECEDENT TO START CENSORING THINGS THAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMBALANCED.

UH, YOU KNOW, ISRAEL HAS JETS.

GAZA DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AMBULANCES.

SO WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE NOT TO WATCH SOMETHING, THE FIRST THING THEY THINK IS, WELL, WHY? WHAT'S, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT? I WANNA SEE IT IMMEDIATELY.

AND IT SAYS SO MUCH MORE.

YOU SILENCING THE MOVIE THAN THE MOVIE EVER COULD HAVE ON ITS OWN.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I AM A FIRST TIME SNOWBIRD TO MIAMI BEACH, AND IRONICALLY, I DISCOVERED S CINEMA WHILE I WAS PERUSING THE CATALOG FOR THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

[01:30:01]

I SINCERELY DOUBT THAT ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION GOT INVOLVED WITH WHAT THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL WAS SHOWING OR NOT SHOWING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN, JUST SAY, UH, REPEAT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID ABOUT DOCUMENTARIES, WHICH IS A DOCUMENTARY IS SOMEONE'S PERSPECTIVE ON A PARTICULAR SUBJECT THAT THEY THINK ARE THE FACTS.

I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN IN ENOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO UNDER TO KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF STORIES THAT WE THINK ARE RIGHT.

AND TO CENSOR SOMEONE FOR, UH, TELLING THEIR STORY, I THINK SETS A BAD PRECEDENT.

I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT, UH, ART BASIL WAS, BUT I HAPPEN TO LIVE NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY ONE LAST THING, WHICH IS I WOULD REALLY NOT LIKE TO SEE THE COMMISSION OR THE MAYOR HAVING A SPECIAL SCREENING AT ART BASIL TO GO THROUGH.

THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF ARTWORK TO DECIDE WHICH ONE SHOULD NOT BE IN A PUBLIC BUILDING.

MY NAME'S KEVIN SULLIVAN.

I'M FROM STEWART, FLORIDA.

UM, I JUST RETURNED FROM BEING, SPENDING THREE MONTHS ON THE WEST BANK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, INCLUDING SPENDING A WEEK IN FRIDA WHERE THE FILM NORTHERN LAND WAS MADE.

UM, THE, THE NOTION THAT ANTISEMITISM EXISTS WHEN INSTITUTIONALIZED SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION, SEGREGATION, OPPRESSION, DOMINATION, VIOLENCE, AND INHUMANE ACTS ARE DOCUMENTED, SIR EITHER REPRESENTS, UM, A EXTREME MISINFORMATION ON YOUR PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WEST BANK, OR YOU ARE FRANKLY JUST MISSTATING THE TRUTH.

WHERE YOU FROM? OKAY.

HI GUYS.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MIAMI BEACH.

MY NAME IS FRANCESCA GONZALEZ.

UM, I WAS BORN AT MOUNT SINAI AND I GREW UP GOING TO THE O CINEMA AND THE K THEATER EVERY WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER AT FIRST BECAUSE SHE BRIBED ME WITH CANDY.

BUT AFTER A WHILE, BECAUSE I ENJOYED IT, MY MOTHER IS ACTUALLY ON THE DEUS RIGHT NOW AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

HI MOM.

I'D LIKE TO PREFACE, SHE DID NOT ASK ME TO SPEAK, AND I THINK I ACTUALLY REALLY SHOCKED HER WHEN I WALKED IN HERE AND I WALKED TO THE BACK OF THAT LINE, .

UM, I WAS WATCHING ONLINE AND I WAS SO PROUD OF ALL THE CITIZENS WHO CAME OUT HERE TO SPEAK, AND I FELT AS THOUGH I HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, SO I CAME HERE STRAIGHT AWAY.

MY MOTHER HAS TAUGHT ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THE ROLE OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT ISRAEL VERSUS PALESTINE.

IT IS FREE SPEECH AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY IN CONTESTABLE.

IF YOU WISH TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

LISTEN TO THEM HERE TODAY.

WE HAVE HEARD ONLY FIVE PEOPLE OR SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING, AND THREE OF THEM WERE YOUR FRIENDS, MR. MAYOR .

WELL, YOU CLEARLY CALLED TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF.

UM, WE WERE A DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THE OZ CINEMA, AND I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

THIS IS MELISSA.

I DROVE ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM BROWARD, EXPLAINS THE ROLLERS, UH, VERY QUICKLY.

I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF.

I UNDERSTAND SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, EXCEPT THAT THIS IS ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

VIVIAN HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB AT BEING A PILLAR IN BRINGING CULTURE AND ART TO MIAMI BEACH.

IT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I COME TO MIAMI BEACH ANYMORE BECAUSE MIAMI BEACH SUCKS NOW BECAUSE ALL OF THE MOM AND POP SHOPS ARE GONE.

ALL THE INDIVIDUALITIES GONE AND NOW THEY'RE DEMOLISHING ALL THESE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS.

YOU GUYS ARE NOT PROTECTING THIS PLACE.

SO YOU MAY HAVE YOUR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT DO NOT INFANTALIZE THE REST OF US WHO WANT TO VIEW THIS FILM AND MAKE OUR OWN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CONFLICT.

YES, YES.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

HOW YOU DOING? UH, SARAH DE LOS RE, SANTA HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND RESIDENT.

I WANNA SUPPORT, UH, C FOUR C, THE MAURICE GI PARK ENTRANCE REFERRAL TO LAND USE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALEX.

UH, C FOUR OH AND TO NAME THE STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MARK IAN.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO ACTUALLY DO.

AND R FIVE F I'M SUPPORTING ALL THOSE.

[01:35:02]

THANK YOU MR. RABBI DANIEL HADAR, 1389 BAY DRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR ALL YOU FOR THE CITY.

MY BEACH DOES NOT SUCK.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLACE.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO HAVE A GREAT CITY.

AND S IS A GREAT PLACE AS WELL.

AND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID TODAY.

UH, VERY, VERY, UH, IT'S VERY HEALTHY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE SMALL THING, AND THAT'S THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION, SOME OF THE THOUGHT BEHIND THIS IS AS A JEW AND AS A PERSON REPRESENTS A LARGE COMMUNITY, THE, THE VISCERAL REACTION AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE SINCE OCTOBER 7TH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, EXTREMELY PAINFUL, AND EXTREMELY, UH, TOUGH.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS JUST A, A, A HEIGHT HIGHER SENSITIVITY RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE'S AN IDEA OF PERHAPS WE, WE SHOULD JUST TAMP DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH HATRED OUT THERE, SO MUCH.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE TWO SIDES TO IT, BUT THAT'S, I THINK, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.

LET'S TAMPER DOWN THINGS THAT REALLY BRING A LOT OF, A LOT OF UPSETNESS.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

THAT IS THE LAST SPEAKER.

FUNDS, THAT'S NOT FREE SPEECH.

YOU KNOW, UM, ON SUNDAY I HAD THE HONOR OF CELEBRATING THE HUNDRED NINTH BIRTHDAY OF MOLLY HOROWITZ, ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING SURVIVORS OF THE FIRST HOLOCAUST.

IT WAS VERY CUTE.

SHE HAD HER DAUGHTER THERE, HER GRANDDAUGHTER, HER GRANDCHILDREN, HER WHOLE FAMILY, SITTING WITH HER AND TALKING BETWEEN BROKEN YIDDISH, SPANISH AND HEBREW.

I FELT LIKE I WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD IN SUNNY ISLES.

I LIVED IN A VERY SMALL ONE BEDROOM CONDO WITH MY MOTHER.

AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER GETTING INTO ELEVATORS, UH, WITH MY ELDERLY NEIGHBORS.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS SEE THEIR NUMBERS ON THEIR WRISTS AS A CHILD.

I, I DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED, BUT NOW I DO.

THOSE NUMBERS WERE EVIDENCE OF A GENOCIDE, A SYSTEM THAT WIPED OUT 6 MILLION JEWS IN A MATTER OF YEARS.

AND YET HERE WE ARE NEARLY 80 YEARS LATER, WATCHING HISTORY TRY TO REPEAT ITSELF ON OCTOBER 7TH.

EXCUSE ME, I LET YOU SPEAK.

I DID NOT INTERRUPT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

I EXPECT THE SAME COURTESY ABOUT CENSORSHIP.

MR. MAYOR, IF THEY CONTINUE TO INTERRUPT, CAN YOU PLEASE ESCORT THEM OUT OF THE CHAMBERS? I AGREE.

HE, HE IS A, AN ELECTED.

HE IS AN ELECTED COMMISSIONER.

I LET EVERYONE SPEAK IN THIS ROOM.

WENT WAY OVER TIME.

HE IS AN ELECTED COMMISSIONER AND HE IS GOING TO SPEAK.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME CLEAR THE ROOM.

ON OCTOBER 7TH, JEWS WERE SLAUGHTERED.

BABIES THROWN INTO OVENS, WOMEN RAPED IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN, ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS BURNED ALIVE.

INFANTS DECAPITATED.

HAMAS DIDN'T JUST COMMIT THESE CRIMES, THEY GLORIFIED IT.

THEY FILMED IT, THEY PUT IT ON THEIR GOPROS, THEY CHEERED IT.

AND NOW IN MIAMI BEACH, SOMEONE US THE TAXPAYERS TO FUND A FILM THAT SPREADS PROPAGANDA FROM HAMAS.

LET ME BE CLEAR, I OPPOSE CENSORSHIP IN ALL FORMS, BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT FREE SPEECH.

OH MY GOD.

THIS IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT POLICY.

MIAMI BEACH IS ONE OF THE MOST J JEWISH CITIES IN THE WORLD.

HOW IT DECIDES TO ALLOCATE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS BETWEEN US.

IF THIS FILM WERE PLAYING AT REGAL CINEMAS, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, IF A PRIVATE GROUP WERE SCREENING IT OUTSIDE CITY HALL, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT WHEN IT'S BEING SHOWN ON TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED GOVERNMENT VENUES WITH PUBLIC

[01:40:01]

IT'S GOVERNMENT POLICY.

THIS FILM ISN'T JUST ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE, IT'S A MEGAPHONE FOR HAMAS SYMPATHIZERS.

AND WHAT MAKES ME SICK IS SEEING PEOPLE HERE WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST VICTIMS OF HAMAS WOMEN, LGBT.

EXCUSE ME, I'M SPEAKING PLEASE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE DECORUM.

I WILL CLEAR THE ROOM IF HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO FINISH OR ANY OF US UP HERE, PLEASE LET HIM FINISH.

NO, IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT FREE SPEECH, DON'T INTERRUPT MINE.

THIS FILM IS JUST ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE, ISN'T JUST ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.

IT'S A MEGAPHONE FOR HAMAS TERRORIST PROPAGANDA.

AND WHAT MAKES ME SICK IS SEEING PEOPLE HERE.

MOST OF THEM WOULD BE THE FIRST VICTIMS OF AMASS WOMEN.

L-G-B-T-Q ACTIVISTS.

IF THEY WERE IN GAZA, THEY'D BE SEXUALLY MUTILATED, THROWN OFF ROOFTOPS AND STONED TO DEATH.

YET HERE THEY ARE LECTURING US ABOUT MORALITY.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT ART FREE SPEECH.

IF THERE WAS A FILM GLORIFYING WHITE SUPREMACY, WOULD WE BE FUNDING IT? IF IT WERE A FILM PROMOTING CHARLIE HEBDO CARTOONS DEPICTING THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, WOULD WE TOLERATE IT? WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER IS NO.

WHY? BECAUSE IT'S WILDLY OFFENSIVE.

SO WHY WOULD WE SPEND A CENT OF PUBLIC MONEY TO PRI TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR A FILM THAT PURPOSELY LIES BY OMISSION AND JUSTIFIES HAMAS PROPAGANDA? I KNOW WHY, BECAUSE IT'S THE JEWS .

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM.

THEY HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD THERE.

ISRAELI JEWS.

THE HYPOCRISY AND DOUBLE STANDARD HERE IS STAGGERING.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMA ADMITTED ON PAPER THAT THIS FILM HAS ANTISEMITIC RHETORIC, BUT CHOSE TO AIR IT ANYWAYS.

AND THE CHAIRMAN OF SMA, KAREEM TABBA HAS A LONG, WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PUSHING FOR CENSORSHIP WHEN IT SUITS HIS AGENDA.

THIS MAN HAS CALLED FOR THE SILENCING OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

HE'S CALLED FOR THE SILENCING OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE HAS SPENT YEARS DEMANDING THE SUPPRESSION OF FREE SPEECH, BUT DOESN'T LIKE IT.

NOW, THE REALITY IS THAT O CINEMA IS EXPLOITING THIS CONTROVERSY FOR POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL GAIN.

JUST YESTERDAY, WE ALL GOT AN EMAIL FROM, FROM FROM THEM WHERE THEY'RE USING THIS CONTROVERSY AS A FUNDRAISING TOOL.

HERE IT IS.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR $2.8 MILLION IN PRIVATE DONATIONS WHILE PRETENDING THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK.

MEANWHILE, THEY RECEIVE TAXPAYER FUNDING, PAY NEXT TO NOTHING IN RENT AND THEN TURN AROUND AND DEMAND EVEN MORE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH, IT'S ABOUT PUBLICLY FUNDED INSTITUTIONS USING OUTRAGE AS A BUSINESS MODEL.

AND YET, WHILE THEY REFUSE TO ENTERTAIN DISSENTING PERSPECTIVES, THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM DIRECTING AND GLORIFYING A FILM ABOUT BESTIALITY WHERE A MAN RAPES A DOG AND GET THIS EVEN A DOLPHIN.

THE SAME PERSON AT O CINEMA LEADERSHIP, EXCUSE ME, THE SAME PERSON AT O CINEMA LEADERSHIP COMPARED BESTIALITY TO INTERRACIAL SEX.

YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT? THIS IS WHAT THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IS SUBSIDIZING WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO OBLIGATION TO FUND PROPAGANDA, PERIOD.

PLAY THE FILM WHEREVER YOU WANT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, ON THE STREET CORNER.

BUT DO NOT ASK THE TAXPAYERS OF MIAMI BEACH TO FOOT THE BILL FOR ODIOUS PROPAGANDA FILMS WHERE THE SOLE AGENDA AND INTENTION IS TO DISMANTLE THE JEWISH STATE OF ISRAEL.

NOT HERE, NOT ON OUR WATCH, BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY NEVER AGAIN, WE MEAN IT.

[01:45:03]

VICE MAYOR BOT.

UM, I'M GONNA ASK FOR SOME GRACE FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I'M GONNA ASK FOR SOME PATIENCE FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, AS I SAID, I'M USUALLY A LITTLE LOUDER THAN THIS, BUT THIS IS THE BEST I GOT.

I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS ON THIS DISASTER THAT HAS UNFOLDED BEFORE US OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS.

AND I AM TRYING VERY HARD TO SPEAK ABOUT IT IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY, IN A NON-EMOTIONAL WAY, IN A FACT-BASED WAY.

I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY ARM WHERE OUR FOREBEARS HAD TATTOOS ON THEIRS.

I DUNNO IF YOU CAN SEE IT.

IT'S GOT FLOWERS AROUND IT.

IT'S KIND OF CUTE.

IT SAYS NEVER AGAIN.

THE REASON I'M HERE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BEFORE YOU IS BECAUSE TWO OF MY FATHER'S, FATHER'S SIDE OF HIS FAMILY WE'RE NOT BURNED ALIVE IN A CHURCH IN LITHUANIA.

TWO, ONE OF THEM HAD ALREADY IMMIGRATED TO NEW YORK.

ONE OF THEM WAS IN A SIBERIAN WORK CAMP BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE RUSSIAN OVERLORDS AT THE TIME.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PREFACE ANY REMARKS THAT I SPEAK ON AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN A NONPARTISAN RACE WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY PERSONAL BACKSTORY OR MY JEWISH ANCESTRY, MY FAITH, IT'S IRRELEVANT.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF ORGANIZED RELIGION GENERALLY.

THAT'S A HUGE GENERALIZATION.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT I ADMIRE ABOUT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS WHO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES, INSERT ORGANIZATION HERE, BECAUSE I THINK THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PROUDEST OF LIVING IN MIAMI BEACH IS THAT THERE IS A, UM, BREADTH OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO GOOD WORK.

IT IS IMMATERIAL TO MY WORK AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT IT MAKES ME PROUD THAT WE CAN HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT FAITHS LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER AT MULTIPLE POINTS ALONG THE CONTINUUM.

I'M NOT A HASIDIC JEW.

I MEAN A BACON CHEESEBURGER IS MY FAVORITE FOOD.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT FIND THAT FUNNY, BUT I I STILL THINK IT'S FUNNY.

HI LEFT.

IS THE ANTIDOTE TO RETURNING TO THAT.

UM, BUT SERIOUSLY, I, IT IS A MARK OF WHO WE ARE, WHO WE HAVE BECOME AS A CITY.

THAT THAT IS A TRUE STATEMENT.

AND I THINK ONE, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT WE DID NOT COME BY THIS, UM, OPEN-MINDEDNESS EASILY.

WE WERE WILDLY ANTISEMITIC.

CARL FISHER, WHO WE REVERE AS A FOUNDER, WAS A RAGING ANTISEMITE.

JOE STONE CRAB IS WHERE IT IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE ALLOWED TO OPEN THEIR BUSINESS IN THE JEWISH DETEL, SOUTH OF FIFTH NORTH BEACH.

WHEN YOU DRIVE UP TO NORTH BEACH, THERE'S A WHOLE AREA NORMANDY FULL OF FUNNY FRENCH NAMES, WHICH I LOVE.

UM, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY FUNNY TO HEAR PEOPLE TRY TO SAY FRENCH NAMES WITH A CUBAN ACCENT.

AND IT MAKES ME LAUGH.

I I FIND IT DELIGHTFUL.

BUT THE REASON IT'S THERE IS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T BUY LAND TO DEVELOP HOMES AND HOUSES FOR JEWS ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE WERE A SUNDOWN TOWN FOR THE LONGEST TIME, EVEN AS WE HAD GORGEOUS HOTELS AND VENUES WHERE EVERY PERSON THAT WE STILL LISTEN TO PERFORMED AND THE CROWDS CLAPPED FOR THEM, ADORED THEM, PAID MONEY TO ENJOY THEIR PERFORMANCES.

BUT DON'T SLEEP HERE.

DON'T GET CAUGHT HERE AFTER DARK.

IF YOU WORK HERE TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, THAT'S GREAT, BUT NOT AFTER DARK, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CARD GIVING YOU PERMISSION TO STAY HERE WHEN YOU GET STOPPED BY THE POLICE.

THOSE ARE FACTS.

THEY'RE HORRIFYING, BUT THEY ARE PART OF OUR HISTORY.

AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THEM BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE BECOME AS A CITY

[01:50:01]

I FIND IT HORRIFYING THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE REALLY BIG FIGHT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT AND WHEN AND HOW TO RAISE OUR SEWER WATER RATES, WHICH ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO, AND IT'S GONNA BE AN UGLY FIGHT, WE ARE SPENDING HOURS TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I'VE SPENT MOST OF THIS LAST WEEK WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.

INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO, WHAT I FIND EVEN MOST UPSETTING IS THE NARRATIVE THAT IS BEING PAINTED.

THAT YOU ARE EITHER A RAGING ANTISEMITE AND A HAMAS SUPPORTER, OR YOU SUPPORT CENSORSHIP THAT IS A DON'T WANNA GET CENSORED BY THE FCC, BUT THAT IS A BS FALSE BINARY CHOICE.

I WILL TELL YOU, I AM SURE THAT TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY THERE WILL BE A NEWSLETTER GOING OUT AND VIDEO CLIPS OF ME USED FOR WHEN I RUN FOR MY REELECTION IN THREE YEARS, CALLING ME A HAMAS SYMPATHIZER.

I'M SURE OF IT.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM NOT, HAVE NEVER BEEN, WOULD NEVER BE.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE WAY IN ISRAEL IS CONDUCTING ITSELF OR THE WAY IT DOESN'T MATTER FOR THE RECORD, SINCE I HAVE THE PLATFORM, I BELIEVE JU UH, JEWS SHOULD BE SAFE TO BE HOW THEY ARE WHERE THEY ARE, WHEREVER THEY ARE.

I BELIEVE ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST.

AND I BELIEVE THAT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WALK AMONG EACH OTHER LIVING OUR BEST LIFE WITHOUT TRYING TO SUBJUGATE EACH OTHER.

NOW, SINEMA DID NOT HANDLE THINGS THE WAY I WOULD'VE LIKED THE MAYOR WHO COMES BY.

HIS PASSION FROM A PLACE OF DEEP HONESTY AND GENUINE FEELING ALSO DID NOT HANDLE THINGS THE WAY I WOULD'VE LIKED.

BUT I'M NOT THEIR MOM.

IT'S NOT MY TURN TO WATCH THEM.

THEY ARE ALL INDEPENDENT GROWNUPS ACTING THE WAY THEY FEEL IS CORRECT.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SHOWN WELL OVER 50 FILMS, PRO-ISRAEL FILMS BY JEWISH FILMMAKERS AND IS A HUGE SUPPORTER, FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTER OF THE MIAMI JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH I KNOW INTIMATELY FROM MY LAST JOB, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF SHOWING, I THINK IT'S A 12 PART DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST TO SILENCE, THAT VOICE DOES MORE DAMAGE THAN ALMOST ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF.

WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, EXCUSE ME, LET ME FINISH PLEASE.

WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE WHEN THE ITEM IS CALLED.

AND I, I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR FOR COMING WITH A SECOND OPTION OF HOW TO PROCEED.

I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS TO TAKE SINEMA OUT OF THE EQUATION.

AND WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS THAT WE IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH PUT TOGETHER A THOUGHTFUL WEEKEND OR WEEK OR WHATEVER WE WANNA DO, SCREENING SERIES OF SCREENINGS WITH TALKBACKS PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO GET EDUCATED AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT CENSORING ANYBODY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I THINK THE FOLKS IN HERE WHO ARE PURELY STIRRING THE POT, AND I, AND I BELIEVE THEIR VIEWS ARE, ARE COME BY.

HONESTLY.

I, I HOPE, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

THESE FOLKS ARE NOT SERVING THEIR CAUSE.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING JEWISH, EVEN THOUGH A BACON CHEESEBURGER IS MY FAVORITE FOOD, IS THE FACT THAT THE WAY WE TRY TO RESOLVE MOST OF OUR ISSUES IS BY EDUCATING OURSELVES.

IT'S BY LEARNING MORE.

NOT TO SHUT DOWN, NOT TO ASSUME THAT WE KNOW THE FULL STORY.

IT'S SOMETHING I'M GUILTY OF LESS NOW, BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, BOY, I WAS SURE I WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.

JUST ASK MY EX-HUSBAND, HUSBAND.

I BELIEVE THAT THE PATH FORWARD IS TO LET

[01:55:01]

SINEMA GO CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD WORK.

I THINK THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN RECEIVED LOUD AND CLEAR AND LET US AS, AS, AS, UM, AN ORGANIZATION, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT HAS MULTIPLE WAYS OF SCREENING, UM, FILMS AND HAS, HAS A HISTORY OF SHOWING FILMS THAT WE THINK OUR RESIDENTS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.

LET US DO THAT.

GOOD GOVERNANCE WORK.

IT IS A HOT TOPIC, SO LET US ADDRESS IT HEAD ON, BUT NOT BY SHUTTING DOWN ONE VOICE OR ANOTHER VOICE.

AND I WILL STATE AGAIN THAT WHEN YOU SEE THE NEWSLETTER COME OUT OR THE CLIPS OF ME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS SUPPORTING HAMAS AND, AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR, OUR PASSIONS, BUT REALLY THE SENSATIONALISM OF CALLING OUT WHAT HAMAS DID, WHICH IS VILE AND REPREHENSIBLE, AND THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR OCTOBER 7TH.

THERE JUST ISN'T.

WARS SUCK.

PEOPLE DO AWFUL THINGS ON EVERY SIDE.

THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR THE WAY THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES.

AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I AM NOT DEFENDING THEM OR THEIR POSITION EVER OR THEIR, THEIR VIEWS ON, ON, UM, HAVING OTHER FOREIGN ACTORS BE THEIR PROXIES.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I AM HERE.

THAT'S NOT WHY YOU ELECTED ANY OF US.

IF THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO WEIGH IN, I WOULD'VE RUN FOR CONGRESS.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RAISE YOUR SEWER RATES.

I'M GONNA GET PILL READ ON THAT TOO, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

SO I AM BEGGING MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND ANYBODY LISTENING AND ANYBODY READING THE NEWSLETTERS OR WATCHING THE CLIPS IN THREE YEARS TO TAKE THE RHETORIC DOWN BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SERVE THE PURPOSE IT SERVES TO INFLAME AND TO PROMOTE SOMEBODY'S PARTICULAR AGENDA.

LET US FIND A PATH FORWARD.

IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE JEWISH RIGHT NOW IN A LOT OF PLACES.

IT IS NOT SAFE.

I USED TO WEAR STARVE DAVID AROUND MY NECK.

I HAVEN'T WORN IT IN YEARS BECAUSE WHY GIVE SOMEBODY AN EASY WAY TO TARGET ME? I GIVE THEM PLENTY OF OTHER WAYS JUST BY WALKING AROUND.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED ANOTHER ONE.

SO THE INFLAMMATION THAT I'M HEARING SERVES NO ONE.

WELL, AND IF WE WANT TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE, IF WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE A, A, A DIALOGUE THAT IS NOT PROPAGANDA.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR PASSION COMES FROM, RESPECTFULLY.

I REALLY DO.

I SAW THE FILM.

I HAD NO INTENTION OF SEEING THE FILM, BUT I WANTED TO BE INFORMED.

SO I WENT AND BOUGHT MY TICKET.

I SMA AND WATCHED THE FILM, AND HERE'S WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, WHATEVER, DO OR DON'T, NOT MY PROBLEM.

HERE'S WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH.

AND I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY, FAIRLY, UH, FAIRLY WELL INFORMED ON, UH, WORLD AFFAIRS.

UH, I'M A POLITICAL NERD.

UM, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IS JEWISH THROUGH AND THROUGH.

I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO MARRIED SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THE FAITH.

AND HE'S GONE NOW .

BUT MY GIRLS ARE, ARE, ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY INVESTED.

UM, WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH FROM WATCHING THIS FILM WAS IT WAS NOT A COMPLETE STORY.

BECAUSE BY DEFINITION, SOMETHING THAT IS WRITTEN OR FILMED ISN'T, THERE'S ALWAYS AN EDIT.

UH, AN UM, AN ELEMENT OF EDITORIALIZING.

IT'S A NARRATIVE ARC.

YOU TELL A STORY, EVEN IF IT'S A FACTUAL STORY, IT'S STILL A STORY.

AND YOU PUT YOUR SPIN, NOT SPIN, BUT YOU, YOU HAVE TO SHAVE IT.

IT ALSO, BY THE WAY, COVERED A PERIOD BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH.

BUT WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO WATCH FOR SO MANY REASONS.

WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH WAS HOPE.

I CAME AWAY WITH HOPE BECAUSE YOU HAD PEOPLE IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE NORMALLY BRICKS WOULD'VE BEEN THROWN AND WORSE.

AND YET THEY KEPT TALKING.

THEY KEPT QUESTIONING EACH OTHER.

HOW IS THIS OKAY? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US? WHAT, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IS RIGHT? HOW DO WE FIX THIS? I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, BUT I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO PRACTICE LAW BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN AN EQUAL SOCIETY.

HOW DO WE FIX THIS? AND THAT IS THE RIGHT QUESTION.

THAT IS THE DIALOGUE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.

IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE.

THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS.

YOU TALK TO ANY FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT AND IN THE WORLD, AND THEY WILL SAY THE SINGLE MOST

[02:00:01]

DIFFICULT FOREIGN POLICY SITUATION TO TRY TO RESOLVE.

IT'S NOT NUKES, IT'S NOT IRAN, IT'S NOT THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.

IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS THAT, IT IS, IT IS THIS SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

IF IT WERE EASY, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE ALREADY.

SO LET US CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE.

LET US TAKE DOWN THE, THE TONE OF THE RHETORIC.

LET'S TURN DOWN THE FANNING OF THE FLAMES THAT WILL END UP IN MORE DANGER.

WE HAD A NEIGHBOR IN, IN MID BEACH LITERALLY SHOOT TWO PEOPLE THAT HE THOUGHT LOOKED PALESTINIAN BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

YOU KNOW WHO THEY WERE? TWO ISRAELI TOURISTS.

AND FRANKLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU SHOOT SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOU THEY LOOK.

THAT IS A HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

OUR FIRST JOB, NO MATTER WHAT OUR VIEWS ARE ON ANY ISSUE, TAXATION, DEMOLITIONS, NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INSERT TOPIC HERE.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AS YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE DELIVERING ON THAT WITH THIS RHETORIC THAT IS BEING INFLAMED.

SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY URGE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WHEN WE GET TO WHERE WE WE'RE GOING WITH YOUR ITEM TO DO A BIGGER PROBLEM SOLVING STEP FORWARD TO HOST A FILM FESTIVAL, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN EMAILING ON BOTH SIDES.

LET'S FIND FOLKS FROM THAT GROUP WHO HAVE SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE TO SAY AND LET'S GIVE THEM THAT PLATFORM.

OH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BOT.

UH, RESPECTFULLY, I, I THOUGHT I HAD THE TRADEMARK ON SELF DEPRECIATING HUMOR ABOUT A STRUGGLING OR A FAILED MARRIAGE AND LOVE LIFE.

UM, BUT ANYWAYS, UH, WHAT SADDENS ME IS HOW DIVIDED THAT OUR COMMUNITY APPEARS.

THE COMMUNITY THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW.

UH, WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

AND THE ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE SHARED DIFFERENCES, WE DO SO RESPECTFULLY IN EVERY ACTION I TAKE AS AN ELECTED LEADER, I LOOK TO ACHIEVE CONSENSUS, LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND BE A COMMUNITY BUILDER, NOT DIVIDER.

I SUPPORT OUR ARTS AND CULTURE.

I'M PROUD TO LEAD EFFORTS IN HELPING MIAMI BEACH BE THE EPICENTER OF THE ENTIRE ARTS AND CULTURE WORLD THAT'S DEMONSTRATED BY THE FUNDING WE'VE ALLOCATED TO ARTS, EVEN WHEN THE STATE HAS PULLED SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

I ALSO STEADFASTLY SUPPORT OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.

I'M PROUD WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO TAKE MEASURES IN MIAMI BEACH TO MAKE OUR CITY THE MOST WELCOMING, SAFEST PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL FOR OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AND I'M CONFIDENT AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I DON'T THINK I TRULY APPRECIATED HOW DEEP ROOTED ANTISEMITISM WAS UNTIL TRAGIC EVENTS IN RECENT YEARS.

THAT SAID, I ALSO WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH.

WHETHER I AGREE WITH IT OR THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT.

DO I THINK A COMMUNITY PARTNER IN A COMMUNITY WITH SUCH A LARGE JEWISH PRESENCE? SHOULD IT MINIMUM PLAY SHOWS DEPICTING BOTH SIDES? YEAH, SURE.

BUT IF I WANTED TO INFLUENCE OR HAVE A SAY IN WHAT IS PLAYED IN THE THEATER, I'D BE MORE INVOLVED IN THAT THEATER, WHICH I'M NOT.

SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD IN ENSURING MIAMI BEACH REMAINS THE SAFEST, MOST WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AND I'LL ALSO STEADFASTLY SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.

LET'S BE CLEAR, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

I HOPE WE DON'T EVEN TAKE A VOTE TO REMOVE FUNDING OR EXPEL THE SMA.

I WON'T VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

I DO HOPE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO HEAR THE PAIN AND PASSION ON BOTH SIDES.

COMMIT TO PLAYING FILMS THAT SHOW A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS.

WE NEED TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

THOSE UP HERE ON THE DAIS AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON OUT THERE IN THIS ROOM, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO REALIZE WE'RE A COMMUNITY OF SHARED VALUES, SHARED INTERESTS, AND DISAGREEING IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.

THIS MAY SOUND SILLY OR CHEESY, BUT I MEAN IT.

BEFORE EVERYONE LEAVES THESE CHAMBERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

SHAKE YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HAND OF SOMEBODY THAT YOU THINK LIKELY HAS AN OPPOSING VIEWPOINT AS YOUR OWN.

IN FACT, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR WILL ALLOW THIS, BUT I ALSO ASK FOR ANYONE THAT WISHES TO.

SO SHOW THE SIGNS OF UNITY.

LET'S UNITE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

WHEN EVERYBODY SAYS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, LET'S JOIN TOGETHER FOR A PICTURE

[02:05:01]

WHERE WE'RE SYMBOLICALLY SAYING WE RESPECT ALL VIEWPOINTS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AND IF YOU WANNA LAUGH OR MOCK THAT, IT'S NOT 'CAUSE IT'S SILLY OR CHEESY, MAYBE IT'S 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT HAVE DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS.

SO IN SUMMATION, I'LL BE VOTING TO UPHOLD FREE SPEECH, BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

I'M CALLING UPON OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, TO UNITE, TO STAND TOGETHER, NOT JUST WITH THOSE THAT WE AGREE WITH, BUT THOSE THAT WE LIKELY DISAGREE WITH AS WELL.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ.

THIS? AND, AND, AND, AND, AND BY THE WAY, YEAH, IT'S NOT A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC CLASS, BUT THIS IS NOT AN EASY POSITION TO BE IN AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO WHAT IS FAIR AND PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION, AND AT THE SAME TIME UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE DEEPLY OFFENDED BY THIS.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, UH, BACKGROUND HISTORY ABOUT WHO I AM.

I WAS BORN TO A YIDDISH SPEAKING FATHER, AND BOTH OF MY GRANDPARENTS ON MY FATHER'S SIDE WERE KILLED IN A POGROM IN BELARUS.

A UH, CHRISTIAN MOTHER.

I MARRIED A HISPANIC, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MY MOTHER MARRIED TWICE, ONCE TO A JEWISH MAN, ONES TO A PERSIAN MAN.

SO I HAVE THREE, UM, IRANIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

SO IN MY FAMILY, WE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIVERSITY, A LOT OF LOVE, A LOT OF FOCUS ON ACADEMIA AND, AND, AND DIALOGUE.

AND FRANKLY, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE DISAGREE ABOUT.

AND I FOUND OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT MY SIBLINGS AND I SOMETIMES HAVE TERRIBLE FIGHTS, UM, OVER THE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.

BUT WE DISCUSS IT AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE SAME MOTHER.

AND IT IT IS, IT IS, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.

AND WE, WE ENCOURAGE THOSE DIALOGUES.

AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I HAVE TO PUT MYSELF INTO EVERYONE'S SHOES.

I PRACTICE EMPATHY AS A POLITICIAN.

AND I DON'T THINK WE SEE THAT ENOUGH IN POLITICS.

AND WHEN I GOT THE MAYOR'S EMAIL, UM, WHICH WAS THREATENING TO DEFUND, THE SMA HAD TO PUT MYSELF IN HIS SHOES AND SAY, WHY DID HE DO THIS? AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, MAYOR MINOR, YOU DID THIS BECAUSE YOU FOUND THAT THE SMA IN A CITY BUILDING RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDS, OF WHICH BY THE WAY, I RECENTLY, UM, SPONSORED $75,000 TO HAVE THIS DCP EQUIPMENT AND THE SCREEN.

SO, AND MY COLLEAGUES UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THAT, UM, DECISION TO FUND AND GET THE SINEMA NEW EQUIPMENT.

SO I THINK FROM HIS SIDE OF THIS EQUATION, UH, SHOWING THIS MOVIE IN WHAT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ AND COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE SAID IS A, YOU KNOW, A JEWISH COMMUNITY WAS VERY OFFENSIVE.

BUT THEN THE OZ CINEMA'S REACTION TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND I THINK THIS KNEE JERK REACTION MAYOR WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR AS YOU CAN SEE TODAY.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE O'S REACTION TO HIS COMPLAINT TO ADD MORE SCREENINGS AND, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY FUNDRAISE, I ALSO THINK THAT THAT WAS ANTAGONISTIC TOO.

AND IT REALLY DOES DISCOURAGE ANY KIND OF OPEN DIALOGUE.

AND I WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DEFUNDING AND EVICTION OF THE SMA.

AND I ABSOLUTELY DON'T SUPPORT THAT.

AND THE RES AND WHEN THE MAYOR PRESENTED THE SECOND RESOLUTION YESTERDAY, WHICH IS AN URGING TO SHOW AND TELL BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, I THOUGHT, WELL, WE'RE COMING TO SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND.

NOW.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE MAYOR IS PRESENTING THE SECOND RESOLUTION.

UM, BECAUSE TO SOMEHOW PUNISH THE O IN THE FUTURE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NEVER LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

OKAY? DO NOT BELIEVE IN CENSORSHIP.

AND FRANKLY, THERE WAS YOUNG, ONE YOUNG LADY WHO CAME UP TO SPEAK TODAY, A, UM, A RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE DIALOGUES BETWEEN, UM, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, ALL PEOPLES.

AND I THINK THIS UNIFYING MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AND COMMISSIONER BOT WERE VERY HEALTHY.

THIS TYPE OF DIVISION IS SO UNHEALTHY, MAYOR MINOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WOULD ASK TODAY AND I WOULD SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BOT'S.

I WOULD SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BOT'S IDEA TO HOLD SCREENINGS SURROUNDING OCTOBER 7TH, IF THAT, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU JUST WITHDRAW BOTH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS, WHICH PEOPLE FIND PUNISHING AND CENSORING, AND WHY HAVE

[02:10:01]

YOU KNOW, I WAS IN ROME ON VACATION THIS SUMMER AT AN OUTDOOR CAFE, AND THERE WAS A VIOLINIST, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE STARTED TO PLAY HAVA NA, AND NOT IN A VERY NICE WAY.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

I I DID, BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAID, WELL, WHY IS, IS HE LIKE, YOU KNOW, MARKING ME AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? AND, YOU KNOW, IS, IS THERE GONNA BE SOME SORT OF REPERCUSSION? SO YES, ANTISEMITISM IS REAL, AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING FEARFUL.

OKAY? SO I WOULD ASK MAYOR MINOR TODAY, LET'S PULL THIS RESOLUTION.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE O CINEMA AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND TALK THIS OUT, FINE, BUT LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW, PUNISH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HOSTS THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL THAT SCREENS A HOLOCAUST MOVIE MONTHLY THAT HAS A LOT OF CRED IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

OKAY? SO, AND DON'T FORCE A VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE PUNISHING WHEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS POSSIBLY HAVE DIALOGUE.

SO WOULD YOU CONSIDER PULLING BOTH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS PLEASE? AND HAVING AN ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE MEETING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ATTEND.

AND WE TALKED THIS OUT.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL MY COLLEAGUES, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR HONOR.

JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE ENDORSED CENTURIES OF SLANDER AND MISINFORMATION, THAT HAS FIELD HATRED, THAT HAS FIELD VIOLENCE, THAT HAS FIELD PERSECUTION.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY THAT THRIVES ON ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, WHERE CREATIVITY IS CELEBRATED AND DIVERSE VOICES HAVE A PLACE TO BE HEARD.

WE ARE HOME TO A THRIVING ARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE, ONE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY UPLIFTED DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE, INCLUDING THOSE OF OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.

FROM HOSTING THE MIAMI JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL TO SUPPORTING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION INITIATIVES, OUR CITY HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF ART TO EDUCATE, TO HEAL, AND TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WE INVEST IN THE ARTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THEIR POWER TO SHAPE COMMUNITIES.

FOR DECADES, MIAMI BEACH HAS BEEN A NATIONAL LEADER IN CULTURAL FUNDING, SUPPORTING EVERYTHING FROM WORLD CLASS SYMPHONIES TO EMERGING FILMMAKERS.

BUT WITH THAT INVESTMENT COMES A FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO CONTROL CONTENT, BUT TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC RESOURCES SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD WHILE RESPECTING THE FREEDOMS THAT MAKE ARTS POSSIBLE.

ART CHALLENGES US.

ART PROVOKES US, IT INSPIRES US.

BUT WITH THAT POWER COMES RESPONSIBILITY.

THE RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE FREEDOMS THAT MAKE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION POSSIBLE.

AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS CLEAR.

GOVERNMENT MUST NEVER CENSOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, EVEN WHEN IT IS CONTROVERSIAL OR DEEPLY OFFENSIVE AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS ABSOLUTE, PUBLIC FUNDING IS NOT.

INSTITUTIONS THAT RECEIVE TAXPAYER SUPPORT SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE IN.

BUT THE ANSWER TO SPEECH WE FIND OFFENSIVE IS NEVER CENSORSHIP.

IT IS MORE SPEECH.

IT IS STRONGER SPEECH.

IT IS A COMMITMENT TO THE TRUTH.

A TRUE COMMITMENT TO FUNDING ARTS IS ALSO A COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC FREEDOM.

EVEN WHEN WE FIND THE ART TROUBLING, IN FACT, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS OF PHARMACISTS, I'M GONNA QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM THEM, STATING THAT THE FREEDOM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IS, IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

THE ARTS SHOULD CHALLENGE, PROVOKE AND EXPAND OUR PERSPECTIVES.

WHILE PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO DICTATE ART ARTISTIC CONTENT, THEY MUST UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLE THAT NO ART SHOULD BE CENSORED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS CONTROVERSIAL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE DEEP CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THIS FILM, AND I TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY.

[02:15:01]

AND IT'S SAD THAT IN 2025, ANTISEMITISM IS NOT A HISTORICAL RELIC.

IT IS A GROWING DANGER THAT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR CITY, IN OUR COUNTRY, OR ANY WORLD IN THE WORLD.

WE MUST REJECT EFFORTS TO DE LEGITIMIZE ISRAEL AND JEWISH IDENTITY JUST AS WE REJECT ALL FORMS OF BIGOTRY.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SINEMA, LIKE ANY INSTITUTION RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDS, HAS A RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE THAT IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE THIS CURRENT WORLD OF FEAR IS PRESENTED WITH FAIRNESS AND WITH BALANCE.

BUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD NOT COME FROM A GOVERNMENT MANDATE.

IF WE START POLICING ARTISTIC CONTENT TODAY, WHERE DOES IT STOP? DO WE BEGIN REQUIRING RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS TO RECEIVE CITY FUNDING TO ALTER THEIR MESSAGING IF IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S POSITION AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN? THIS IS AN ISSUE I'VE ENCOUNTERED AS A COMMISSIONER.

I'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE ISSUE OF FUNDING RELIGIOUS ENTITIES THAT DON'T ALIGN PRECISELY WITH THE CITY'S POSITION ON L-G-B-T-Q ISSUES.

AND I'VE SIDED WITH THE RIGHT TO THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, TO THE FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

'CAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE DO IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

'CAUSE ONCE WE CROSS THAT LINE, WHERE DOES IT END? INSTEAD OF MANDATES? I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE INSTITUTIONS TO ACT RESPONSIBLY, TO BE FAIR, TO BE BALANCED, TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER THAT THEY HOLD IN SHAPING PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

BUT WE MUST DO THIS WHILE RESPECTING THE VERY FREEDOMS THAT MAKE THAT DISCOURSE POSSIBLE.

AND JUST AS I CANNOT SUPPORT THE ITEM BEFORE US TODAY TO END THE LEASE OF OLD CINEMA, I HAVE TO SAY I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE HATRED, BY THE INTOLERANCE THAT HAS BEEN DISPLAYED IN THESE CHAMBERS.

AND I'M VERY SAD TO SAY THAT.

BUT I EXPECT MORE FROM A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THAT BELIEVES IN THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS THAT SEEKS TO UPHOLD THESE TRUE AND AMERICAN VALUES.

WE DON'T DO THAT BY THIS KIND OF VI, IT DOESN'T STRENGTHEN ANYONE'S ARGUMENT.

IN FACT, IT DISCREDITS IT.

IT MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TAKE AN IMPORTANT VOTE ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

IT IS SADDENING TO SEE THIS BLATANT ANTISEMITISM IN OUR COMMISSION CHAMBERS.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED IN PART TODAY.

NOT BY EVERYONE, BUT BY SOME WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IT IN OUR EMAILS.

WE'VE RECEIVED IT IN PHONE CALLS TO OUR OFFICES.

AND THAT CANNOT BE THE PATH TOWARDS UNIFYING A COMMUNITY.

WE NEED RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE.

WE CAN'T HAVE HATEFUL DIALOGUE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO REACH A POSITIVE OUTCOME.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OLD CINEMA HAS FAILED TO FIND THE PROPER PATH THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEEP PAIN, THAT IT HAS COST.

AND I THINK THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS DISAPPOINTING TO ME.

WHEN POOR JUDGMENT OCCURS, IT IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, TO CORRECT IT.

THE MAYORS, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.

US, EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME.

YOU'RE WHOLE HIM FOR CREATING HATRED.

EXCUSE ME.

WE ARE ALL LEADERS.

WHETHER WE BE ELECTED LEADERS OR CULTURAL LEADERS OR CIVIC LEADERS.

WHEN WE MAKE MISTAKES, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT OUR MISTAKES.

AND I'VE HAD TO DO IT IN THE PAST.

THE POSITION IS NOT TO DOUBLE DOWN THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION IS TO SAY, WE'VE MADE A MISTAKE.

WE'RE WILLING TO TALK.

WE'RE WILLING TO FIND A PATH FORWARD.

AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE.

AS LEADERS, WE, WE MUST MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON PRINCIPLES THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

AND THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ONE FILM.

THIS IS ABOUT DEFINING THE KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO BE, NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.

WE CAN STAND FIRMLY AGAINST ANTISEMITISM WITHOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT COULD LATER BE USED

[02:20:01]

TO SILENCE OTHERS.

WE CAN REJECT HATEFUL RHETORIC WITHOUT HANDING GOVERNMENT THE POWER TO DECIDE WHAT ART IS ACCEPTABLE.

WE CAN FIGHT FOR TRUTH WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE FREEDOMS THAT ALLOW TRUTH TO FLOURISH.

AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF DICTATING ARTISTIC POLICY OR ARTISTIC CONTENT.

THIS IS A MOMENT TO DEFENSE, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND TO STAND AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND TO REAFFIRM OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, TO TRUTH, AND TO RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

AND I TRULY FEEL THAT WE DO THAT NOT BY PASSING THE ITEMS IN FRONT OF US TODAY, BUT WE DO THAT BY LEADING, BY EXAMPLE, BY STANDING STRONG IN OUR PRINCIPLES, BY FOSTERING DIALOGUE, BY FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING.

AND AS COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE SAID, BY FOSTERING UNITY.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON THIS.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN MANY MISTAKES MADE, BUT I THINK WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE PROPER PATH FORWARD.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE, OR THAT PEOPLE MAY PERCEIVE THIS FILM IN A WAY THAT IS NOT APPETIZING IN A WAY THAT'S HURTFUL.

BUT THE POINT IS, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE? DO WE JUST DOUBLE DOWN AND SAY, YES, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS FILM WAS HURTFUL, AND YES, WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO REMOVE IT, BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA IGNORE ALL OF THAT.

OR DO WE FIND A COMMON PATH FORWARD THAT RESPECTS EACH OTHER AS ONE COMMUNITY? AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF US TODAY.

AND I THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE ELEVATED DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD HERE TODAY FOR EVERYONE'S POSITION.

BUT I TRULY FEEL THAT CENSORING CINON BY REVOKING THEIR LEASE IS NOT THE PATH FORWARD.

AND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR US TO SEND AS A GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT JUST COULD, COULD BE TRANSMITTED TO OTHER ENTITIES.

IT COULD BE TRANSMITTED TO RELIGIOUS ENTITIES.

IT COULD BE TRANSMITTED TO, TO OTHER TIMES IN THE FUTURE WHERE PERHAPS THE SENTIMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE DIFFERENT.

COMMISSIONER LAURA DOMINGUEZ.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO ECHO ALL THE SAME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ON THE DAY.

AS, UM, I WILL MENTION, MIAMI BEACH DOES HAVE A VERY VIBRANT JEWISH COMMUNITY.

THERE IS NO PLACE IN OUR CITY FOR ANTI-SEMITISM.

SMA HAS BEEN AN ART HOUSE THEATER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THEY'VE HOSTED THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

AND AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, HAVE THERE BEEN MISTAKES MADE ON BOTH SIDES HERE? I THINK SO.

BUT CENSORSHIP IS NOT THE ANSWER.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO COME TO A COMPROMISE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS PAINS THE MAYOR, EVEN JUST DISCUSSING IT, I SEE IT IN HIS EYES.

AND IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DEEP.

I RESPECT HIM VERY MUCH.

AND I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN FIND A PATH FORWARD HERE.

I APPRECIATE, THANK YOU.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF, ALTHOUGH MOST OF IT WAS HEALTHY, SOME OF IT I, I'LL ADMIT WAS HURTFUL.

UH, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE WHO CAME IN HERE.

I, I HOPE YOU SAW THAT I WAS ATTENTIVE, UH, OTHER THAN RUNNING TO THE RESTROOM AT ONE POINT.

BUT I WAS ATTENTIVE.

AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF HAVING IT AND EXTENDING THE FORUM.

ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I FELT WE WERE IN UNITY.

UNITY DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE ON EVERY POLICY DECISION.

UNITY MEANS THAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS JOKE THAT I MADE THE MOVIE MORE POPULAR BY DOING WHAT I DID THAN THE ACADEMY AWARDS DID.

AND THEY MAY BE RIGHT.

THAT WAS NOT MY INTENT.

I, I KNEW THIS WOULD CREATE A DIALOGUE.

UH, AND I DON'T WANNA SAY THAT I, I AM SHOCKED BY WHAT'S TRANSPIRED AND, AND THE ATTENTION THAT IT'S GOT.

UH, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I EXPECTED THERE TO BE A BIT.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY NOBODY CAN PREDICT THIS LEVEL.

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S, FOR THE MOST PART, A HEALTHY DI DISCOURSE.

I VIEWED THIS AS A PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURE.

I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER AND SEWER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR CITY IS.

WE'RE A NON-PARTISAN GOVERNMENT.

BUT I, AND I, I'M TRYING NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT I LEGITIMATELY VIEWED THIS AS A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT.

NOT IMMEDIATELY.

I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY IN MIAMI BEACH IS GONNA GET HURT OR ATTACKED BECAUSE THIS MOVIE IS BEING SHOWN.

BUT I SEE, AND I'M WITNESSING WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD.

I'M SEEING THERE ARE PLACES,

[02:25:01]

MANY PLACES IN EUROPE THAT JEWS DO NOT WEAR YAMIKAS ON THEIR HEAD.

THEY'RE TOLD BY THEIR RABBIS AND LEADERS NOT TO.

THAT WAS ONCE UNTHINKABLE IN AMERICA.

AND IT IS HAPPENING HERE.

YOU HEARD IT FROM A VICE MAYOR.

SHE DOESN'T WEAR HER JEWISH STAR.

I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

BUT I ALSO HEAR FROM PEOPLE, NOT JUST JEWS.

I HEAR FROM MANY PEOPLE, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU TO OUR POLICE FOR MAKING MIAMI BEACH, SUCH MIAMI BEACH, SUCH A SAFE CITY.

BUT I DO HEAR IT FROM MANY OF OUR MIAMI BEACH JEWISH RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS ONE OF THE LAST BASTIONS IN THE WORLD WHERE WE FEEL SAFE, WHERE WE CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND BE PROUD OF OUR IDENTITY.

BUT THAT IS CRUMBLING IN MANY AREAS.

SO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS HIGHLIGHT A LEVEL OF HURT AND WHAT PROPAGANDA, YES, IT ALL NEEDS TO BE HURT, BUT A LEVEL OF PROPAGANDA THAT EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO DEVASTATION, WHETHER IT BE POGROMS IN EUROPE.

AND BY THE WAY, I'M PICKING ON JEWISH ISSUES, BUT IT'S HAPPENED TO OTHER GROUPS TOO.

AND I'M COGNIZANT OF THAT.

AND I WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND EVERY GROUP IN MIAMI BEACH, POGROMS IN EUROPE, THE HOLOCAUST, AND CERTAINLY OCTOBER 7TH.

IT STARTS WITH PROPAGANDA IN DE DEHUMANIZING PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.

'CAUSE IN MY VIEW, IT WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

AND I WOULD IMPLORE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND I REALLY AM, I REALLY AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE PASSION THAT WE SAW TODAY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY GREAT.

I MEAN IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT I'M ALSO ASKING PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, PEOPLE LISTENING, BUT ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD CONSCIOUS TO HAVE THAT SAME PASSION.

WHEN ANY GROUP IS ATTACKED, WHEN ANY GROUP IS UNDER A THREAT, AND JEWS ARE FEARFUL.

I AM TELLING YOU, I DON'T SPEAK FOR JEWISH PEOPLE, BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT.

AND I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

JEWS ARE AFRAID.

THEY ARE SHOCKED.

I AM SHOCKED.

WE ARE SHOCKED BY THE LEVEL OF ANTISEMITISM AND JEW HATRED AND EXCUSES THAT ARE MADE FOR WHY IT IS OKAY TO DEHUMANIZE A JEW.

WHATEVER EXCUSE YOU WANT TO USE.

YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT EXCUSES FOR HATING JEWS.

SOMETIMES IT'S 'CAUSE JEWS ARE TOO SUCCESSFUL SOMETIMES 'CAUSE THEY'RE TOO POOR.

NOW IT'S THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

EVERY GENERATION, IT MORPHS INTO SOMETHING ELSE.

IT'S JUST A CONVENIENT EXCUSE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT, THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHERE HATE CAN GO AND WHERE IT CAN LEAD TO.

AND THAT WE SHOULD JUST KEEP OPEN-MINDED PERSPECTIVES.

[C7 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ELECTING COMMISSIONER DAVID SUAREZ, GROUP V, AS VICE-MAYOR, FOR A TERM COMMENCING ON APRIL 1, 2025, AND TERMINATING ON JULY 31, 2025.]

AM GONNA WITHDRAW C SEVEN AA, THE, UH, REVOKING OF THE FUNDING TO SINEMA.

UM, UH, YOU KNOW, I HEARD SOME R SEVEN G, WHICH IS THE ENCOURAGING.

I HEARD SOME COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

I ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA DEFER THAT.

I THINK IT, IT'S OPEN TO MORE DISCUSSION.

I ALSO THINK IT'S NOT GONNA BE HEALTHY TO DEBATE WHAT THE WORDING IS.

THE NUANCE IS, I OVERALL THINK THIS WAS A VERY POSITIVE TODAY.

I REALLY DO.

IT'S EMOTIONAL TO ME.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF YOU SAID SOME THINGS WERE HURTFUL, I LOVE YOU ALL.

I REALLY, REALLY DO.

WE'RE ALL AMERICANS, WE'RE ALL PROUD TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT IS A GREAT COUNTRY.

AND I REALLY JUST WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR US, OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD.

GOD BLESS.

SHOULD WE DO THAT GROUP PICTURE? YEAH.

EVERYONE, IF WE CAN START CLEARING THE CHAMBER.

I'M OPEN TO THAT IDEA FOR A GROUP PICTURE.

WHO DOESN'T LIKE A SELFIE? JUST UP HERE? THANK YOU, BY THE WAY.

[02:32:00]

WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND RESUME THE MEETING.

WE ASK FOR EVERYONE TO CLEAR, UH, THE CHAMBERS AT THIS MOMENT.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND RESUME THE MEETING AT THIS TIME.

SO PLEASE, UH, WE ASK THE MEDIA, UM, TO GO AHEAD AND CLEAR OUT THE CENTER PORTION OF THE DAY SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE AND RESUME THE MEETING.

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND, AND RESUME THE MEETING.

TAKE YOUR SEATS.

THE MEETING IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

REMEMBER TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

AS THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED FOR PUBLIC RECORD,

[02:35:52]

WE ASK THAT YOU KINDLY, UM, IF YOU'RE HAVING CONVERSATION TO STEP, UH, OUTSIDE, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND RESUME THE MEETING.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

THE MEETING IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

REMEMBER TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE AS THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED FOR PUBLIC RECORD.

UM, WE DO HAVE SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS, UH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.

BACK TO, UH, ORDER OF BUSINESS.

UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE HERE FOR, UH, A VERY POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

[R9 D PRESENTATION BY PROPERTY APPRAISER TOMAS REGALADO.]

AND I'M HAPPY,

[02:40:01]

PROUD TO, UH, INVITE, UH, MAYOR AND PROPERTY APPRAISER THOMAS RDO TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S R 90 D.

UH, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, UH, .

BUT, UH, I, I GUESS, UH, REMEMBER MY DAYS AT THE CITY OF MIAMI WHEN WE HAD, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.

UH, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, MR. UH, ATTORNEY, MR. ATTORNEY, UH, MANAGER.

UH, I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE NEW OFFICE OF THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL, AS YOU KNOW, UH, BECAUSE CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION ON NOVEMBER 5TH, UH, THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ELECTED FIVE, UH, NEW CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

AND THOSE WILL BE INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT.

SO IN JANUARY 7TH, WE ALL TOOK OFFICE.

UH, WHAT I'M HERE TO DO IS TO OFFER YOU THE SERVICES OF OUR OFFICE IN THESE TWO MONTHS.

I FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICES AND THE BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, IN TERMS OF EXEMPTIONS FOR WIDOWS OR FOR, UH, UH, VETERANS, UH, FOR PERSON WITH DISABILITIES, FOR SENIORS.

AND, UH, IT'S OUR MISSION TO EXPLAIN TO THEM, UH, THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEM WORK.

WE ARE SUPPOSED BY A STATE STATUE TO VALUE PROPERTY, ADJUST, UH, JUST, UH, PRICE.

UH, AND WE ALL SEEN THE GROWTH, UH, IN, IN THE PAST, UH, YEARS IN ALL MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN MIAMI BEACH.

UH, WE ARE SEEING THAT THE MARKET IS, UH, IS BEEN STABLE IN THE LAST, UH, SIX MONTHS.

BUT, UH, WE WILL BE SENDING, UH, IN AUGUST, UH, THE TRIM NOTICE, UH, TO 1000000.2, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

WHAT I WANT TO OFFER IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OTHER CITIES NOW, UH, WHENEVER THIS COMMISSION, THE MANAGER DECIDES, UH, WE CAN BRING A TEAM, UH, TO CITY HALL FOR THE DAY, UH, AND BRING THE RESIDENTS.

UH, AND WE'LL HAVE, UH, COMPUTERS, UH, AND PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND, UH, THE DIFFERENT EXEMPTIONS AND ISSUES, UH, FIX PROBLEMS, UH, FOR YOUR RESIDENTS.

WE ARE ALSO LAUNCHING, UH, A NEW SYSTEM, UH, NEVER DONE BEFORE, WHICH WILL BE, UH, UH, VEHICLES, UH, WITH, UH, THE, UH, WHEELCHAIR.

WE WILL BE DOING HOME VISITS FOR A PERSON WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS, UH, BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM, UH, TO GO OUT TO DOWNTOWN OR TO THE SOUTH OFFICE.

SO WE'LL BE VISITING THOSE PEOPLE THAT REQUIRE, UH, HELP AND, UH, FIXING THEIR PROBLEMS. UH, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES, UH, IN TERMS OF TRUST, UH, THAT PEOPLE CREATE AND LOSE THEIR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND OTHER, UH, THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE CAN BE SOLVED, UH, BY TALKING FACE TO FACE.

SO WE'RE HERE TO SERVE.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANYTIME WE'LL BE, UH, READY TO COME TO BEAUTIFUL MIAMI BEACH, UH, TO SERVE YOUR RESIDENT.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE UPDATE AND, UH, COMING IN HERE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND OBVIOUSLY FOR MAKING YOURSELF ACCESSIBLE.

SO, REALLY MUCH APPRECIATED.

C SEVEN AF.

MAYOR.

MAYOR,

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[C7 Q A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING FLORIDA SENATORS ASHLEY MOODY AND RICK SCOTT, AS WELL AS HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMMEDIATE REVIEW, REEVALUATION, AND REINSTATEMENT OF THE LAID-OFF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) SCIENTISTS AND STAFF TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF MILLIONS OF FLORIDIANS WHO DEPEND ON NOAA'S WORLD-CLASS HURRICANE TRACKING AND WEATHER FORECASTING SYSTEMS.]

[C7 Z A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, AUTHORIZING A ONE-TIME GRANT OF $5,000.00 TO THE CENTER FOR FOLK AND COMMUNITY ART TO SPONSOR ITS ALIVE ON SOUTH BEACH AND IT’S JUST A CONVERSATION PROGRAMMING, WITH MONIES TO BE DRAWN FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED BY THE CITY TO AID CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IMPACTED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA’S REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.]

[C7 AD A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE REFUNDS TO RESIDENTS WHO WERE CHARGED THE $30 FLAT RATE FOR PARKING AT CERTAIN CITY-OWNED SURFACE LOTS AND PARKING GARAGES UPON PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION OF AMOUNT PAID AND PROOF OF RESIDENCY, WITH SUCH REFUNDS TO BE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLAT RATE APPLICABLE TO NON-RESIDENTS AND THE REGULAR RESIDENT RATE.]

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

SO, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COMMISSIONER BOT IS SEPARATING C SEVEN W, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ IS SEPARATING C SEVEN W.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS SEPARATING C TWO B AS IN BOY, AND C SEVEN E COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ IS SEPARATING C FOUR I AND C SEVEN A D COMMISSIONER.

SUAREZ IS SEPARATING C SEVEN A FC SEVEN Q AND C SEVEN Z.

UH, THE ADDENDUM ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED, HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED TO GO INTO THE AGENDA.

THOSE WILL BE HEARD AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK.

SO IF I MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, EXCLUDING THE ADDENDUMS AND EXCLUDING THE SEPARATED ITEMS. SO MOVED.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

[02:45:01]

THE ITEMS ARE APPROVED.

C SEVEN C SEVEN AF IS APPROVED $75,000 GRANT SUPPORT.

C SEVEN AF.

[C7 AF A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 TO THE VISION FRAME, LLC (PRODUCER) FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM "LAPIDUS: ARCHITECT OF JOY" (WORK), SUCH FUNDING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLY UPON PRODUCER'S SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO THE CITY IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE PRODUCER HAS RAISED AT LEAST $1,000,000 FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE WORK; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THIS GRANT IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CITY'S STANDARD CULTURAL GRANT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FOREGOING.]

LAPIDUS ARCHITECT OF JOY DOCUMENTARY C SEVEN A F WAS SEPARATED BY COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

UH, DID YOU WANT US TO SPEAK OR DO YOU WANT US TO ADDRESS COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? UM, UH, UH, SINCE COMMISSIONER SUAREZ PULLED IT, LET'S HAVE HIM GIVE US HIS THOUGHTS.

UM, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

VICE MAYOR BOT.

UM, WHEN, WHEN I SAW THIS ITEM, I, I, I WAS A LITTLE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

I I, I DON'T THINK GENERALLY THAT SPENDING $75,000 OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND A FILM IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

AND WHEN I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER LIBIN, UM, I, I SIMPLY ASKED, UH, A COUPLE THINGS.

I SAID, WHAT, WHAT'S THE 75? THAT'S 'CAUSE IT'S AN ODD NUMBER.

WHAT, WHAT, WHY $75,000? UM, AND HE SAID IT WAS TOWARD THE COST OF THE FILM.

TOTAL BUDGET IS 1.3 MILLION.

THE DIRECTOR PRODUCER WILL BE AT THE COMMISSION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.

UM, THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR A NUMBER OF GRANTS, AND WE HAVE MET WITH THE FOUNTAIN BLUE, WHICH WE HAVE MADE A LARGE, LARGER REQUEST, INCLUDING BOTH CASH AND SOFT COST, AS WELL AS OTHER MEETINGS CURRENTLY BEING SCHEDULED.

THE FILM HAS BEGUN ON SOME OF THE INTERVIEWS ON THE FILM SCHEDULE TO BE COMPILED, UH, COMPLETED IN JUNE, 2026.

UH, CAN WE COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT? UM, I ASKED HIM, WELL, WHY ARE YOU GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS? AND HIS RESPONSE WAS, I WAS ASKED TO ASSIST IN CONNECTING THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT I KNOW IN MIAMI AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

I HAVE REGISTERED AS A LOBBYIST FOR THIS PROJECT AND AM BEING COMPENSATING $2,000 A MONTH.

A SMALL TOKEN FOR THE TIME I'M PUTTING IN, AS I BELIEVE THIS STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD ON THE BIG SCREEN.

UH, TO ME, LOOK, UM, WHEN I'M BEING LOBBIED BY SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING PAID FOR SOMETHING FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THAT GIVES ME, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I, IF THIS IS GONNA GO TO A FILM, THE FILM'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA GENERATE SOME MONEY.

UH, I HAD SOME CONCERNS WHERE IF, IF, IF WE DID DO THIS, UH, WILL WE BE GETTING BACK? WOULD TAXPAYERS GET BACK THEIR MONEY? OKAY.

UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GONNA GO TO A BOX OFFICE OR IT'S GONNA BE SCREENED SOMEWHERE AND THERE'S GONNA BE TICKET SALES.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ROOM TO ADD A REFUND FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UH, TO BE REPAID.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, I, I DON'T KNOW IF NOW IS THE TIME BETWEEN RATE HIKES OF WATER AND SEWER, FPL INSURANCE, AFFORDABILITY, THAT SPENDING $75,000 FOR A FILM CREATION, UH, IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

AND THAT'S SIMPLY THE ONLY REASON I PULLED THE ITEM.

UM, AND I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

UH, SO I WAS APPROACHED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND IT'S ABOUT MORRIS LAPIDUS, WHO'S ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECTS OF MIAMI BEACH'S HISTORY.

HE DESIGNED SOME OF OUR MOST ICONIC HOTELS, INCLUDING THE FOUNTAIN BLUE, THE EDEN ROCK, THE AMERICANA HOTEL.

AND WHEN I WAS APPROACHED WITH, UH, FROM JERRY AND THE DIRECTOR ASKING FOR HELP IN THE FILM, UH, THE BUDGET IS $1.3 MILLION.

I WENT TO THE COUNTY TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THEY'RE, THEY DON'T LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT'S UNDER $5 MILLION.

SO THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY.

I WENT TO THE VCA.

AND IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR FUNDING FROM THEM, THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC, UH, LARGE ROOM BLOCK, WHICH THEY DON'T REQUIRE.

UH, MORRIS LAPIDUS, UM, LIVED AND PASSED AWAY IN MIAMI BEACH.

HE WAS JEWISH, BORN IN ODESSA, UKRAINE, OR NOW SISTER CITY.

AND, UH, ONE IMPORTANT NOTE HERE, UM, IS THAT THE FUNDING IS CONTINGENT ON THE PRODUCER'S ABILITY TO SECURE AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE A

[02:50:01]

BLANKET 75,000.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW THEIR SKIN IN THE GAME.

AND GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF MORRIS LAPIDUS IN OUR CITY AND THE EXCITEMENT AROUND THIS DOCUMENTARY, I, UM, WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, BEFORE WE CALL A VOTE, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANNA ADD SOMETHING BEFORE I MAKE SOME COMMENTS? UM, I THINK THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT PRODUCING ANY OTHER MOVIE, IT'S ABOUT AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF WHO WE ARE BASED ON OUR ARCHITECTURE.

AND MORRIS LAPIDUS WAS PIVOTAL IN THAT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MOVIE.

AND, UM, I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

OH, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WAS THERE, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WENT AROUND TO FIND, UH, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT FUNDS.

THERE'S NO FUNDING THAT WE CAN PULL FROM ANY ARTS ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING CULTURAL ARTS TO WORKING.

UM, I CAN LET JERRY AND AND THEM ANSWER THAT QUESTION I TRIED ON MY END ON, UM, WHAT I COULD WITH THE COUNTY AND BCA AND THEY DON'T QUALIFY.

SO BEFORE WE HAVE JERRY ANSWER QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S A FEW THINGS, JOE, COMMISSIONER MASON, UM, WE RECENTLY, AND MAYBE THERE'S A QUESTION FOR STAFF, BUT WE RECENTLY HAD A FILM GRANT PERMIT, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, PROGRAM, PROGRAM PROGRAM, YES.

I, I KNOW I PERSONALLY SENT IT AROUND TO, UH, A COUPLE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY OFFERING, UH, GRANT FOR ANY TYPE OF FILM BEING PRODUCED IN MIAMI BEACH.

WILL THIS BE PRODUCED IN MIAMI BEACH? YES.

5 MILLION BUDGET, I BELIEVE WILL BE PRODUCED.

HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE SUCCESS OF THE FILM SO THAT IF WE VICE MAYOR, I'M SORRY TO CATCH, I JUST WANTED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

IT'LL BE PRODUCED IN MIAMI BEACH.

AND, AND WHERE ARE YOU EXPECTING TO ROLL THIS OUT? IS, IS THIS GOING TO BE, UH, STREAMING? IS IT GONNA BE IN THE BOX OFFICE? SO FIRST WE'RE LOOKING INTO SUBMITTING IT TO PRESTIGIOUS FIELD FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEN TO GET IT ON AN ONLINE PLATFORM YES.

AND REACH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF VIEWERS WHO HOPEFULLY WILL COME TO THE CITY, UH, TO LOOK INTO, UH, EXPLORING SOME OF THE PROPERTIES AND MAYBE ORGANIZING ALONG WITH THE CITY TOUR THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MAUR LAPD'S WORK.

SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING INTO HOW TO BENEFIT MIAMI BEACH FROM THAT FILM THAT IS GONNA BE ALL ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORK OF MR. LAPIDUS, WHO ACTUALLY, UH, WAS VERY HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER HE CREATED, BUT NEVER GOT RECOGNIZED FOR HIS WORK.

UH, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKING JUSTICE, IF YOU WILL, ACTUALLY HONORING BOTH HIS LIFE, WORK AND THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

SO I, I DO WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ, THAT, THAT THE TIME FOR SCRUTINY OF OUR BUDGET, UH, CERTAINLY IS NOW, AND I KNOW IT'S, UH, UH, KIND OF KICKING THE CAM WHEN YOU SAY, WELL, TIME IS NOW, BUT THIS IS OKAY.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

UM, BUT I THINK MY THRESHOLD FOR EVALUATING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD IS, YES, IS THERE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC BENEFIT, UH, BUT ALSO DO WE SEE SOME SORT OF ROI, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, ALLOCATING MONEY FOR EVENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD, OR, UH, CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE IT TO.

I DO SEE A, A, A FEASIBLE, UM, CASE WHERE WE ACTUALLY, EVEN FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, HAVE AN ROI ON THAT TAXPAYER DOLLAR.

IF THIS IS BEING USED TO PROMOTE MIAMI BEACH AND OUR ARTS AND CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE ACROSS THE WORLD, I I DO SEE A REASONABLE CASE THERE.

SO I, EXCUSE ME, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO DEMOLISH OUR ARCHITECTURE.

UM, WE JUST SAVED THE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS AN UNPOPULAR MARS LAPUS, UM, PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE.

UM, BUT IT IS A HUGE WIN.

UM, WE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR, GOD HELP ME IF THIS IS POLARIZING, UM, IS THE BRUTALIST RIGHT.

AND IT IS STORY OF A JEWISH REFUGEE, UM, A A FICTIONAL CHARACTER, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE, JEWISH REFUGEE.

SO I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THIS BECAUSE, UM, BEYOND JUST WHAT IT DOES FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, I THINK THIS, IF THIS FILM IS DONE WELL, NO PRESSURE.

I'M JUST SAYING, UM, IT COULD BE A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS AS WELL.

I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERN ABOUT FINANCES.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE FINE FOR THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR IS GONNA BE A DISASTER, UM, BECAUSE $7 MILLION IS COMING RIGHT OFF THE TOP THANKS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR NEW DMVS APPARENTLY, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER AREAS.

SO, UM, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF, OF, UM, HORSE TRADING FROM THE DAYS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, UM, WE GRANT THIS, UM, AND, AND, UM, I'D ACTUALLY MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL WE, WE FIGURE OUT THAT THE, THE, UM, UM, HOW TO DO THIS.

BUT WE GRANT THIS, UM, AND EITHER GET REPAID ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY BACK, OR, UM,

[02:55:01]

SEVERAL RAISED THAT I JUST CONFERRED WITH MY CLIENT AND HE'S WILLING TO REIMBURSE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AFTER HE IS COVERED THE COSTS OF, YOU KNOW, OKAY.

SO THIS IS WHY I DON'T WANT TO NEGOTIATE FROM THE DAYS, BUT THAT IS GREAT.

SO I THINK THAT LAYS YOUR CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

UM, I THINK IT IS A TREMENDOUS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, USEFUL FILM, TREMENDOUSLY USEFUL FILM FOR OUR CITY AND INCREDIBLY INTERESTING, UM, NATIONALLY.

AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT COUNTERPOINT TO SOME OF THE, THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SWIRLING AROUND.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER BECAUSE I WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION IF IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO, UM, MAKE A DEAL WHERE WE GET REIMBURSED, WHICH IS GREAT AND SAFE, OR IF WE WANNA DO THAT, UM, OR MAYBE TAKE A BET ON THE FILM, UM, AND, AND, AND SEE IF WE GET SOME OWNERSHIP.

BUT, UM, I THINK THAT, THAT THIS IS, UH, A, A GREAT THING TO DO.

I, I, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE REIMBURSED AS LONG AS WE'RE MENTIONING.

PUT US IN THE CREDIT SOMEWHERE.

GIVE US A LITTLE SHOUT OUT OF THE CREDIT.

THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, YOU'LL SEE THE MUNICIPALITIES AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ALWAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT CERTAIN FILMS. THIS IS A, THIS IS ALMOST LIKE, UM, PAYING FOR POSITIVE PR MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN US FUND SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WILL NOT BE A LASTING PART OF OUR CULTURE, BUT THIS FILM WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

AND WHEN PEOPLE GOOGLE MORRIS LAPIDUS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THIS FILM, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RENT IT.

THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL PUBLIC RELATIONS.

MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO IS GET THE G-M-C-B-B TO, UH, ALLOCATE SOME OF OUR G-M-C-B-B FUNDING FOR IT, IF THAT WOULD ALLAY YOUR CONCERNS.

BUT I WOULD RATHER BE A SPONSOR AND HAVE OUR NAME SOMEPLACE ON IT IN THE CREDITS THAN HAVE THAN REQUEST NUMBER ONE.

I, I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, $75,000 IN A MOVIE THAT, WHAT'S YOUR TOTAL BUDGET? 1.3.

1.3.

I MEAN, YOU REALLY WANNA HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE GIVEN BACK OF THE CREDITS AT THIS TYPE OF MOVIE IS NOT, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE MONEY.

PEOPLE, SOMETIMES FILMS ARE MADE, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIALLY, BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF FILM THAT'S AN EDUCATIONAL FILM.

IT'S A FILM THAT WE CAN SHOW IN OUR SCHOOLS IF WE WANTED TO.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE PURCHASED BY INSTITUTIONS, LIBRARIES, UH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ARCHIVE.

SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD, UH, REQUEST TO BE A BUSINESS PARTNER.

I THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WE MIGHT NEED IS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, JUST IN THE CREDITS WITH OUR LITTLE LOGO, IF I MAY RESPOND, UH, YOU MAY RESPOND.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THEN COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

SO, UM, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY GET CREDIT FOR BEING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BECAUSE WE ARE THE, WHERE THIS IS ALL HAPPENING.

UM, I KNOW WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE GIVEN GRANTS, WE'VE GIVEN, UM, FUNDING.

AND THAT IS GREAT.

AND I, I AM NOT AGAINST DOING THAT.

I, I, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO STAFF COLLEAGUES ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THINGS MOVING FORWARD.

AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS, I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO SERVE US WELL IF WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT IN A MORE, UM, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY, LOOKING AHEAD AT THE REALITY OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO BE PUNITIVE.

I WANNA GET THIS FILM MADE.

AND ONCE YOU COVER YOUR COSTS, THAT MEANS EVERYBODY IS PAID.

THEN WE, WE, WE GET REIMBURSED OR WE DO SOMETHING ELSE.

AND WE, BUT THAT'S WHY I WANNA DEFER TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

IT IS A LASTING LEGACY.

IT WILL BE SHOWN EVERYWHERE WE CAN USE IT.

THAT IS WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS.

UM, BUT I THINK IF WE ARE NOT STARTING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THIS IS NOT A FIVE OR 10, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS ASK, IT'S CLOSE TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, IT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT.

AND IF WE DON'T, UM, START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS, IF THIS WERE $5,000, THEN I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, SURE, BUT IT'S CLOSE TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, SO WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN A WIN-WIN WAY WHERE WE HELP GET THIS FILM MADE AND WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FISCAL IMPACT, AND THEN EVERYBODY GOES HOME HAPPY.

SO MOTION TO DEFER, I BELIEVE, UM, TAKES PRECEDENCE.

UM, WHO ELSE? I'LL SECOND.

SO I'LL, I'LL LET EVERYONE JUST MAKE STATE THEIR PIECE, BUT THEN, UM, AND, AND THEN JERRY, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN FACING SO MANY PREEMPTIONS FROM TALLAHASSEE THAT THREATEN, UH, OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THAT VERY HISTORY, THAT VERY IDENTITY.

THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE THAN THAN JUST FUND A DOCUMENTARY.

UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THE VERY SOUL OF MIAMI BEACH.

UH, MORRIS LAMPER IS HIS VISIONARY, WORK SHAPED OUR SKYLINE, UH, SHAPED OUR IDENTITY.

UH, HIS ARCHITECTURE IS NOT JUST PART OF OUR HISTORY.

IT'S A CORNERSTONE OF OUR TOURISM ECONOMY AND OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE.

[03:00:03]

AND I THINK SUPPORTING THIS DOCUMENTARY, WE ARE MAKING A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT WE AS A CITY VALUE, ITS ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY.

AND WE WILL INVEST AND WE WILL FIGHT TO PRESERVE IT.

I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL EDUCATE, IT WILL INSPIRE, IT WILL REINFORCE THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

I THINK IT ARMS US WITH A POWERFUL TOOL IN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, UH, ENSURING THAT OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THE FUTURE GENERATIONS EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY PROTECTING OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS ISN'T JUST ABOUT NOSTALGIA.

IT'S ABOUT SAFEGUARDING WHAT MAKES THIS CITY UNIQUE FROM SO MANY OTHER CITIES IN FLORIDA, AND UNIQUE FROM SO MANY OTHER BEACH DESTINATIONS AND CULTURAL DESTINATIONS.

AND NOW, AS JERRY MENTIONED, WITH THE PRODUCER'S COMMITMENT TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THIS GRANT, I THINK IT BECOMES AN EVEN BETTER INVESTMENT.

UH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE THAT FURTHER.

AND WE, UH, JERRY JUST STATED IT, UH, AT THE PODIUM.

UH, SO WE'RE NOT ONLY SUPPORTING AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROJECT, BUT DOING SO IN A WAY THAT COMES ULTIMATELY AT NO COST TO THE TAXPAYERS.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED TO DEFER THIS.

I WON'T SUPPORT THE DEFERRAL BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE PROVIDING $75,000, BUT THAT $75,000 WILL EVENTUALLY, UH, COME BACK TO US.

SO I URGE ALL OF US TO SUPPORT THIS GRANT AND TO STAND IN DEFENDING OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

ITS IDENTITY AND FUTURE.

UM, WHO ELSE? COMMISSIONER S FARS.

VICE MAYOR.

UH, GUYS, UH, WE JUST HEARD THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO REPAY US.

THIS IS NOT OUR MONEY.

THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY, BUT JERRY LIVIN, COMMISSIONER LIVIN IS GETTING PAID $2,000 A MONTH FOR THIS.

THERE IS A .

I MEAN, IF THAT IS NOT PAUSE, CAUTION FOR PAUSE.

UH, I MEAN, IF THIS FILM IS A TOTAL SUCCESS, WHY NOT REPAY THE TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE, TO THE PRESIDENTS? I, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE TO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE WILLING RIGHT HERE ON THE RECORD TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, I, I, THIS ISN'T MONOPOLY MONEY.

WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA JUST HAND OUT $75,000 TO WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE A FILM ABOUT A A, A PROJECT THAT'S GREAT ABOUT MIAMI BEACH.

I THINK GIVEN THIS TIME RIGHT NOW, GIVEN ALL THE RATE HIKES, WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS IN HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.

IT'S NOT, WHEN I SAY OUR MONEY, I MEAN THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY, WHO WE REPRESENT.

SO IF WE HAVE SOMEONE RIGHT HERE WILLING TO SAY, LOOK, LOOK, WE'RE WILLING TO PAY YOU BACK AFTER ALL THE COSTS HAS BEEN, UH, UH, INCURRED, WHY NOT TAKE THAT? I MEAN, IT'S SO, UM, BUT, AND I UNDERSTAND VICE MAYOR'S BOUGHT, UH, VICE MAYOR BOUGHT PROPOSAL TO DEFER THAT WAY.

WE CAN JUST WORK OUT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.

I THINK THAT'S PRUDENT.

I THINK THAT'S A, A SMART, UH, MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THE ONLY TIME THAT SOMEONE IS GONNA COME TO US ASKING FOR MONEY.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SET THE MESSAGE THAT IN THIS CURRENT FINANCIAL MARKET, THAT WE'RE GONNA SCRUTINIZE EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK, HOW ABOUT A REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? AND JUST HAMMER THE DETAILS OUT THERE SO WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO COMMISSION, COMMISSION, VICE MAYOR BAT? I THINK WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IT, THEY'VE OFFERED IT UP.

UH, I THINK WE'RE LARGELY IN AGREEMENT.

UM, WE'LL LEAVE IT TO STAFF TO NEGOTIATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UH, ESSENTIALLY I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UH, I KNOW THERE, THERE'S A DEFERRAL ON THE TABLE, BUT MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL OF THIS WITH WITH, UH, THE, UH, EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR STAFF WILL WORK OUT THE TERMS THAT, UM, WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE WATERFALL STRUCTURE, UH, UPON REPAYMENT.

OH, YOU AND YOUR FANCY FINANCE TERMS. ONE THING.

YEAH, SHE'S FINISHING.

OH.

JUST, JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON THIS.

AND I SUPPORT BOTH THE MORRIS LAPIDUS FUNDING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ WHO SAID THAT WE HAVE TO SCRUTINIZE FUNDING.

HE PUT FORWARD A $50,000 ITEM FOR ANTI-SEMITIC TRAINING, WHICH I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTED ALSO.

BUT THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IF IT'S YOUR ITEM, IT'S OKAY, BUT IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S ITEM, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ISN'T.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT SOME OF

[03:05:01]

THE HYPOCRISY.

UM, SO I ACTUALLY, UM, WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY EMOTION OF WITHDRAWAL WITH, WITH DEFERRAL.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, WE HAVE A, A, UM, A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE, RIGHT? YES.

JERRY, I JUST, DAVID, ALL THIS, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING OR JUST NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

BUT I ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE PROJECT, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO FUTURE PEOPLE THAT WE TALK TO.

TO BE ABLE TO SAY THE CITY OF MY BEACH, WHICH IS AT THE EPICENTER OF THE FILM, IS SUPPORTIVE WITHOUT THAT AFFIRMATION TODAY MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GO RAISE MONEY.

SO WITH THAT, LET'S CALL THE ROOM.

COMMISSIONER LIBIN, CAN YOU INTRODUCE THE GENTLEMAN? I DIDN'T CATCH HIS UP.

I'D LIKE TO ER BARR OMAR BAR.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER, SORRY, SORRY.

DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER.

OMER BARDE.

I'M COMM YES.

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HIM.

I'D JUST LIKE TO RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

UM, YOU KNOW, MY ITEM FOR, TO FUND ANTISEMITISM, UH, WAS NOT A COMMERCIAL MOVIE.

UM, AND TO CONFLATE THE TWO, I THINK IS, IT'S REALLY DISINGENUOUS.

UH, WHENEVER I SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS, IT'S FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT TO MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS, WHETHER IT'S THEIR SAFETY, WELLBEING, AND CLEANLINESS OF THE CITY.

SO, UM, I THINK I, I FIND THAT HIGHLY OFFENSIVE TO, TO COMPARE THE TWO, UM, AND THEN BRING IN SOME SORT OF PERSONAL BIAS.

UH, UH, WITH THIS, I'M CERTAINLY NOT CALLING OUT MANY OF THE RIDICULOUS ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT BEFORE BY COMMISSIONER ROSE AND GONZALEZ.

UM, AND, AND I DON'T PLAN ON DOING SO, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT YOU, YOU KEEP YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS AND BIASES TO YOURSELF.

I'M JUST SAYING, DON'T, WAIT, WAIT.

LEMME JUST RESPOND TO THIS.

PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER BOT, I WAS LIKE, RESPOND.

BECAUSE HE CANNOT SAY THAT HE IS A STEWARD OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IF IT DOES NOT APPLY TO HIM, BUT IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE ELSE.

SO LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE.

IF IT'S HIS ITEM AND HE WANTS $50,000, HE GETS IT.

THERE IS NO PAYBACK.

AND THAT'S AN EDUCATIONAL ITEM.

THIS FILM IS ALSO AN EDUCATIONAL ITEM ONLY.

IT'S NOT YOUR ITEM.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE NOT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF PACK TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

SO THIS ATTACK, UM, AND THESE CONTINUED TAX ON OTHER COLLEAGUES, UH, FUNDING ITEMS WHEN WE VOTE FOR YOUR ITEMS AND WE SUPPORT YOUR ITEMS, IS JUST UNWARRANTED.

AND FRANKLY, IT'S DIVISIVE, AND IT'S NOT THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED.

I WILL JUST ADD, I DON'T THINK THE CONCERN IS, UM, THAT ANYBODY'S FUNDING MORE ANTISEMITISM.

SHE DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION, UH, EDUCATION, BECAUSE IN MY VIEW, YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT.

I THINK THE THING THAT CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTERNATION, AT LEAST WITH ME, IS THAT WE FUNDED A PROGRAM THAT MOUNT SINAI WAS ALREADY FUNDING, FULLY FUNDING.

AND SO THAT WAS, I THINK, THE FRUSTRATING THING.

MIND YOU, IT WAS STILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SO, UM, LET US PUT THAT BEHIND US BECAUSE IT IS A VOTE.

AND THAT WAS TAKEN, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY IS CALLING A, A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT VOTE.

SO LET'S MOVE ON.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DUKE IT OUT OFF THE DAY AS FEEL FREE, BUT NOT ON OUR WATCH.

SO WE HAVE A, A MOTION BEFORE US.

IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY SECONDED.

MR. CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE? UH, VICE MAYOR.

WE HAVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ TO APPROVE C SEVEN AF AS AMENDED.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

COMMISSIONERS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING IT.

ITEMS TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THAT BEFORE WE BREAK FOR LUNCH.

SO HOW QUICKLY ARE YOU GONNA GET THIS DONE? HUH? JUNE, 2026 IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PREMIERE, HOPEFULLY.

UH, LET'S DO SOME SECOND READING

[R5 A AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 12 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED "ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT," BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “SPECIAL EVENTS,” BY CREATING SECTION 12-5.2 THEREOF, ENTITLED “SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT REQUIRED FOR LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL PARTIES AND EVENTS”; AND, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ]

R FIVE A R FIVE A BREAKFAST.

THE TWO R FIVE A IS IN ORDER OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING CHAPTER 12 OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

CODE ENTITLED ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ENTITLED SPECIAL EVENTS BY CREATING SECTION 12 DASH 5.2 THEREOF ENTITLED, SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT REQUIRED FOR LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL PARTIES AND EVENTS, AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

THE LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL PARTIES IN PALM HIBISCUS AND STAR ISLANDS TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE A.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ CO-SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ BOT MAGAZINE AND ME.

THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UH, AND IF I COULD JUST, THERE'S A LOT OF LOVE IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY.

IN THESE CHAMBERS OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S.

SO AT THE NOVEMBER CITY COMMISSION MEETING, UH, WE ALL APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS DURING OUR WEEK TO ADDRESS

[03:10:01]

THAT WAS A PUBLIC, UH, PRO A PILOT PROGRAM THAT I SPONSORED, WHICH I THINK, UH, WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN LIMITED LARGE HOUSE PARTIES AND ADDRESSED ISSUES, UM, SUCH AS NOISE COMING FROM THESE PARTIES, BUILDING PERMANENT VIOLATIONS, UM, THOUGH ENFORCEMENT WAS CHALLENGING.

ONCE THE PARTIES BEGAN, UM, THE PROGRAM WAS UPHELD AS LAWFUL BY THE US DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, UH, IN A KIND OF HIGH PROFILE, UH, CASE THAT WE EVEN MADE IT ON PAGE SIX, BY THE WAY.

UM, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BUT ANYWAYS, UH, THANKS TO CITY STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM LAST YEAR, AND THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIATIVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR STRONGER AND BROADER PROTECTIONS.

THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE THESE PROTECTIONS PERMANENT AND CITYWIDE.

THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, UH, CREATES A CITYWIDE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT SYSTEM FOR LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL PARTIES AND EVENTS DURING SPECIFIC PERIODS OF THE YEAR, AIMING TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO HOST GATHERINGS WHILE MITIGATING NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE NEIGHBORING AREAS.

THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR SP FOR RESIDENTIAL PARTIES OR EVENTS TO MEET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.

IF IT INVOLVES A FIREWORK, IF IT'S MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND, IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 VEHICLES EXPECTED FOR PICKUP OR DROP OFF OR PARKING, UH, IF THEY'RE USING ANY COMMERCIAL GRADE SPEAKERS OR LIGHTING OR GENERATORS.

I MEAN, IMAGINE THIS, YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT YOUR KIDS TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, AND YOU HAVE A HOUSE THAT IS BASICALLY CONVERTED TO A NIGHTCLUB WITH COMMERCIAL GRADE SPEAKERS AND LIGHTS.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY UNHEARD OF.

AND THEN ALL THE TRAFFIC, WE HAD VIDEOS FROM RESIDENTS.

THIS JUST THIS CRAZY TRAFFIC.

IT LOOKED, IT, IT JUST LOOKED LIKE 3:00 PM UH, ON ALTON ROAD IN SOME OF THESE, UH, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

IT REALLY WAS UNHEARD OF.

UM, SO THIS IS SEEKING TO ADDRESS THIS DURING SPECIFIC TIME PERIODS OF, OF THE YEAR DURING SPRING BREAK, DURING MEMORIAL DAY, DURING INDEPENDENCE DAY, UH, DURING HALLOWEEN DURING ART WEEK, BUT BEFORE BE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.

UH, THE ORDINANCE WAS UPDATED TO EX TO EXPAND THE TIME PERIODS, TO TO INCLUDE SUPER BOWL WEEKENDS, FORMULA ONE RACE WEEK, UH, AND OTHER TIME PERIODS LIKE THE LATIN GRAMMY'S.

IN ORDER TO GET ONE OF THESE PERMITS, THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, NEEDS TO GET, UM, NEEDS TO GET A REVIEW FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITH FEEDBACK.

UM, THEY HAVE TO AGREE FOR CITY PERSONNEL TO CONDUCT COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS BEFORE AND DURING THE EVENT, THEY NEED TO OBTAIN UNNECESSARY PERMITS FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST THESE PARTIES GO ON, THEY BRING IN STRUCTURES AND THEY DON'T EVEN GET BUILDING PERMITS THAT CAN CAUSE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AND THAT CAN CAUSE OTHER LIFE SAFETY ISSUES.

SO THAT'S A BIG, UH, ISSUE WE'RE CLOSING THE LOOP ON.

UH, THEY NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL EVENT GUIDELINES, INCLUDING OBTAINING INSURANCE AND INDEN IDENTIFICATION.

AND THEY NEED TO ADHERE TO ANY ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AS MIGHT BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CITY MANAGER TO UPHOLD THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THIS ALSO DOES IS THAT IT PUTS PENALTIES IF YOU DON'T ADHERE BY THIS, IF YOU DON'T ADHERE BY THIS, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT FOR 13 MONTHS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO GET A PERMIT TO THROW A PARTY, A HUGE COMMERCIAL GRADE PARTY DURING ART BASE, AND YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

AND IF YOU TRY TO, THIS HAS REALLY STRICT PENALTIES EVEN UP TO ARREST IF, IF NECESSARY.

'CAUSE WE WON'T ALLOW OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO BECOME DEFACTO NIGHTCLUBS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO, WHO WANT TO ABUSE THE RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE, AND WHO WANT TO PUT THEIR NEIGHBORS THROUGH INCONSIDERATE NUISANCES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

SO, WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'M GONNA MOVE MY ITEM.

I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE OUR CHIEF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, ROBERT ROSENWALD, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED FOR THE RECORD.

I, NO, I THINK YOU COVERED EVERYTHING.

I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYONE HAS ANY.

I'LL SECOND.

LET'S CALL A VOTE.

I SEE NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THERE'S NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY, WE HAVE JAMIE.

OH, GO AHEAD.

HI THERE.

UM, AMY D ST.

SEN.

I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PALM HI

[03:15:01]

ISLANDS ASSOCIATION.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND, UH, UH, ABSOLUTELY YES TO EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID.

I'D LIKE TO ADD THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

UM, MANY TIMES FOR THESE NUMEROUS LARGE SCALE EVENTS, UM, EMERGENCY VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS, UH, THE AREA AT ALL DUE TO THE TRAFFIC BACKUP.

UH, AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, BRIDGE ROAD WAS CLOSED, UH, RECENTLY, BACK IN DECEMBER.

I MEAN, THIS IS, THESE ARE SERIOUS, SERIOUS ISSUES.

NOT TO MENTION THE DRAIN OF PUBLIC RESOURCES, THE NUMBER OF, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT CODE COMPLIANCE, AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS NOT TO BE BELIEVED, JUST TRYING TO CONTAIN THE CHAOS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

IF, IF I COULD JUST ADD WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE ROADS WERE SO CLOGGED.

THAT IF A POLICE OFFICER, IF AN AMBULANCE HAD TO GET BY, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO.

THEY COULD NOT.

AND NOW IMAGINE THIS IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT IS OPERATING LIKE A NIGHTCLUB.

THEY COULD HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THEY'RE IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND LIKE, UNLIKE A COMMERCIAL NIGHTCLUB, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE USUALLY CONDUCT SAFETY EXERCISES.

THEY KNOW THE LAYOUT, AND SO THEY KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS SAFETY SITUATIONS THERE.

BUT THIS IS IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH LITTLE SAFETY PROTOCOLS WHERE THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW THEIR WAY AROUND IT.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, ABSOLUTELY RACING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND YOUR ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE.

UH, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.

THANK YOU, COMM.

THANK YOU AMY.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS ITEM IS THAT IT'S VERY PRO BUSINESS, BECAUSE WHILE IT SAYS PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE SAME TIME, IT REALLY PUSHES A LOT OF THESE EVENT HOLDERS TO HOLD THEIR EVENTS AT OUR HOTELS IN COMMERCIAL SPACE.

UM, AND THAT'S JUST REALLY GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE INSTEAD , BECAUSE IT'S SPREADING OUR, YOU KNOW, TAX DOLLARS AROUND, INSTEAD OF IT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ONE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER, IT'S GOING TO THE EMPLOYEES AT THESE ORGANIZATIONS AT A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE SLS IS UNDERGOING REMODELING RIGHT NOW, 200 EMPLOYEES ARE BEING, UH, LAID OFF.

SO THE MORE THAT WE, WE CAN GIVE, AND ACTUALLY DURING OUR PUZZLE, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA HOLD OUR PARTIES ON THESE ISLANDS.

WHERE DO WE HOLD THE PARTIES? AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING SO THAT SOME OF THEM CAN HOLD THE PARTIES AT PLACES LIKE SCOPE AND UNTITLED ON THE BEACHFRONT, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THEIR PARTIES AND THERE ARE NO RESIDENTS AROUND THERE.

AND THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, AND SO WE CAN HAVE THE REVELRY AND HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE SAME TIME.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER, UH, FERNANDEZ, AND, UM, IT'S ALL OF US.

IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S ALL OF US.

SO IT'S TEAMWORK.

UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC SPEAKER.

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

WAYNE SOUTH, THE FIFTH, AS YOU KNOW, .

UM, I AGREE WITH ALEX, UH, AND HIS POSITION, UM, I JUST, I FEAR, UM, OUR, OUR REVENUE, UH, RESORT REVENUE IS DOWN OR TAX REVENUE.

UH, AND IT'S, IT'S RELATED TO, UM, TO SOME DEGREE, UH, OUR LIMITATIONS ON, UH, TOURISM AND ART BASEL IS A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT FOR TOURISM IN, IN MIAMI BEACH, AND I WOULD HATE TO LOSE THEM.

SO I AGREE WITH THE, THE PROPOSAL COMPLETELY.

UM, I WOULD JUST MAKE IT, I WOULD TRY TO MAKE IT AS LESS ONEROUS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP, UM, THE NEIGHBOR'S HAPPY, UM, AT THE SAME TIME.

UM, BUT I, I FEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET TOO, UH, DRACONIAN WITH THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL MOVE THE PARTY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

AWARE.

SO I, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT.

AIR MINOR? YES.

MOTION CARRIES THE ITEM AS APPROVED.

I WAS STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY DOING IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE KNOCKOFFS WE SEE IN TRIBECA OF COACH BAGS AND LOUIS V BAGS.

I WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE MORE ITEMS, BUT IT IS 12 O'CLOCK.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LUNCH BREAK? WE'LL RETURN AT ONE FOR THE SUT NICK.

UH, HALF HOUR ONE.

WELL, WELCOME BACK TO OUR, UH, AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE COMMISSION MEETING.

WE'LL START IT RIGHT UP WITH OUR, UH, NIK HOUR.

IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK, IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

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

I LIVE AT 66 20 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE THE BEEVILLE IS GOING.

WHEN I SAW THE PLANS AT THE LAST MEETING WITH THE OPEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY SHOWED THE MODEL, HAVING COME HERE FOUR YEARS AGO FROM TRIBECA AND BEING HAPPY IN MIAMI BEACH,

[03:20:01]

THE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW IT'S HISTORICAL PRESERVATION TO MAKE A REPLICA SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN WHAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG HOTEL AND TWO LARGE CONDO TOWERS, IS FRANKLY FALSE.

IT WON'T LOOK OR PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHEN YOU CONTRAST THE TWO PLANS, THE ONE THAT WAS VOTED DOWN BY THE VOTERS BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS WITH THIS PLAN, IT'S CLEARLY INFERIOR.

IN FACT, ALMOST EVERYONE I TALKED TO AGREED WITH THE SAME REASON.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY, INSTEAD OF HAVING A HOTEL WITH AROUND 300 SOME ODD ROOMS AND CONDOS OF HOW MANY OTHER UNITS THAT WAS GOING TO BE, WHICH WOULD SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOU'LL HAVE 140 ROOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND 100 UNITS, WHICH MY MATH TELLS ME WILL BE AVERAGING OVER $10 MILLION A UNIT.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, FREQUENTING LOCAL RESTAURANTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN FACT, IT'S QUITE OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE IS ONE CLEAR BENEFIT, AND I CLEARLY ADMIT THAT AS AN OWNER IT BENEFITS ME AS WELL, WHICH IS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF VALUE PER PROPERTY AVERAGE JUST BY PUTTING A HUNDRED UNITS THAT ARE THAT EXPENSIVE INTO IT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ALSO STARK.

THE PLAN THAT CURRENTLY BEING TRUMPETED HAS TWO BEACH ACCESSES.

ONE FORCES YOU UP A FLIGHT OF STAIRS TO GO THROUGH A FULL RETAIL PLAZA, WHICH NO ONE'S BRINGING, YOU KNOW, BABIES OR DOGS OR THROUGH THE OTHER IS A SMALL WALKWAY.

WHAT WE WERE GONNA GET BEFORE WAS 45% LAND USE AND A PUBLIC PARK.

NOW THE PUBLIC AREA IS REALLY JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS.

TO ME, IT'S A HARD PASS.

OUR NEXT, OUR FIRST VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS OMAR JIMENEZ.

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

MY NAME IS OMAR JIMENEZ.

I'M THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE PARKVIEW ISLAND SUSTAINABLE ASSOCIATION.

AS WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE UN PARKVIEW CANAL STUDY, A NEW BACTERIA HOTSPOT HAS BEEN FOUND AT BIS CANE BEACH ELEMENTARY.

THE OUTFALL SAMPLE THAT THE SITE CONFIRMED BACTERIA LEVELS FOUND 2,800 TIMES OVER THE FDOH STANDARD.

WE ARE OUTRAGED THAT THE CITY HAS SPENT YEARS AND MILLIONS OF CITY TAX DOLLARS TO REMEDIATE THIS CANAL POLLUTION TO NOW FIND THE SOURCE FOR THE HIGH LEVELS OF BACTERIA.

OVER THE FIVE PAST YEARS COULD HAVE BEEN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ALL ALONG, WE WERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF BIS CANE BEACH COMMUNITY PLAYGROUNDS EXPANSION ITEM ON THE AGENDA, USING 600 THOUSANDS, 600,000 CITY FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.

BEFORE THIS ALARMING NEWS CAME TO LIGHT, WE BEGAN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THE WORRYING CONDITIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE TATU WATERWAY WALKWAY WHERE THE HOTSPOT WAS FOUND, WHICH RUNS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY MORE STUDIES WE DO, THE SOURCE IS STILL GOING TO COME FROM BIRDS, HUMAN DOGS, AND ALL OTHER CONTRIBUTORS CITED IN THE STUDY.

IT ALL FLUSHES DOWN THE STORMWATER DRAINS AND INTO THE CANAL AS ENTEROCOCCUS BACTERIA.

THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THIS POLLUTION ISSUE IS TO RETROFIT A BUFFER SYSTEM AND FILTERS TO THE DRAINS AND OUTFALLS IN THE AFFECTED 81 ACRE AREA TO MINIMIZE SEDIMENTS AND HYDROCARBONS FROM ENTERING THE STORM SYSTEM, WHILE ALSO HAVING THE ABILITY TO REMOVE BACTERIA AND NUTRIENTS FROM THE STORM WATER BEFORE IT ENTERS THE PARK.

AL, NONE OF THE NEAR TERM SOLUTIONS BEFORE 2028 INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF FILTERING FOR BACTERIA AND NUTRIENTS.

THIS IS REALLY THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND HERE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

WE STRONGLY SUPPORT AND COMMEND THIS COMMISSION'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE WATER IN THE WATERWAYS BY LAUNCHING OPERATION CLEAN WATER NORTH BEACH.

TIGHTENING OUR STORM WATER RUNOFF ISSUES REQUIRES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY ADDRESSED AND IMPROVED.

THANK, UH, GO AHEAD.

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

HI, DANIEL ERALDO ON BEHALF OF MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE, UH, PO BOX 1 9 0 1 8 OH MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

I'M SPEAKING, UH, ON BEHALF OF MDPL TO URGE A COMMISSION TO DENY THE DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR 36 11 AND 36 21 COLLINS AVENUE, AND TO CHALLENGE A CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SB 1 5 2 6 THAT WAS PASSED AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR.

THESE TWO NATIONAL REGISTER LISTED HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLINS WATERFRONT HISTORIC DISTRICT, BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

YET UNDER SB 1 15 26, DEVELOPERS CAN BYPASS LOCAL PRESERVATION LAWS FORCING DEMOLITION WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT OR OVERSIGHT.

THIS LAW IS ARBITRARY.

IT UNDERMINES HOME RULE AND IT PRIORITIZES PRIVATE DEVELOPERS OVER OUR CITY'S

[03:25:01]

HISTORIC CHARACTER.

AND SO WE ASKED THE CITY COMMISSION BECAUSE WE'RE AWARE THAT AN LTC WAS RECENTLY ISSUED, THAT A DEMOLITION PERMIT HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR.

AND SO WE ASKED THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER DELAYING OR DENYING THAT PERMIT UNTIL WE CAN, UH, CHECK TO ENSURE THE VALIDITY OF SB 1 5 2 6.

WE ALL KNOW A LOT OF LAWS ARE PASSED IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT THERE'S ALSO MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT OUR LAWS ARE COMPLIANT.

AND, UM, WE ALSO WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER JOINING OR SUPPORTING A LEGAL CHALLENGE AS THIS LAW DIRECTLY UNDERMINES MIAMI BEACH'S HOME RULE AUTHORITY.

AND WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU PUBLICLY COMMIT TO PROTECTING OUR ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FROM UNJUST STATE OVERREACH.

MIAMI BEACH HAS LED THE NATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND WE CANNOT ALLOW AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW TO ERASE OUR PAST.

WE URGE YOU TO ACT NOW TO DEFEND OUR CITY'S LEGACY, AND I'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

THANKS JAMIR.

ROACH, ROACH, REPRESENTATIVE ROACH.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ISSUE OF THE LAWSUIT ON THE STATE PREEMPTION.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT OUR LOCAL CONTROL, ABOUT OUR HOME RULE AUTHORITY, UH, AND THIS BILL THAT WAS PASSED, YOU KNOW, WHILE IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN, IT IS STILL, IT, IT IS STILL CATASTROPHIC TO OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS, UH, AND TO OUR HISTORIC SKYLINE.

AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE AVENUES, UH, FOR POSSIBLE LAWSUIT IN THAT REGARD.

OF COURSE.

CAN I, WHO'S OUR NEXT, WHO IS THE COMMISSIONER? ROSE GONZALEZ.

I JUST, THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION IS WHO? IT THAT WAS WELL, WAS SENATOR AVILA.

UH, AND THEN THERE WAS, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE GUY FROM NAPLES.

ROACH.

AGAIN, HE WAS THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

HE WAS THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

HE FOUND A DIFFERENT SPONSOR FOR THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE SPONSORS ARE RIGHT NOW.

CAN I, CAN I SUGGEST, MAY I SUGGEST PLEASE.

ALL DUE RESPECT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON THE DEUS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE SAY WILL BE THE PLAYBOOK OF HOW THEY TRY TO CO-OPT US.

SHE'S JUST ASKING WHAT THIS, I'M JUST ASKING, BUT I UNDERSTAND.

BUT I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE BE VERY MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY ON THE DAY, AS ON THE SPONSORS.

SO MY QUESTION WAS WHO THE SPONSORS WERE.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

DAVE, I JUST COULD SAY FOR FIVE SECONDS.

THIS WAS ABOUT THE BILL PASSED LAST YEAR.

IT JUST THAT RIGHT NOW ARE THE FIRST TWO BUILDINGS COMING PER DEMOLITION UNDER THE, THAT BILL.

THAT'S WHY.

HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU TO DISCUSS FOR THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS BY MEL'S IPHONE.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYORS.

I ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH COMMISSIONERS AND MAYORS, AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

UH, TECHNICALLY WHAT I SEE THAT, UH, MY BUSINESS LOCATION HAS A MEDITATION, DIVINE GOD'S NAME, AND IT'S SUBTLE, AND MY VISITORS AND CUSTOMERS FEEL PEACE AND CALM WITH A GOD'S NAME.

TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, GOD IS ONE, NO MATTER WHAT CULTURE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, PRACTICES, GOD, WE CANNOT DIVIDE GOD.

SO I'M REQUESTING THAT I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE GOD'S NAME.

I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE GOD'S NAME AT MY BUSINESS LOCATION, WHICH IS NOT A NOISE VIOLATION CITY HAS CONCLUDED THAT IT'S NOT NOISE VIOLATION, IT'S NOT GOING INSIDE THE BUILDING.

UH, MY PRACTICE OF GUARD'S NAME, WHICH IS MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT, ALSO SHOULD BE RESTORED IF COMMISSIONER O MAYOR HAS ANY QUESTION I CAN ANSWER.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH, PLAN, WHICH WAS GONNA ACTUALLY GIVE US A PARK AND ACCESS TO THE BEACH AND A BEAUTIFUL WALKWAY.

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

HI, UH, POLLY WEISBERGER.

I LIVE AT, UH, 67TH AND, UM, INDIAN CREEK.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE VILLE AND I FEEL LIKE 67TH STREET IS SUDDENLY LIKE THE UNPOPULAR COUSIN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TOLD, OH, YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE BEACH ACCESS, YOU GET A LITTLE WALKWAY WITH STAIRS, SO I CAN TRIP ON.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE IS SMALL, NARROW.

THE PEOPLE OF TOWN VOTED DOWN THE, THE ROSS, UM,

[03:30:02]

NOW WE'RE GETTING, UM, A SIDEWALK WAY AND TWO TOWERS TALLER THAN WHAT THEY VOTED DOWN.

AND A THIRD BUILDING THAT'S GONNA BE LIKE A FAUX, UH, REPLICA, I GUESS, OF THE VILLE, BUT NOT REALLY.

AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE? IS IT GONNA COMPETE WITH THEM? IS IT GONNA HELP THEM? PROBABLY NOT.

UM, AS IT IS NOW, MIAMI BEACH WON'T EVEN ALLOW ON INDIAN, ON INDIAN CREEK, THERE'S THIS LITTLE, UM, GROUP OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOWN LIKE A LITTLE ALLEY, I WANNA CALL IT AN ALLEY.

AND THEY WON'T EVEN PUT THEM, PUT A SIGN ON THE BUILDING SAYING THESE BUSINESSES ARE HERE.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE, HOW ARE YOU GONNA HELP THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSEDLY GONNA BE PUTTING IN? NUMBER ONE.

AND NUMBER TWO, WHERE'S 67 STREETS ACCESS TO THE BEACH AND PUBLIC ACCESS? IT'S, AND NUMBER THREE, WHY ARE WE GETTING SOMETHING THAT'S TALLER THAN EVERYBODY VOTED DOWN ALREADY? IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A MONEY GRAB.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE REALTORS REALLY WANT IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA SELL, SELL, SELL, AND IT'S GONNA MAKE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP.

BUT SO WHAT PROPERTY GO VALUES GO UP, ONLY HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING.

NOT PEOPLE THAT WANNA STAY HERE AND MAKE MIAMI, MIAMI BEACH THEIR HOME.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS PHILIP STILLMAN.

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

MY NAME IS PHILIP STILLMAN.

I LIVE AT 30 15 NORTH BAY ROAD, AND I'M, UH, HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE, UH, REMEDIATION EFFORTS TO, UH, RE REMEDIATE THE SEVERE TRAFFIC PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING ON NORTH BAY ROAD AS IT'S BEING USED AS A, UH, A SHORTCUT FROM, UH, TO AVOID ALTON TO GET TO THE 1 95.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T AWARE OF THAT PROBLEM, IT IS, UH, WE HAVE BACKUP ALL THE WAY DOWN ALL, UH, TO NORTH BAY ROAD, UH, BEGINNING ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK AND ENDING BETWEEN SIX 30 AND SEVEN O'CLOCK.

AND IT, IT LITERALLY TAKES ME, UH, TO GET TO 30 15.

IT TAKES ME, I WOULD SAY, 25 MINUTES TO JUST ON NORTH BAY ROAD DURING THAT TIME PERIOD BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THAT'S A SHORTCUT TO GET TO THE 1 95.

WE SPOKE, UH, AT LENGTH WITH, UH, SOME, SOME OF YOU.

AND A PILOT PROJECT WAS PROPOSED, UH, WHERE SURVEYS WOULD GO OUT, AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO, UH, EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF, UH, NO THROUGH TRAFFIC.

UH, SIGNS LIMITED IN TIME TO THAT THREE TO SEVEN, UH, PM TIME PERIOD ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, OR NO LEFT TURNS FROM, UH, ALTON ROAD.

AND, UH, THAT WAS, UH, WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR SURVEYS.

WE WERE SURE THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE PROJECT, UH, THAT WHATEVER THIS, UH, PROJECT WAS, WAS NO LONGER BEING PURSUED.

AND NONE OF, UH, NONE OF THE RESIDENTS ON NORTH BAY ROAD HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THIS.

AND WE, WE REALLY NEED TO BE, UH, CONSULTED AND INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

I MEAN, IT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, UH, DURING THE WEEKDAYS.

IT'S, UH, PEOPLE ARE NOW, UH, USING THE OTHER SOUTHBOUND LANE OF NORTH BAY ROAD IN ORDER TO CUT THROUGH THE TRAFFIC ON THE, ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE.

AND SO YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JEOPARDIZING PEOPLE ON BICYCLES, ON SCOOTERS, ON, YOU KNOW, SKATEBOARDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

KIDS CAN'T, PLEASE.

I THANK YOU THAT, PLEASE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MITCH NOVIK TAXPAYERS SPENT 650,000 FOR KOVICH AND ASSOCIATES TO PRESENT AN ESTIMATED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BOONDOGGLE PLANT COLUMBUS PARK, WHICH ENTAILS RELOCATING, RELOCATING OCEAN DRIVE INTO THE PARK, DESTROYING THE VESTIGES OF THE ORIGINAL 1870S COCONUT PLANTATION, WHICH REMAINED TODAY IN LIGHT OF THE COUNTY'S CHARTER'S, EXPLICIT PROHIBITION ON PLACING PUBLIC ROADWAYS WITHIN PARKS.

MY QUESTION IS, HAS MALPRACTICE OCCURRED? SHOULDN'T THIS COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF TAXPAYERS DEMAND A REFUND FOR THIS FLOOD PLAN? ON ANOTHER MATTER? I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED UTILITY BILLING RATE HIKES AND FOCUS ON REDUCING OUR MASSIVE $1 BILLION BUDGET.

THIS COMES AFTER OVER A DOZEN OF AUTOMATIC AND ANNUAL RATE INCREASES OVER THE PAST DOZEN YEARS, INCLUDING NEW FEES SUCH AS THE FI MONTHLY FIRE SPRINKLER FEE.

OUR CITY BUDGET HAS DOUBLED IN THAT TIME AS WELL.

WE'VE ADDED 500 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BY ALL MEANS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOLD PLATED

[03:35:01]

BY NOW.

INSTEAD, WE'RE LEFT DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF PAST MISMANAGEMENT AND DIMINISHED PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AGAIN, PLEASE STOP GOUGING THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THE CITY.

ALL THIS HAS LED TO HOUSING UNAFFORDABILITY AND AN EXODUS OF RESIDENTS.

PAULA, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS PAULA KING.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PAULA, UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE.

PJ, LET'S GO TO THE PHONE NUMBER, SIX TWO TWO TWO.

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

PHONE NUMBER THAT ENDS IN SIX TWO TWO TWO.

HELLO.

HI, MY NAME IS JOSE VALOR.

CAN YOU START AGAIN? I'M SORRY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS.

HI, MY NAME IS JOSE VALEZ.

I LIVE AT 17 KLAY DRIVE, NORMAN DE ISLE.

I'M A BORN AND RAISED SECOND GENERATION BUILDER, CONTRACTOR, RESIDENT OF NORTH BEACH.

MY FATHER WAS ALSO A CONTRACTOR DEVELOPER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT NORTH BEACH IS UNDERWATER.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE NEED TO DO IS TACKLE FLOODING.

SPENDING A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON THE BYRON CARLIS TO GIFT APARTMENTS TO FRIENDS IS COMPLETELY UNCALLED FOR.

SPENDING 200 MILLION PLUS FOR A PARKING GARAGE WITH A POOL IS COMPLETELY UNCALLED FOR TACKLE FLOODING.

WE WILL ALL BE UNDER WATER BECAUSE WE HAVE WATER UNDER OUR FEET AND WE HAVE A WATER ALL AROUND US.

GO BOND IS NOT SPENDING MONEY ON INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH BEACH.

WE NEED TO TACKLE THAT.

AS FAR AS THE AGENDA FOR SILENCING FREE SPEECH AND ALL THOSE, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT FREE SPEECH, YOU JUST OPEN THE PANDORA'S BOX AND YOU CAN ALSO HAVE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING WHITE SUPREMACISTS, KKK CASTRO.

IT'S THE WRONG TIME IN THE WRONG PLACE.

THAT WAS THE ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT TO HAVE A FILM ABOUT PALESTINE.

JUST LIKE WHEN CASTRO WAS KILLING PEOPLE, THEY DIDN'T PUT A FILM ABOUT HIM IN LITTLE HAVANA, OR WHEN THE RIOTS OF MCDUFFY, THEY DIDN'T PUT A FILM SUPPORTING POLICE, OR NOW GO PUT A FILM IN SUNNY ISLES ABOUT SUPPORTING PUTIN.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

MAYBE 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THAT WAS THE ISSUE.

BUT NOW YOU CANNOT PUT A FILM ABOUT HEALING JEWS.

THAT WAS THE MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE.

YOU CANNOT SUPPORT THESE LI LIBERAL RADICAL LEFTISTS THAT ARE STILL IN YOUR COMMISSION AND GAVE BAD ADVICE.

YOU NEED TO REMOVE THIS FILM BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE KKK FILMS, PUTIN FILMS, GADDAFI FILMS, AND ALL THESE FILMS SUPPORTING THEM.

THAT'S WHAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE ON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? IF SO, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

SCENE NONE.

LET'S GO TO GIGI GUTIERREZ.

MY NAME IS GIGI GUTIERREZ, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TROY WRIGHT FOR THE WASHINGTON AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE IS ON, ON A FLIGHT RETURNING BACK FROM SEATTLE, VISITING HIS SICK MOTHER.

ON BEHALF OF TROY WRIGHT, I'M CONFIDENT TO SAY THAT IN THE HISTORY OF WASHINGTON AVENUE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN BOTH BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENTS AND LIVELIHOOD.

OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I HAVE HEARD THE DISTRESS OF MANY ON THE BRINK OF LOSING THEIR BUSINESSES.

SOME HAVE ALREADY PUT THEM UP FOR SALE, WHILE OTHERS ARE HOLDING ONTO HOPE AND A MIRACLE.

SAME AS EVERYONE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE ABOUT SPRING BREAK, IT WAS CHAOTIC.

HOWEVER, WE NOW KNOW THAT THE SITUATION FACING BUSINESS OWNERS REQUIRES URGENT ATTENTION.

IF WE DO NOT ACT, MIAMI BEACH BUSINESSES WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE AT AN ACCELERATED PLACE, PLACING OUR ECONOMIC STABILITY IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION.

THIS IS DEEPLY TROUBLING.

AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF FOUR NEW BUSINESSES IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE ALSO MOURN THE BUSINESSES WE STAND TO LOSE.

SO WHAT'S NEXT? THE WASHINGTON AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUSTAIN AND GROW OUR COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO DO THE SAME.

HISTORIC CIRCUMSTANCES, DEMAND HISTORIC CREATIVITY, AND THOSE SOLUTIONS SHOULD YIELD HISTORIC RESULTS.

IT WILL NOT BE EASY, BUT I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR DECIS

[03:40:01]

DECISIVE ACTION, POSITIVE ME MESSAGING, UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION.

LET'S COME TOGETHER TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

WE ARE CONCERNED.

MS. KING, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PAULA KING.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

UH, PAULA KING, 80 11 CRESPI BOULEVARD, MIAMI BEACH.

UM, I AM ON VARIOUS THINGS, BUT ANYWAY, I WANTED TO SUPPORT TA UH, TANYA IN HER SUGGESTION TO BUILD TANKS UNDERNEATH THE WEST.

LOTS THAT ARE BEST HOPE FOR FUTURE WATER MITIGATION FOR HURRICANE OVERFLOW.

WHEN THE OCEAN COMES UP, WE SHOULD HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THE WATER.

AND THIS IS OUR ONLY PLACE IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT BUILDING BIG TANKS UNDERNEATH EVERY, ANYTHING WE DO ON THE WEST LOTS IS A, IS A MARVELOUS IDEA.

UM, YOU CAN DOVER COLE, THERE WAS A GUY NAMED JASON KING, WHO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN THE NORTH BEACH MASTER PLAN.

SO IT, IT'S A VIABLE THING TO DO, AND IT HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THERE'S ONE IN, IN THE NETHERLANDS OR SOMETHING, BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BUILD AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MASSIVE TANKS TO, TO ACCOMMODATE THE OVERFLOW OF THE OCEAN THAT MAY BE IN OUR, IN OUR YARDS VERY SOON.

UM, SECONDLY, I WANNA SAY THAT I AM REALLY AGAINST ANY FORM OF CENSORSHIP IN OUR CINEMAS, IN OUR BOOKSTORES, OR ANYTHING ELSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR AMERICANS.

I'M GOING TO SEE THIS FILM ON ON THURSDAY NIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S MY DUTY AS AN AMERICAN TO STAND AGAINST CENSORSHIP.

THAT'S IT FOR ME TODAY.

THERE IS NO OTHER SPEAKER ON ZOOM.

I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

MAYOR.

SUBJECT HAS CONCLUDED.

CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CALLED IN.

UM, LET'S

[R5 C AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," BY AMENDING ARTICLE IV, ENTITLED “OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES,” BY AMENDING DIVISION 5 THEREOF, ENTITLED “OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL”, BY AMENDING SECTION 2-256 THEREOF, ENTITLED “OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL,” TO AUTHORIZE “RED FLAG” REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PROPOSED OR IMPENDING CITY ACTION; AND, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ]

LET'S CALL R FIVE C.

R FIVE C.

R FIVE C IS NOTICE OF MAYOR CITY, COMMISSIONER OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING CHAPTER TWO OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION BY AMENDING.

ARTICLE FOUR.

ENTITLED OFFICERS ARE EMPLOYED BY AMENDING DIVISION FIVE THEREOF ENTITLED OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BY AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 2 56 THEREOF ENTITLED OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO AUTHORIZE RED FLAG REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OR OF PROPOSED OR IMPENDING CITY ACTION AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OR SUB ABILITY CLARIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A SECOND READING PUBLIC HEAR HEARING.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE C.

THE OIG IS EMPOWERED TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES FROM ALL OF US, FROM CITY OFFICIALS AND THE CITY COMMISSION REGARDING CITY MATTERS, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH ANY INVESTIGATION.

UM, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE I I BROUGHT, I BROUGHT FORWARD TO HELP MAXIMIZE, UH, THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE IN THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

IT CREATES A RED FLAG REVIEW, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE OIG TO REVIEW, TO REVIEW PROPOSED OR IMPENDING CITY ACTION THAT COULD VIOLATE CITY'S POLICIES, RULES, OR LAWS, OR PERHAPS MORE CONCERNINGLY RESULT IN WASTE, IN FRAUD, IN ABUSE OR INEFFICIENCY.

YOU SEE, WHENEVER WE HAVE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE GOT THESE VOLUMES OF BOOKS, UH, WITH THOUSANDS OF PAGES.

THIS AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING, AND THIS IS A SMALL AGENDA, HAS OVER 1100 PAGES, ALRIGHT, OVER 1100 PAGES THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO IDENTIFY EVERY INSTANCE OF WASTE, EVERY INSTANCE OF FRAUD, EVERY INSTANCE OF ABUSE, EVERY INSTANCE OF INEFFICIENCY.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE SPIRIT OF THE REASON WHY THE ELECTORATE, THE ELECTORATE EXERCISED THIS WISDOM TO CREATE THIS, THIS OFFICE.

UM, AND IF THE OIG FINDS AN OCCURRENCE OF SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE, THE OFFICE WOULD GIVE OR WOULD NOTIFY THE CITY COMMISSION AND OR THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH CONCERNS.

THE OIG FINDS THAT A PROPOSED CITY ACTION WILL VIOLATE POLICIES OR LAWS OR HAVE TO NOTIFY THE CITY COMMISSION OR THE CITY MANAGER, UNLESS OF COURSE IT WOULD INTERFERE WITH AN INVESTIGATION, WHICH CERTAINLY WE, WE WOULDN'T WANNA DO THAT.

THE OIG WOULD ALSO HAVE TO NOTIFY US IF AN AGENDA ITEM IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT, A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT INVOLVES WASTE OR INEFFICIENCY IN OUR CITY'S PROGRAMS, IN OUR PROJECTS, UH, IN OUR CONTRACTS, OR IN OUR EXPENDITURES.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN EXPANDED ROLE, I FEEL TO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE OIG ALREADY DOES.

UH, THE O

[03:45:01]

THIS, HOWEVER, STRENGTHENS THE OIGS OVERSIGHT RULE, ENSURING THAT ACTIONS ALIGN WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH THE TRUST THAT THE PUBLIC HAS PUT ON OUR HANDS TO BE A STEWARD OF THEIR ASSETS.

SO THAT, WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THIS ITEM, CALL THE VOTE.

IT IS, IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I SEE NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE.

NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN.

SUE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

VICE MAYOR B.

THANK

[R5 F AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED “MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “PUBLIC PLACES,” BY AMENDING DIVISION 2, ENTITLED “BICYCLING, SKATEBOARDING, ROLLER SKATING, IN-LINE SKATING, MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, MOPEDS, MOTORCYCLES, MOTORIZED BICYCLES, AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS,” BY AMENDING SECTION 70-66, ENTITLED “DEFINITIONS,” BY CONFORMING THE DEFINITION OF MOTORIZED SCOOTER TO STATE LAW; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 70-67, ENTITLED “PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES,” BY PROHIBITING MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLING, IN-LINE SKATING, ROLLER SKATING, AND SKATEBOARDING ON THE BAYWALK; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

YOU.

LET'S GO TO, LET'S, UH, LET'S FINISH OFF A FEW MORE.

SECOND READINGS, R FIVE F.

R FIVE F IS THE NORTH OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF GRAND BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE CITY CODE ENTITLED MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ENTITLED PUBLIC PLACES BY AMENDING DIVISION TWO ENTITLED, BICYCLING SKATEBOARDING, ROLLER SKATING, INLIGHT SKATING MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, MOPEDS MOTORCYCLES, MOTORIZED BICYCLES AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS BY AMENDING SECTION 70 DASH 66 ENTITLED DEFINITIONS BY CONFORMING THE DEFINITION OF MOTORIZED SCOOTERS THROUGH STATE LAW AND BY AMENDING SECTION 70 DASH 67 ENTITLED, PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES BY PROHIBITING MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLING, INLINE SKATING, ROLLER SKATING, AND SKATEBOARDING ON THE BAY WALK, AND PROVIDING FOR REPEATERS, SERVICEABILITY, CALCIFICATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE F.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, CO-SPONSOR BY COMMISSIONER VICE MAYOR BACH.

UM, THIS ITEM WAS MEANT TO COVER A VERY NARROW AREA AT THE BAY WALK BEHIND, UM, WEST AVENUE AND BAY ROAD.

SOME PARTS OF THAT AREA ARE FIVE FEET WIDE.

THERE'S NO RAILING AND PEDESTRIANS THAT WERE WALKING OR GETTING, UM, BULLDOZED BY BIKES, E-BIKE SCOOTERS, MOTORCYCLES, MOPEDS, THINGS THAT, UM, DIDN'T BELONG IN THAT AREA.

AND IT'S SECOND READING WITHOUT A MOVE.

THE ITEM SECOND, IT'S CALL THE VOTE.

IT IS A PUBLIC PUBLIC.

YES, SIR.

YOU'RE THE, YOU'RE YOU'RE AT ME.

I RIDE A SKATEBOARD.

I INLINE SKATE.

MITCH, START WITH YOUR NAME, I'M SORRY.

MITCH NOVIK, UH, SHERBROOK HOTEL.

I RIDE A SKATEBOARD.

I INLINE SKATE.

I ALSO RIDE A A A A STANDUP SCOOTER AND A BICYCLE.

LAURA DID ARE SKATEBOARDS AND INLINE SKATES, UH, INCLUDED IN YOUR, THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE? UH, SO MARK FISHMAN WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND JUST SO THAT TO CLARIFY IS FROM FIFTH TO 15TH ON THE BAY WALK.

SO, OKAY.

SO IT'S NOT SOUTH POINT PARK.

IT'S NOT MARINA PARK.

I GET IT.

MY, MY QUESTION IS, HOW ABOUT JUST INLINE SKATES? UM, I, I WOULDN'T RIDE A MY SKATEBOARD OR I THINK IT IS PROHIBITED, BUT MARK FISHMAN ARE A CITY ATTORNEY.

NO, COMMISSIONER.

YOU, YOU ARE CORRECT.

IT'S BICYCLING, ROLLER SKATING, INLINE SKATING, SKATEBOARDING, AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

THEY ARE ALL PROHIBITED ON THAT PORTION OF THE BAY WALK NORTH OF THE MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY FIFTH STREET.

SO IS THAT YOUR INTENT, LAURA, TO PROHIBIT INLINE SKATING ON THAT SMALL SECTION OF BAY WALK, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS YET OPENED.

HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? NO.

UM, SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WILL AFFECT YOU, BUT IT'S VERY NARROW THERE.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY ROOM TO WALK, MUCH LESS DO OTHER ACTIVITIES, BUT SOUTH POINT PARK IS, YOU'RE GOOD.

STILL SAFE.

GOOD.

YOU'RE GOOD.

I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO HENRY STOLLER.

UH, HE GAVE A LOT OF INPUT, UM, TO ME AND ALSO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, AND GAVE GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE TOOK THEIR FEEDBACK.

AND THE SAME WITH, UH, GAIL DURHAM, WHO ALSO SPENT TIME AND GAVE US SOME VALUABLE FEEDBACK.

SEEING NO ONE ELSE REQUESTING TO SPEAK, UH, WILL CALL THE ROLE VICE MAYOR BOT IS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ? YES.

I'M HERE AND I SUPPORT HIM.

SO COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR BOT IS A YES.

OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF PRIVATE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING TO PLACE CERTAIN SIGNAGE IN SUCH PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES BY IMPOSING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PRIVATE PARKING INVOICES BY REQUIRING SPECIAL SPECIFIED APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR PRIVATE PARKING INVOICES BY REQUIRING A 15 MINUTE GRACE PERIOD OF PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES AND BY PRO, UM, BY PROHIBITING PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES FROM SELLING, OFFERING TO SELL OR TRANSFERRING ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A PARTY USING THE PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR PARKING SERVICES BY PROVIDING CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF PROVIDING FOR RE REPEAT SERVICEABILITY CLARIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THAT WAS ITEM R FIVE FR

[R5 G AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 106 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED “TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE III, ENTITLED “OFF-STREET PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES,” BY CREATING SECTION 106-119 THEREOF, ENTITLED “REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE PROPERTIES USED FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING; PENALTIES,” BY REQUIRING OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF PRIVATE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING TO PLACE CERTAIN SIGNAGE IN SUCH PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES; BY IMPOSING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PRIVATE PARKING INVOICES; BY REQUIRING SPECIFIED APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR PRIVATE PARKING INVOICES; BY REQUIRING A 15-MINUTE GRACE PERIOD AT PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES; BY PROHIBITING PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES FROM SELLING, OFFERING TO SELL, OR TRANSFERRING ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A PARTY USING THE PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR PARKING SERVICES; BY PROVIDING CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

FIVE.

GR 5G IS THE NORTH OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 6 OF THE CITY CODE ENTITLED TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES BY AMENDING.

ARTICLE THREE ENTITLED OFF STREET PARKING LOTS AND FACILITIES BY CREATING SECTION 1 0 6 DASH ONE 19 THEREOF.

ENTITLED, REQUIREMENTS WERE PRIVATE PROPERTIES USED FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING PENALTIES BY REQUIRING

[03:50:01]

IT IS ITEM R 5G.

SECOND CALL THE VOTE.

IT'S GOT FOUR CO-SPONSORS.

I SEE NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM.

NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE.

VICE MAYOR BOT? YES.

MAYOR MINOR? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

FIVE I FIVE I IS THE NORTH OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

THAT WAS ITEM R FIVE GR

[R5 I AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 86 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED “SALES,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “GARAGE SALES,” BY AMENDING SECTION 86-58, ENTITLED “CONDITIONS FOR ISSUANCE,” BY AMENDING SUBSECTION (A) TO PROVIDE THAT A GARAGE SALE PERMIT AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 86-56 SHALL BE ISSUED FOR A GARAGE SALE LOCATED IN ANY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE OR MULTIFAMILY BUILDING ON NO MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS DURING ANY 12-MONTH PERIOD, AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

AMENDING CHAPTER 86 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE ENTITLED SALES BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ENTITLED GARAGE SALES BY AMENDING SECTION 86 SLASH 58.

ENTITLED CONDITIONS FOR ISSUANCE VIA AMENDING SUBSECTION A TO PROVIDE THAT A GARAGE SALE PERMIT AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 86 SLASH 56 SHALL BE ISSUED FOR A GARAGE SALE LOCATED AT ANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE OR MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING ON NO MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS DURING ANY 12TH MONTH PERIOD OF PROVIDING FOR A REPEATER SHALL ABILITY CATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

HELLO, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE I.

UH, SO I WAS APPROACHED BY MEMBERS OF, UH, FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS.

THEY WANTED TO HAVE TWO GARAGE SALES PER YEAR.

AND, UH, WE CRAFTED LANGUAGE SO THAT IT WAS, UM, PRETTY STRICT WHERE A BUILDING WOULD HAVE TO HAVE APPROVED TWO FOR THEIR BUILDING.

SO IT'S NOT A BLANKET THAT EVERY PERSON IN THE BUILDING GETS TWO.

SO I THINK IT'S DRAFTED NARROWLY ENOUGH AND, UH, WILL BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? I THINK IT'S, THAT'S IT.

I MOVE THE ITEMS BACK.

CALL THE VOTE.

I SEE NO ONE IN ZOOM.

NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

COMM COMM.

VICE MAYOR BOT? YES.

FIVE J IS AN ORDER OF THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION SECTION TWO DASH ONE THEREOF ENTITLED, REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

THAT WAS ITEM R FIVE IR FIVE.

[R5 J AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION,” SECTION 2-1 THEREOF, ENTITLED “REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD,” SECTION 2-2 THEREOF, ENTITLED “ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES ONLINE” AND SECTION 2-14 THEREOF, ENTITLED “MEETING PROCEDURES AND AGENDAS,” FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFORMING/IMPLEMENTING INTO THE CODE VOTER-APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER AND CITIZENS’ BILL OF RIGHTS CONCERNING INCREASED PUBLIC RIGHT TO BE HEARD VIA TWO (2) STANLEY SUTNICK CITIZENS’ FORUMS AT REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES ONLINE, AND AMENDED PROCEDURE FOR DEFERRAL OF COMMISSION ITEMS AS WELL AS REQUIREMENT FOR TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR CITY ORDINANCES (EXCEPT EMERGENCY ORDINANCES AND PROPOSED ORDINANCES SUBJECT TO ADOPTION PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE); AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

SECTION TWO DASH TWO THEREOF ENTITLED, ALTERNATE PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES ONLINE AND SECTION TWO DASH 14 THEREOF ENTITLED, MEETING PROCEDURES AND AGENDAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFORMING IMPLEMENTING INTO THE CODE.

VOTER APPROVED THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER AND CITIZENS BILL OF RIGHTS CONCERNING INCREASED PUBLIC RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

WE HAD TWO STANLEY SU CITIZEN FORMS OUR REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES ONLINE AND AMENDING AND, AND AMENDED PROCEDURES FOR DEFERRAL OF COMMISSION ITEMS, AS WELL AS REQUIREMENT FOR TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR CITY ORDINANCES EXCEPT EMERGENCY ORDINANCES AND PROPOSED ORDINANCES SUBJECT TO ADOPTION PROCEDURES TO ESTABLISH IN THE CITY ZONINGS OR ORDINANCE I'M PROVIDING FOR REPEATABILITY QUALIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE IS ITEM R FIVE J.

IT IS A SECOND MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING.

AND MAYOR, IF YOU'D LIKE, WE COULD CALL J AND K TOGETHER SINCE THEY'RE COMPANION ITEMS, MAYOR.

KS IN NORTH OF MAYOR CITY, COMMISSIONER OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING THAT MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE CHAPTER 38 ENTITLED ELECTION SECTION 38 DASH FOUR THEREOF ENTITLED, ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION RETURNS IN INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFORMING, IMPLEMENTING INTO THE CODE VOTER APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER CONCERNING RUNOFF ELECTION DATE AND DATE OF INSULATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF TERMS, AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAT OBSERVABILITY CLARIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

R 5K IS AN ORDINANCE BOTH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ ITEMS R FIVE

[R5 K AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE CHAPTER 38, ENTITLED “ELECTIONS,” SECTION 38-4 THEREOF, ENTITLED “ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION RETURNS; INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS,” FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFORMING/IMPLEMENTING INTO THE CODE VOTER-APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER CONCERNING RUNOFF ELECTION DATE AND DATE OF INSTALLATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF TERMS; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

IT IS R 5K.

CANNOT BE PLACED ON ANOTHER AGENDA FOR THE NEXT THREE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMISSION MEETINGS UNLESS WAIVED BY SIXTH SEVENTH VOTE OF THE COMMISSION.

UM, THIS, THIS ITEM BASICALLY AMENDS THE CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE CHARTER REVIEW AMENDMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS LAST NOVEMBER.

THE FIRST ITEM R FIVE J, UH, AMENDS THE CODE TO REQUIRE TWO NIK FORMS TO BE ATTENDED BY A, BY A QUORUM OF OF US, UH, THE COMMISSION DURING EACH MEETING.

IT ALSO, UH, PUTS INTO THE CODE THE DAVID SUAREZ ONLINE NOTICE ACT FOR ORDINANCES IN LIEU OF PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER.

UH, AGENDA ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFERRED BY THE SPONSOR AND NOT HEARD WITHIN THREE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS, UH, SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY WITHDRAWN AND

[03:55:01]

AND IT ALSO REQUIRES THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ORDINANCES.

AND THIS WAS, UH, SUPPORTED BY MBU, UH, AND OF COURSE IT WAS DRAFTED, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OF OUR CHARTER REVIEW TASK FORCE.

THE SECOND ITEM, UM, R 5K, UM, IT, IT, IT ADDRESSES, UH, AND CODIFIES THE RUNOFF ELECTION DATE.

NOW THE SECOND TUESDAY IN DECEMBER, IT TALKS TO THE DATE OF INSTALLATION FOR NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS, WHICH WILL BE NOW THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE SECOND TUESDAY IN DECEMBER.

AND IT ADDRESSES THE COMMENCEMENT OF TERMS ON THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, WHICH IS THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE SECOND TUESDAY IN DECEMBER.

NICK, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO BE ADDED.

COMMISSIONER, YOU COVERED EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE, I MOVE THE ITEM SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS R FIVE J AND KI SEE NO ONE IN ZOOM REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

I SEE NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

UH, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? YES.

LAST MAYOR B.

AIR MINOR? YES.

THE ITEMS ARE APPROVED.

THAT WAS R FIVE J AND R 5K.

LET'S GO TO, UH, RDA

[RDA-1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI BEACH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ADOPTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 OPERATING BUDGETS FOR THE CITY CENTER REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THE ANCHOR SHOPS AND PARKING GARAGE, THE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SHOPS AND PARKING GARAGE, AND THE COLLINS PARK PARKING GARAGE.]

ONE.

WE ARE RECESSING AS THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND CONVENING AS THE RDA, UH, RDA.

ONE IS TOP SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CENTER RDA OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

AND FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER HIGGINS IS ABSENT.

WELCOME JASON.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, JASON GREEN, UH, CFO.

THE ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS, UH, A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE RDA.

UH, THIS WOULD, UH, COMPLETE THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT OF THE RDA AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE THE, UH, ONE TIME $10 MILLION, UH, PAYMENT TO MIAMI DADE COUNTY FOR HOMELESS, UH, TYPE SERVICES.

UH, DUE, UH, THIS MARCH 31ST, I MOVED, I MOVED THE ITEM.

I HEARD A MOTION BY VICE MAYOR BI BELIEVE I HEARD FE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SECOND MAGAZINE MAGAZINE.

I'LL TAKE MAGAZINE IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION.

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.

CALL A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF RDA ONE, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.

C SEVEN WC SEVEN W IS IN POST MORATORIUM ON WATER, SEWER AND STORM RATE INCREASES THAT WAS SEPARATED BY TWO COMMISSIONERS.

SEVEN ZERO R ONE THANK MOTION TO RECONVENE AFTER THE MIAMI BEACH CITY COMMISSION.

SO DONE.

, UH,

[C7 W A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER RATE INCREASES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DEVELOPED AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR FIXED-INCOME AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, SUCH MORATORIUM TO BE LIFTED UPON APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM BY THE CITY COMMISSION; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PRESENT DETAILED PROGRAM OPTIONS TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION.]

C SEVEN W WAS, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, UNLESS YOU WANNA ADDRESS, UM, I'M HAPPY TO.

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BE ON OPPOSITE SIDES.

I THINK BOTH COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT BE INCOME BASED.

UM, SO I'M ONE OF THE CO-SPONSORS, BUT THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO SEPARATE IT IS WHEN I'VE HAD, UM, DISCUSSIONS WITH DIFFERENT CITY STAFF, THE FEELING IS THAT IF THIS ITEM WERE TO PASS, IT COULD, UM, SEVERELY HURT US FOR A LONG TIME.

SO I WANNA FIGURE OUT WHAT LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS AREA WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE'RE NOT HURT YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATION CAN HELP.

UM, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND.

CAN I JUST ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THAT? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE SPEED ON WHICH AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS CREATED.

SO I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T HEAR THE SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION WAS RELATED TO THE INCREASES RELATED TO THE RATES WERE .

SO THE MORATORIUM, THE WAY THIS IS WORDED, UM, COULD REALLY SHUT US OUT FOR YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

SO IF THERE'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE TO THIS ITEM, I'D LIKE TO DO SO NOW.

MADAM VOICE? YES.

SORRY, GO AHEAD.

UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, MAYBE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, UH, JUST TO SEE WHERE EVERYBODY'S AT.

I THINK COLLECTIVELY, ALL, IF, IF NOT MOST OF US, IF NOT ALL, UH, HAVE COMMITTED TO RESILIENCY AND MOVING FORWARD, UNDERSTAND WANTING TO WORK, UH, THIS OUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE COST BURDENED.

IF I UNDERSTAND IT AND PERHAPS, UH, LEGAL CAN CLARIFY THIS, THERE'S NOT A WAY TO BIFURCATE, UH, IN TERMS OF RATES.

WE, WE CAN'T CHARGE DIFFERENT RATES TO

[04:00:01]

UH, SO THAT'S A STATE STATUTE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE WOULD ACTUALLY BEHOOVE OURSELVES TO HAVE SEPARATE LEGISLATION AND WE WOULD VOTE ON THAT AS A STANDALONE.

UH, BUT WHILE THAT WORKS ITS WAY OUT, PERHAPS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS TO ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THIS TO TRAVEL FORWARD.

BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THESE RATES AREN'T GONNA BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL OCTOBER.

THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

THAT WAS THE DIRECTION COMING OUT OF.

SO WE CAN KEEP THIS ON TRACK AND ON PACE, UH, GIVE STAFF, WE COULD SAY IN UNTIL NEXT MONTH, THEY COME BACK, BUT WE DON'T ESSENTIALLY IMPLEMENTING ANY TYPE OF PAUSE OR MORATORIUM.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE MISLEADING.

I I THINK WE STILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SIT HERE AND IF WE DECIDE LEGISLATIVELY THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY TO EASE THE COST AND, AND, UM, RATE IMPACT ON A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINE WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS.

WILL IT BE INCOME TESTED? WILL IT BE, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU WANNA SEE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO WITH THAT, BUT I THINK OUR STAFF STILL HAS TIME TO ESSENTIALLY COME UP WITH THOSE SOLUTIONS WITHOUT VOTING ON SOME TYPE OF MORATORIUM, GIVEN THAT THOSE RATE INCREASES WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ AND THEN VICE MAYOR BACH.

I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE A, A MORATORIUM FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL THE STATE WORKS OUT.

ITS ISSUES WITH CONDO RESERVES AND ASSESSMENTS AND ALL OF THE LEGISLATION FOLLOWING.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE BUILDING CALLED? I CAN'T REMEMBER.

IN SURFSIDE, WHATEVER THE COLLAPSE WAS FOLLOWING THE BUILDING COLLAPSE IN SURFSIDE.

UM, I I DON'T THINK IT'S A, A GREAT TIME TO PRESS OUR, OUR RESIDENTS WITH ANY EXTRA EXPENSES.

I THINK WHEN YOU ADD INFLATION, THE FACT THAT NEXT YEAR THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE US TO NO LONGER HAVE PROPERTY TAXES AND HAVE SOME SORT OF 25% CONSUMER TAX, WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL TARIFFS BEING ADDED, WHICH IS GONNA ADD TO THE COST OF LIVING THIS.

I REALLY THINK THAT IF MIAMI BEACH DOES NOT HAVE TO RIGHT NOW, THAT WE CAN JUST AT LEAST HOLD THIS OFF.

SORRY, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WELL, WE, UNTIL THE LEGISLATION PUT, I MEANT CHAMPLAIN TOWERS EARLIER FINALLY CAME TO ME.

UM, I, I UNDERSTAND RESILIENCY AND I UNDERSTAND WATER AND SEWER FEES, BUT I'M ASKING YOU, I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE ASKING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR SOME PEOPLE, $150 JUST SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR APARTMENT.

THIS IS ANY INCREASE THAT WE, THAT, THAT, THAT WE IMPOSE RIGHT NOW.

UM, I JUST THINK ACROSS THE BOARD IS GOING, IS NOT A GREAT THING FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND BY THE WAY, I WOULD ADD THAT WE HAD A 9% APPRECIATION OKAY.

AND PROPERTY VALUES LAST YEAR.

AND THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO THE INCREASE INSTEAD THAT STAYED AS PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT BUDGET.

SO WE ALREADY DID RAISE TAXES IN ESSENCE BY NINE POINTS.

WE HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR THINGS WHEN THEY BREAK.

AND TO, FOR, YOU KNOW, TO COVER OUR FULL BUDGET.

SO I THINK IT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE 9%, UM, PROPERTY INCREASES THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, OR FIND THE DIFFERENCE, UM, THAT THIS WOULD BE, UM, WHATEVER THE PROPERTY APPRAISED VALUE IS, UH, IN THE, IN THE INCOMING YEAR.

AND, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN YEAR OVER YEAR.

THAT THE COMMISSION HAS A RATE TO, TO VOTE ON THIS.

AND, UM, I'M COMPLETELY AGAINST, UM, RAISING THESE FEES RIGHT NOW, VICE MAYOR B.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, UH, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE MONEY.

UM, MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN, UM, MEDICINE AND RENT.

AND THAT IS NOT A LIBERAL TALKING POINT.

THAT IS A FACT.

AND I'M NOT, UM, UH, UM, INURED TO WHAT THAT IS.

LIKE.

WE ARE, UM, A VERY COMPASSIONATE CITY THAT TRIES TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY CAN, WHEN WE CAN, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US AND ASK FOR HELP.

WE, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE LED BY OUR DR LED, LED BY DR.

TARA.

AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT AN ITEM TO SAY, HOW ARE WE GONNA HELP THOSE WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE GONNA BE REALLY ADVERSE, ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS? BUT HERE ARE THE FACTS, THE FACTS THAT ARE, THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL.

COST OF LIVING INCREASES.

CPI IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WISH AWAY THAT IS A, A FACTOR WHICH AFFECTS THE COST THAT IT, THE COSTS THAT

[04:05:01]

UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD AN ENORMOUS SINKHOLE IN NORTH BEACH WHERE A TRUCK WAS LITERALLY SWIMMING IN POOP.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE SINKHOLE HERE.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAVE ANOTHER SINKHOLE ON LAGO OR PINE TREE IN THE FIFTIES.

UM, AGAIN, MUCH SMALLER.

NO VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN THIS ONE.

BUT AGAIN, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE SINKHOLES.

AND WHEN I ASKED WHY, UM, THE ANSWER WAS, AND, AND JAY, IF I GET THIS WRONG, PLEASE CORRECT ME.

WE'RE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT WE THINK IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PIPE UNDERNEATH THAT HAS FAILED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS, THE FACTS RIGHT NOW, NOBODY WANTS TO BE PAYING MORE.

I GET THAT IT'S GONNA HURT ALL OF US, BUT THE FACTS ARE THAT OF OUR WATER MAIN INFRASTRUCTURE, 24% ARE LESS THAN 50 YEARS OLD.

THAT MEANS 75% ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD SEWER MAINS, 80% ARE OVER 50 YEARS.

IT'S THE VAST MAJORITY STORM WATER PIPES.

76% ARE YOUNGER THAN 50 YEARS OLD.

SO YEAH, IT SUCKS TO PAY TO FIX THAT.

BUT WHAT'S GOING TO SUCK MORE? SORRY, THAT'S NOT THE PROFESSIONAL WAY TO PUT IT.

I'M REALLY TIRED.

, I APOLOGIZE.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE A HARDER AND MORE PAINFUL WAY TO PROCEED IS WHEN SOMETHING RUPTURES AND WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND IT AFFECTS HOMEOWNERS AND IT AFFECTS TRANSIT AND WE HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER WE HAVE TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IT MIGHT HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW SOON IS IT GONNA HAPPEN IN WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST, BECAUSE IT'S NOT RELEGATED TO ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ANOTHER.

WE ALREADY, WE ARE ALREADY 60% DESIGN WITH ONE PROJECT, AND I FORGET THE PERCENT DESIGN WITH THE SECOND PROJECT.

SO IF WE PUT THIS ON PAUSE NOW, THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE GO BACK TO RESTART THIS, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO PAY TO REDESIGN BECAUSE CONDITIONS CHANGE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE IMPOR, MORE EXPENSIVE TO PAY FOR THE WORK THAT IS ALREADY PLANNED BECAUSE INFLATION GOES UP AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE IT.

AND AS MUCH AS WE WISH WE COULD CONTROL IT, THAT IS THE FACT.

AND I AGREE, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ, IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE COULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING INCREDIBLE RISK AND UNCERTAINTY AND HEARTACHE AND PAIN FOR ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN THE CITY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FOR THAT 'CAUSE I'VE HAD A AMPLE CHANCE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND MAYBE NOT FIND A RESOLUTION, BUT AT LEAST HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS.

AND I, I, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENED YET.

SO I'M NOT PREPARED TO WAIT FOR THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND HAVE THEM COME AFTER THIS LEGISLATION LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SAY, WE GOT IT SORTED OUT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT I AM NOT WAITING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES OF THE CITY.

AGAIN, OUR JOB, THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB WE HAVE IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY INCLUDES BEING ABLE TO DRINK THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR SINK.

IT INCLUDES NOT BEING CONCERNED THAT YOUR TOILET IS GOING TO BACK UP SOME RANDOM DAY THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN.

IT INCLUDES NOT BEING CONCERNED THAT THE STREET THAT YOU DRIVE OVER IS GOING TO HAVE A SINKHOLE THAT BREAKS AN AXLE.

AND IT SOUNDS FARFETCHED, BUT WITH THE NUMBERS I QUOTED, AND THESE COME FROM PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS IS NOT ME MAKING THIS UP.

THIS IS A, A, A SURVEY OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY EXISTING IN OUR CITY.

WE'RE A YOUNG CITY.

WE HAVEN'T INVESTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIVING HERE NOW THAN THERE WERE 80,000 PEOPLE, UH, UM, UH, 80 YEARS AGO.

AND IF WE DO NOT DO THE RIGHT THING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, WHICH INCLUDES FINDING A WAY TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO NEED HELP, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE PAYING THE PRICE LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY IN VERY SHORT ORDER.

SO I DON'T WANNA PUT A MORATORIUM AND I DO WANNA CHALLENGE OUR COLLEAGUES ON STAFF TO FIND A WAY BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER, WHICH IS PLENTY OF TIME TO FIND A SOLUTION TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO NEED THE MOST HELP.

OR IMPROVING THE STORMWATER SYSTEM.

IT, IT'S NOT LAWSON MADE THAT RESILIENCY IS NOT JUST ABOUT UPGRADING PIPES OR REINFORCING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE

[04:10:01]

RESILIENCY, TRUE RESILIENCY IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CALL MIAMI BEACH HOME CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.

AND THAT'S WHY THIS MORATORIUM ON THE, ON THE WATER AND SEWER AND STORMWATER RATE INCREASES IS NOT JUST NECESSARY.

IT'S URGENT.

I, I'VE HEARD HOW FAR ADVANCE WE ARE WITH THE PLANNING OF, OF CERTAIN PROJECTS.

WELL, HOW, HOW FAR ADVANCED ARE WE IN THE PLAN TO PROTECT THOSE AND FIXED INCOMES? OTHER MAJOR CITIES WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE BEFORE RACING.

THERE ARE ESSENTIAL UTILITY RATES.

I'D ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO AND CHICAGO WHO HAVE ALL DONE IT.

USUALLY MIAMI BEACH IS THE ONE THAT'S LEADING BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO WATER, WATER IS NOT A DISCRETIONARY EXPENSE.

AND IT'S NOT AN AMENITY.

IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

AND IT'S A NECESSITY.

EVEN IF YOU'RE ELDERLY, EVEN IF YOU'RE IN FIXED INCOME, IT'S NOT AN AMENITY.

AND MAKING IT UNAFFORDABLE FORCES PEOPLE OUT FROM MIAMI BEACH WHEN LONGTIME RESIDENTS, WHEN SENIORS AND WORKING FAMILIES ARE PRICE OUT OF THEIR OWN CITY.

THAT'S NOT PROGRESS.

IT BECOMES DISPLACEMENT.

AND WHEN ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, I WAS THINKING 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WORKED AT THE COUNTY AND I WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER SOSO AT THE TIME, AND WE WORKED ON BRINGING THE ROCKEFELLER 100 RESILIENT CITIES PROGRAM TO OUR REGION.

AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS I LEARNED FROM THE RESILIENT CITIES PROGRAM IS THAT TRUE RESILIENCY.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.

A CITY CANNOT BE RESILIENT IF IT LOSES THE VERY RESIDENTS WHO GIVE IT LIFE.

AND THAT PROGRAM CHALLENGED US TO ADOPT A BROADER VIEW OF RESILIENCE.

ONE THAT GOES BEYOND RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADDRESSES THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PRESSURES THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES VULNERABLE.

RESILIENCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT PREPARING FOR STORMS AND SEA LEVEL RIGHTS.

IT MEANS TACKLING ONGOING STRESSORS LIKE POVERTY, LIKE INEQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES LIKE WATER AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THAT WATER WHEN YOU TURN ON THE FAUCET.

I'M PROUD THE MIAMI BEACH WAS A PART OF THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE CANNOT FORGET THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED.

WE CANNOT CLAIM TO BE A RESILIENT CITY IF OUR POLICIES IGNORE THE ECONOMIC REALITIES OF OUR RESIDENTS.

RESILIENCE MEANS PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE WHILE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH TODAY.

IF WE LEAVE BEHIND THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD RISING COSTS, THEN I'M SORRY.

WE ARE FAILING AT THE VERY MISSION OF RESILIENCE.

AND SO, YES, I WANT US TO INVEST IN STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION.

AND YES, WE MUST ENSURE OUR WATER AND SOURCE SYSTEMS REMAIN STRONG FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BUT I DON'T WANNA LOSE THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE.

I DON'T WANNA LOSE THE ELDERLY WHO, WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

AND LET'S MAKE NO SECRET ABOUT IT.

GENTRIFICATION IS NOT JUST COST BY THE BY DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S ABOUT RISING COSTS THAT FORCES PEOPLE OUT.

WHEN ESSENTIAL SERVICES BECOME UNAFFORDABLE, UNAFFORDABLE, WHAT FOLLOWS IS DISPLACEMENT.

AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT PROTECTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT COME AT THE COST OF DISPLACING THE VERY PEOPLE AND THE VERY COMMUNITIES WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT.

SO LET'S PUT THAT INTO NUMBERS.

'CAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT A WATER BILL SHOULD NOT EXCEED 3% OF A HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

AND BASED ON THAT METRIC, AND LET ME JUST ASK MR. MANAGER, THE AVERAGE WATER BILL MIAMI BEACH, I THINK THE MEMO SAID WAS ABOUT $130 AT THE MOMENT, APPROXIMATELY.

THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.

OKAY, SO 3%.

SO FOR TODAY'S AVERAGE MIAMI BEACH WATER BILL OF $130 PER MONTH, A RESIDENT WOULD NEED TO EARN AT LEAST $4,333 PER MONTH, THE EQUIVALENT TO A SALARY OF $52,000.

BUT IF WE INCREASE THE BILLS EVENTUALLY TO $200 PER MONTH, WHICH IS WHAT IT ULTIMATELY WOULD LEAD UP TO, IS THAT CORRECT? I SEE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR NODDING, HAS SAID YES.

PER MONTH, THE EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY $80,000 PER YEAR FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR RESIDENTS WHO I REPRESENT, FOR RESIDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A LOUD VOICE OR A LARGE PLATFORM OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BE HERE, OR SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES OR SINGLE PARENTS OR HOSPITALITY AND SERVICE WORKERS ON FIXED INCOMES, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT A REALITY.

RESIDENTS WOULD NEED TO EARN AT LEAST $6,667

[04:15:03]

AND WHEN RESIDENTS CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, WE DON'T JUST LOSE PEOPLE, WE LOSE THE VERY FABRIC OF MIAMI BEACH.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT IT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

I SUPPORT THE STORMWATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS. I SUPPORT OUR LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR A BRAZILIAN MAMIE BEACH.

BUT WE CANNOT PURSUE THESE INITIATIVES BLINDLY WITHOUT A PLAN TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM THE UNINTENDED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT THEY WILL INEVITABLY WON'T, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO ESCAPE IT.

THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY UP OR MOVE OUT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS MORATORIUM IS CRITICAL.

IT DOES NOT HOLD PROGRESS.

IT ENSURES THAT PROGRESS DOES NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

IT PROVIDES A TIME NECESSARY TO DEVELOP A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT ENSURES THAT NO ONE HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING THEIR WATER BILL AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE OR BUYING MEDICATION.

AND LET'S BE CLEAR, A RESILIENT CITY, IT'S NOT JUST ONE THAT CAN STAND THE STORM OR AVOID A FLOODING, IT'S ONE THAT PROTECTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT.

THAT'S WHY WE INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND THAT CANNOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF PUSHING THOSE VERY SAME PEOPLE OUT.

MAYOR, MR. MAYOR.

SECOND, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, UH, COMMISSIONER BOT, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT, AND THEN COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

SO I, UH, I AGREE WITH ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

UM, AND I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I I I WISH THIS ITEM WERE CALLED WITH THE ACCOMPANYING UNDERLYING, UM, RATE INCREASED DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS A LITTLE BIT IN A VACUUM.

AND I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SUPER CONSTRUCTIVE.

ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH STAFF IS, AND YOU GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO, UM, REPRIORITIZE THINGS, MAYBE REDO HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE BIT, UM, SO THAT THE RATE INCREASE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY IT IS LAID OUT CURRENTLY.

BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION YET.

UM, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR DRINKING WATER.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY IS SUGGESTING THAT WE DON'T DO THAT.

THE, THE CONCERN IS THAT IF, IF WE PUT A MORATORIUM ON SOMETHING, THEN WE HAVE TO LEGISLATIVELY TAKE THE MORATORIUM OFF AND WE THEREFORE RUN THE RISK OF LOSING CONTRACTS AND REALLY HAVING SOME DIFFICULT CONSEQUENCES THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO HAVE TODAY IS THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.

THIS TAKES EFFECT IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.

RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD DEFER THIS ITEM.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM AND BRING IT BACK IN TWO MONTHS SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OUR TEAM THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO RECALIBRATE SOME OF THE COSTS.

AND WE HAVE, UH, THE, THE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER THE PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO, TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT WILL BE PROTECTED, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE WITHOUT HAVING A MORATORIUM THAT NEEDS TO BE LEGISLATIVELY UNDONE.

AND I, I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION.

WITH PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS.

I THINK IT'S A BAD SLIPPERY SLOPE TO BE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS ON, ON WHO GETS A RATE HIKE AND WHO DOESN'T.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LOW INCOME WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

UM, AND TO SAY THAT IT'S, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DRAW THE LINE OF, OF WHO IS LOW INCOME, WHO, WHO GETS, UH, RATE INCREASES.

UH, I, I THINK IS, IS NOT SOMETHING I I'M COMFORTABLE WITH DECIDING.

IT'S EITHER ALL OR NOTHING REALLY.

I, I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD, I THINK WE NEED TO EITHER VOTE FOR EVERYONE GETS THE RATE HIKE OR NONE.

UM, I'M OKAY WITH DEFERRING FOR A LITTLE BIT TO CALIBRATE, UH, THESE COSTS, BUT, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE

[04:20:01]

UM, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO WHO, WHO GETS TAXED AND WHO DOESN'T.

SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN THIS CITY TOGETHER.

WE'RE, WE'RE ALL IN THE SHIP.

WE, WE WE'RE, WE'RE GOING IN ONE DIRECTION AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CITY, A CITY OF RESIDENCE.

AND, AND, AND I DON'T, AGAIN, I I, I, I THINK IT'S A REALLY BAD IDEA TO, TO START BIFURCATING WHO, WHO GETS TAXED AND WHO DOESN'T.

SO, UM, I'M GONNA SECOND THAT MOTION FOR DEFERRAL AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT STAFF CAN COME BACK WITH MS. RAMIR, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, YOU KNOW, UM, IN SPEAKING WITH STAFF, STAFF HAS TOLD ME BECAUSE I WAS HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD GET DONE IN A MONTH OR TWO.

SO UNLESS YOU GUYS ARE HEARING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'M HEARING, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN GET DONE IN A MONTH OR TWO.

SO I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANT US TO SET OURSELVES UP FOR A FAILURE.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, I I'M HAPPY TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND LET'S CALL TO A VOTE, UH, THE, UH, CITY MANAGER'S, UH, ITEM ON THE RATE INCREASE AND LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, AND LET'S JUST TAKE CARE OF THAT BUSINESS TODAY AND NOT KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA WITHDRAW THE ITEM.

ERIC, HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE HERE WAS THE, UH, PLAY GAMES, THE RATE INCREASE, WHICH IT WAS STICKER SHOCK.

UM, HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE IT'S A GRADUAL, MAYBE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASE THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S MORE, MORE IN LINE WITH I, WHAT I THINK WOULD BE, UH, ACCEPTABLE AND COMFORTABLE WITH TO OUR, TO OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND US.

SO, MR. MAYOR, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND I WOULD ASK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND OUR FINANCIAL TEAM, UH, I BELIEVE I SAW BRIAN HERE, BRIAN HERE, UM, TO STEP FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT BASICALLY 10 YEARS, CORRECT? AND THIS IS THE, THE DOLLAR FIGURES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO FILL THAT CAPITAL GAP.

ULTIMATELY, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS AS TO WHAT PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT PROJECTS DON'T MOVE FORWARD.

AND WE CAN DIAL BACK THE NUMBERS, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF REASSESSMENT BY THE TEAM THAT'S WORKED ON THIS UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

UM, HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER IS THE WILL OF THE BODY.

UH, WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU REFLECTS, YOU KNOW, THREE 9% RATE INCREASES AND THREE, FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT RATE INCREASES OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY PROVIDE FOR THE BONDING CAPACITY NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD THE PROJECTS AS THEY'RE LAID OUT.

MR. ROSE GONZALEZ, MR. MANAGER, I'M SORRY, ARE WE ON R SEVEN E THEN? ARE YOU ON R? YES, THAT'S R SEVEN E.

PJ, CAN YOU PUT UP R SEVEN E THEN? OKAY, MR. MAYOR, IS, IS THAT THE ITEM YOU'RE CALLING, PLEASE? NO, NO, NO.

WE'RE STILL ON THIS SIDE.

UH, WHO KNOWS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE POOL ON TOP OF THE GARAGE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FLUFFY CAPITAL PROJECTS, OKAY.

THAT WE'RE SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON.

IF YOU'RE TELLING US THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHERS, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO REASSESS WHICH CAPITAL PROJECTS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE PARKS AND BEAUTIFICATION AND ALL OF THESE BELLS AND WHISTLES, IF, AS COMMISSIONER BOT SAYS, OUR TOILETS AREN'T GOING TO FLUSH, I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE FROM THE GROUND UP, RIGHT? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED? ELECTRICITY, PLUMBING, ROOFING, THE BASICS.

SO, UM, RATHER THAN RAISE, HAVE, RATHER THAN HAVE ANOTHER RATE INCREASE, UM, ON OUR RESIDENCE, MAYBE WE NEED TO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SAY, WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE MONEY IN WHAT WE CURRENTLY ARE MOVING FORWARD ON RIGHT NOW? I'M GONNA REPEAT.

I HAVE PEOPLE, AS I HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO MY OFFICE, , THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED DOLLARS RENT INCREASES THAT THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO PO POSSIBLY HAVE TO LEAVE.

I'M NOT, THIS IS WRONG MORALLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE ALLOCATING SO MANY OTHER TENS OF MILLIONS TOWARD PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY.

THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT WE CHOOSE TO DO BECAUSE WE WANTED TO.

EVERYBODY LOVES MORE PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LOVES BEAUTIFICATION OF,

[04:25:01]

BUT IF OUR TOILETS AREN'T GONNA FLUSH, THEN WE HAVE MONIES THERE.

AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN ALLOCATE MONIES FROM SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO FIXING, UM, TO, TO ADDRESSING THESE HOTSPOTS.

DO NOT IMP DO, DO NOT IMPOSE THIS ON OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST OUR RESIDENTS, BUT OUR BUSINESSES, RIGHT? PEOPLE COMING TO ME SAYING, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM PAYING OUR SIDEWALK CAFE FEES.

NOW WE'RE GONNA SAY, HEY, GUESS WHAT, 10% ON YOUR WATER BILL.

EXCUSE ME, 9% OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

NO, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO IMPOSE, UM, MORE FEES AND INCREASES.

COMMISSIONER BRYAN, I, I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, FISCAL RES, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT THEN AGAIN, THEN ALL OF THESE REQUESTS, WHETHER IT'S THE FILM REQUESTS TODAY FOR MORRIS LAPIDUS OR THE, YOU KNOW, OR THE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR MOUNT SINAI, THEN ALL OF THESE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND WE PAY FOR OUR TOILETS FLUSHING.

BUT I DO NOT WANT TO RAISE PRICES ON INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS WHEN WE WELL KNOW WE HAVE THE MONEY.

SO JASON, WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE MONEY APART FROM THESE INCREASES ON INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS? I'M GONNA BE A, A VERY VOCAL NOW, I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS.

THE BUDGET HAS SWOLLEN OVER THE PAST OKAY.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A 9% RATE INCREASE AND UH, WE JUST KEPT SPENDING THE MONEY THE YEAR PRIOR.

WHAT WAS IT? 14% EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

OUR BUDGET HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE PAST.

YOU KNOW, WE DID, WE RETURNED MONEY TO RESIDENTS AND WE DIDN'T INCREASE FEES.

WHY DON'T WE INCREASE FEES? WHY DO WE SUBSIDIZE THE RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH? GUESS WHAT? BECAUSE WE HOST A PARTY EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE SIT IN TRAFFIC.

OKAY? AND TOURISM DOLLARS ARE SUPPOSED TO SUBSIDIZE OUR LIVES HERE.

SO YOU'RE TAXING US ON BOTH ENDS.

AND DON'T SAY THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT YOU DIDN'T RAISE TAXES LAST YEAR BY 9% BECAUSE WE DID.

SO THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO FIND THE MONEY.

THIS IS REALLY WRONG.

UH, VICE MAYOR BOT THEN COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

SO, UM, THERE A COUPLE THINGS.

MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I, I'M NOT A BOND FINANCE EXPERT BY ANY STRETCH.

UM, THERE ARE MANY THINGS I'M NOT THAT, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT I'M NOT.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD AS PLANNED, THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO GET BOND MONEY TO PAY FOR THE WORK.

IT'S NOT THAT THESE INCREASES WOULD PAY FOR THE WORK DIRECTLY.

IS THAT A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OR A MISUNDERSTANDING? UH, CORRECT.

UH, IT'S STANDARD, UH, THAT, UH, MOST ENTERPRISE FUNDS BEING WATER, SILVER, AND STORMWATER AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS.

'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LARGE CAPITAL PROGRAMS HERE.

AND THIS, THIS PROGRAM, I THINK IS AROUND 670, $680 MILLION, UH, OF PROJECTS, UH, ACTUALLY OF NEW FUNDING FOR PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT, UH, 10 YEARS.

AND MOST OF OUR GENERAL FUND TYPE INFRASTRUCTURE, AS THE COMMISSIONER WAS STATING PARKS AND SIDEWALKS AND ASPHALT ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT THE VOTERS VOTED TO IMPOSE UPON THEMSELVES.

SO HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, EVERYONE JUST LET'S PLAY THIS OUT.

IF WE PASS THIS GOING FORWARD AND WE GET THE BOND MONEY WE NEED, AND IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE I THINK, I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE DAY IS TODAY, UM, AND SOME OF US, EVEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE BUDGET COVERS FOR OUR CITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

AND SO, UM, AND WE DEC WE MAKE A DECISION AS A BODY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DIAL BACK WHERE WE CAN ON SOME OF THE SOFTER THINGS THAT WE LOVE.

UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE LESS FUN THINGS LIKE SEWER LINES ARE PROPERLY FUNDED AND WE FIND THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY, UM, CHANGE THAT BALANCE OF WHAT THE RATE HIKE IS.

DOES THAT AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO GET BONDS? WELL, THERE'RE REALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT'S THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND, WHICH THIS BEING THE ENTERPRISE, OUR ENTERPRISE WATER SOURCE STORMWATER ARE COMPLETELY, UH, SEPARATE.

SO THERE'RE, SO WE COULDN'T TAKE THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY'RE NOT, YOU, YOU THEORETICALLY, UH, THERE COULD BE A, A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND, UH, INTO A WATER SEWER STORMWATER, UH, TO PARTIALLY FUND THE PROJECTS.

BUT I WOULD TELL YOU WE KIND OF ALREADY DO THAT ON THE LAR THESE LARGE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, WEST AVENUE PHASE TWO IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THIS PROGRAM HERE IS WEST AVENUE PHASE THREE, UH, FIRST STREET, NORMANDY ISLES, NORTH SHORE D FLAMINGO, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THE BIG NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

AND IN THERE THE ABOVE GROUND PORTION, WHICH IS ABOUT 10% OF THAT MASSIVE, UH, BILL, UH, COMES FROM, UH, USUALLY THE GENERAL FUND BEING THE PAYGO.

AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH ON SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

MOST OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENDITURES COME FROM OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, NOT FROM OUR GENERAL FUND.

WE HAVE OUR, OUR CAPITAL ORDER REPLACEMENT AND OUR PAYGO MILLAGES, WHICH BRING IN ONLY A FEW MILLION DOLLARS PER PER YEAR.

[04:30:01]

SO EVEN A THIRD SOURCE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT IF, BUT IF I COULD, I JUST WANTED TO, TO KIND OF EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY AND WHY, WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS ACTUALLY VIA COMMISSION DIRECTION.

SO BACK IN MARCH OF 2020 BY RESOLUTION, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE WATER AND SEWER MASTER PLAN, INCLUDING THE PROJECT PRIORITIZATION OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN.

AND, UH, WITH, WITH THE 10 YEAR CRITICAL NEEDS PRO PROGRAM IN JULY OF 2020, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE, THE PRIORITIZATION OF 40 OR 50, UH, DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE, AS COMMISSIONER BOT MENTIONED, UH, WEST AVENUE I THINK IS AROUND 60% DESIGNED AND FIRST STREET'S AT 90%.

SO ALL WILL PROBABLY NEED BIG CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS, UH, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

IN MARCH OF 2024, ONLY ONE YEAR AGO, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, INCLUDING THE 10 YEAR PRIORITIZATION OF CRITICAL NEEDS AND DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO, TO COMMENCE A RATE STUDY TO PAY FOR THIS MASSIVE PROGRAM.

IN JUNE OF 2024, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE FIRST STREET NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD COMPLETING DESIGN AND DO CONSTRUCTION.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, FIRST STREET WAS A LONG AND WINDING ROAD, UH, BUT WE FINALLY GOT TO, TO THE END, OR WE'RE ALMOST AT THE END.

AND THEN JUST THIS SEPTEMBER OF 2024, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE WEST AVENUE IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROJECT PHASE THREE AND DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED.

SO ONCE WE HAD ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS WITH THEIR CONSULTANT, BRIAN HERE, PUT TOGETHER THAT WHOLE TEAM, THAT WHOLE PRIORITIZATION, ALL THE COMMISSION DIRECTIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, LAID OUT THE PROJECTS AS COMMISSION HAS ALREADY APPROVED THEM.

AND WE'RE NOW AT THAT TIME REALLY TO APPROVE, UH, YOU KNOW, A SET OF RATE INCREASES TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

THIS ISN'T NEW.

I KNOW I'VE, I'VE BEEN KIND OF PARROTING THIS FOR THE TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN YOUR, YOUR CFO, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO WHEN THE, UH, COMMISSION APPROVED THE $85 MILLION DECLARATION OF INTENT TO ISSUE FOR WATER AND SEWER, WHICH WAS JUST TO FUND REALLY THIS YEAR'S CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR WATER AND SEWER SAYING WE HAVE TO COME BACK WITH THAT RATE STUDY.

THIS IS THE LAST DOLLARS THAT WOULD LET US BE A DOUBLE A RATED, UH, UTILITY, WHICH IS WHERE WE WANNA BE.

UM, SO THAT'S JUST THE HISTORY OF WHERE'RE AND JUST TO KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM TIES IN SE ABOUT $77 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

SO THIS ISN'T THE GOING, YOU KNOW, GOING ON OUR OWN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE'S A LOT OF GRANT DOLLARS THAT ARE PUT IN THERE.

AND I THINK ONE LAST THING I JUST WANNA STATE IS JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE UTILITY RATE INCREASES, WHICH WE WENT THROUGH IN DETAIL, UH, AT FE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT THIS ITEM TECHNICALLY, BUT JUST A REMINDER BECAUSE IT WAS A POINT THAT WAS, UH, DISCUSSED BY THE THREE MEMBERS THAT WERE AT FERC A LOT WAS THIS VERY SIMILAR DISCUSSION APPEARS TO HAPPEN BACK IN 2017, WHERE, UH, THERE WAS INTEREST IN MOVING FORWARD BUT DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.

AND AT THE TIME, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDED A 22.5% INCREASE IN STORMWATER FEES TO MOVE FORWARD ALL THOSE PROJECTS, AND THEN A SERIES OF SMALLER INCREASES.

UH, BUT AT THE END, THE, THE, THE COMMISSION APPROVED ONLY 3.5%, WHICH OBVIOUSLY DELAYED MANY PROJECTS.

AND KIND OF, THAT WAS THE PAUSE, I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT.

SO BETWEEN THAT AND THE RATES THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN, UH, NOT DOING THE 22 AND A HALF, AND THEY'RE DOING SMALLER, ACTUALLY, IF JUST STICKING TO INFLATION AND NOT THE DICTATED NUMBERS BY THE COMMISSION, WE ACTUALLY LOST OUT 10 MORE PERCENT TO JUST INFLATION BASED ON THE LOW BELOW INFLATION, UH, RATES THAT WE'VE BEEN INCREASING.

SO TO THAT POINT, JASON, THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UM, ILLUMINATING THE HISTORY.

UM, THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT GETS.

POINT NUMBER ONE.

NOW I'M HEARING IT DOES JEOPARDIZE.

UM, IF WE, UH, PUT A PAUSE ON THIS NOW, WE, WE WILL LIKELY LOSE ALMOST $70 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS THAT WE ARE COUNTING ON.

I I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE HAD THESE, UH, GRANTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AT CERTAIN POINT THERE'S AN EXPIRATION.

WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR EXTENSION.

SO I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA STATE THAT IF TODAY YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING BUT RISK, RISK, WE'RE AT RISK OF LOSING YES, POSSIBLY UP TO 70 MILLION.

WE WANNA TAKE ACTION.

AND I CAN'T GO TO MARKETS EITHER UNTIL WE, THE PUBLIC BOARD DIRECTOR TOLD ME NO THE OTHER DAY.

SO I SAID YES OR IS A NO, BECAUSE I'M GETTING CONFLATING INFORMATION.

SO I NEED CLARITY FROM OUR STAFF.

I NEED CLARITY FROM OUR STAFF BECAUSE THE ONE THING I DO NOT LIKE IS GETTING CONFLICTING INFORMATION AND I'M GETTING CONFLICTING INFORMATION.

IT SEEMS LIKE MY COLLEAGUE IS GETTING ONE SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING A DIFF A DIFFERENT, UH, SET OF INFORMATION.

I WAS TOLD THIS DOESN'T JEOPARDIZE, UH,

[04:35:01]

SO WHICH ONE IS IT? WE NEED CLARITY.

IF I, IF I CAN OR I'D SAY WAS I CANNOT DEFINITELY SAY THAT TODAY IF WE DON'T TAKE AN ACTION TODAY, THERE WOULD BE A, A RISK OF, UH, LOSING THOSE GRANTS.

BUT AT SOME POINT, UH, IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD ON THE PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE WILL HAVE CLARITY IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN TODAY.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

AND SO IF I, I WANTED TO JUST FINISH MY, BECAUSE I HAD A THIRD QUESTION FOR YOU.

UM, THE, THE FACT THAT WE AS A CITY DID NOT INCREASE OUR IMPACT FEES ON OUR DEVELOPERS FOR 30 YEARS, I THINK THAT PREDATES ALL OF US IN THE ROOM.

MITCH, MAYBE NOT YOU.

I WAS HERE, IT WAS HERE.

UM, IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I DON'T HAVE IT QUANTIFIED, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD'VE OFFSET THE COSTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO PAY ALL ALONG THE, THE PROCESS.

BUT, UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HELPS.

SO AS A SEPARATE MATTER AND MR. ATTORNEY, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE DO THIS, BUT AS A SEPARATE MATTER, I WOULD LIKE TO DO AN, AN AFTER THE FACT RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WE BRING THE, UM, IMPACT FEES, THE RELEVANT IMPACT FEES UP TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM CONTINUE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.

SET AT 30 YEARS AGO, I, THAT WAS VERY POORLY STATED.

UM, WE ARE, WE ARE COLLECTING FROM OUR DEVELOPERS THE SAME DOLLAR FIGURE, YOU KNOW, LIKE $4 PER ACRE OR WHATEVER THE THING IS FROM 30 YEARS AGO WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT.

I'M SORRY, I CAN'T EVEN ARTICULATE THIS PROPERLY.

THEY ARE PAYING WHAT THEY PAID 30 YEARS AGO TODAY.

AND THAT HAS NOT GONE UP WITH THE, WITH, UM, THE RATE OF INFLATION THAT HAS NOT GONE UP WITH ANYTHING.

IT HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED ONE SINGLE TIME IN THREE DECADES.

SO AS A SEPARATE MOTION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE RESET OUR IMPACT FEES TO BE SET AS TO WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.

CURRENTLY, IT'S NOT GONNA FIX THIS WHOLE ISSUE, BUT IT'S GONNA HELP.

AND, AND, UM, AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER THING IS ON HOW TO DO THAT.

I'LL SECOND THAT, BUT I I HAVE A QUESTION RIGHT HERE.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT, OH, OKAY.

SO RIGHT NOW IN THIS ECONOMICALLY VOLATILE SITUATION, YOU ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE GO INTO A $680 MILLION.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING, JASON? THE NEW MONEY WOULD BE, UM, IN, IN THAT REALM? YEAH.

I THINK IT'S 680 MILLION IS THE, THE NEW MONEY NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.

AND YOU NEED ALL OF THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT IS THE DEBT SERVICE? WHAT, OKAY, IN TRANCHES, JUST MY TURN.

AND WHAT IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE 680 MILLION PER YEAR? 'CAUSE MAYBE COMMISSIONER BOUGHT THE IMPACT FEES CAN COVER THIS DEBT SERVICE AND THEREFORE WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPOSE IT ON, UM, OUR RESIDENTS.

SO LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS.

I I DON'T NEED THAT.

'CAUSE BY THE WAY, WE'RE CALCULATING MILLAGE RATE INDEPENDENT OF DEBT SERVICE.

SO BASICALLY WE'RE BUFFALOING OUR CONSTITUENTS AND SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE'RE KEEPING YOUR MILLAGE RATE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MILLAGE RATE, IT SAYS MILLAGE RATE PLUS DEBT SERVICE ON THE G FIRST GEO BOND PLUS DEBT SERVICE ON THE ART SERVICES BOND.

NOW YOU'RE GONNA PUT US INTO AN ADDITIONAL $680 MILLION OF DEBT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DEBT SERVICE IS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE ECONOMIC SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

AND FRANKLY, JASON, I QUESTION THIS ENTIRE PROPOSITION AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THAT MONEY.

BUT WHAT I DO THINK IS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT, THAT COULD PAY THE, THE, THE DEBT SERVICE ARE NOT JUST, UM, IMPACT FEES FROM, UH, DEVELOP FROM NEW PROJECTS.

BUT I THINK THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO, UM, HOLD ANY KIND OF EVENT IN MIAMI BEACH, UM, LET'S ADD ON A FEE AND THAT FEE WILL COVER OUR DEBT SERVICE ON THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT.

WE SIT IN TRAFFIC, WE HANDLE LIKE THE CRIME THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.

WE ARE IMPOSED UPON CONSTANTLY.

WE HAVE CRIME BECAUSE OF IT.

AND WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR IT? WE SHOULD, YOU WANNA HOLD YOUR PARTY IN MIAMI BEACH, FINE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HELP SUBSIDIZE IT IF THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT IS.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN, UM, WELL THOUGHT OUT.

I I ALSO, I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT 9% NEXT YEAR.

I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS PRUDENT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA CUT.

ARE YOU GONNA START CUTTING EMPLOYEES AFTER THIS? BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE PUT US INTO THIS DEAD SERVICE AND YOU WANNA CUT US? I MEAN, LIKE YOU DO, YOU KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS GONNA BE BECAUSE EVERYWHERE THAT I'M READING, PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED.

SO, AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AND THERE IS EXTREME, UM, INSTABILITY AND VOLATILITY, THAT'S NOT, WHEN YOU SAY I'M GONNA TAKE ON MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT, IN MY OPINION, YEAH, IF I CAN ANSWER THAT, UM, THE WATER AND SEWER RATES, UH,

[04:40:01]

HAVE NO IMPACT ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL.

SO YOUR MILLAGE RATE, UM, HAS NO, IS NOT AT ALL AFFECTED BY YOUR WATER AND SEWER BILL.

IT'S A, IT'S A USER RATE, UM, MUCH LIKE ELECTRICITY OR GAS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON THAT, NOR NOR THE VOTER APPROVED.

UH, GEO BOND DEBT SERVICE, THE, NO, BUT THE, THE GEO BOND DEBT SERVICES ARE PART OF THE RA EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, I HEARD YOU LAUGHING AT ME, BUT AT LEAST I'M BRI AT LEAST I'M BRINGING TO LIGHT, UM, WHAT'S REALLY TAKING PLACE HERE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BURY IT.

AND I'M TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION SO THAT WE DON'T RAISE TAXES AND FEES ON OUR RESIDENTS.

SO, SO WHAT IS THE TOTAL OF THE DEBT SERVICE THAT WILL WE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS BASED ON THIS PLAN? OKAY, FIRST, JUST THE CLARIFY.

UM, THE, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THERE IS A VOTER IMPOSED, UH, GEO BOND DEBT SERVICE, BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT BY THE WAY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T DO THIS.

CITY OF MIAMI DOESN'T DO THIS.

THEY DON'T BOND INTO THEIR WATER AND SEWER BILLS.

THEY DON'T NO, THEY DO NOT.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S, MAYBE THEY HAVE STARTED, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU WHAT, WHERE DO THEY BOND THEIR MONEY? IT'S GOING INTO A GENERAL, IT'S A GENERAL BOND.

NO, I'M SORRY.

THAT'S INCORRECT.

AND AS, AS A WATER AND SEWER ENGINEER FROM 25 YEARS AGO, BEFORE AS A-C-F-O-I, WHO, WHO HELPED MANAGE THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF, OF A BILLION, BILLION DOLLAR WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL PROGRAM, I ASSURE YOU THAT THE, THE FEES COME THROUGH BONDED.

THE ONLY WAY THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS ABLE TO GENERATE THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL PROGRAM THAT IT'S IN AGAIN NOW IS THROUGH WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS.

THIS IS THE STANDARD WAY THAT ALL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS RAISE DOLLARS TO BUILD THEIR WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

MR. MAYOR, MAY I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS? WAIT, I, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET THE DEBT SERVICE NUMBER.

I SUAREZ, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

IF, IF IT'S OKAY.

WELL, FIRST LET'S FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

WELL, IN THE MEANTIME THEY CAN LOOK IT UP, BUT I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR OUR CFO.

NO, I'LL LOOK UP THE INITIAL, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE INCREASE IN REVENUE ON THE FIRST YEAR FROM THESE, UH, RATE INCREASES, UH, IN TOTAL.

YEAH, I'M GONNA ASK BRIAN MANZA THE RATE CONSULTANT WHO DID ALL THIS WORK TO GO THROUGH.

AND IF BRIAN, YOU COULD, UM, WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL, UH, WATER? SO, OR STORM WATER.

SO MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME THE FIRST YEAR.

AND THEN THE SECOND YEAR, UM, AND THEN THROUGH THE FIFTH YEAR.

AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. MERRI, I'D LIKE TO STAY IN DEBATE.

YOU'D LIKE TO, WHAT? I'D LIKE TO STILL BE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK AFTER THEY GET THE ANSWERS.

I, I DID PROMISE, UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE BEFORE YOU, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AFTER THIS.

YOU YEAH, HE'S JUST LOOKING AT HIM.

IT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE, BUT FOR THE RECORD, BRIAN MANZ FROM, FROM GOV RATES ON THE WATER AND SEWER, UM, RATES, THE, THE, UH, THE, UM, ESTIMATED REVENUE WOULD, WOULD, UH, UM, INCREASE FROM 105 MILLION TO ABOUT 114.5 MILLION IN, IN 2026.

SO, SO A $9 MILLION GAP.

AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH YEAR.

GET TO, UM, WE ARE ONE OF THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES THAT GET TO COLLECT AND RETAIN ALL OF OUR BED AND FOOD BEVERAGE TAXES.

IN, IN, UH, 2027 IT WOULD BE 124.8 MILLION.

2028, IT WOULD BE 136 MILLION 2029, IT WOULD BE 142 MILLION.

UM, THAT WOULD BE FOR WATER AND SEWER.

FOR THE STORM WATER, IT WOULD GO IN, UH, TWO THOU, IT WOULD GO FROM 40 MILLION IN 2000 FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO $49 MILLION IN 2020 6, 55 $0.3 MILLION IN 2027.

AND, UH, 61.5 MILLION IN 2028 AND 67.9 MILLION IN 2000, UH, 29.

SO ABOUT 70 MILLION EXTRA IN, IN REVENUE IN THE LAST, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TOTAL.

AND, AND JASON, WHAT, WHAT WAS OUR, WHAT WAS HER TOURIST TAX REVENUE, UH, FOR LAST YEAR THROUGH ALL THE TAXES? I THINK IT WAS OVER, OVER A HUNDRED, 120 IN THAT RANGE.

AND THEN WHAT DO WE, WHAT DO WE KEEP, I'M SORRY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? DO WE, DO WE KEEP THE WHOLE AMOUNT? YES, YES.

[04:45:01]

DO ANY OF THOSE FEES AS COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, DOES THAT GO TOWARD OUR WATER AND SEWER? NO.

SO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

I DO, AND THIS ISN'T, LET'S NOT MAKE ANY OF THIS PERSONAL, RIGHT? I, I DO THINK WE'RE CONFLATING A FEW ISSUES AND MOSTLY ENTERPRISE FUNDS THROUGH GENERAL FUNDS.

SO THE QUESTION IS RATHER SIMPLISTIC, DO WE WANT TO CARRY FORWARD WITH THESE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY STORMWATER WASTEWATER PROJECTS? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THE WAY YOU PAY FOR THAT IS THROUGH ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AND IF WE WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO UNDERTAKE THE CAPEX AND THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO RAISE MONEY THROUGH OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, RIGHT? WE SHOULD REALLY BE BIFURCATING OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUNDS BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTRAINED UNDER STATE STATUTE THAT WE CAN'T CHARGE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

THIS REALLY BECOMES, UH, WE'RE REALLY CONFLATING VARIOUS ISSUES.

THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS AND WHAT COST IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO BE? NOW, IF WE SAY YES, WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD, BUT THAT IMPACT IS TOO MUCH, THEN PERHAPS WE REEXAMINE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I WOULD LIKE A LIST OF THE PROJECTS WHICH ESSENTIALLY ARE BAKED INTO THIS, AND THEN IT BECOMES A SEPARATE LEGISLATIVE DECISION OF IF PEOPLE ARE BURDENED BECAUSE WE WENT FORWARD WITH IMPOSING THESE INCREASES IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THEN HOW DO WE PROVIDE THAT RELIEF? IT'S NOT THROUGH AN ENTERPRISE FUND, IT WOULD BE THROUGH SOME SORT OF, UM, GENERAL FUND.

YEAH, PROBABLY THE GENERAL BUDGET.

UM, , THANKS FOR JUMPING IN THERE.

UH, BUT YES, IT WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OF HOW WE CAN ESSENTIALLY, UH, SHORTER SOME OF THAT BURDEN, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE ONLY WAY WOULD BE APPLY SOME TYPE OF, UH, POPULATION THAT WE ESSENTIALLY, UH, DESCRIBE, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH INCOME OR OR AGE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

AND MONEY FROM OUR GENERAL FUND WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE REDISTRIBUTED TO THAT PRESELECTED POPULATION TO HELP, UH, SHOULDER SOME OF THAT BURDEN.

SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT, ONE WE ASKED SIMPLISTICALLY IS, ARE WE GOING FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS? DO WE NEED TO SCALE IT DOWN BECAUSE THE INCREASE IS TOO MUCH? AND IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, AND THEN WE FIND A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION TO HELP SHOULDER SOME OF THAT IMPACT THROUGH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, UH, VIA OUR GENERAL FUND.

RIGHT? BUT WE'RE REALLY CONFLATING THOSE TWO ISSUES.

WE CAN'T ESSENTIALLY SIT HERE AND, AND TALK ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT, THAT'S OVERALL WHY PEOPLE, UH, THEIR COSTS HAVE GONE UP ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT WE'RE KIND OF CONFLATING THESE TWO ISSUES IS CORRECT.

THE BIG, SOME OF THOSE BIG DOLLARS, AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS.

AND IF I COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ANSWER THE, I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION YOU WERE ASKING WAS, WAS THE PROJECTS, AND I, I DON'T WANNA GO INTO, 'CAUSE THERE'S MANY, BUT I WILL AT LEAST READ OFF THE, THE BIG DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

SO THERE'S WEST, THIS WOULD COMPLETE WEST AVENUE, THE FUNDING, UH, GAP FOR WEST AVENUE, PHASE THREE, UH, AL, UH, FIRST STREET, ALTON ROAD, UH, TO WASHINGTON PHASES ONE AND TWO, AND PHASES THREE AND FOUR.

UH, THIS WOULD ALSO FUND THE NORTH SHORE D PHASE ONE, THE NORTH SHORE PHASE TWO.

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, UH, NORMANDY ISLES PHASE ONE, NORMANDY ISLES, PHASE TWO DESIGN, UH, FLAMINGO LOOMIS PHASE ONE DESIGN.

UH, AND THEN WHAT LOOKS LIKE AROUND 400 MILLION OR SO, UH, IN WATER SEWER, UH, MAINS AND REHAB PUMP STATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, UH, NORTH BAY RAY ROAD, LAKEVIEW, UH, SEWER COLLECTION UPGRADES.

UH, THERE ARE DERHAM AND EPA CONSENT DECREE, UH, REQUIRED DOLLARS.

AND OF COURSE THE FDOT ALTON ROAD, UH, DOLLARS, THAT'S AN AL YOU KNOW, THE ALT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, UH, FOR THE DRAINAGE AND THE WATER AND SEWER ISSUES WE HAVE IN THERE.

IT'S A DOT PROJECT, BUT WE HAVE TO FUND OUR, UH, UNDERGROUND, UH, ITEMS ON THAT.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE LIST OF THAT.

AND, AND YOU ARE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.

UH, LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE COMMISSION APPROVED THESE PROJECTS IN THIS PRIORITIZATION AND AT THIS TIMELINE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF, IF, UH, THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN LOWERING THAT RATING IMPACT, OBVIOUSLY PROJECTS WOULD HAVE TO COME OFF THAT LIST.

AND WE'D HAVE TO RE-LOOK AT, UH, OUR STORM WATER MASTER PLAN, OUR WATER AND SEWER MASTER PLAN, OUR WATER AND SEWER CRITICAL NEEDS, AND STORMWATER CRITICAL NEEDS.

AND THEN IF WE ARE AT

[04:50:01]

GOT IT.

AND, AND I KNOW I'M ASKING YOU TO QUANTIFY IN A, UH, UNQUANTIFIABLE SCIENCE HERE, BUT I DON'T WANNA SAY WISHY-WASHY ON THE GRANTS, BUT TRY AND COME IN ON, ARE WE IN CODE YELLOW, CODE RED ABOUT THE DANGER OF LOSING SOME OF THESE GRANTS? I I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY ISSUE, ASSUMING THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, UH, AT, AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT MONTHS OR, OR, OR, UH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, SOMEWHERE IN THAT FRAME TIMEFRAME.

UH, SO IT ISN'T ABOUT TODAY, YOU KNOW, AS COMMISSIONER FEREZ WAS, WAS VERY CORRECT IN THAT STATEMENT.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT AN ACTION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TODAY BECAUSE AS THAT ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF FERC, THESE RATE INCREASES ARE PROJECTED TO BE PUT INTO PLACE, UH, OCTOBER 1ST.

UM, BUT WE HAVE TIME TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WANNA GET IT SETTLED SO WE CAN BEGIN PLANNING TO MOVE THESE DOLLARS FORWARD AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT SIX TO NINE MONTHS OR A YEAR, WE'LL BE READY FOR CONSTRUCTION ON NUMBER OF, SO FINALLY, DO YOU HAVE A LEG UP OR AN IDEA ON WHAT SOME OF THESE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WOULD BE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TIED TO THEM, BUT DO YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ESSENTIALLY GONNA GET THE INSTRUCTIVE TO FIND WAYS TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE, SHORTER, SOME OF THESE BURDENS, THE STAFF, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OPEN-ENDED TO STAFF, WHETHER IT BE THE CITY MANAGER, CFO OR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE DIRECTION WE WOULD GO FOR SOME OF THESE, UH, RELIEF EFFORTS? AND HOW QUICKLY ARE THE TIMELINE THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SOLID SO I CAN JUMP IN ON THAT? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, I THINK, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOCATE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO HELP SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A FIXED INCOME OR LOW INCOME TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET SOME OF THESE COST INCREASES.

THE MOST CHALLENGING PIECE OF THIS IS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY SHARE A WATER BILL.

FOR EXAMPLE, MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS HAVE ONE WATER BILL FOR AN ENTIRE BUILDING.

AND SO IT'S NOT, IF, IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THIS WOULD BE A MUCH SIMPLER CALCULATION.

WE COULD JUST ASSESS WHAT ARE THE INCOME LEVELS IN THAT HOME, AND HOW DO WE SUBSIDIZE THE BILL FOR THAT PARTICULAR HOME.

WHEN YOU HAVE SHARED WATER BILLS, IT BECOMES, UM, INFINITELY MORE COMPLEX.

AND WE LITERALLY JUST GOT THIS A WEEK AGO.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DELVE INTO THAT, BUT, BUT POINT OF ORDER, 'CAUSE I'VE HAD AN ITEM PENDING ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR, AND NOT, NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN, UH, THERE FOR, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS ON HAVING TO DO WITH, WITH UTILITY RATES.

UH, AND THAT'S NOT A NEW REFERRAL THAT'S BEEN THERE.

IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WILLY NILLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION FOR A LONG TIME THAT I THINK HAS, UH, HAS BEEN THERE.

AND MY APOLOGIES, THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO SOUND IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, LIKE IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE OR WAS WILLY-NILLY.

WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST SIX TO 10 MONTHS OVER UTILITY BILLS.

AND THESE ARE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS.

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

UM, AND I AM VERY, UM, AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE GONNA BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THESE TYPE OF RATE INCREASES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND SO TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SPLIT THE BABY, SO TO SPEAK, IS, IS REALLY WHERE I THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA EITHER SUCCEED OR FAIL IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.

UH, VICE MAYOR BOT, THEN COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ, AND THEN COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

SO ERIC, IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY, OR MAYBE IT'S A BRAD QUESTION, I'M NOT SURE, BUT, UM, IS THERE A REASON WHY WE CAN'T HAVE WATER METERS FOR EACH UNIT IN A MULTI-FAMILY HOME? BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, ON PARKVIEW ISLAND, UH, I LIVED IN A TOWNHOUSE AND THERE WERE EIGHT OF US CONTIGUOUSLY ATTACHED, UM, AND ALL THE WATER METERS, AND OBVIOUSLY THE PIPES COME INTO A DIFFERENT PLACE, BUT ALL THE WATER METERS CAME IN, LIKE WERE IN ONE PLACE.

SO WOULDN'T THERE BE A WAY TO, WOULDN'T IT BE POSSIBLE TO ASSIGN, UM, USAGE FOR AS IT'S METERED, AS IT'S BEING USED? I, I DON'T KNOW.

I MAY, MAYBE, MAYBE IT CAN'T.

BUT IS IS IT TECHNICALLY IMPOSSIBLE? IS IT LEGALLY IMPOSSIBLE? IS IT POSSIBLE? BUT WE'VE NEVER DONE IT.

IT'S NOT A SEPARATE SERVICE BY THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW, SO NO, I KNOW IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT IS THERE A REASON IT CAN'T BE DONE? IF, IF I CAN, IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, MY CONDO BUILDING HAS

[04:55:01]

365 UNITS, YOU KNOW, I LIVE AT MY BEACH AND I WOULD BE, I WOULD THINK 365 INDIVIDUAL PIPES RUNNING THROUGH THE BUILDING TO 365 INDIVIDUAL METERS SOMEWHERE ON THE BUILDING.

UM, OKAY, SO, BUT MAYBE FOR A, A SMALL MULTIFAMILY, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

YOU KNOW, LIKE AN EIGHT UNIT JUST, I DUNNO IF THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT THAT WAY TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL SERVICE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BUILT TO HAVE ONE MASTER, UH, PIPE FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL EIGHT UNITS OR 16 OR 32 OR WHATEVER THEY ARE.

COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ, THANK COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

IF WE DIDN'T, IF WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE WAS GOING TO BE, HOW DID WE CHOOSE 9%? WAS IT ARBITRARY? UM, THAT AND WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

AND THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER BOT, I THINK YOU HAD A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE I THINK THAT NEW PROJECTS SHOULD COVER THIS $680 BILLION BOND DEBT SERVICE FEE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGALITIES ARE SURROUNDING IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT IF YOU WANNA BUILD A 400 FOOT TOWER, WELL THEN YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR OUR RESILIENCY PROJECTS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO ON THIS.

UM, WE NEED TO PASS THIS OFF TO, UM, TO, TO, TO DEVELOPERS WHO, UM, ARE GOING TO BUILD THESE MASSIVE TOWERS.

AND WE HAVE PROJECTS, LARGE PROJECTS COMING CITYWIDE.

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MOVE THIS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND HAVE YOU GUYS WORK OUT THE NUMBERS, THE DEBT SERVICE NUMBERS, UM, LOOK AT THE IMPACT FEES AND, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO CHARGE IN IMPACT FEES TO COVER THE COST OF THE DIFFERENTIAL IN DEBT SERVICE.

IF I COULD, IF I COULD ADD IN, I'M JUST ASKING BRIAN, THE IMPACT FEES DON'T BRING IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE'RE TALKING IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN THE 10, OKAY, WE NEED TO BRING THOSE IMPACT FEES INTO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE EVERYBODY'S PUBLIC BENEFIT.

IT'S NICE TO GET ALL THESE OTHER BELLS AND WHISTLES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE'RE PASSING THE COST OFF, WE SHOULD JUST SAY TO PEOPLE, YOU'RE GONNA PAY INTO THIS FUND AND THIS FUND IS GONNA CO COVER THE DIFFERENTIAL IN OUR IMPACT FEES.

AND I SEE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S GIVING ME A LOOK, ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO, UM, DO THIS? I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS, BUT IMPACT FEES CAN BE RAISED, I THINK IF IT'S BY 25% OVER TWO YEARS, IF IT'S BY BETWEEN 25 AND 50% BY OVER FOUR YEARS.

AND I BELIEVE THERE'S EVEN NEW LEGISLATION THAT IS FURTHER RESTRICTING THE ABILITY FOR US TO IMPOSE IMPACT FEES.

I THINK THE, WHAT IF WE DON'T CALL IT AN IMPACT FEE, LET'S CALL IT SOME OTHER KIND OF FEE.

WHY IS IT AN IMPACT FEE? IT'S A CITY WATER AND SEWER CONTRIBUTION, UM, FEE THAT WE COLLECT, UM, FROM PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BUILD MASSIVE TOWERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT TAX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS IS.

AND I'M SURE THAT THEY WANT RESILIENT STREETS TOO.

SO BY THE WAY, INSTEAD OF FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THESE BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GETTING, AT LEAST WE'RE INVESTING IN SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BENEFIT NOT JUST THE DEVELOPER AND THE PROJECT, BUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, BUT ALL OF US AS, AS A WHOLE, I WOULD RATHER ALL OF THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WE GET FROM PEOPLE TO GO TO OUR BASIC NECESSITIES.

AND BY THE WAY, DEVELOPERS WANTING THE ZONING ARE WILLING TO PAY INTO THESE TYPES OF FUNDS.

I MEAN, PEOPLE COME TO ME ALL THE TIME AND THEY SAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT THE, WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR BENEFIT TO BE? THEY'RE THAT, UM, MICHAEL STERN IS WILLING TO PAY 12,000,024 MILLION FOR THIS BIKINI HOSTEL.

WELL, MAYBE THAT TYPE OF MONEY SHOULD BE GOING INTO THESE RESILIENT PROJECTS.

UM, AND WE HAVE, WE SHOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S THE SMART THING TO DO.

LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN NORTH BEACH.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING SIX LARGE BUILDINGS, RIGHT? WE ARE PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO AND PLUMBING FOR THESE SIX MASSIVE BUILDINGS, AND THE DEVELOPERS PROFITING, AND ALL OF US ARE PAYING.

HOW MUCH IS THAT RESILIENCY PROJECT COSTING THE CITY IN NORTH BEACH RIGHT NEAR THE TOWN CENTER PROJECT? DO YOU KNOW? DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER? YOU TALKING ABOUT NORTH SHORE D PROJECT? NO.

THEY WANT THESE LARGER BUILDINGS? REALLY THEY DON'T.

WHAT'S THE, THAT'S OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

125.

WHY ARE WE PAYING THAT? WHY ARE WE PAYING THAT MONEY IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF WITHOUT THESE PROJECTS, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO DO THAT PROJECT? GRANTED, THERE ARE UPDATES NEEDED, BUT THE POINT BEING HERE IS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SHOULDERING THE COST.

I DON'T WANT AN ABUELA LIVING IN, YOU KNOW, NORTH BEACH TO PAY $40 MORE PER PER IT, IT, IT'S, IT, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE.

I, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

IT'S HARD SOMETIMES TO PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PASS THIS COST OFF BECAUSE IF YOU WERE TO ASK OUR RESIDENTS, DO

[05:00:01]

THEY REALLY DON'T.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE ACCOMMODATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THESE, I I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD GO IN.

AND WE SHOULD START ACTUALLY WITH THE DOVA.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE APPROVE THE DOVA, WE CAN SAY TO THE PUBLIC BENEFITS, WHAT'S THE FIRST AMOUNT THAT WE NEEDED? $9 MILLION? I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE FOR THE DOVA, BUT LET'S HAVE THAT FIRST YEAR.

LET'S HAVE HIM PAY INTO A FUND INSTEAD OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE PROMISED TO DO.

THEN YOU HAVE THE, UM, WEST AVENUE PROJECT.

YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS COMING UP IN ADDITION TO RAISING THE IMPACT FEES TO WHAT THEY SHOULD BE, LET'S START, UM, SUBSIDIZING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HELPING OUR RESIDENTS.

MR. MAYOR, THANK, MAYOR.

UH, WELL, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS NEXT, UH, THEN COMMISSIONER FERNET, BUT WE GOTTA BRING THIS HOME FOR A LANDING.

LET'S, LET'S START TAKING SOME VOTES.

I THINK WE WE'RE PRETTY MUCH STAKED OUR POSITIONS.

AND THEN I'LL LET YOU SPEAK AS WELL.

LET, LET ME HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.

A PLAN THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO PROTECT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT LINE OF LOGIC WHERE WE WOULD HAVE DEVELOPERS PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT MEANS WE WOULD ALWAYS NEED DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? WE WOULD, WE WOULD ALWAYS NEED TO BE BUILDING ALL THE TIME TO FUND OUR WATER AND SEWER.

I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN, THAT IS LITERALLY OVER DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, UH, THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FUND OUR WATER AND SEWER IS TO GET MORE DEVELOPMENT AT MY BEACH.

AND I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, I, I'VE KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS LATELY AND PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.

SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S A VERY NARROW MINDED WAY TO, TO, TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO JUST, AT THE END OF THE DAY, VOTE HOW YOU, UH, FEEL, UH, ABOUT THIS AND, AND, AND SEE IF NOW IS THE TIME, IF WE WANNA RAISE RATES AT, AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME TO DO SO.

I, IN 2020 WHEN THIS WAS A COMMISSION OBJECTIVE, I THINK WE WERE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SPOT, UM, AND OF A DIFFERENT SPOT FINANCIALLY.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS, THINGS WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THEN.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA VOTE YET, BUT IF IT'S CALLED FOR A VOTE, I'M, I'M GONNA VOTE ON IT, MR. MAYOR.

AND THEN, UH, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S BRING THIS HOME FOR A LANDING AND LET ME KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE WITHDRAWING THE ITEM.

AND GO AHEAD.

WELL, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE A FEW POINTS, UH, AGAIN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, RESILIENCY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PIPES.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PUMPS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ROADS.

RESILIENCY IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THAT.

WE CAN BUILD A DRY CITY, BUT IF WE PUSH OUT OUR PEOPLE, THEN WE'RE ONLY FRANKLY, LITERALLY TAKING THEIR OWN MONEY TO PUSH THEM OUT.

UM, AND IF WE PUSH OUT OUR RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, THEN WE HAVE FAILED AT EVERY DEFINITION OF RESILIENCE.

PJ UH, PULL UP PAGE FIVE OF THE ATTACHMENT I SENT YOU.

PLEASE.

I FIND IT QUITE RICH THAT I HAVE PEOPLE STAND IN FRONT OF ME AND TELL ME THAT THEY'RE, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMPLICATED THING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES AND ALL THAT.

WE'VE HAD SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, SEVEN MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE CREATION OF A UTILITY COST RELIEF PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO ABSORB INCREASED UTILITY FEES, PROTECTING LOW INCOME TENANTS, AND SUPPORTING HOMESTEAD OWNERS AND RISING UTILITY RATES.

I WANNA THANK THE JUROR WAS GOING TO BE HEARD, I THINK IN MARCH.

I REQUESTED A, A DEFERRAL FROM OUR MARCH MEETING BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN, BUT WE'VE HAD SEVEN MONTHS.

SEVEN MONTHS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW.

AND THANK YOU PJ FOR THAT.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW.

THIS IS NOT A NEW DISCUSSION.

THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCERN.

BUT WE FORGET ABOUT THE POOR.

THEY'RE NOT PRESENT IN OUR MIND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOUD VOICE.

'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOBBYIST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ONLINE PLATFORM BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AND THEY CAN'T BE SEATED IN THESE COMMISSION CHAMBERS TO TELL US THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

DO WE CARE ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT OUR DECISIONS HAVE ON THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY AND THEIR AFFORDABILITY TO LIVE IN OUR CITY? ARE WE GOING TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT? AND SO I'M GONNA WITHDRAW MY ITEM.

I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR TO TAKE UP ITEM R SEVEN E AND LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.

AND IF IT FAILS, THEN IT FAILS.

AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEN THE ADMINISTRATION WILL COME BACK WITH

[05:05:01]

NOT JUST OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

OF COURSE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS A PRIORITY.

WE'VE BEEN, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST UNIFIED COMMISSION TO ADVANCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE DONE THAT, BUT WE HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE WON THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND THE PUBLIC HAS TRUSTED US TO ADVANCE ON THAT AGENDA.

BUT WE DON'T KEEP THAT TRUST.

IF WE DON'T PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT.

WE NEED TO DO IT RESPONSIBLY.

SO I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY ITEM.

I ENCOURAGE YOU, MR. MAYORS YOUR PREROGATIVE, YOU'RE THE PRESIDING OFFICER, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL R SEVEN E.

I'M MAKING IT VERY CLEAR IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PLAN THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THAT I'M ASKING THROUGH THIS MORATORIUM, IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT PLAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SUBJECT OUR RESIDENTS TO BEING SUBJECT TO BEING PRICED OUT.

WILL THE RICH ONES BE PRICED OUT? NO, THE RICH RESIDENTS WON'T BE PRICED OUT.

THEY'LL BE UPSET.

THEY WON'T LIKE IT.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE, THAT ARE GONNA BE HURTING THE MOST.

THERE IS GONNA BE PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH US, WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, WHO AREN'T AWARE OF IT.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA SUFFER THE MOST FROM, FROM THIS DECISION.

THE PEOPLE PAYING EVERYONE'S SALARY IN THIS ROOM, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO WERE GONNA BE HURTING.

SO, SO WITH THAT, I WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND LET IT BE WHAT IT IS.

COMMISSIONER.

UM, ITEM IS WITHDRAWN.

CAN I CALL R SEVEN E OR DO WE HAVE A PENDING MOTION? NO, YOU CAN CALL R SEVEN E BECAUSE THAT MOTION SHOULD BE MADE IN THE NEXT ITEM.

R SEVEN E.

OH, YOU HAD A COMMENT, RIGHT? UH, BRIAN MANZ FROM GOV RATES AGAIN, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO, TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT FEE LEGISLATION.

THERE IS A SECTION IN THE FLORIDA IMPACT FEE ACT THAT DOES SAY THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION FEES.

AND SOME, UH, A LOT OF LEGAL INTERPRETATIONS HAVE BEEN THAT, UM, THAT THE CONNECTION FEES ARE ESSENTIALLY, UM, DOESN'T REFER TO, DOESN'T APPLY TO WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEES.

SO, UM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD SUPPORT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S THERE ARE ANY LIMITATIONS TO, TO RIGHT SIZING THE, THE IMPACT FEES.

THE SECOND COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE IS, IS THAT IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE TO, TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS WITHOUT BOND FINANCING.

AND UNTIL THE CITY HAS A MULTI-YEAR SCHEDULE OF RATES ADOPTED THERE, THERE REALLY IS, IT'S NOT IN THIS CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO, TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY BOND FINANCING FOR THE WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN YOU ISSUE BONDS, THE RATING AGENCIES WANNA SEE A FIVE YEAR FORECAST.

AND ONE OF THE, THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN THE RATING IS, DOES THE CITY, DO THE CITY LEADERS, UM, RAISE RATES WHEN NEEDED? SO WHATEVER, WHATEVER CAPITAL PROGRAM THE, THE CITY WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD, THEY THE, IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO SHOW THAT IT IS FULLY FUNDED, THAT ALL THE INCREASES NEEDED FOR THAT MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED.

IF NOT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CITY COULD LOSE ITS BOND RATING.

AND THE IMPLICATION OF THAT IS THAT YOU, THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF EXTRA, UH, INTEREST RATES AND ISSUANCE COSTS.

SO, UH, UH, AGAIN, UNTIL SOME ACTION IS, IS TAKEN ON ADOPTING A MULTI-YEAR SCHEDULE OF RATES TO, TO FUND THE CAPITAL PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY, UH, IT, IT'S NOT OF THIS CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO DO ANY KIND OF BOND BOND FINANCING.

UH, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S, IT'S, YOU, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE CA THE CASH TO, TO FUND ALL THESE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

R 70 ER 70 E IS DISCUSSED, I'M SORRY, R 70 E ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION, PROCEED WITH WATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER RATE ORDINANCE MARKETING PLAN.

[R7 E A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AT ITS FEBRUARY 21, 2025 MEETING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO: 1) PRESENT AN ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING AT THE APRIL 23, 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AMENDING THE CITY'S WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER RATES, WITH THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONTHLY RATE STRUCTURE TO TAKE EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND THE IMPACT FEE ADJUSTMENT TO START AS PROPOSED IN THE COMMISSION MEMORANDUM ACCOMPANYING THIS RESOLUTION; AND 2) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, INCLUDING AN EXPLANATION OF THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER RATE STRUCTURE.]

MAY I ASK A CHRIS, MR. MAYOR I GO AHEAD AND THEN VICE MAYOR B.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AVERAGE, UH, INCREASE OF ABOUT, WHAT, $18 FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT $15 PER WATER, SEWER, AND STORM WATER COMBINED.

SO IF WE WOULD REEVALUATE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH, RIGHT? AND STILL GO FORWARD WITH MAYBE THE BULK OF THEM, RIGHT? BUT PERHAPS REEVALUATE IF THERE'S ONES THAT WE SAY, YES, THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE RESILIENCY IN OTHER WAYS IN OUR CITY.

AS MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ HIGHLIGHTED AND WE, UH, DEFER

[05:10:01]

OR GET RID OF A HANDFUL OF THOSE OTHER PROJECTS THAT PERHAPS WE DECIDE AREN'T AS MUCH UP THE PRIORITY LIST.

WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT COULD THAT MAKE IN TERMS OF THE RATES, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE PASSING ON? COULD WE ESSENTIALLY GET AWAY WITH A $5 INCREASE? WOULD IT BE AN $8 INCREASE, $10 INCREASE? RIGHT.

I I, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY IS, WELL, IT DEPENDS WHAT PROJECTS YOU GET RID OF, BUT IF WE WOULD, UH, KEEP THE TOP, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE WE LOOKING AT IN SUMMATION? THERE, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ABOUT, YEAH, A DOZEN, UH, OR MAYBE ABOUT EIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS, WHICH ARE, AND JUST THE DOLLARS THAT ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE FUNDING, UH, BETWEEN WEST AVENUE PHASE THREE, FIRST STREET AND NORTH SHORE D UH, 222 MILLION.

IT'S ALMOST A THIRD ARE JUST IN THOSE THREE PROJECTS.

BUT THE, THERE'S A, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER THAT ARE IN THE CRITICAL NEEDS.

WATER, SEWER, UH, STORMWATER, MAINES AND REHAB AND PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AND WATER STATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. THERE'S, UH, ABOUT 350 MILLION OR MORE IN THERE.

BUT THOSE ARE MADE UP OF LITERALLY DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PROJECTS.

AND I GUESS, BRAD, I, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A POLICY MAKER, BUT FROM YOUR VIEWPOINT, YES, EVERYTHING'S IMPORTANT, BUT ARE THERE SOME IN THERE A HANDFUL THAT WE COULD LIVE WITHOUT OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS AND DEFER THAT, UH, TO ESSENTIALLY HELP SOFTEN SOME OF THE RATE INCREASES THAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE, UH, IMMEDIATE AND NEAR TERM.

IF, IF I COULD, BEFORE BRAD JUMPS IN, WHEN WE LOOK AT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, UH, PROJECT BEST PRACTICES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PRIORITIZATION, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU REALLY LOOK AT IS FUNDING THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED.

SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE EQUATION MIGHT BE WHICH PROJECTS ARE IN DESIGN THAT YOU NEED TO CONSTRUCT AND THAT WOULD FALL INTO PLACE SOME BIG DOLLAR ONES LIKE WEST AVENUE PHASE THREE.

WHAT'S THE AGGREGATE OF, UH, NUM, WHAT'S THE AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR WEST AVENUE? PHASE THREE AND FIRST STREET COMBINED ARE ABOUT $110 MILLION IN NEEDED FUNDING FOR THOSE, JUST FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE IN DESIGN, BUT YOU KNOW, A BIG DOLLAR, ANYONE THAT HASN'T STARTED DESIGN, UH, COULD BE PAUSED, YOU KNOW, INDEFINITELY UNTIL, UH, WE WANTED TO START THOSE UP.

SO THOSE WOULD INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS NORTH SHORE D WHICH THE COMMISSION, I BELIEVE JUST GAVE, UH, CONSENT TO BEGIN NEGOTIATING THE DESIGN FEE.

WE COULD PAUSE THAT.

THAT'S $111 MILLION IN FUNDING NEEDS RIGHT THERE.

UM, AND THEN THE NORMANDY AISLE, ALL THE ONES THAT HAVE IT STARTED DESIGN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE STARTED DESIGN THAT ARE REALLY FAR DOWN THE ROAD ARE, UH, PHASE THREE OF WEST AVENUE AND FIRST STREET.

IF YOU WANTED TO DEFER, UH, OR CANCEL ALL THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BRING DOWN THE SCALE OF THE 10 YEAR PROGRAM.

AND, AND WHAT, WHAT IS THE COST TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET FOR US? AND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS ESSENTIALLY IF WE WOULD SIT HERE AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET NOW WITH THESE UTILITY RATE INCREASES FOR THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY A DESIGN OF $120 MILLION, PERHAPS THAT ONLY LEADS TO A RATE INCREASE OF BACKING INTO THE NUMBER THREE OR $4 PER MONTH PER, UH, RESIDENT, WHICH I THINK IS CERTAINLY MANAGEABLE.

AND SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALL GET BY NOT PUTTING WORDS IN ANYBODY'S MOUTH.

UH, OKAY.

THEN WE ESSENTIALLY SIT THERE AND SAY, WELL, OUR, THE PROJECTS IN TIER TWO AND POSSIBLY TIER THREE, WE'LL REEVALUATE THOSE IN TWO YEARS, UM, WHEN MAYBE OUR FINANCIAL, UH, PICTURE AND ECONOMIC SITUATION, UH, CLARIFIES A BIT OR, OR HOPEFULLY SOFTENS.

UM, WOULD IT BE SILLY THEN TO SIT THERE AND SAY, WELL, WE'LL GO TO THE BOND MARKET AGAIN? ARE WE TALKING IT TAKES US A MILLION DOLLARS TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET OR $5 MILLION U USUALLY THE, THE ISSUANCE COSTS ARE AROUND 1% OF THE, OF THE PRINCIPLE.

OH, SO IT'S ACTUALLY COMMENSURATE WITH THE AMOUNT.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE, UH, SOME LARGE ABSOLUTE NUMBER UPFRONT IT'S GOING TO BE COMMISERATED ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS.

IT'S YEAH, BETWEEN ONE AND 2%.

SETS OF PRIORITIZATIONS THE COMMISSIONER APPROVED, IS WE WOULD COME BACK, I GUESS WITH A, A NEW PRIORITIZATION PLAN THAT WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY WANNA PRIORITIZE THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN DESIGN.

IF I COULD, CAN ADD, OUR FIRST ISSUANCE WILL BE AT LEAST 85 MILLION.

THE COMMISSION HAS ALREADY GIVEN DIRECTION ON A DECLARATION OF INTENT ISSUE BASED ON AN EXISTING RATE STRUCTURE TO KEEP US IN THE DOUBLE A RATING.

BUT OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANNA GO TO MARKET TO TAP OUT THE LAST 85 MILLION IN OUR FINANCIAL PLAN.

UH, 'CAUSE ALL THE QUESTIONS WILL BE ABOUT THE FUTURE, UM, AND WHAT OUR, OUR FUTURE IS.

SO UNLESS WE DOWNSIZE, UH, DRAMATICALLY, WHICH MAY BE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND STOPPING ALL PROJECTS THAT ARE, HAVEN'T STARTED DESIGN YET AND PUTTING THEM ON PAUSE OR COLD STORAGE AND ONLY MOVING FORWARD ON THOSE, UH, BOTH IN CRITICAL NEEDS AND WE COULDN'T JUST SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA TAKE A LADDERED APPROACH.

RIGHT? UH, SO THE ONE WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE BOND MARKET NOW, UH, FOR THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY IN DESIGN PHASE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, IT WOULD, IT WOULD JUST BE RESTRUCTURING OUR, OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM DID NOT BE, WHAT WAS COMMISSION APPROVED WITH OUR FOUR

[05:15:01]

AND, AND I GUESS I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, AT A REDUCED AMOUNT WITH THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE DESIGN PHASE.

THAT WAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S A MUCH, MUCH MORE, UM, MANAGEABLE RATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN BACK INTO THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, UH, BUT WE'RE TALKING PROBABLY IN THE SIX TO $7 PER MONTH RANGE.

AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE A LADDERED APPROACH WHERE, UH, WE STILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE OTHER PROJECTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY IN A DEFERRED MANNER THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A BIT OF A HAUL.

BUT WE CAN DO THAT IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION TO REPRIORITIZE OUR PROGRAM.

I THINK MANAGER, ERIC, SO I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK TODAY.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX SOLUTIONS.

UM, I, I ALSO HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT, THAT MAYBE WE CAN, UM, ADJUST THE INCREASES ON THE BASE RATES AND MAYBE PUSH MORE OF THE INCREASES ONTO THE CONSUMPTION RATES.

AND SO PEOPLE THEN CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY SEE LARGER INCREASES BASED ON THE AMOUNT THAT THEY USE.

SO LET US TAKE THAT BACK.

LET US WORK THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

UM, MAYBE WE CAN BRING THIS BACK OR HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AT FERC NEXT MONTH, UM, AND TRY TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PALATABLE BECAUSE I HEAR THE ANGST AMONGST THE DAYS.

UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PUSH THIS FORWARD TO A VOTE RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY NOT GONNA LAND IN A GOOD SPOT NO MATTER WHICH SIDE ENDS UP ON TOP.

OH, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A VOTE.

SO, UM, I HAVE A A, A PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT AS YOU GO BACK AND, UM, CONSIDER HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

UH, A PAL OF MINE IS AN ARCHITECT SMALL SCALE.

HE IS NOT A DEVELOPER LESS THAN ANYONE THINK THERE'S THAT GOING ON.

AND HE TEXTED ME 'CAUSE HE IS WATCHING AND HE SAID, AND I'LL READ IT.

UM, SUBMETERING IS A VERY COMMON THIRD PARTY SOLUTION.

LOTS OF HOAS DO IT TO SPLIT COSTS OF OVER WATER, OVERALL WATER FEES.

IT'S A SIMPLE INSTALLATION.

EACH UNIT HAS A SEPARATE SHUTOFF ANYWAYS.

ONE PIPE GOES INTO A UNIT, IT'S A COMMON PRACTICE.

AND I SAID, CAN, UM, CAN IT WORK FOR A 300 UNIT BUILDING? AND HE SAID, YES, IT'S EASY.

IT GOES IN RIGHT WHERE THE SHUTOFF VALVE GOES BECAUSE EVERY UNIT HAS TO HAVE A SHUTOFF VALVE BY CODE FOR THEIR UNIT.

UM, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF COMPANIES WHO'S WHO, WHO DO THIS.

UM, I DON'T, HE DIDN'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD IF ANY MUNICIPALITY HAS EVER DONE THIS, BUT I WOULD REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT COMES BACK DOES A DEEP DIVE ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, A SIGNIFICANT WAY TO HELP IMPROVE THIS OUTCOME FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISAGREES WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

THE REASON WHY THIS CITY WORKS IS THAT IT'S IS BECAUSE IT'S A CITY FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST SOME.

AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO, I THINK MOST OF US, IF NOT ALL OF US ON THE, SO I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF, UM, GIVING YOU A MONTH OR SO TO COME BACK.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANNA JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE, UM, THE RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER THE VEHICLE IS TO INCREASE THE UTILITY IMPACT FEES EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO GET LOST AND I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO WAIT UNTIL THIS BIGGER ISSUE GETS, GETS RESOLVED.

LAURA, THANK YOU.

UH, ONE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE IS, UM, A LOT OF BUILDINGS HAVE THE WATER ALREADY CON INCLUDED, SO IT'S NOT DONE BY CONSUMPTION PER UNIT AND IF IT WERE, IT WOULD BE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO RECONFIGURE THAT.

ALSO, IF THERE'S A PROPERTY OWNER THAT OWNS THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND THEY ARE RENTING OUT THE UNITS, THE WATER IS LIKELY INCLUDED AS WELL.

SO IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT TO THE LANDOWNER AND, UH, NOT NECESSARILY AN IMPACT TO THE RENTER, UM, IF THEIR YEARLY LEASE ISN'T UP AT THAT TIME.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

JUST THINKING THAT YOU CAN ADJUST THE PRICE INDIVIDUALLY MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

OKAY, LET'S WRAP THIS UP.

ARE WE, ARE WE MOVING THIS TO FINANCE COMMITTEE? WE DISCUSSED THAT,

[05:20:01]

I THINK, UM, AND THEN WE, I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.

YEAH, I JUST, UM, IF I CAN PJ IF YOU HAVE WHAT I JUST SENT TO YOU.

THIS IS FROM A RESIDENT THAT JUST TEXTED ME.

I WORK IN, EARN A MODEST SALARY.

I CANNOT WORK AND LIVE HERE EVEN THOUGH I CANNOT NOT WORK AND LIVE HERE, EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD BE RETIRED AT THIS AGE OF 71 A HIKE AND WATER RATES IS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN.

I BELIEVE SLOWLY MIAMI BEACH WILL ONLY BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE WELL OFF.

AND THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS ECHOED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ONE PERSON THAT REACHED OUT.

THAT IS WHAT'S GONNA TRICKLE DOWN TO SO MANY OTHERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THE FORTUNE OF EVEN THE LEAST WEALTHY AMONG US ON THIS DAY.

SO MANY OF US THAT ARE GONNA BE SUFFERING THE WAY PEOPLE LIKE THAT ARE SUFFERING EVEN WITH A MODEST INCREASE UNLESS WE FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM ABSORB THOSE COSTS.

I'M, I'M WITH YOU COMMISSIONER.

I I WAS CO-SPONSOR WITH YOU ON YOUR ITEM C SEVEN W.

SO, UM, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, IF WE'RE GONNA REFER THIS TO FERC, WE'LL NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND AND DO THAT.

AND THEN WE SHOULD CALL THE VOTE ON R SEVEN E.

AND I, IF I MAY, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER VAUGHT MADE A MOTION TO SPLIT THE ORDINANCE UP SO THAT THE IMPACT FEES ARE, COULD MOVE FORWARD AND THAT WOULD NEED A SEC, A FIRST READING.

NOW IT'S POSSIBLE YOU COME BACK AND YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT ADDRESSES EVERYTHING.

UH, BUT I I LEAVE IT TO COMMISSIONER BOT.

I I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO SPLIT THIS, CORRECT? YES.

YEAH, I DON'T WANNA DELAY ON THAT.

'CAUSE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT WE DECIDE ON THE OTHER THING, OUR IMPACT FEE SHOULD NOT BE 30 YEARS OUT OF DATE.

AND IT'S, IT'S, AS MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD WOULD SAY, IT'S A SHONDA THAT, THAT IT IS.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THAT MEANS IT'S MAYOR.

DO YOU WANNA A SHAME? UM, IT, IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT FOR 30 YEARS WE HAVEN'T UPDATED THE, UM, THE IMPACT FEES SO THAT, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE.

SO YES, I ABSOLUTELY WANNA BIFURCATE IT.

I MAKE THE MOTION.

I WOULD HOPE THAT IT'S A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

IS IT A MOTION TO FINANCE? NO, TO, TO, UM, IT'S A MOTION TO BRING THE ORDINANCE BACK, BUT ONLY TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT.

LET'S, LET'S, WELL, WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED, UH, SORRY FOR SPEAKING OUT OF CERTAIN, WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED, UH, LAST FINANCE MEETING ABOUT INCREASING THE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE CHARGED FOR DEVELOPERS.

'CAUSE AS THE VICE MAYOR SAID, UH, IT, IT'S BEEN DECADES, 30 YEARS, 30 YEARS SINCE THE, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE TO THE IMPACT FEES CHARGED FOR DEVELOPERS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT THAT MIGHT HAVE ONLY BEEN TWO OF US.

ALSO, I'LL SUPPORT THAT.

IT WAS STILL UNANIMOUS.

I'LL SUPPORT IT.

UM, BUT WE DID DISCUSS THAT AT FERC THAT, UH, WE DO NEED, UM, I BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY HAD A 1000% INCREASE, UH, THAT WE WERE SUPPORTING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT FEES.

AM I CORRECT IN THAT? YEAH, THERE WAS A LARGE INCREASE IN, IN THE IMPACT FEES THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PRESCRIBED STUDY THAT HAS TO BE DONE, WHICH WAS DONE.

IT IS A LARGE INCREASE THAT'S LISTED, BUT STILL, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S STILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

NOT, YEAH, TENS OF MILLIONS, WHICH IS WHAT DO WE NEED? BUT IF THAT'S THE INTEREST THAT, YEAH.

THAT THIS COULD COME BACK AS A FIRST READING ORDINANCE JUST TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACT FEE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DEALT WITH THAT COMMITTEE.

AND THEN THE, UH, THE BASE RATE AND FLOW RATE, UH, CAN GO BACK, UH, TO FERC TO RE-LOOK AT THAT AND, UH, EITHER READJUST THEIR CAPITAL PROGRAM AND OR, UH, THE, THE RATE INCREASE.

UH, SO WE COULD, WE COULD DO THAT.

THAT COULD BE THE, THE MOTION.

THAT IS THE MOTION.

AND THAT IS BEFORE US.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.

CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE PLEASE? JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS THAT COMING? THE, THE MOTION IS TO REFER THE RATE INCREASE TO FERC, BUT TO BRING BACK THE ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT SIMPLY TO THE IMPACT FEES.

SO WE'RE BRINGING BACK AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.

FIRST READING.

FIRST READING, JUST FOR THE IMPACT FEES ONLY.

GOT IT.

EVERYONE CLEAR? WE GOT A MOTION A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF, UH, THIS DIRECTION? UH, PLEASE SAY AYE.

THE OPPOSED DIRECTION IS GIVEN.

LET'S VOTE ON R SEVEN E.

WHAT DO I THINK THAT WAS R SEVEN E? THAT THAT WAS IT, WAS IT? OH, THAT WE, UH, MODIFIED 'EM.

SO THERE'S NO RESO AT THIS POINT, BUT YOU WANTED TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION, RIGHT? THIS BEFORE MAYOR, THAT WAS NOT, YEAH, I'M SORRY.

I'M SPEAKING TO THE MAYOR.

MY THINKING WAS THAT WE PASSED THAT MOTION, BUT THAT WE STILL HAVE R SEVEN E IF WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION.

UH, AND A SECOND.

IT JUST FAILS.

I'M GONNA MAKE, SINCE WE'RE ON R SEVEN E, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DECLINE THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION ON R SEVEN E.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS THE, I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT THE, THE PRIOR MOTION WAS RELATED TO R SEVEN A.

NO, MOTIONING THE RESOLUTION BACK TO FERC, IF I MAY.

AND ABOVE FROM ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO.

MY INTENT THAT WE JUST VOTED ON WAS TO TAKE JUST THE IMPACT FEES AND BRING THAT BACK AS A, AS A RESOLUTION TO THE COMMISSION IN APRIL, JUST ON THE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY 30 YEARS OUT OF DATE, SEPARATE

[05:25:01]

'CAUSE YOU WANTED TO SEPARATE THAT OUT FROM THE REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR, OUR IMPACT FEES HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED IN 30 YEARS IS OFFENSIVE TO MY CORE.

AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIX IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE, WE, WE NET OUT ON THE RATE INCREASE ON ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHOULD BE RECTIFIED YESTERDAY.

BUT YOU, YOU THAT PASSED AND YOU'RE GETTING THAT, THAT ORDINANCE IS COMING BACK AT THE APRIL MEETING.

WE ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT MOTION THAT IT'S GONNA BE REFERRED TO FINANCE.

SO THERE, THERE'S TWO SEPARATE ITEMS IN THAT MOTION.

YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU WANT.

IT'S JUST INCLUDED WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

IF, IF I MAY SUGGEST, 'CAUSE IT MIGHT BE COMPLICATED IF WHAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WON WISHES TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT THERE IS A REJECTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT THAT THERE IS A DIRECTION TO SEND RATES TO FINANCE AND TO BRING BACK THE ORDINANCE.

WE CAN REOPEN THE MOTION.

SO THEY ONLY HAVE TWO COMPETING MOTIONS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT CONFLICTING.

I DIDN'T VIEW THEM AS COMPETING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ON THE ONE HAND, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH, UH, A DIFFERENT PLAN.

AND HERE WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST SPECIFICALLY REJECTING OR THIS PLAN.

THIS PLAN.

ONLY BECAUSE THIS PLAN ALSO INCLUDED THE, THE RATE INCREASE OR IMPACT FEES.

SO YOU, YOU COULD REJECT IT AS TO THE RATES, I GUESS IF YOU WANNA DO THAT, WE'RE JUST REJECTING IT.

WE'RE JUST COME BACK WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

FIND A DIFFERENT RECURRING REVENUE SOURCE.

ICE MAYOR BOTS ITEMS STILL COMING BACK.

THE NEXT MEETING, WE'RE STILL REFERRING IT TO FERC.

REFERRING WHAT? TO FERC AN ADMINISTRATION PLAN.

IMPACT FEES OR MORE, MORE THAN JUST NO, BASICALLY THIS ENTIRE, IT'S R SEVEN E.

IT'S COMING UP WITH A, WITH A DIFFERENT PLAN THAN THE ONE PROPOSED REGARDING WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER RATES.

STORMWATER RATES.

THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE REFERRAL TO FERC.

WELL, LET, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S JUST, LET'S POSITION OURSELVES CAREFULLY.

HOW ABOUT WE LET, LET'S BIFURCATE THE TWO.

I THINK THAT'S, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS IS VERY CONFUSING.

I CAN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

STAFF IS VERY CONFUSED.

LET'S HAVE A VOTE TO, UM, BRING BACK THE RELU, UH, THE ORDINANCE FOR IMPACT FEES.

AND SEPARATE IN A HOLE FROM ANYTHING ELSE.

YEP.

AND THEN WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT R SEVEN E? ARE WE GOING TO, DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO, TO VOTE ON IT? I, I'VE ALREADY MADE A MOTION TO DECLINE IT.

THAT'S A MOTION, RIGHT? I SECOND.

R 70.

WELL, HOLD RICK, WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU HAVE, I MEAN, WE PASSED THE MOTION ALREADY.

UH, SO PROCEDURALLY, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND THEN? WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? WELL, WHAT, WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY THAT THE DIRECTION IS TO BRING BACK THE ORDINANCE, THAT EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT FOR THE IMPACT FEES.

MR. MAYOR, IN R SEVEN E STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO ACCEPT A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FERC FROM ITS FEBRUARY 21ST MEETING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT THE MARCH 19TH, 2025 MEETING, AMENDING THE CITY'S WATER, SEWER, AND STORM WATER RATES WITH THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONTHLY RATE STRUCTURE TO TAKE EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND THE IMPACT FEE ADJUSTMENT TO START AS PROPOSED IN THE COMMISSION MEMORANDUM.

AND TWO, DEVELOP A MARKETING PLAN FOR THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, INCLUDING AN EXPLANATION OF THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER STRAITS RATE STRUCTURE.

JUST MAKE, CAN WE JUST REJECT THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATION? I WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO REJECT THAT RECOMMENDATION.

THE, THAT'S THE MOTION WE, WE MADE ON THE TABLE THAT THE MAYOR HAS SECONDED TO REJECT THE ENTIRETY BECAUSE WE HAD A MOTION THAT WAS ACCEPTED TO COME BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE FOR THE IMPACT FEE.

SO YOU CAN TAKE OUT THE PART OF THE IMPACT FEE.

THAT WAS THE INCONSISTENCY.

SO, SO, SO AS AMENDED TO TAKE OUT THE IMPACT FEE.

WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? I STILL DON'T YEAH, I, I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR.

IT, THE ORDINANCE WAS ALREADY, WAS ALREADY VOTED ON.

APPROVED.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A MOTION TO HE TO VOTE ON R SEVEN E.

LET'S VOTE ON R SEVEN E.

I SECOND THAT MOTION TO VOTE ON R SEVEN E.

AND LET'S CALL THE ROLL, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR.

SO I, YEAH, I, I HAVE NO IDEA.

TELL US, BRING THIS ON FOR LANDING.

THE CURRENT RATE INCREASE PROPOSITION VOTING.

R SEVEN E IS REJECTED EXCEPT IN SO FAR AS THE IMPACT FEES, I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

NO, THIS IS SAYING NO TO

[05:30:01]

THAT IS BEFORE US JUST VOTING.

WE'RE JUST VOTING ON, SO WE'RE JUST VOTING, YEAH.

ON R 70 E, INDEPENDENT OF THE IMPACT FEES, WE ARE BUSY.

THE IMPACT FEE.

THERE'S TWO R 70 E INCLUDES BOTH.

THAT MAY BE THE CONFUSION.

R 70 E INCLUDES RATE INCREASE AND IMPACT FEE INCREASE.

WE'RE REFERRING TO FINANCE COMMISSIONER.

SO WE, WHAT WHAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S MOTION PROPOSES IS THAT WE TAKE A VOTE REJECTING R 70 E, EXCLUDING THE IMPACT FEES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

EVERYONE CLEAR? AND THEN ANOTHER VOTE WE REFERRING, WELL THAT'S BEEN DONE ALREADY REFER TO ALREADY WHEN NOW WE'RE JUST LITERALLY, WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.

YOUR IMPACT FEES IS COMING BACK IN APRIL.

FERNANDEZ'S MOTION IS JUST TO REJECT EVERYTHING IN R 70 EXCEPT FOR THE IMPACT FEES.

GO FORWARD WITH THIS.

OKAY, LET'S CALL THE VOTE SO TO REJECT R SEVEN E EXCEPT FOR THE IMPACT FEES.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION IS APPROVED.

ER FIVE R FIVE E IS NORTH OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

THAT WAS SMOOTH.

LET'S CALL NO RESIDENT.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

R NINE E, SORRY.

R FIVE ER FIVE

[R5 E HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD FEE WAIVER FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOME APPLICATIONS 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,” BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES,” ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “GENERAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION AND HEARING PROCEDURES,” SECTION 2.2.3, ENTITLED “DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REVIEW,” BY AMENDING SECTION 2.2.3.5, ENTITLED “FEES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS,” TO PROVIDE A FEE WAIVER FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

AMENDING CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

SO PART B ENTITLED MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER TWO, ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES ARE TO ENTITLED GENERAL DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATION AND HEARING.

PROCEDURE SECTION 2.2 0.3 ENTITLED DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REVIEW BY AMENDING SECTION TWO ENTITLED FEES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE A FEE WAIVER FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL QUALIFICATIONS, FAVORABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A FIRST READING, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM REQUIRES FIVE SEVEN'S VOTE.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE E.

UM, THE FEES TO GO BEFORE THE HPV ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE, AND IF YOU'RE DOING ANY WORK ON YOUR SINGLE FAMILY HOME, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FEES ARE WAIVED.

IS THAT BASICALLY IT? YEP.

SO THAT IS MY MOTION.

SECOND.

ALL VOTE.

I SEE.

MR. ERALDO IS ON ZOOM.

MR. ERALDO, PLEASE.

NAME, ADDRESS.

AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

DANIEL, YOU'RE MUTED YOURSELF.

HI, DANIEL ER WITH MBPL.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES.

WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSION, UH, FOR THIS ITEM.

UH, ONE THING I DID WANNA MENTION THOUGH IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOME RENOVATIONS ARE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY.

A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS IS USUALLY FOR MAJOR DEMOLITION WORK.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE INTENT TO MAKE THAT MORE EASY FOR A TOTAL DEMOLITION, BUT I DO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, THIS BILL FOR SIMPLIFYING AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES, WHICH IS PART OF THE CITY'S OVERALL VISION.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE.

PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

MAY I CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER VICE MAYOR BOT.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ? YES.

MAYOR MINOR.

R FIVE HR FIVE H IS A AL MAYOR CITY COMMISSIONER OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

MOTION CARRIES A SECOND READING.

PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 23RD.

[R5 H AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 82 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, ENTITLED “PUBLIC PROPERTY,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE VI, ENTITLED “NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MONUMENTS OR MEMORIALS,” BY AMENDING SECTION 82-503 THEREOF, ENTITLED “NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES; CO-NAMING AND RE-NAMING OF STREETS,” BY AMENDING SUBSECTIONS (C)(1)(A) AND (C)(2)(A) TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CO-NAMING OF STREETS IN HONOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE LASTING AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY THROUGH HEALTHCARE PHILANTHROPY, AND ARTS AND CULTURE; PROVIDING SUNSET PROVISIONS THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

AMENDING CHAPTER 82 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH ENTITLED PUBLIC PROPERTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE SIX ENTITLED, NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHMENT, OR OR MEMORIALS BY AMENDING SECTION 82 DASH 5 0 3 THEREOF ENTITLED, NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, CONA AND RENAMING OF STREETS BY AMENDING SUBSECTION C ONE A AND C TWO A TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA PROCEDURES FOR THE CONA OF STREETS IN HONOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS MADE LASTING AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY THROUGH HEALTHCARE, PHILANTHROPY, AND ARTS AND CULTURE, PROVIDING SUNSET PROVISIONS THEREOF, PROVIDING FOR RE REPEAT SERVICEABILITY CLARIFICATION ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE HI MOVE THE ITEM SECOND.

ALL THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ.

I SEE NO ONE ON ZOOM.

I SEE NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE.

COMM VICE MAYOR B.

MAYOR MINOR.

FIVE L IS AN NOTICE OF THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

MOTION CARRIES

[05:35:01]

THE ITEM AS APPROVED.

SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 23RD.

THAT WAS R FIVE HR FIVE LR

[R5 L AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, ENTITLED, “ADMINISTRATION,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “CITY COMMISSION,” BY AMENDING SECTION 2-14 THEREOF, ENTITLED “MEETING PROCEDURES AND AGENDAS,” TO REQUIRE THAT ANY RESOLUTIONS PLACED ON A CITY COMMISSION AGENDA WITH A FISCAL IMPACT GREATER THAN $75,000 AND SEEKING A WAIVER OF THE REQUIRED REVIEW BY THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE BY 5/7THS OF THE VOTE BY THE CITY COMMISSION MAY NOT BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SHALL INSTEAD BE HEARD AS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

IM AMENDING CHAPTER TWO, TWO OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ENTITLED CITY COMMISSION BY AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 14 THEREOF ENTITLED MEETING PROCEDURES AND AGENDAS TO REQUIRE THAT ANY RESOLUTION PLACED ON A CITY COMMISSION AGENDA WITH A FISCAL IMPACT OR GREATER THAN $75,000, AND SEEKING A WAIVER OF THE REQUIRED REVIEW OF BY THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE BY FIVE SEVEN OF THE VOTE BY THE CITY COMMISSION, MAY NOT BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SHALL BE SAID, BE HEARD AS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM PROVIDING FOR REPEAL, SERVICEABILITY, IFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.

IT IS ITEM R FIVE L.

UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.

UH, WE JUST SPENT AN HOUR DISCUSSING RATE INCREASES THAT ARE GONNA AFFECT ALL THE RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH.

UM, I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON, UH, THE ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO APPROVE.

IT'S NOT SAYING THAT WE CAN'T APPROVE THIS ON, UH, AT A COMMISSION MEETING, IT'S JUST THAT I DON'T THINK IT, IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO PASS IT ON CONSENT.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCUSSION FOR, UM, ANYTHING WITH THE $75,000 OR GREATER.

SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, I, I, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOME.

UH, THE RENEWED, UH, FOCUS ON FROM ALL OF US ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

UH, COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU CLARIFY, UM, ALL FOR, SO ANYTHING WITH A FISCAL IMPACT ABOVE $75,000 CAN'T BE PLACED ON CONSENT.

THAT'S PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

IT'LL HAVE TO, IT'S ANY ITEM THAT IS MORE THAN 75,000 THAT REQUESTS A FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER CANNOT GO IN CONSENT.

WHAT KIND OF ITEMS WOULD THOSE BE? I, I MEAN, I, I'D BACK YOU IF YOU SAID ANYTHING OVER $75,000, CAN'T GO ON CONSENT.

WHERE'S THE FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER COME? BECAUSE CURRENTLY YOU CAN REQUEST A FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER FROM REFERRAL TO FERC.

SO IT'S TO ENSURE THAT AN ITEM EITHER GOES TO FERC, GOT IT.

OR IS ON THE IRREGULAR AGENDA.

GOT IT.

YEAH, I SECOND THAT.

AND I COMMEND YOU AN APOLOGY FOR THIS.

ANYBODY? MY ONLY, I, I THINK, I THINK DISCUSSING BIG TICKET ITEMS IS A GREAT IDEA.

MY ONLY RESERVATION, MY ONLY HESITATION WITH THIS, BECAUSE THE WAY IT IS NOW IS THAT, UM, EVEN IF IT'S ON CONSENT, IT CAN GET PULLED AND DISCUSSED.

UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE, THE THOROUGH AIRING.

THE, THE CONCERN, THE, AND IT'S A SMALL ONE, BUT IT'S A CONCERN, IS THAT IF IT IS, UM, AN ITEM THAT DOESN'T GET CALLED AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA, AND LET'S SAY IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S MORE TIME SENSITIVE, LIKE IF IT'S, IF IT'S, AND MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE ROBERT RULES, BUT I THINK THAT IF IT'S ON CONSENT AND SOMEBODY PULLS IT, IT HAS TO GET HEARD THAT MEETING, IS THAT RIGHT OR NO? DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE MAYOR GETS THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS, SO EVEN IF IT'S, IF IT'S, UM, A CONSENT ITEM AND IT GETS PULLED, IF IT'S A CONSENT ITEM, OBVIOUSLY IT GOES THROUGH.

BUT IF IT GETS A CONSENT ITEM AND IT GETS PULLED, THAT PULLED CONSENT ITEM DOES NOT HAVE TO GET HEARD.

THAT HAPPENS ON OCCASION.

AND I THINK THE PROPER PROCEDURE AT THAT POINT WOULD BE TO LET THE MAYOR KNOW THAT THERE'S A TIME SENSITIVE CONCERN WITH RESPECT TO AN ITEM THAT WAS PULLED OR THAT IS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.

SO IF, IF THAT'S ALREADY THE WAY OUR AGENDA WORKS OR OUR PROCESS WORKS, THAT IT GOES INTO CONSENT.

AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A PROJECT OR UNDERSTAND IT BETTER, OR HAS RESERVATIONS THAT THEN GETS PULLED AND, UM, THEN IF IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, FIVE O'CLOCK AND IT HASN'T SURFACED YET, ANY OF US CAN LET THE MAYOR KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD BECAUSE IT'S TIME SENSITIVE.

SO TO ME IT'S LIKE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN, KIND OF.

SO YOU ALREADY HAVE GUARDRAILS.

SO, SO IT'S, WE KINDA HAVE THAT ALREADY.

WELL, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANNA SPEND $75,000 OR MORE, UH, AND THEN I YOU NEED A FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER, CORRECT.

OH, BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU WOULD BE GOING TO FERC.

DISCUSSION ON WHY, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE SPENDING $75,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

SO I, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH JUST DEMANDING A

[05:40:01]

UH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY WITH, UM, WITH FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

I THINK IT'S VERY PRUDENT FOR US TO, TO ALWAYS DISCUSS WHY MONIES ARE GONNA BE SPENT.

AND, UM, IT FORCES US TO ENGAGE IN THAT DIALOGUE.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THINGS ON CONSENT, UM, FOR $75,000 OR MORE.

IT REALLY PUTS THE ONUS ON THE, THE SPONSOR TO REALLY DISCUSS THE ITEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I THINK THAT'S GOOD TRANSPARENCY.

AND, UM, I, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

I, YOU KNOW, WE PUT A LOT OF SAFEGUARDS IN LAND ZONING REGULATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MEETINGS.

YOU HAVE TO, YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON CONSENT.

I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF STRINGENT POLICY FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

UH, I AGREE WITH, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT, WE HAVE THE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE ALREADY, AND THERE ARE, UM, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S THAT THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE DETAILS IN THESE BOOKS.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO AN AGENDA REVIEW.

EVERYTHING HAS GONE THROUGH THOROUGHLY.

SO THERE'S NOTHING HIDDEN OR SECRET WHEN IT'S ON CONSENT.

AND IF ANYBODY ON THE DAYS HAS AN ISSUE WITH IT, THEY CAN PULL IT AND THERE WILL BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION.

BUT, UM, I THINK THE GUARDRAILS ARE THERE.

UH, VICE MAYOR, YOU NAILED IT, COLLEAGUES.

I THINK THIS IS GOOD.

IF WE WANNA SPEND $75,000 THINK WE'RE UPFRONT, MAKE THE CASE AND THAT'S THAT.

UM, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UH, APPROVING THIS SECOND.

I'M SORRY, MOTION TO DO WHAT? MOTION TO APPROVE.

I ALREADY HAD ONE, BUT COMMISSIONER SCHWARZ AND YOU SECONDED? YEP.

SO, UH, THERE'S NO ONE ON ZOOM AND THERE'S NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK NOW CALL THE WILL.

SO I JUST, OKAY.

SO IN 2022, WE ADOPTED A PROCEDURE THAT REQUIRES THAT ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION WITH A FISCAL IMPACT GREATER THAN 75001ST BE REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY A COMMITTEE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

AND THAT WAS RECENTLY AMENDED SO THAT IT GOES TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

AND THEN IT, BUT THEN IT WAS UN UNLESS IT'S WAIVED BY A SI FIVE SEVENTH VOTE.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE WITH THIS? WHAT DOES THIS DO NOW, IF YOU ARE SEEKING NOT TO GO TO COMMITTEE? IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE SEEKING THE FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER, THIS ITEM WOULD REQUIRE THAT ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA AND NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO THAT IT MUST BE DISCUSSED.

UM, BECAUSE IN THE OTHER CASE, IT WOULD ONLY BE DISCUSSED IF IT'S PULLED.

SO PULL IT.

SO WHY WOULDN'T WE JUST PULL IT? RIGHT? LIKE TODAY THERE WAS AN ITEM WE GOT AND IT GOT PULLED.

CAN I, I MEAN, I JUST, IF I THINK YOU'RE ASKING ME THE QUESTION YEAH, YEAH.

SPONSOR, I'M SORRY.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

I, I THINK, I THINK EVERYTHING AS FAR AS MONEY BEING SPENT AT LEAST $75,000 OR MORE DESERVES A DISCUSSION.

I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A UNIFIED COMMISSION HERE NOW, BUT WHAT'S TO SAY IN FUTURE COMMISSIONS THAT THEY DECIDE TO HAVE NO DISCUSSION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, RECKLESS SPENDING.

I THINK IT ALSO PUTS THE ONUS ON THE SPONSOR TO REALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION READY TO, TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEM.

IT FORCES US TO BE VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE WANNA SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON.

I DON'T, I THINK IT'S, IT'S ALMOST SOMETHING LIKE A LOOPHOLE, UH, PUTTING ON CONSENT.

UM, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WHERE YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, PULLING THIS ITEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE ANOTHER ITEM.

I, I THINK THIS REALLY JUST SETS US BOTH IN A POSITION FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, ON, ON, ON WHY WE SHOULD SPEND, YOU KNOW, X AMOUNT OF, NUMBER OF DOLLARS 75,000 OR MORE ON, ON CERTAIN PROJECTS.

I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNMENT AND, AND IT, IT, IT REALLY, AND, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE PUBLIC SEES WHAT'S THE DISCUSSION, RIGHT? I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, UH, DOMINGUEZ SAID WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL HERE, BUT MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HOME, THEY DON'T READ THE AGENDA.

UM, AND, AND GET INFORMATION THAT WAY.

THEY, AT, AT BEST WATCH OUR MEETINGS, READ OUR NEWSLETTERS, AND, AND DISCUSS,

[05:45:01]

SO, LOOK, UM, I, I THINK IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I, I THINK THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE.

IF YOU WANNA SPEND $75,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY, UH, YOU SHOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO SPEAK UP ON THE SUBJECT AND, AND DISCUSS YOUR POINT IN A PUBLIC FORM.

AND SO, AND, AND SO I JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, SO HOW WAS THE $75,000 THRESHOLD DETERMINED? BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN WE MADE THIS POLICY IN 2022, YOU KNOW, I WAS QUESTIONING WHY $75,000? UH, AND I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE TIME, BECAUSE TO ME, EVEN $50,000, IT'S A LOT OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN LOWER IT.

EVEN, EVEN $25,000 IS, IS A LOT OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING, LIKE, HOW, HOW DID YOU COME TO THE $75,000, UH, THRESHOLD FOR THIS? BECAUSE, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WASN'T ELECTED IN 2022, SO I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY IT WAS 75,000.

APPARENTLY, MR. MR. CITY ATTORNEY.

YOU CAN CORRECT, OR YOU CAN, YOU CAN READ INTO THE RECORD OF, OF WHY IT'S 75,000.

I THINK THAT WAS JUST THE DETERMINATION BY THE, BY THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME TO USE THAT THRESHOLD.

THAT IS, UH, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE CODE.

I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOWER IT TO 50,000.

I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

'CAUSE I THINK THE MECHANISM IS ALREADY THERE.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE MECHANISM WAS SHOWN TODAY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN ITEM FOR 75,000.

IT WAS PULLED.

AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.

I THINK TODAY WE SEE ITEMS BEING PULLED OF SMALLER AMOUNTS.

I THINK, I THINK THERE'S AN ITEM FOR $5,000 BEING PULLED FROM THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, LET'S JUST MAKE EVERYTHING LIKE, WHY BE A COMMISSIONER THEN? LIKE, LIKE IF WE'RE NOT GONNA TRUST EACH OTHER, LET'S JUST BE FRANK.

IF WE'RE NOT GONNA TRUST EACH OTHER AS COMMISSIONERS, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC, HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE PUBLIC TO TRUST US WITH THEIR ASSETS? AND WHAT THIS ITEM IS SAYING IS THAT WE DON'T TRUST EACH OTHER AS, AS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

I THINK THE MECHANISM IS THERE ALREADY WHERE WE CAN PULL AN ITEM, WE CAN DISCUSS AN ITEM, WE CAN REFER IT TO COMMITTEE WITHOUT OVER HAVING, WITHOUT HAVING TO OVER LEGISLATE IT.

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT OFTENTIMES WE JUST HAVE CARRY OVER ITEMS AND THESE EXTENDED DISCUSSIONS.

THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HOW I FEEL AT THE MOMENT.

I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT.

YEAH, SURE.

UM, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS, UM, RECOMMENDED BY OUR CFO, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT JASON HAS TO SAY ON THIS, UH, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH, WELL, I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE CFO'S THINKING WAS IN RECOMMENDING THIS POLICY.

I'M SORRY, IF YOU COULD TO JUST REPEAT YOURSELF.

SORRY, I WAS TALKING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ABOUT A PRIOR ITEM.

THIS IS ON THE $75,000 YEAH.

UH, REFERRAL.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THIS? UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DISCUSSION, UH, UH, ABOUT THIS.

AND THIS WAS REALLY, I THINK IT WAS IN YOUR INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT ITEMS WERE, YOU KNOW, PROPERLY REFERRED TO FERC AND TO KIND OF PUT AN EXTRA, THIS, AND I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS REALLY TO PUT AN EXTRA, UM, HURDLE IN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ITEMS JUST ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, APPROVING EXPENDITURES MID-YEAR THAT HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE PREVIOUSLY.

AND, AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT TRUST.

IS A PREDICAMENT BECAUSE I USUALLY LIKE TO FOLLOW STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS BEFORE I SIT ON THE DAYS TO VOTE ON SOMETHING.

I THINK, UH, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WE ALL TRUST EACH OTHER.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS MORE ABOUT OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY OF WHY WE'RE SPENDING MONEY.

AND I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO OPEN AN, AN ENGAGED PUBLIC SETTING OF WHY WE WANNA SPEND MONEY.

I THINK IT REALLY PUTS THE ONUS ON THE, ON THE SPONSOR TO DESCRIBE, UH, WHY ARE WE SPENDING THIS MONEY? UM, SO, SO LEMME JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE NOW I'M MORE CONFUSED.

SO I SEE THE ADMINISTRATION HAD A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS, AND I DON'T SEE A, A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE AGENDA.

AND, AND HE JUST SAID THAT IT WAS YOUR IDEA, NOT HIS IDEA.

AND YOU SAID THAT IT WAS HIS IDEA.

SO WHOSE IDEA WAS IT? SO WHERE'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION? BECAUSE I GUESS THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDED THIS, BUT THERE'S NOT AN OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION ON THE AGENDA.

SO I, THIS

[05:50:01]

SO I'M BEING TOLD THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK A POSITION ON THIS, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION WERE NOT PRIVY TO THAT POSITION.

IF I MAY, THIS WAS A DISCUSSION THAT THE COMMISSIONER, UH, REQUESTED TO HAVE IN HIS OFFICE THAT WE SAT AND, UH, HAD A DISCUSSION OVERALL ABOUT THE CITY'S BUDGET, UH, IT INCREASING.

UM, AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONER HAS, I THINK, OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA OR ARE ON, OR BEING REFERRED RELATED TO, UH, TRY TO THEIR BEST TO KEEP THE TRAJECTORY OF THE BUDGET INCREASING.

AND THIS WAS JUST A, AN OVERALL SERIES OF, OF MANY DIFFERENT POLICY DISCUSSIONS, UH, THAT HAPPENED, UH, IN A, IN A PRIVATE MEETING IN THE COMMISSIONER'S, UM, OFFICE.

AND THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT THE COMMISSIONER DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

IT WASN'T SPECIFIC, UH, TO THIS, THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THAT MEETING.

THERE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE MANY.

JUST THERE WERE MANY IDEAS DISCUSSED.

IF I MAY, IT STARTED OFF AS A DISCUSSION REALLY RELATED TO THE ITEM.

I THINK THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA AS A REFERRAL TO FINANCE MM-HMM .

ABOUT, UH, HAVING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, UH, CUT BY 10% OR 0% CPI.

IT WAS REALLY, THAT WAS THAT DISCUSSION.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW THAT ALL THAT, UH, WE HAVE GOING ON AT OUR FEDERAL LEVEL AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT, HOW DO WE WANNA LOOK AT OURSELVES IN THAT AREA? SO THERE WAS YOU A VERY, IT WAS A VERY LONG ENDEAVOR.

THANK YOU, MR. C FFO.

SO, MR. ATTORNEY, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

THIS IS THE SECTION OF OUR CITY COMMISSION AGENDA THAT RELATES TO MEETING PROCEDURES, RIGHT.

AND TO THE STRUCTURE OF OUR AGENDA.

IT'S, UH, TWO DASH 14.

MR. CFO.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES TO OUR MEETING AGENDAS AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU THINK MAY BE NECESSARY? THESE ARE PURELY A POLICY DECISION OF THE COMMISSION.

UH, NO, NO.

I, I KNOW I, I UNDERSTAND OPENLY.

I, I I UNDERSTAND OUR ROLE AS POLICY MAKERS.

I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS PROCEDURE HAVING TO DO WITH OUR MEETING AGENDAS AND, AND HOW MANY VOTES COMMISSIONERS NEED ON AN ITEM FOR IT TO BE PASSED, AND WHAT SECTION OF AN, OF AN AGENDA THAT I CAN PUT AN ITEM IN OR ANY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN, CAN PUT AN ITEM IN.

I'M JUST WONDERING, DO YOU HAVE OTHER OPINIONS ON OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS SECTION OF THE CODE THAT SHOULD BE AMENDED? I HAVEN'T REALLY GONE THROUGH, THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BROKEN.

I, I WELCOME AN ANALYSIS AND I WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK.

IF YOU FEEL THERE'S ANY OTHER MEETING PROCEDURES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S, THAT'S WRONG, THAT SHOULD BE AMENDED IN OUR MEETING PROCEDURES OR AGENDAS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, I'LL WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK.

COULD ADD TO IT BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW MY, MY BIG CONCERN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T GET CALLED.

THANK YOU, MR. MAY, MR. MAYOR ALSO, IF I CAN FOLLOW UP ON THIS, YOU KNOW, I LOOK RIGHT NOW, ANYTHING OVER 75,000 IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO FERC, RIGHT? WHERE WE, WHERE WE THOROUGHLY DISCUSS AN ITEM, BUT THERE IS A WAIVER THAT WE CAN HAVE FIVE SEVENS THAT, UH, DISRUPTS THAT PROCESS.

AND SO I THINK GIVEN THE, THE, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS OF OUR TIMES, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY ISN'T PRUDENT OF US TO ALLOW THIS LOOPHOLE TO NOT EVEN BE DISCUSSED.

UH, IT'S NOT, I'M NOT SAYING GET RID OF THE FIVE SEVENS WAIVER.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT FORCING THIS GO TO, TO FERC AS, AS IT AS THE LAW SAYS IT SHOULD.

UM, WE'RE NOT WITHSTANDING THIS WAIVER.

I'M SIMPLY SAYING, LET'S NOT PUT IT ON CONSENT AND THEN NOT DISCUSS IT.

SO I, I THINK IT'S COMMON SENSE, AND LOOK, IF, IF, IF THE, IF THE WILL OF THIS BODY IS TO, TO IS, IS TO NOT DO THAT.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE CFO IS GIVING US THIS FEEDBACK.

I WISH I KNEW ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND.

UH, IT GIVES GREAT CONTEXT AFTER AS TO WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

UM, SO NO, CERTAINLY I THINK, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ AND LET'S CALL A VOTE.

SO MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS, IS THAT I HAVE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MONTHS THAT DON'T GET CALLED.

SO HOW DO I USE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I KNOW THAT WHEN I PUT AN ITEM ON CONSENT, IT WILL PASS AND IT WILL BE CALLED, AND IF SOMEBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT, THEN THEY PULL IT.

SO HERE'S MY, UM, HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

UM, I, HOW CAN YOU ASSURE ME THAT IF I VOTE FOR THIS, THAT THAT ITEM WITH THE EMERGENCY, $75,000 OR MORE FUNDING IS GONNA GET CALLED AT THAT MEETING? IF YOU CAN INCLUDE SOME SORT OF LANGUAGE THAT DEMANDS THAT THAT ITEM WITH THE $75,000 FUNDING GETS CALLED BEFORE ANY OTHER ITEM, LIKE RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO GUARDRAILS ON IT.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD FIX IT AND BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH? OR MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SOME LANGUAGE THAT HE

[05:55:01]

AND LIKE COMMISSIONER BOT SAYS IT, YOU KNOW, COULD BE 7:00 PM AND THEN THE MEETING GETS ADJOURNED.

AND I'M NOT BLAME, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, POINTING, UH, FINGERS, BUT, BUT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS VERY USEFUL TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, UM, TO, TO ENSURE A, A, A FAIR AND BALANCED AGENDA SO THAT ALL OF US MAKE SURE THAT OUR ITEMS ARE SOMEHOW HEARD.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CONCERNS ME HERE.

SO IF YOU CAN CORRECT THAT, THEN I WILL SUPPORT IT.

I I WOULD, UH, I WOULD LOOK AT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I, AS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT HASN'T BEEN CALLED OR, OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CALLED, SOMEONE CAN MAKE A MOTION DISCUSS THAT ITEM.

AND AS LONG AS THERE IS A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION THAT VOTES TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM, ACTUALLY THE MAYOR CONTROLS THE AGENDA.

THERE ARE SOME RULES THAT RELATE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ITEM THAT GETS CALLED TO, TO TAKE IT OFF, I BELIEVE.

BUT, UM, I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ IS SUGGESTING IS THAT SHE WANTS SOME CERTAINTY THAT THE ITEM WOULD GET CALLED, SO TO ADD AND LANGUAGE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE ITEM TO BE CALLED AFTER, WHETHER IT'S AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA'S ADOPTED, OR IT COULD BE AFTER THE AFTERNOON SUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND BY THE WAY, THOSE SAFEGUARDS THAT WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR ITEM WASN'T CALLED ON THE PREVIOUS AGENDA, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CALLED ON THE SUBSEQUENT AGENDA.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY, MANY TIMES WHERE MY ITEMS, UM, NOT JUST MY ITEMS, BUT EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS ITEMS THAT ARE LANGUISHING ON THE AGENDA.

SO WE PUT LEGISLATIVE GUARDRAILS IN PA PLACE THAT ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED.

SO THAT'S WHY THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A PROTECTION FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE FOR EXAM AND, AND EVEN THEN IT'S NOT, I MEAN, I PULLED SOME ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE CALLED OR IF THEY'RE JUST GONNA GO TO WHEREVER THE MAYOR CHOOSES.

I MEAN, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO IF I, IF I WERE TO COUNT ALL MY ITEMS, UM, SO I, I JUST ASKED YOU, SO THAT'S, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

I, I AM ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

I RARELY PUT AN ITEM OVER $75,000 EVER, UM, ON A CONSENT AGENDA, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT NEEDS TO PASS WITH A FIVE SEVENS VOTE.

MY PROBLEM IS THAT I DON'T THINK HERE IN MIAMI BEACH RIGHT NOW, THIS BODY GETS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO BE HEARD.

IN THE PAST, I'VE SEEN MAYORS THAT FAIRLY GO THROUGH AN AGENDA, ONE ITEM AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.

BUT WHEN YOU SKIP AROUND THE AGENDA AND YOU CHERRY PICK, YOU KNOW, YOUR FRIEND'S ITEM OR YOUR BUDDY'S ITEM OR SOME SPECIAL WHO, WHOMEVER IT IS, THEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S WHY I, THAT'S WHY I USE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S, IT'S JUST YOU, I'VE JUST SEEN DIFFERENT MAYORS AND, AND HOW IT WORKS.

AND I'VE SEEN MAYORS THAT GO THROUGH THE AGENDA ONE BY ONE.

THAT TO ME SEEMS THE FAIREST WAY, DEPENDING ON HOW COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT ITEMS, THE QUICKER YOU GET YOUR ITEM IN, THE FURTHER UP ON THE AGENDA IT SHOULD BE.

AND THAT'S REALLY HOW IT, HOW IT WAS WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE.

UH, WE DIDN'T HOP AROUND THE AGENDA LIKE THIS.

EVERYBODY GOT A FAIR SHOT.

WAIT, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT GOING IN ORDINAL, YOU KNOW, ORDER AND, AND JUST HAVING EVERYBODY'S ITEMS HEARD.

AND, UM, AND, AND, OKAY, SO I, SO THAT'S, SO THAT'S, AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S, IT'S JUST YOU, I WHAT, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, UNDER THE FORMER MAYOR, THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I WILL SAY THAT PRIOR TO THAT, MY ITEMS ALWAYS GOT HEARD BECAUSE WE HAD A FAIR SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S REALLY HOW THE MAYOR SHOULD CALL THE ITEMS FAIRLY FOR EVERYBODY, DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY'RE SUBMITTED, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, STRAIGHT DOWN THE AGENDA.

THAT WAY PEOPLE ARE NOT SITTING HERE WAITING FOR THEIR ITEM TO BE HEARD.

IF THE MAYOR DOESN'T LIKE THE ITEM, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CHOICE OF, YOU KNOW, MAKING PEOPLE WAIT OR NOT.

YOU KNOW, SO, SO, SO THAT'S MY PROBLEM WITH THIS ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

YEAH, NO.

SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE ITEMS THAN WE COULD POSSIBLY HEAR BECAUSE THE RULES THAT I HAD THIS BODY HAD PASSED ABOUT LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WE CAN SPEAK.

I ACTUALLY HAVE NOT BEEN ENFORCING THAT.

AND MAYBE I PROBABLY SHOULD, BECAUSE WE WE'RE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE LIMITED TO TWICE AND WE'RE GOING FOUR OR FIVE, SIX TIMES.

SO WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIMES ON ITEMS. ALSO, I PULLED COMMISSIONER, UH, IN PAST MEETINGS, YOU HAVE, MOST MEETINGS HAVE HAD EITHER THE MOST OR THE SECOND MOST ITEMS CALLED OF ANY COMMISSIONER.

AND I CAN SHOW YOU THOSE STATISTICS.

SO WE'VE PULLED THAT.

'CAUSE YOU, YOU'VE MADE THIS COMMENT BEFORE.

SO YOUR ITEMS ARE CALLED, AND I'VE, AND I'VE ALWAYS TOLD EVERYONE, AND I DON'T, AND I DON'T WANNA SAY I'VE NEVER NOT FOLLOWED IT, BUT IF YOU TELL ME THERE'S AN ITEM YOU WANT TO HEAR, I WILL CALL IT.

BUT THERE IS WAY MORE ITEMS ON THESE AGENDAS THAN WE ARE GETTING THROUGH.

SO,

[06:00:01]

UM, DOING, DOING THE, DOING THE BEST WE CAN, I'M TRYING TO HIT ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE.

CERTAIN THINGS HAVE TO BE HEARD 'CAUSE THEY'RE TIME SENSITIVE.

AND I'LL, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO TRY DOING THAT.

COMMISSIONERS SUAREZ, I JUST, UM, AND, AND TO KRISTEN'S POINT, THERE ALREADY IS APPARENTLY A, UM, I'M WAITING TO GET CONFIRMATION AS TO THAT IF, AS FAR AS I KNOW, I'M NOT A PARLIAMENTARY EXPERT, BUT IF THERE IS AN ITEM, UM, I BELIEVE YOU CAN HAVE A FIVE SEVENTH VOTE TO HEAR THAT ITEM, WHICH EXACTLY IS THE SAME AMOUNT, UH, UH, OF THRESHOLD FOR, FOR THIS WAIVER.

SO IF THIS WAIVER, UH, IF, IF THE ITEM IS PRESSING TO THE SUPER MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION, THEN UM, THERE'S NO REASON WHY THERE COULDN'T BE A VOTE FOR A, A DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

IT'S CALLED THE VOTE.

WHAT? WAIT, UM, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, I JUST WANNA SAY IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, HAVING LISTENED TO THE WISDOM OF OUR CFO AND JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO, TO KNOW THE CFO'S WISDOM IS WHAT, IN WHAT'S INFLUENCING MY VOTE HERE? YEAH.

TODAY.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.

NOT YOUR COLLEAGUE, HUH? IS IT NOT YOUR COLLEAGUE? WELL, WELL NO, BECAUSE WE WANT, WE WANT THE GUIDANCE OF OUR, OF OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

UM, FRANKLY, WHAT I WOULD DO IS ANYTHING THAT HASN'T GONE TO FINANCE HASN'T BEEN VETTED AT FINANCE, LET'S JUST REVIEW IT HERE.

LET'S JUST DISCUSS IT AND LET'S JUST REVIEW IT HERE.

IT'S A TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

WE'RE IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

IT'S NOT OUR MONEY.

THAT'S JUST ANY AMOUNT THAT HASN'T RECEIVED A FERC RECOMMENDATION.

LET'S JUST PLACE IT ON A REGULAR AGENDA AND LET'S HAVE A FIVE SEVENS VOTE ON IT.

AND, AND THAT'S, AND AND LET'S, AND, AND LET'S JUST DO THAT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING TO ANYWAYS.

UM, AND FRANKLY, IT SHOULD BE A HIGH THRESHOLD.

IT'S NOT MY MONEY, IT'S NOT ANY OF OURS MONIES HERE.

IT'S THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY IS GOING TO.

WHEN WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET HEARINGS, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK, WE HAVE, UM, VARIOUS HEARINGS OF IT.

WE SEND MAIL NOTICES.

THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO, TO CHIME IN.

AND THESE ARE OUT OF BUDGET, OUT OF CYCLE ALLOCATIONS.

OF THE PUBLIC'S MONEY, RIGHT? AND SO AND SO LET'S JUST SAY OF ANY AMOUNT, PLACE IT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, NO MORE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THESE, UH, BUDGET ALLOCATIONS.

AND LET'S GET THAT FIVE SEVENTH VOTE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

LET'S CALL IT OUR AND THAT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ACCEPT THAT.

I HAVE.

WAIT, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT SOMETHING OUT.

I WOULD WANNA KNOW IF THE SPONSOR UPSET.

I WOULD LIKE, AS AMENDED, WE ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO CALL THE VOTE.

I DON'T.

COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ FOR ONCE, PLEASE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT SOMETHING OUT.

UM, RAPHAEL, MY, MY ITEM R NINE E.

HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN ON THE AGENDA? R NINE E.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPLICABLE.

THIS NO, I DO THINK, I DO THINK IT IS BECAUSE I, I WANT TO, I DON'T, THIS IS WHY WE DON'T GET THROUGH THE AGENDA.

NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT.

IT'S BE, I JUST WANNA POINT SOME THINGS OUT.

LET'S NOT MAKE THIS ABOUT YOU.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS HAS NOT BEEN CALLED FOR EASILY, LIKE HOW LONG? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, UM, MY RR NINE, R NINE NR NINE O DISCUSS AND UPDATE THE ROOSEVELT THEATER.

THAT DOESN'T GET CALLED EVER LAST.

DISCUSS THE SIX SEVENTH VOTE THRESHOLD.

LDR R DID, YOU SAID COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

WE HEARD THE ROOSEVELT THEATER FERC LAST MONTH.

THAT'S WHERE, BUT I HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA HERE AND IT JUST DOESN'T GET, MY ITEM DOESN'T GET CALLED.

BUT IF, BUT YOU KNOW, THE DOUBLE STANDARD IS THAT IF, IF THE MAYOR PUTS HIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, HE'S FOR SURE GONNA CALL IT.

AND I, I THINK YOU'RE GETTING, I THINK YOU'VE, YOU GET BETTER IF YOU KIND OF LIKE THE ITEM, BUT IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO, WHETHER YOU LIKE THE ITEM OR NOT.

SO WHEN ARE YOU GONNA CALL OUR ITEM? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL MY ITEMS CALLED TODAY.

I HAVE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ON HERE FOR SIX TO NINE MONTHS.

BUT IN FAIRNESS, THESE ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED EITHER.

'CAUSE I KNOW FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE ABOUT 41ST STREET HASN'T BEEN CALLED, AND THE ONE ABOUT THE PEAK HOURS TRAFFIC THAT HASN'T BEEN CALLED, AND THAT'S REALLY OLD.

UM, I HAVE A, AND HE HAS THE ONE ABOUT THE ALTA ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

THAT ONE'S REALLY OLD AND HE HASN'T CALLED THAT ONE EITHER.

SO LIKE, I THINK WE HAVE BACKLOG OF ITEMS AND THE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED.

AND I JUST WANNA BE FAIR ABOUT IT.

I EVEN HAVE ORDINANCES THAT DON'T GET CALLED, BUT LIKE MY SIX R NINE R DISCUSS SIX SEVENTHS VOTE THRESHOLD ON HEIGHT.

MAYBE THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO SAY THEY DON'T WANNA DO IT, BUT I OBVIOUSLY THE MAYOR DOESN'T CALL IT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T LIKE THE ITEM.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND WELL, I KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ITEMS NEED TO GET CALLED.

SO EVERYBODY'S ITEMS NEED TO GET CALLED.

SO THAT'S WHY I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO, UH, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I USE THE CONSENT, BECAUSE THERE'S NO FAIR TREATMENT HERE IN TERMS OF HOW OUR ITEMS,

[06:05:01]

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE FAIR.

AND THAT'S REALLY NOT HAPPENING.

I'LL SHOW YOU THE STATS.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE WAY I CALL WAY MORE OF YOUR ITEMS THAN I, THAN MY ITEMS ARE CALLED BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY LIKE MY ITEMS , COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, LOOK, I ADMIT COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, I, I THINK IT'S RICH THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUSHING FOR A SIX SEVENS, UH, VOTE ON, ON HEIGHT, BUT YOU'RE UNWILLING TO HAVE JUST A BASIC DISCUSSION ON TAXPAYER FUNDS.

AND YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

I, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME.

OH, SO WE'RE CAMPAIGNING AGAIN.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? COMMISS? I, I'M HERE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I'M NOT, I I'M NOT RUNNING TRYING TO FOR MAYOR.

UNFAIR.

SO SEND OUT AN EMAIL TOMORROW.

AND IT, BY THE WAY, IT'S DISINGENUOUS.

PLEASE, LIKE COMMISSIONER SUAREZ FINN, BECAUSE LAST TIME THERE WAS THE ITEM ABOUT THE POLL THAT WE HAD TO SPEND THE $80,000 TO ALLOCATED IN AN ART FUND, AND HE ACTED LIKE WE TOOK MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS FOR $80,000.

THEIR WHOLE STORY WASN'T TOLD.

WHEN YOU TELL THE WHOLE STORY, THAT'S AUTHENTICITY.

THAT IS LIKE BEING, LIKE TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.

SO NOW WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENS TOMORROW MORNING, HE'S GONNA SAY, OH, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ DOESN'T WANNA LET PEOPLE HEAR ITEMS THAT ARE MORE THAN 75,000 AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TRUE.

I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A USEFUL TOOL.

SO IN THE PAST, I WAS GOING TO COUNTERACT SOME OF THESE ARGUMENTS, BUT I HAVEN'T BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA GO THERE.

BUT I WILL, YOU WANNA SEND OUT COMPETING EMAILS TOMORROW MORNING TELLING BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY SO THAT WE FIND OUT WHAT'S GENUINE AND WHAT'S NOT.

WE COULD DO THAT.

OR, OR YOU CAN TELL, YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING.

UH, WELL FOR THE RECORD, I JUST GOT ELECTED LAST YEAR.

UM, I, I'M NOT IN ANY SORT OF CAMPAIGN MODE.

I, I HAVEN'T FILED TO RUN FOR ANYTHING.

UM, I'M, I'M GOING, IF YOU LET ME SPEAK, PLEASE.

I, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT RUDE.

UM, I, I HAVE, I LISTEN, I, I, UH, I THINK MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER DISCUSSIONS ON HOW WE SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY AND SETTING A HIGH THRESHOLD FOR THAT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU OR NOT YOU, BUT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO AVOID THAT DISCUSSION.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF YOUR ITEMS YOU MAY NOT BEING CALLED.

I THINK THE STATS HAVE BEEN PULLED THAT YOUR ITEMS GET PULLED MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PARLIAMENTARY RULES THAT HAVE A FIVE SEVENTH WAIVER, UH, TO CALL AN ITEM DESPITE THE MAYOR, UH, IF THAT IS THE CASE, GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOUR VOTE AND SEE IF YOU'LL GET A SECOND.

UH, AND YOU'LL SEE IF YOU'LL HAVE FIVE VOTES TO DISCUSS AN ITEM THAT, THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS.

I, I WELCOME TO DO IT RIGHT NOW AND SEE WHAT THE WILL OF THE BODY IS TO, TO HEAR THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, ON THE AGENDA FOR, FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

CAN WE CALL THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM THAT'S AS AMENDED, CORRECT? YES.

AND, AND THE AMENDMENT WAS IF THE ITEM DOES NOT GO TO FERC, REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT IT GOES ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, YES.

THERE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I SEE NO ONE IN ZOOM.

I SEE NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SUAREZ SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AS AMENDED VICE MAYOR BOT.

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT, SO IF AN ITEM DOES NOT GO TO FERC AND INVOLVES ANY EXPENDITURE THAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET, IT IS HEARD HERE AS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM.

I, UM, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ITEM.

UM, I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE THE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE, SO I'M GONNA SAY NO AND I'M SURE I'LL BE PILLORIED FOR THIS AS WELL.

UM, I FEEL THE SAME WAY.

IF SOMETHING IS URGENT AND IT'S GOING ON CONSENT, THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BODY IS THAT SOMEBODY CAN PULL IT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THE VOTERS HAVE SET US IN HERE TO BE STEWARDS OF THEIR MONEY, AND I THINK WE ALL DO AS GOOD A JOB AS WE CAN.

AND, UH, WE'RE VERY MINDFUL AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ADDING THIS EXTRA LAYER, AS COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAYS, SHOWS THAT WE JUST DON'T TRUST EACH OTHER.

SO NO.

COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER

[06:10:01]

FERNANDEZ? YES.

I WELCOME YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON MY ITEM IS NOT CALLED, I AM GOING TO SPEAK AT BOTH SUT NICK HOURS ABOUT IT, I AM GOING TO SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOP THAT MY ITEM IS NOT BEING HEARD.

AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE AND ANYONE WHO HAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS WILL GET JUSTICE AND HAVE THEIR ITEM HEARD.

PLEASE LIST ME AS A CO-SPONSOR IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT.

I CAN TALK.

I WELCOME.

R FIVE NR FIVE N IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

CAN WE FINISH THE, UH, MAYOR MINOR? YES.

MOTION CARRIES AS AMENDED.

SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING IS APRIL 23RD.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS GOING TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND ASAH, I'M SORRY, G ASAH AND COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

CO-SPONSOR MAYOR

[R5 N AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 46 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED “ENVIRONMENT,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE IV, ENTITLED “NOISE,” BY AMENDING SECTION 46-152, ENTITLED “NOISES; UNNECESSARY AND EXCESSIVE PROHIBITED,” TO REMOVE FROM THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF LOUDSPEAKER TYPE DEVICES ATTACHED TO AND UPON VEHICLES A CARVE-OUT PERMITTING THE LEGITIMATE USE OF SUCH DEVICES IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, CONSISTENT WITH FLORIDA SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT; PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

AMENDING CHAPTER 46 OF THE CODE ENTITLED ENVIRONMENT BY AMENDING ARTICLE FOUR, NOISE ENTITLED NOISE BY AMENDING SECTION 46 SLASH 1 5 2 ENTITLED NOISES UNNECESSARY AND EXCESSIVE PROHIBITED TO REMOVE FROM THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF LOUDSPEAKERS TYPE DEVICES ATTACHED TO AND UPON VEHICLES.

A CARVE-OUT PERMITTING THE LEGITIMATE, LEGITIMATE USE OF SUCH DEVICES IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS CONSISTENT WITH FLORIDA SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT PROVIDING FOR REPEAL, SERVICEABILITY, CODIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A FIRST READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

HEARING IS ITEM R FIVE N.

SO THIS IS A CLEANUP ITEM TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.

AND BASICALLY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GENERALLY JUST GOES TO THE MAYOR TO, UH, PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

MOVE, YOUR HONOR.

I'LL SECOND, I'M SORRY.

GIMME A SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND GIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? I SEE NO ONE ON ZOOM.

NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

SECONDED BY MAYOR MINOR ON R FIVE N.

SHE'S IN THE RESTROOM.

VICE MAYOR B.

LET'S DO SOME BUDGET ITEMS. R SEVEN A.

WE DIDN'T DO THIS YET, RIGHT? I'M SO CONFUSED.

AND ALSO SHE'S IN THE RESTROOM.

I NOT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES.

PUBLIC HEARING IS APRIL 23RD.

MR. MAYOR, COULD I JUST DISAPPOINT PERSONAL PRIVILEGE? YES.

UH, I SEE WE HAVE HERNAN CARDINAL, OUR DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT, UH, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN, I I'VE SEEN HIM OUT IN ABOUT, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, WITH SPRING BREAK AND CODE HAS BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, EVEN, UH, GOING AFTER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE BTRS THAT WE'RE GOING TO OPEN AGAINST THE PROVISIONS ALLOWED UNDER, UNDER THE LAW.

AND SO, UH, HE'S BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND, HE AND HE AND HIS TEAM.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM AND KNOW, LET HIM KNOW THAT HIS WORK IS APPRECIATED.

[R7 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL FUND, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AS SET FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT "A."]

JUST RECALL R SEVEN A AND B.

HERE, I'LL GIVE YOU IN A SECOND.

OKAY, I'M SORRY, MAYOR.

R SEVEN A.

GIMME ONE SECOND.

R SEVEN A IS ADOPT FOURTH AMENDMENT FISCAL YEAR 2025 OPERATING BUDGET.

TAMIKA, JUST BEFORE YOU GO, UH, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ WAS A YES ON R FIVE N.

SO GO AHEAD PLEASE.

TAMIKA STEWART, BUDGET DIRECTOR.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE OPERATING BUDGET.

IT CONTAINS FOUR ITEMS. IT RECOMMENDS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 144,000 TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AND ALL FOUR ITEMS WERE APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AT THE FEBRUARY 26TH COMMISSION MEETING.

UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS A GRANT MATCH FOR THE PIER PARK PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT THAT TOTAL AMOUNT APPROVED WAS $250,000.

WE DO HAVE SOME AVAILABLE CAPITAL DOLLARS.

SO ALL WE NEED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO FULLY FUND THIS IS 84,000.

THE SECOND ITEM IS FOR ANTISEMITISM SENSITIVITY TRAINING PROGRAM AT MOUNT SINAI.

THIS RECOMMENDS AN APPROPRIATION OF $50,000 AS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.

THE THIRD IS A GRANT TO A UDA FOR THE ART CLASSES AT STELLA MARRIS.

AND THAT'S AN AMOUNT OF 5,000.

AND THE LAST IS A SPONSORSHIP FOR THE EXEMPLARY WOMEN WOMEN'S AWARD EXHIBIT.

AND THAT'S, UH, FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES AS WELL.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE OPERATING BUDGETS.

[06:15:01]

I SEE NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK ON ZOOM.

NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE IF NO DISCUSSION.

MAY I CALL THE ROLL? YES.

ALL IN FAVOR OF R SEVEN A.

PLEASE SAY AYE.

BR SEVEN B IS A PUBLIC HEARING ADOPT FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET.

SEVEN ZERO R SEVEN A R SEVEN

[R7 B A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AS SET FORTH IN ATTACHMENTS A, “PROJECTS”; B, “SOURCE OF FUNDS”; AND C “PROGRAMS."]

AND THIS ITEM CONTINUES TWO AMENDMENTS.

ONE IS FOR THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD SLOW STREET PROJECT.

THE JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROPOSAL CAME IN 76,000 BELOW THE APPROVED BUDGET.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROPRIATE SEVEN $76,000 FROM THE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE.

AND THE SECOND ITEM IS A PAIR PARK PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, WHICH IS A GRANT THAT WAS APPROVED BY COMMISSION, UH, IN ON FEBRUARY 26TH.

SO THIS IS TO APPROPRIATE 250,000 IN THE EVENT THAT WE ACTUALLY GO FOR THE GRANT.

AND THOSE ARE THE TWO ITEMS. I'LL MOVE THE ITEM.

I'LL SECOND IT.

I SEE NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE.

NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN ZOOM IF NO DISCUSSION.

MAY I CALL THE ROLL YES ON R SEVEN B? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

NINE WR NINE W IS DISCUSSED.

IT IS A VOICE VOTE.

[R9 W DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION: PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR THE BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARD.]

TAKE ACTION OF NECESSARY BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YARD PARTNERSHIP.

IT IS COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ'S.

ITEM DEFERRED TO DR.

ROSENFELD, OUR DIRECTOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, LESLIE ROSENFELD, CHIEF EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OFFICER.

THIS ITEM IS A FOLLOW UP TO A RESOLUTION THAT APPROVED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR A COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARD AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY.

WE DO HAVE ON THE, UM, ZOOM, UH, J WOZNIAK FROM TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, WHO I'M GONNA ASK TO, UH, HAVE PJ BRING, BRING IN IN A MOMENT TO, UH, JUST, UH, DO A PRESENTATION ON SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WERE, UH, DEVELOPED.

AFTER MUCH INPUT FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA AROUND BIS CAMBRIDGE ELEMENTARY, THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS, UH, OUR STAFF, AND, UM, OTHER, UH, IN, UH, INDIVIDUALS.

UH, PRIOR TO HIS SPEAKING, I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE, UM, UH, RECORD A, UH, AN EMAIL OF SUPPORT FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY DID HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TODAY.

WE'RE UNABLE TO JOIN US IN PERSON.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTS THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND TRUST REPUBLIC LAND IN EXPANDING THE PLAY FIELD AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTS THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE TRUST REPUBLIC LAND'S EFFORTS TO EXPAND AND RENOVATE THE PLAY FIELD ADJACENT TO BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR ITS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT REFLECTS OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS THAT ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

M-D-C-P-S RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF HIGH QUALITY RECREATIONAL SPACES AND SUPPORTING STUDENT WELLBEING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS PARK INTO A VIBRANT SPACE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CITY OF MUNDEE BEACH AND ITS PARTNERS THAT WILL SERVE THE STUDENTS AT BISCAY BEACH ELEMENTARY AND THE RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH.

THERE WAS ALSO A MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE OF QUALITY EDUCATION YESTERDAY THAT REQUEST THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION SUPPORT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARD CONCEPTS PRESENTED BY THE TRUST REPUBLIC LAND, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING.

AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE PLAYFIELD AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY IS ACTUALLY A JOINTLY OWNED FIELD.

UH, IT IS JOINTLY OWNED BY DEED, UH, AND A JOINT USE AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO IS JAY ON THE CALL? I AM.

UH, GREETINGS EVERYONE.

UM, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME SLIDES UP FOR ALL OF YOU TO, TO SEE.

UM, HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE THE SITE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND THIS IS THE AREA, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING OR THAT DR.

ROSENFELD PRESENTED.

UM, SO NEXT SLIDE.

UH, BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY IS JUST SOUTH OF 77TH STREET.

UH, CERTAINLY AN INCREDIBLE SITE WITH, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, IN TERMS OF

[06:20:01]

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING RESOURCES.

THE SCHOOL IS ALREADY DOING THIS.

UH, THE TRUST REPUBLIC LAND, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING EVERYONE TO THE OUTDOORS.

WE DO THAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF WAYS.

WE DO THAT THROUGH LAND PROTECTION.

WE DO THAT THROUGH PARK CONSTRUCTION.

WE, WE THROUGH, WE DO THAT THROUGH DEVELOPING BOND MEASURES, UM, FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES TO, TO VOTE ON IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THEIR, THEIR, THEIR COMMUNITIES.

UH, THE FOURTH WAY WE CONNECT EVERYONE TO THE OUTDOORS IS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL YARDS PROGRAM TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SCHOOLYARDS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT 300 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS OUR FIRST PROJECT WORKING IN FLORIDA AND HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOLLOWING, UH, DESIGNS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

IN ORDER FOR US TO GET FEEDBACK TO INFORM THE DESIGNS, THERE WAS A SURVEY THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A WEBSITE.

UH, THE CITY OF ATLANTA PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

UH, IT WAS WITH THIS INFORMATION THAT OUR BISQUE BEACH ELEMENTARY GREEN TEAM, UM, DEVELOPED, UH, SOME IDEAS, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SITE COULD ACTUALLY BE TO, TO BETTER, UM, BENEFIT NOT JUST THEM DURING THE SCHOOL DAY WHEN THE PARK WOULD ONLY BE USED FOR THEM OR BY THEM, BUT ALSO BY THEIR FAMILIES AFTER SCHOOL HOURS.

SO, LOOKING AT THE SURVEY RESULTS THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.

THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME NEEDS OUT THERE THAT EVERYONE AGREED ON THAT SHADE STRUCTURES, TREES, BENCHES, A SOCCER PITCH GROUP SEATING FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING, PICNIC TABLES.

PRETTY, PRETTY SIMPLE, UH, BASIC STUFF.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

IT IS WITH THIS FEEDBACK THAT TRUST REPUBLIC LAND WAS ABLE TO TAKE, UH, THE STUDENTS THROUGH A DESIGN PROCESS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH YOUR OFF, WITH MEMBERS FROM YOUR OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, FROM YOUR, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, BUT THEN ALSO CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEIR STUDENTS.

UH, WE TOOK THE STUDENTS THROUGH TWO DESIGN WORKSHOPS WHERE THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND, UH, PLACEMAKING AND, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THERE WERE TWO CONCEPTS THAT TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND DEVELOPED AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

UM, TAKING THE IDEAS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE STUDENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO CONCEPTUALIZE THESE INTO SCHEMATIC, UH, CONCEPTS, UH, PER OUR SCOPE.

SO JUST, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO CONCEPTS HERE.

UH, YOU'LL NOTICE A, A NEW WALKING TRACK OR LOOP WITHIN THE, THE PARK SPACE.

UM, UH, A MORE FORMALIZED PLAY FIELD THAT COULD BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF SPORTS.

BUT WE, WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT SOCCER IS VERY POPULAR AT BISCAYNE BEACH.

YOU'LL NOTICE, UM, SOME SHADE STRUCTURES, QUITE A FEW, UH, ADDITION OF TREES, UH, A SPACE IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER, OR I'M SORRY, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NORTHWEST CORNER TO THE UPPER RIGHT, A MORE FORMALIZED OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WHERE THE TEACHERS CAN TAKE THEIR STUDENTS OUT AND, YOU KNOW, EN ENJOY THEIR TIME OUTSIDE, UH, LEARNING AND, AND, AND, UH, ABOUT NATURE AND THE OTHER, UM, RESOURCES THAT EXIST ON SITE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, THE SECOND CONCEPT THAT WAS DEVELOPED SIMILAR AND IN TERMS OF PROGRAM ELEMENTS, JUST RELOCATING THEM TO DIFFERENT AREAS.

UM, ONE OF THE THREE BASKETBALL COURTS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSIDERED AS A TRANSITION INTO A FUTSAL COURT, UM, FOR, FOR SOCCER.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE LOWER LEFT CORNER, UH, A DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR A THEMED PLAYGROUND, UM, AND THEN A SHIFT TO THE CENTER OF THE DESIGN WITH A, WITH ANOTHER OUTDOOR CLASSROOM.

SO THESE ARE BOTH CONCEPTS THAT WERE SHARED WITH, UH, THE CITY, THE CITY'S, UM, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK.

WE DEVELOPED SOME VERY PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATES IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT THIS WOULD WOULD COST.

BUT ALL IN ALL, THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT AND ACTIVITY, WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AS, AS WE HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, INTRODUCE THEM TO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, HOPEFULLY THEIR FUTURE CAREERS IN, IN PLACE MAKING, IN, IN DESIGN.

UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THEY,

[06:25:01]

THEY RECEIVED, UH, UM, OR PROVIDED US THE, THE NECESSARY FEEDBACK FOR US TO COME UP WITH THESE DESIGNS THAT HOPEFULLY THE CITY WILL CONSIDER AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL CONSIDER INVESTING IN DOWN THE ROAD.

PJ, IF YOU WANNA STOP SHARING, PLEASE.

MR. ROSA GONZALEZ.

SO I WANNA THANK DR.

ROSENFELD AND ALSO THAT, UM, THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.

THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST PROGRAMS, UM, THAT YOU, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT.

I MEAN, THEY COME IN AND, AND GET THE CHILDREN ACTUALLY VOTE ALONG WITH THE ADULTS AND PARENTS.

IT'S COMMUNITY DRIVEN.

SO WE HAVE LANDS AT SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY PLAYGROUND AREAS THAT AREN'T PROGRAMMED AT ALL.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A NONPROFIT CAN COME IN AND, AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY.

AND REALLY, DR.

ROSENFELD, YOU HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO EASY TO GET THESE AGREEMENTS DONE WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITH THE NATIONAL, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.

UM, AND, AND, AND BRING, PULL THIS TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY GET THE FUNDING AND PRESENT, UM, AN AREA THAT WAS JUST ONCE PROGRAMMED FOR NOTHING INTO SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN NOW USE.

SO I'M REALLY IMPRESSED, UH, DR.

ROSENFELD.

AND AT THIS POINT, WHEN WE PASS THIS TODAY, UM, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE TO CONTINUE, UM, THE PROCESS? WELL, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST REPUBLIC LAND ACTUALLY ENDS AT THE END OF, OF THIS MONTH.

SO NEXT STEPS WOULD BE DIRECTION FROM, UH, THIS ENTITY, UH, FROM FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR REGARDING WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT, WE WANT YOU TO BUILD THIS PLAN AND WE HAVE THE FUNDING CORRECT.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING.

SO THE TRUST, OKAY.

THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IS GIVING US HOW MUCH IN, IN THIS THEY'RE OFFERING.

NO, THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS IS GIVING US NOTHING RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO, TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO FACILITATE THE, UH, CONCEPTS, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WE HAVE ALL THE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE.

WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS A JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT ALLOWS FOR THE SCHOOL TO HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THAT FIELD DURING SCHOOL HOURS, DURING SCHOOL DAYS.

AND THEN THE COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THE FIELD AFTER SCHOOL HOURS ON THE WEEKENDS AND ON HOLIDAYS.

SO IN ORDER TO REALIZE THIS PLAN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FIND A PORTION OF IT.

THEY'RE NOT.

IT'S JUST THEIR PORTION OF THIS WAS JUST THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND DESIGN.

I'M HOPING THAT THIS GETS FUNDED.

HOWEVER, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US IN POTENTIALLY IDENTIFYING SPONSORS, UH, THROUGH THEIR NETWORKS.

UM, SO THE COST OF THIS WOULD BE $690,000.

I THINK ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS WOULD BE THERE'S, THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.

I THINK THERE WAS AN A AND A B THERE, UH, ONE AT 6 71 6 90.

SO IN THE SAME REALM, YOU KNOW, UP TO $700,000 THERE, THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME DIRECTION ON WHICH ONE OF THE TWO ALTERNATIVES THE COMMISSION LIKES.

UM, AND THEN SECOND, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD WITH EITHER PARTIALLY OR FULLY FUNDING? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE RETURN IF WE'RE ABLE TO ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OR FIND A THIRD PARTY, UM, PRIVATE, UH, DONOR, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE TPL, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIRECTION THAT WAS WITH THE ITEM ORIGINALLY WAS APPROVED FOR US TO COME BACK HERE TODAY FOR THIS DISCUSSION? WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THIS THEN AND, UM, REFER IT TO THE CRA, THE NORTH BEACH CRA TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT FUNDED.

AND THEN IF THEY AGREE TO THE FUNDING, UM, BRING IT BACK.

WE RARELY SPEND ANY MONEY IN THAT AREA OF THE CITY.

WE HAVE PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE BUILDING CITYWIDE.

AND YET, UM, ON THAT WESTERN PORTION OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, WE LITERALLY HAVE NOTHING.

SO, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU GUYS, I WOULD LIKE TO REFER IT TO THE NORTH BEACH CRA AND IF THEY APPROVE THE FUNDING, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDS THERE.

WOULD YOU LIKE, UH, THE REFERRAL TO BE FOR BOTH, FOR THEM TO DISCUSS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN FUNDING IT? AND ALSO, WHICH ONE OF THE TWO ALTERNATIVES, WHAT BETWEEN THE SIX 70 AND SIX 90? YEAH, THERE WERE THE TWO DIFFERENT LAYOUTS.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT LAYOUTS IN THE SCREENS.

THE ORIENTATION OF THE, UH, SOCCER FIELD AND THE PLACEMENT OF SOME OF THE OTHER FEATURES.

BUT, UH, THE, THE, IT'S NOT A GREAT DIFFERENCE, BUT IF YOU WANNA LEAVE THAT UP TO THEM TO GET INTO THOSE DETAILS, I WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO, I'M NOT, I'M NO EXPERT ON SOCCER FIELD ORIENTATIONS.

SO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS FUNDED.

AND, UM, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT THE LAST THING I SENT TO THE SIERRA, IT KIND OF GOT SHOT DOWN.

SO ,

[06:30:01]

'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THIS.

HOW MANY YEARS DID THIS TAKE TO BRING TO FRUITION THIS IDEA? IT WAS APPROVED IN MARCH OF 2023.

THAT, THAT'S NOT SO BAD.

TWO YEARS STILL.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

SO, UM, IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH THIS, LET'S, UH, REFER, I WOULD HAVE IT STOP AT THE CRA, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT'S WHERE WE FUND IT FROM.

HOW CAN I DO, DO THAT? SO YOU, TO, YOU GO TO THE NORTH BEACH, UM, NORTH BEACH C AREA, THERE'S AN ADVISORY BOARD, I BELIEVE, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE CRA ADVISORY BOARD.

MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

ADVISORY BOARD, YEAH.

ADVISORY.

SO WE CAN GO TO THE ADVISORY BOARD TO GET THEIR INPUT AND THEN COME BACK TO COMMISSION WITH IT, WITH THEIR, UH, UM, COME BACK TO COMMISSION TO SEE IF IT, IF WE CAN FUND IT FROM THE CRA.

UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT IMPACT FOR, UH, $700,000 AND THE COMMUNITY WILL GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THIS.

AND IT NEEDS IT.

VICE MAYOR BOT, THEN COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

UM, SO I WALK MY BO MY DOGS PAST THAT SAD, EMPTY LOT EVERY DAY FOR SIX YEARS.

AND I AM SO THRILLED.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ HAS AN ITEM THAT IS WINNING ITS WAY THROUGH ON, UM, REALLY ACTIVATING THAT PATH.

CRAB ALLEY, WHICH IS AN UNDERUTILIZED GEM.

AND EVEN ITS RAGGEDY STATE IS AMAZING.

IF YOU GET THERE AT THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY, THERE ARE THESE GIANT BLUE CRABS THAT SCUTTLE AROUND AND YOU SEE PEOPLE FISHING.

AND, UM, WHICH I DON'T REMIND ADVISE AT THE MOMENT, WATER QUALITY, BUT, UM, IT, IT'S SUCH A, A MAGICAL LITTLE CORNER OF OUR CITY.

YOU LIKE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN HEAR CARS.

YOU JUST SEE HERONS AND ALL KINDS OF BIRDS THERE.

SO TO SEE THAT FIELD THAT IS MOSTLY NOT USED 'CAUSE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL, UM, TURNED INTO A COMMUNITY AMENITY, IS JUST, I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER USE FOR THAT FIELD.

UM, I DON'T KNOW.

UM, HEATHER, I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE CR FUND RIGHT NOW? UNDER EXPERTISE? YEAH.

SO WHILE, WHILE HEATHER'S GETTING THAT INFORMATION, UM, IF WE CAN FUND IT, YOU KNOW, UM, ENTIRELY, OR, OR THE GRAND, THE VAST MAJORITY THROUGH THE, THE CRA, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND I THINK THEY WILL BE REALLY SUPPORTIVE.

UM, IT'S A PERMANENT KIND OF THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE ONCE CRA COMES BACK AND TELLS US IF THEY'RE IN FAVOR.

BUT EVEN IF, GOD FORBID, THE CRA DOES NOT AGREE TO THIS, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULDN'T.

UM, OR IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, I THINK WE CAN COBBLE TOGETHER.

UM, WHETHER IT'S FROM SOME OF THE ONLINE, SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE, IT COULD BE A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR BLUE ZONES PARTNER.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE ENTIRETY, I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN GET IT FUNDED.

UM, SO I COMMEND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE, AND EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS.

AND THE OTHER REASON IT IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM THE, THE RESEARCH DONE, UM, FROM THE PROFESSOR FROM UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND FROM AMY KNOWLES AND HER TEAM, THAT A HUGE PART, A HUGE HOTSPOT IN NORTH BEACH THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PARK FUEL ISLAND WATER QUALITY ISSUE IS EMANATING FROM THAT SITE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE IN THAT SCHOOL SITE.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE, AND WE CAN'T HELP FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL WE GET ACCESS TO THE FACILITY, TO THE, THE LAND TO SEE IS IT A PIPE OVER HERE? IS IT A LEAK OVER THERE? AND THIS PROJECT WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WHILE WE ARE BUILDING THE PARK.

SO I THINK IT IS, I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US.

AND I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE, UM, OF GOING TO THE CRA AND THEN COMING BACK WITH A, A PROPOSAL.

THANK COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

RESILIENCY IS PREPARING OUR NEXT GENERATION AS WELL, RIGHT? AND TO HAVE CRA FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PARKS SO OUR CHILDREN CAN PLAY, UH, WITH THE DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE, I THINK IS A WIN-WIN.

I LOVE THIS.

UH, COMMISSIONER AL, YOU HAD ME AT CHILDREN, YOU HAD ME AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UH, BOTH THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

UH, ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS WE HAVE SO MANY OF THESE AMBITIOUS PROJECTS THAT KIND OF GET PUNTED.

UH, AND THAT WAS LEADING UP TO THIS.

AND NOW WHEN WE'RE FACING BUDGETARY CONCERNS, UM, BUT WITH THIS GOING THROUGH THE CRA, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR, UH, AN ITEM LATER TODAY THAT COULD MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CRA.

AND COMMENTS WERE MADE EARLIER ABOUT, WELL, HOW, HOW DOES, UH, RESIDENTIAL TOWER, UM, IN THAT NORTH BEACH AREA BENEFIT EVERYBODY ELSE? I KNOW MYSELF, I'LL NEVER LIVE IN A THINK IT WAS TERMED $5 MILLION, $10 MILLION CONDO, OR MAYBE EVEN A $2 MILLION CONDO I'LL NEVER LIVE IN.

BUT THIS IS HOW THE SURROUNDING AREA CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS, RIGHT? $600,000 THAT CAN BE USED FOR SCHOOL FUNDING.

THESE ARE CHILDREN.

MY DAUGHTER GOES TO SCHOOL WITH THEM.

SHE'S IN SECOND GRADE, ONE OF OUR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF THE PARENTS THERE, WE HAVE AMPLE RESOURCES.

BUT IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY, WE DO NOT.

AND THESE CHILDREN SHOULD GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, THE SAME PRIVILEGES, UH, THE SAME BENEFITS THE CHILDREN ALL ACROSS THE BOARD DO.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER PREPARE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESILIENCY OF OUR CITY.

[06:35:01]

SO I COMMEND YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.

AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD, UH, MAYBE AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, UH, THAT WE HAVE LATER TODAY, WE COULD EVEN TALK ABOUT HOW, UH, THIS COULD BE ACCELERATED.

BECAUSE I KNOW AS A FATHER, UM, OF A SECOND GRADER, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, BUT I'M LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, I WANNA PASS THIS FOR HER TO HAVE A PLAYGROUND.

BY THE TIME ANYTHING GETS DONE, SHE'S DRIVING.

RIGHT? SO I DON'T WANT OUR PARENTS AT SCA BEACH TO GET EXCITED, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, UH, THEY HAVE TEENAGERS AT MIAMI BEACH PUBLIC HIGH, AND WE'RE JUST PUTTING THESE PROJECTS FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING THIS.

AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN FRONT OF US, THIS IS THE EXACT BENEFIT FOR OUR ENTIRETY OF THE COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I'M GOOD, HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE ABOUT THE, THE FUNDING AND, BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CRA IS FOR, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK, WE HAVE 1.9 MILLION IN, IN RESERVES FOR THE, UH, CRA AND WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE FUNDS OF THE CRA.

BUT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IN SEATTLE.

THIS TYPE OF PROJECT COULD FIT WITHIN THAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

AND COMMISSIONER BOTT AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO REALLY FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, I SUGGEST YOU ATTEND THE MEETING WITH A, LIKE, ATTEND THE MEETING AND, AND PRESENT THE ITEM.

ONE THING I WOULD TELL YOU, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, IS THAT THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT IS DOING A PARK LIKE THIS QUICKLY, WE CAN GET THE COURTS BUILT.

WE CAN, I MEAN, WE WOULD BE, WE WOULD BE CONSTRUCTING THIS RIGHT? WITH THE FUNDING.

SO I KNOW THAT IF JOHN, IF YOU WERE GIVEN THIS PLAN, YOU WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF EXECUTING THIS, CORRECT? IT HAS COURT, IT'S BASKETBALL COURTS.

IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY FUNNY, IF YOU LOOK HOW THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS VOTED.

LIKE THE KIDS VOTED LIKE TRAMPOLINES NUMBER ONE, RIGHT? TRA THE PARENTS.

THAT WAS LIKE THE LOWEST ITEM ON THE PARENTS.

SO IF YOU LOOK, I MEAN, THESE ARE REALLY, THIS LITERALLY CAME FROM THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL.

AND BY THE WAY, DURING THE DAY THE SCHOOL GETS TO USE IT, BUT AT NIGHT, BUT AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY GETS TO USE THE FACILITY.

SO IT'S BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY SPOT.

I GO, OKAY, IF IF, IF I CAN, YES, UH, THERE WOULD BE PROBABLY CIP AND PARKS PERHAPS WORKING TOGETHER ON IT.

AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A THIRD PARTY TPL MM-HMM .

COST ESTIMATE.

SO I THINK GOING TO THE NORTH BEACH AREA IS A GREAT IDEA TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND STAFF WILL HAVE TIME TO GET INTO IT TO JUST VALIDATE SOME OF THOSE ESTIMATES.

SO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET ONE WITH THE RIGHT NUMBER.

AND CAN WE SAY THAT WHEN IT GOES TO THE CRA, UM, WE, THIS COMMISSION APPROVES OF THIS PROJECT AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT FUNDED? CAN WE ADD THAT? YES.

SO THAT WOULD BE OUR MOTION.

THAT WOULD BE, UM, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? YES, I'M MAKING A MOTION.

I'M SECONDING IT.

I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, PLEASE.

SO WE'LL HAVE, WE'RE GONNA SHOW IT, REFER TO THE NORTH BEACH, UH, CRA BOARD ADVISORY BOARD ADVISORY BOARD, UM, FOR TO SEE ABOUT FUNDING VALIDATING WHICH OPTION HAVE STAFF WORK ON VALIDATING THE COST ASSESSMENT, AND THEN RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION.

AND WE, WITH THE, I WITH THE CAVEAT THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE CRA TO FUND THIS, LIKE WE ARE VOTING FOR THEM TO DO THIS.

THEY'RE A TOUGH GROUP.

, CAN I THANK YOU MR. MAGAZINE.

GONNA, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO SAY NOW OR LATER, UH, LATER, RIGHT? , SO IT OR NEVER NEXT MONTH.

UM, IT, I MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN A PROJECT THAT COMES BEFORE US WHERE WE WOULD PROVIDE AMPLE FUNDING TO THE CRA.

AND LIKE I SAID, I, I DON'T WANT THAT TO THIS PROJECT TO GET THOSE CRA FUNDS IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

SO WHILE I'M NOT PUTTING HIM ON THE SPOT, I'LL GIVE HIM 15 MINUTES TO CHEW ON THIS.

I THINK ONE OF, ONE OF MY ASKS IS, UH, IF THAT PROJECT ULTIMATELY IS APPROVED, IF THERE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF ACCELERATION IN FUNDING, UH, WHERE PERHAPS THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE REPAID OUT OF THE CRA.

UH, BUT HE PUTS UP THAT INITIAL FUNDING SO WE COULD GET THIS FUNDED RIGHT AWAY IF HIS PROJECT PASSES.

SO, THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.

LET'S CALL A VOTE.

SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, SECONDED BY, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT.

ALL IN FAVOR.

PCI.

UH, SOME OF THE PULLED CONSENT ITEMS. C

SIX ZERO.

I DON'T SEE COMMISSIONER FARS.

I'M HERE.

OKAY, GOT IT.

SEVEN ZERO .

OH, WE HAVE A POINT OF, UH, CLARIFICATION FROM COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ R FIVE L SINCE IT WAS FIRST READING, I WILL CHANGE MY VOTE TO A YES.

R FIVE.

R FIVE L UH, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ IS A YES ON R FIVE L AND RALPH.

YES MA'AM.

SAME.

SO AT 4 31, UH, AND VICE MAYOR BOT IS A YES.

SO THE ITEM R FIVE L IS APPROVED AT, UH, SEVEN ZERO SECOND READING.

PUBLIC HEARING IS APRIL 23RD.

LET'S DO,

[C2 B REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONTRACT PURSUANT TO INVITATION TO BID (ITB) 2025-008-MP, FOR PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES. (FACILITIES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT)]

[06:40:01]

TWO B AS IN BOY, C TWO B IS AWARD ITB 20 25 0 0 8.

MP PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES C TWO B WAS SEPARATED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

TODAY'S A GOOD DAY FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

I RECOGNIZ ME MR. MAYOR? YES.

ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

SO I'VE PULLED THIS ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA 'CAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATE OF CLEANLINESS IN OUR PARKING GARAGES.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE FACING SIGNIFICANT PARKING CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY, AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO START USING OUR GARAGES MORE FREQUENTLY.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST, OUR GARAGES, THEY'RE NOT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE PARKING IN AND CLEANLINESS IS A MAJOR REASON WHY THE LATEST GARAGE CLEANLINESS INDEX FOR, FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, GAVE US AN OVERALL SCORE OF 2.37 ON A SCALE WHERE ONE IS THE BEST AND FIVE IS THE WORST.

THAT MEANS WE ARE FAR FROM BEING WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

NEARLY HALF OF OUR GARAGES FAIL TO EVEN MEET A GOOD STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS NOT A MINOR ISSUE.

IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S A PUBLIC TRUST ISSUE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, LIKE ANY OTHER ASSET, THAT'S A CITY ASSET AS WELL.

AND THE WAY WE MEN, WE MAINTAIN IT.

IT'S A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO JUDGE US AS STEWARDS OF THEIR ASSETS.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY FRUSTRATED WITH PARKING IN OUR CITY AND NOW WE'RE ASKING THEM TO USE GARAGES THAT ARE DIRTY, THEY'RE SMELLY, THEY'RE UNWELCOMING.

AND IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO PARK IN GARAGES, INSTEAD OF ENDLESSLY CIRCLING STREETS LOOKING FOR STREET PARKING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE GARAGES ARE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO PARK.

SO TODAY WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A CONTRACT FOR PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES.

BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR A COMPANY TO POWER WASH FLOORS.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF OUR GARAGES.

AND THIS CONTRACT IS SPECIFICALLY, AND CORRECT ME RON, RON IF I'M WRONG, THIS CONTRACT IS SPECIFICALLY NOT JUST PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES, BUT IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR GARAGES.

IS THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER ROUND OF SURFACE LEVEL CLEANING THAT LOOKS GOOD TODAY AND THEN QUICKLY FALLS BACK INTO NEGLECT.

WE NEED A VENDOR THAT WILL TREAT OUR GARAGES AS CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MUST BE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED AT HIGH STANDARDS.

AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE THIS IS PRETTY BIG CONTRACT, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IS THAT CORRECT? HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

200.

JUST WONDERING, HAS ANYONE INSPECTED THE VENDOR'S WORK? HAS, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO WARD IS, UH, BLUE ADONIS, AND THEY HAVE, THEY REPORTEDLY DO WORK IN MIRAMAR AND BERRY BEACH.

HAS ANYONE FROM OUR STAFF PHYSICALLY GONE TO INSPECT THE GARAGES AT THE MUNICIPAL SITES THAT THEY CLEAN? SO WE VERIFIED THEIR REFERENCES AND THAT THEY WERE VALID, UM, CONTRACTS THAT THEY HAD.

AND THEY ALSO PROVIDED PRIOR SERVICES TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR WINDOW WASHING.

NOT PRESSURE WASHING, BUT FOR WINDOW WASHING.

SO WE HAVE EXPERIE.

HAS ANYONE GONE TO MIRAMAR OR DELRAY RAY BEACH TO SEE THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRESSURE WASHING? NOT SPECIFICALLY.

IF WE ARE ENTRUSTING THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR CITY'S GARAGES TO THIS COMPANY, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE FIRSTHAND VERIFICATION THAT THEIR WORK IS UP TO STANDARD.

AND IF WE HAVE NOT PERSONALLY INSPECTED THEIR WORK, THEN HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL ACTUALLY IMPROVE OUR CONDITIONS HERE? I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO SOME OF OUR GARAGES, WALLS ARE FILLED WITH GRIME, WINDOWS ARE FILLED WITH GRIME STAIRS, THEY SMELL LIKE URINE.

WELL, INTERIOR AREA'S BEEN PRIORITIZED IN THESE GARAGES.

WELL, THE, WELL THE ELEVATORS, THE WALLS, THE STAIRWELLS.

HOW WOULD THAT BE PRIORITIZED AS PART OF THIS CONTRACT? YEAH, I, I, I THINK WHAT WHAT WE'VE CURRENTLY BEEN DOING IS ALL OF OUR GARAGES ARE WASHED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS EXCEPT THE ANCHOR GARAGE, WHICH IS DONE MONTHLY.

UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE UTILIZE THE SERVICES AND, AND OUR OWN INSPECTIONS TO VERIFY HOW THAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, IF IT'S BEEN COMPLETED UP TO OUR PROCESS

[06:45:01]

AND STANDARD PROCEDURES.

BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT OUR CLEANLINESS INDEX TELLS US THAT EVEN THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST WONDERING THEN, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS AND THE VENDOR FAILS TO DELIVER THESE IF THE VENDOR DOES NOT MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS? WE EXPECT IF WE DON'T SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CLEANLINESS INDEX, AND BY THE WAY, THE CLEANLINESS INDEX IS NOT MOVING IN OUR FAVOR.

IN FACT, IT'S GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF OUR FAVOR.

IT DOESN'T SHOW WE SHOULD BE AS CLOSE TO A ONE AS POSSIBLE.

IN 2016, WHEN WE STARTED THE CLEANLINESS INDEX, WE WERE, LET ME SEE HERE AT A 2.0 IN THE PARKING AREAS, NOW WE'RE AT A 2.62.

SO WE'VE GONE UP, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

WE WANNA BE GOING DOWN.

AND SO WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS THAT THIS VENDOR DOES NOT MEET? THE HIGH STANDARDS? FORGET US.

THAT OUR PUBLIC, THAT OUR TAXPAYERS, THAT OUR USERS WHO ARE PAYING THE USER FEE TO PAY IN THESE PARKING GARAGES EXPECT AGREED UNDER THE CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY, OBVIOUSLY WITH CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE OR FOR DEFAULT IF THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING AS REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A SECONDARY VENDOR.

IF FOR ANY REASON THE PRIMARY IS UNABLE TO PERFORM TO THE STANDARDS OF THE CITY, THEY CAN ALWAYS STEP IN.

IS THE VENDOR HERE? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.

I REALLY FOR, FOR US, I THINK THE MAYOR SAYS IT BEST.

I THINK THE MAYOR SAYS SAFE STREET, DRY STREETS, CLEAN STREETS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY, MR. MAYOR.

YES, EXACTLY.

CLEANLINESS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF A SAFE CITY.

IF THE CITY ISN'T CLEAN, IF OUR ASSETS AREN'T CLEAN, PEOPLE WON'T FEEL WELCOMED AND THEY WON'T FEEL SAFE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT A LOT OF TIMES, LIKE EVERYTHING FALLS ON THE POLICE.

CLEANLINESS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S SENSE OF SAFETY.

AND I REALLY DO THINK FOR THIS CONTRACT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

I'D RATHER DEFER THIS ITEM, NUMBER ONE, UNTIL STAFF HAS PERSONALLY CONDUCTED A SITE INSPECTION OF THE FACILITIES THAT THAT BLUE ADONIS IS CLEANING IN MIRAMAR AND DELRAY BEACH AND REPORT BACK TO US THEIR FINDINGS.

BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD SEE THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK BEFORE WE AWARD THEM THIS CONTRACT.

BUT I THINK A REPRESENTATIVE OF BLUE DONIS SHOULD BE HERE PRESENT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

THEY NEED TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THIS COMMISSION ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY ARE INHERITING AND THE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FOR THEM AS RELATE TO CLEANLINESS.

BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT UP TO THIS CHALLENGE, THEN I WILL HESITATE, UH, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO TERMINATE THIS CONTRACT.

SO I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VENDOR COME TO HEAR HOW MUCH WE PRIORITIZE CLEANLINESS OF OUR GARAGES.

'CAUSE IT IS A DIRECT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

SO, UM, SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GONNA MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL THE FULL SITE INSPECTION IS, IS COMPLETE OF THEIR CURRENT, UM, LOCATIONS, BUT ALSO UNTIL THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE IS PRESENT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMISSION VICE MAYOR B THANK COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

SO, UM, THE, YOU SAID THAT IF I HEARD CORRECTLY THAT OUR GARAGES GET CLEANED ONCE A QUARTER EXCEPT FOR ONE GARAGE THAT GETS INC.

ANCHOR GARAGE.

THAT IS CORRECT.

IS THAT GONNA BE THE SAME CASE UNDER THIS CURRENT CONTRACT? WOULD BE THAT SAME.

ON THAT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT ONCE A YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

SO I HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THAT.

AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

NOT THAT YOU ASKED, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU OF COURSE, HERE'S WHY IT IS A PROBLEM FOR OUR GARAGES TO SMELL LIKE PEE.

I MEAN, IT IS A PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF GOES WITHOUT SAYING .

BUT THE, THE REASON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE OUR PUBLIC GARAGES, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, IS BECAUSE THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS, IF I'M IN A GARAGE WHERE SOMEBODY HAS JUST PEED AND NOBODY'S CLEANED IT UP, THEN THAT MEANS THAT IF I FORGET ABOUT BEING MUGGED, IF I TRIP AND FALL DOWN THE STAIRS, WHEN IS THE NEXT PERSON GOING TO BE HERE TO LOOK TO SEE IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY? IT IS, UM, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

I KNOW YOU'VE NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS TO CONTRACT BASED

[06:50:01]

SO MAYBE THE FLOORS, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN PARKING FLOORS DON'T NEED TO BE PRESSURE WASHED EVERY MONTH.

BUT THE STAIRWELLS NEED TO BE PRESSURE WASHED.

IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS WEEKLY AT A MINIMUM, BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE.

IF SOMEBODY IS FEELING SO SECURE THAT IT IS A VACANT ENOUGH SPACE THAT THEY CAN USE IT AS THEIR PERSONAL BATHROOM, THEN IT IS NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR ME TO BE WALKING.

AND THAT IS WHY I WILL HAPPILY CIRCLE THE BLOCK THREE TIMES BEFORE I GO INTO A PARKING GARAGE.

AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO FEELS THAT WAY TO CLARIFY, UM, THE STAIRWELLS ARE ACTUALLY CLEANED BY THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE CLEANED TWICE PER WEEK.

I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

IF I MAY, UM, BECAUSE I, LATELY I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN USING THE GARAGES A LOT.

AND WHEN I'M DRIVING UP THE RAMPS, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE LOOK, IT'S LOOKED VERY CLEAN.

I I'VE ACTUALLY, UH, BEEN PLEASANTLY, NOT PLEASANTLY, BUT I'VE BEEN, BUT BEEN, I'VE BEEN PLEASED.

IT'S THE STAIRWELLS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY THE ISSUE AND THE HOMELESS, WHICH GET GETS INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES WHY WE ARE OUR COMMISSION IS BECAUSE THAT IS THE ISSUE.

AND YES, IT'S, UH, IT'S UNSIGHTLY AND AND I THINK YOU BRING A A GREAT PERSPECTIVE THAT TO ME IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DISGUSTING, BUT YOU'RE BRINGING, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ISSUES THAT, THAT I DON'T EVEN REALLY, UH, YOU NEVER THINK OF.

WELL, I, I THINK OF AND, AND I'M, AND I'M, AND I'M LOOKING AROUND, BUT PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH AS, AS, AS, AS YOU AND OTHER WOMEN WOULD.

SO, UH, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT YOU'RE MAKING.

AND, UH, YEAH, I, I DO, THERE'S ONE, ONE GARAGE I LITERALLY USE EVERY DAY AND I SMELL IT LITERALLY EVERY DAY.

UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AND COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, NOW THAT WE HAVE THESE PRESSURE WASHING MACHINES FOR OUR SIDEWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ARE THE GARAGES SOME SORT OF SPECIALTY SERVICE THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IN-HOUSE FOR SOME REASON? IS IT A, UH, MANPOWER ISSUE? I'LL START, UH, YEAH, I'LL START THE DISCUSSION.

BRAD KANE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S, IT'S COMPLETELY A DIFFERENT SERVICE.

AND AGAIN, WE, WE JUST HAD THIS DISCUSSION ACTUALLY, UH, WITH JOSE, UH, BETWEEN PARKS AND AND SANITATION YESTERDAY ABOUT THOSE SERVICES TO TOUCH ON EXACTLY WHAT, UM, VICE MAYOR BOT'S TALKING ABOUT THE STAIRWELLS.

UM, WE NEED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

IT'S, IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE BECAUSE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE STAIRWELLS HAPPEN AT ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE DAY AND WELL AFTER THE SERVICES THAT SANITATION'S PROVIDING, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE COMPLETED.

SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU SEE THIS AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THERE ON A CONSTANT BASIS.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND GOING FORWARD, UH, INTO NEXT BUDGET YEAR, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE AN ENHANCEMENT, UH, MADE BY PARKING TO TAKE THAT PARTICULAR FUNCTION OVER ON AN INTERNAL BASIS WITH THEIR OWN INTERNAL STAFF, UH, TO, UH, SERVICE THAT ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE PARKING GARAGES TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW, THE NEEDED SERVICE LEVELS AT AN ENHANCED LEVEL THAT, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WE CAN'T ALWAYS DO IN SANITATION.

'CAUSE THAT'S JUST PART OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT OUR, UH, PRESCRIBED PRESSURE WASHING ROUTES ARE.

AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT INITIATIVE AND SINCE FIRST BECOMING ELECTED, UH, I STRESSED WE NEED TO START DOING MORE WITH THE SAME.

THERE ANY REASON, AND THANK YOU.

AND IF WE DON'T START DOING MORE WITH THE SAME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

RIGHT? AND, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS LET'S MAINTAIN THE, THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

AND IF WE CAN'T DO THAT AND WE KEEP SPENDING AND SPENDING ON EXTRA RESOURCES, WE'RE GONNA BE FORCED TO MAKE CUTS, RIGHT? WE, WE'VE HAD THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ALL THE TIME AND ALL DAY.

SO I, I APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT, JOSE, FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING PROACTIVE, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, ABOUT TAKING ON THIS ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

UH, THIS IS ONE MICROCOSM WE NEED TO SEE THAT TYPE OF THINKING REPLICATED AND COMPOUNDED ACROSS THE CITY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES BECAUSE IT, IT'S NOT AN EMPTY DEVELOPED THREAT.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

IF WE DO NOT START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND BEING PROACTIVE AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE, DOING MORE WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, WE'RE GOING TO BE FORCED TO IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, DO MORE WITH LESS RESOURCES, WE'LL HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN THROUGH OUR BUDGET.

SO THANK YOU ALL MS. MAYOR AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

THANK IT COMMISSIONER.

ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.

I PROBABLY WALKED MORE GARAGES IN THE CITY THAN ANYBODY ELSE WITH A PADDLE INITIATIVE.

UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, I HIGHLIGHTED DURING THAT DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT FORM THAT TOOK THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS.

UH, VICE MAYOR BAD, JUST HAD A CLARIFYING QUESTION, JOSE, FOR YOU.

JOSE.

AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

JOSE, I'M SORRY TO, UM, I JUST FOR YOU SAID SOMETHING AND I WANNA JUST UNDERSTAND IS

[06:55:01]

'CAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY WEARING TWO DEPARTMENT HATS, SO APPARENTLY NOW YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR STERILE WASHER AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY THAT HAS TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR IF THAT'S A TRANSITION THAT YOU'RE ALREADY PLANNING ON? CAN WE, IT'S, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT TO, TO THE BUDGET.

WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR IT.

UH, WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE RESOURCES, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S SANITATION THAT'S BEEN PERFORMING THAT FUNCTION.

SO WE'VE BEEN, IF YOU WILL, PAYING THEM FOR THOSE SERVICES.

AND SO IT'S A BUDGETARY, UH, ADJUSTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE AND IT'S CONSIDERED AN ENHANCEMENT.

AND SO AS AN ENHANCEMENT, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE GETTING IT, IT IS NOT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE NECESSARILY, IT'S THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE MONEY THAT YOU PAY THEM AND KEEPING IT IN HOUSE TO PAY STAFF TO DO THE WORK.

THAT'S, YES, THAT'S THE GOAL.

AND IS THERE NOT, AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE A JASON QUESTION OR CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION.

I, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE, DOES IT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEW BUDGET CYCLE OR CAN IT JUST BE AN ON THE FLY, YOU KNOW, CODIFIED AND DONE IT PROPERLY, BUT DOES IT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER? OR CAN WE DO IT SOONER? FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE C FFO HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.

I CAN SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.

I'M SURE THAT THAT'S JUST A PAPERWORK ISSUE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE HANDLED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY'LL ALL TELL YOU THAT I'VE ALREADY CHALLENGED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND WAYS FOR THE STAIRWELLS TO NOT SMELL THE WAY THAT THEY SMELL BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE ACKNOW I'VE ACKNOWLEDGED AND, AND WITNESSED THE SAME THING AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

SO CAN YOU GUYS COME BACK AT THE NEXT, UM, COMMISSION MEETING WITH AN UPDATE AND LIKE UPDATE BEING IT'S DONE AND WE'RE STARTING ON ON THURSDAY, KIND OF UPDATE? YES.

DOES THAT NEED TO BE CODIFIED, RICK? NO, I BELIEVE THE MANAGER CAN HANDLE THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY.

THANK YOU MADAM VICE MAYOR.

YES, GO AHEAD.

JUST HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

SO YOU SAID THE PRESSURE WASHING, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING PRESSURE WASHING IN-HOUSE, THE STAIRWELLS PARKING WHEEL, THE STAIRWELLS, JUST THE STAIRWELLS, NOT THE DECK.

AND SO, SO, BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? NO, ACTUALLY I BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT IN, IN THE CONTEXT OF PARKING GARAGES, IT'S MORE FOR THE, THE GARAGE STRUCTURE.

THE, THE, THE DECKS, THE WALLS, STAIRWELLS ARE TREATED SEPARATELY AND THAT'S WHAT'S, UH, HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY DONE BY SANITATION AND WILL START BEING DONE BY PARKING FLOOR.

THE DECKING, RIGHT? I THINK IT'S MORE RELATED TO THE DECKING IS WHAT THE CONTRACT IS RELATING TO.

NOT THE STAIRWELLS.

WELL, BUT THE MEMO SAYS THE FACILITIES AND FLEET DEPARTMENT REQUIRES A CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE PERIODIC PRESSURE CLEANING SERVICES FOR PARKING DECKS, STAIR WALLS, STAIR STAIRWELLS, SIDEWALKS, CURBS COLUMNS AND WALLS, AND VARIOUS MULTI-STORY PARKING GARAGES, PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDINGS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS AS WELL.

SO THIS IS NOT ACCURATE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IF WHEN THEY'RE CLEANING, AND THIS WAS PART OF THE SOLICITATION PROCESS, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS CAME UP.

IF THEY'RE CLEANING AND SOMETHING GOES UP ON THE WALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY NEED TO JUST, YOU KNOW, CLEAN IT OFF AND ET CETERA.

BUT SO LET TO THE DEPARTMENT MORE ON THE SCOPE.

SO LET ME ASK THIS, WHAT WAS THE SELECTION PROCESS? WERE WE DOING THIS? WERE WERE, DID WE GO BA, DID WE GO LOWEST BIDDER? DID WE GO BASED ON, UM, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO PERFORM WORK QUALIFICATION? WHAT WAS THE BASIS OF RANKING THESE CONTRACTORS? THERE WAS A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO HAVE AT LEAST SEVERAL PROJECTS OF PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES.

AND IN ADDITION, IT'S AN INVITATION TO BID.

SO IT'S THE LOWEST BIDDER, UM, AS LONG AS THEY'RE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE, UM, IS RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD.

SO WE'RE GOING, SO, SO, SO, SO RATHER THAN GOING FOR THE CANDIDATE THAT COULD PERHAPS GET US THE CLEANEST PRODUCT, WE'RE GOING WITH A CANDIDATE THAT'S THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, THE LOWEST BID.

AND IS THAT THE BEST OPTION, MR. MANAGER TO GO WITH THE LOWEST BID? RATHER THAN SAYING LIKE, WHICH ONE OF THE RESPONDENTS CAN GET US THE BEST WORK PRODUCTS? SO THIS, IN MANY WAYS, SHAPE OR FORM IS SIMILAR TO BUYING WIDGETS.

SO YES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO AN ITB, WHICH IS WHAT WAS DONE, AND WE GO WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.

NOW THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE DO IN-HOUSE THAT ARE MORE DETAIL RELATED, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE DOING.

[07:00:01]

WE MOW WITH CONTRACTS WE PLANT WITH IN-HOUSE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S MORE DETAIL ORIENTED.

WELL, I I'M GONNA MOVE FOR A DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM.

I WOULD APPRECIATE FOR YOU GUYS TO GO OUT AND SEE THE WORK OF THIS CONTRACTOR VERIFYING THAT THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT THAT, THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE UP COMING UP HERE AND DEFENDING THE WORK OF.

AND IT'LL BE GREAT TO HAVE THE CONTRACTOR COME HERE AND UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS.

I'LL TELL YOU, I JUST GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO'S ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, UH, THAT WORKS IN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

AND, AND THEY WROTE, HEY, ALEX, JUST AN FYI, EVEN AT OUR GARAGES AT CITY HALL, OUR, OUR GARAGES CITY HALL IS SO BAD THERE WAS POOP UNDER THE STAIRWELL SMELL OF URINE.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST IT.

IT'S, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

IT, WE, WE WOULDN'T, WE WOULD HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS OF PRIVATE PROPERTIES, YET WE SHOULD BE SETTING THE EXAMPLE FOR IT.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS CONTRACTOR THAT'S GONNA BE BENEFITING FROM THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS DELIVERS FOR OUR TAXPAYERS THE CLEANLINESS THAT THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LIN.

UM, I'M GLAD JOSE, THAT YOU HAVE THIS IDEA TO OUTSOURCE EXTRA PRESSURE CLEANINGS.

'CAUSE I THINK IT WAS SO NECESSARY AND I'M GLAD THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT SERVICE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE FACILITIES HERE, COULD YOU PAINT THE STAIRWELLS TO PLEASE, BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN YOU DRIVE INTO A GARAGE, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE WALLS OF THE PARKING GARAGE, BUT WHEN YOU GO ON THAT STAIRWELL, THEY ARE FILTHY AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PRESSURE CLEANING.

AND I THINK PAINTING THOSE STAIRWELLS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN REMOVING SOME OF THE ODOR, YOU KNOW? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT PEOPLE FIND, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE, BUT AT LEAST FOR SURE THE ANCHOR GARAGE NEEDS IT.

I KNOW THAT THE SUNSET HARBOR GARAGE NEEDS THE STAIRWELLS PAINTED.

UM, AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE ONES IN SOUTH BEACH.

I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE, THAT THE ONE ON, UM, WHAT IS IT, 13TH AND COLLINS, THAT THAT GARAGE COULD HAVE THE STAIRWELLS PAINTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAINT THE WHOLE INTERIOR, JUST KEEP THOSE STAIRWELLS PAINTED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF ROTATION WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, IF WE EVEN HAVE ONE, BUT I WOULDN'T WAIT TO PAINT THE ENTIRE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STAIRWELLS NEEDED A LOT MORE THAN THE ENTIRE INTERIOR.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? MM-HMM .

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO, UM, TO, TO ADD THAT TO THE MAINTENANCE.

START OFF NOW WITH A FRESH, CLEAN PAINT AND YOU KNOW, THEN PUT IT ON SOME SORT OF ROTATION.

'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY THANKS.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WHAT'S YOUR, UH, I'M GONNA MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM, UH, ASKING STAFF TO GO OUT, INSPECT THE LOCATIONS, THIS THEIR, THE RECOMMENDED VENDORS ARE CURRENTLY CLEANING, AND, UH, ASK FOR THE SELECTED OR THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR, UM, TO COME BACK TO APPEAR BEFORE US SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR, UH, FROM US HOW IMPORTANT THE PRIORITY THAT THIS IS, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND CALL? THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE SECONDED.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

C TWO B OF DEFERRING THE ITEM.

C SEVEN E IS APPROVED OPERATION CLEAN WATER POLLUTANTS IN PARKVIEW CANAL.

OPPOSED? NO.

IF, UH, THE ITEM IS DEFERRED TO A SPECIFIC TO APRIL 23RD.

UH, C SEVEN E, I'M SORRY.

[C7 E A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING ON MARCH 11, 2025, AND APPROVING "OPERATION CLEAN WATER" TO URGENTLY ADDRESS STREET LEVEL POLLUTANTS IN THE NORTH BEACH WATERSHED ENTERING THE STORMWATER SYSTEM AND IMPACTING PARK VIEW CANAL WATER QUALITY, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT DATED FEBRUARY 24, 2025, ENTITLED "ASSESSMENT OF ENTEROCOCCI IN GROUNDWATER AND STORMWATER AT THE MIAMI BEACH PARK VIEW CANAL."]

WE ONLY HAD SEVEN SPONSORS ON THIS .

STORMWATER, UH, TREATMENT RETROFITS.

UM, IT'S RANDOMIZED.

TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS LONG IMPACTED THE PARKVIEW ISLAND CANAL AND BY EXTENSION THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY, THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK VICE MAYOR BOT, UH, BECAUSE I REALLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS AS A CANDIDATE SITTING OUT IN HER BACKYARD LOOKING AT THE CANAL AND HER TEACHING ME ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AT PARKVIEW ISLAND FOR YEARS AND FOR YEARS.

WE HAVE DISCUSSED WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I PRODUCT ITEMS. AND WE'VE ALL SUPPORTED ITEMS TO PRIORITIZE IN OUR BUDGET.

FUNDING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES FOR PARKVIEW ISLAND, INCLUDING THE LINING OF WASTEWATER PIPES, UH, SANITARY SEWER REHABILITATION,

[07:05:01]

THIS HAS BEEN A LOT WITH THE GUIDANCE OF OUR CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER AMY KNOWLES.

THIS HAS BEEN TO HELP RESTORE AND PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS AND THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE MADE A MEASURABLE IMPACT.

UM, THE PHASE TWO PARKVIEW CANAL WATER QUALITY REPORT CONFIRMS THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE WORKING, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE.

AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF IT.

IN 2022 BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED KEY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, 92% OF WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM PARKVIEW CANAL EXCEEDED THE THRESHOLD OF 70 MPN PER 100 MILLILITERS FOR ENTEROCOCCI BACTERIA.

THE STANDARD SET FOR SAFER RECREATIONAL WATERS BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF OF HEALTH, UM, IS 70, IS THE 70 MPN, BUT 92% OF THE WATER SAMPLES EXCEEDED THAT THRESHOLD.

AT TIMES THE LEVELS REACHED 1300, 1300 MPS.

IMAGINE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 70, AND WE WERE REACHING UP TO 1300.

THAT IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF BACTERIA.

AND THE PRIMARY SOURCE WAS STORM WATER RUNOFF CONTAMINATED WITH BACTERIA, INCLUDING BACTERIA FROM HUMAN WASTE.

AFTER TARGETED INTERVENTION LINING OF PIPES, REHABILITATING MANHOLES, REPLACING AIR VALVE AIR, AIR RELEASE VALVES, WE HAVE SEEN A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THIS BACTERIA.

BY 2024, EXCEEDANCES DROPPED WITH SOME AREAS, SEEING BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION DURING LOW TIDE DROPPED FROM 1300 TO 40 MPN THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FROM 1300 TO 40, THAT'S A REDUCTION BY A FACTOR OF 30, AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AND THAT IS PROGRESS.

HOWEVER, 70% EXCEEDANCE IS STILL UNACCEPTABLE.

AND OUR GOAL IS CLEAR.

WE MUST GET BELOW THAT 70 MPM STANDARD FOR SAFER RECREATIONAL WATERS, AND WE NEED TO DO IT URGENTLY.

WATER QUALITY AND PARKVIEW CAN NOW REMAIN COMPROMISED BY STORM WATER RUNOFF, STREET LEVEL POLLUTANTS, AND UNMANAGED OUTFALLS.

THERE WAS A HOTSPOT IDENTIFIED AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY WHERE BACTERIA LEVELS FAR EXCEEDED ACCEPTABLE THRESHOLDS, MAKING IT THE NEW MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CONTAMINATION.

AND THAT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION AND WE ARE VERY LIMITED ON THE WORK THAT WE CAN DO THERE.

GARBAGE IS ACCUMULATING ALONG THE SHORELINE BETWEEN 72ND AND 75TH STREET ON DICKENS BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING CLEANED OUT AS IT SHOULD.

ADDING TO BACTERIAL BUILDUP AND DIMINISHING OUR EFFORTS, THE MANGROVES AT THE TANTRUM WATERWAY HAVE ACCUMULATED TRASH DISRUPTING AN ESSENTIAL ECOLOGICAL BUFFER ZONE AND WORSENING WATER QUALITY.

THAT'S WHY TODAY WE'RE INTRODUCING OPERATION CLEAN WATER TO HELP US ADVANCE IN OUR EFFORTS OF RESTORING WATER QUALITY ON PARKVIEW ISLAND CANAL.

THIS IS A SIX MONTH INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF ADMINISTRATION, WITH OUR CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER AND WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

AND IT TAKES DECISIVE RESULTS OF ENT APPROACH TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON.

AND PART OF WHAT I HOPE THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF WILL INTRODUCE IS A DOUBLING OF THE FREQUENCY OF STORMWATER SYSTEM CLEANINGS IN THE 81 ACRE DRAINAGE BASIN TO REMOVE POLLUTANTS BEFORE THEY REACH OUR WATERWAYS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO INSTALL STORM DRAIN FILTERS AT CASH, BA AT CATCH BASIN AND FABRICS AND SEDIMENT FILTER SOCKS TO CAPTURE TRASH AND TO BRING BEFORE THEY ENTER THE CANAL WITH, WITH REGULAR MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT WE PREVENT FLOODING IF THEY GET CLOGGED.

WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS LITTER, TO ADDRESS PED WASTE AND LEGAL DUMPING AT IDENTIFIED POLLUTION HOTSPOTS.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WORKING, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A PARKVIEW ISLAND SUSTAINABLE ASSOCIATION TO EXPAND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS.

JUST AS WE SUPPORT BEACH CLEANUPS, WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR SHORELINES BECAUSE THE TRASH BUILDUP ALONG DICKENS AND TANTRUM MANGROVES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ONCE AND FOR ALL.

AND WE WILL HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH OUR CLEANLINESS INDEX, ENSURING THAT EVERY ACTION WE TAKE IS TRACKED, IS MEASURED, AND IS ADJUSTED FOR MAXIMUM EFFE EFFECTIVENESS.

BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT A VAGUE COMMITMENT, WE NEED TO GET MEASURABLE RESULTS FROM THIS ACTION.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT OUR INITIAL ACTIONS HAS DELIVERED IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR WATER QUALITY, BUT WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH

[07:10:01]

OF THIS.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE IS INDEED THAT SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM AT BISCAYNE BEACH ELEMENTARY AND COMMISSIONER BAD MENTIONED IT EARLIER BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THAT, BUT WE CANNOT CONTROL IT AND WE CANNOT IGNORE IT, AND WE CAN'T LET THE JURISDICTIONAL BUREAUCRACY DELAY THE SOLUTION.

YESTERDAY I PERSONALLY CONTACTED SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS ABOUT THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THAT CONVERSATION LED TO DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR SUPER INTENT BETWEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR CITY MANAGER.

AND AS A RESULT, NEXT WEEK WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED ON SITE.

IS IT ON SITE? WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED ON SITE TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS WATER QUALITY ISSUE THAT'S EMANATING IN LARGE PART FROM LAND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER.

AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO LINE PIPES AND BISCAY BEACH ELEMENTARY IF THAT IS A NECESSARY PATH TO RESTORE HEALTHY WATER QUALITY IN PARKVIEW ISLAND.

SO COLLEAGUES, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S AHEAD.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EMANATED OUT OF TEAMWORK ON THE LAND USE COMMITTEE AND MANY OF US WERE THERE PRESENT.

UH, IT WAS GREAT TEAMWORK AND WAS GREAT COLLABORATION WITH OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WITH OUR CHIEF RECEIVING C OFFICE WITH OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS.

AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN THE CLEANLINESS INDEX.

WE EXPECT COORDINATION AT ALL LEVELS FROM CITY STAFF TO SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS.

AND THIS IS OUR MOMENT, ONCE AND FOR ALL TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND TO GIVE OUR RESIDENTS THE WATER QUALITY THEY EXPECT AND THEY DESERVE AT PARKVIEW ISLAND.

SEVEN SPONSORS.

I HOPE YOU DIDN'T LOSE THE VOTES.

, YOU NEVER KNOW.

MAYBE GOT A MOTION.

I'LL MOVE THE ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

SECOND.

OKAY, LET'S CALL THE VOTE ON C SEVEN E.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER.

UH, UH, UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE.

THE ITEM IS SEVEN ZERO, UH, PROOF SEVEN ZERO.

UH, VICE MAYOR B REQUESTED THAT THAT ONSITE MEETING BE SUNSHINED, SO I'LL DO THAT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

IF IT'S FINE WITH THIS, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE ARE YOU FINE FOR IT TO BE SUNSHINED, MR. MANN? NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.

DO DO WE THINK THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE, SHOULD WE CHECK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE I'LL TOUCH BASE WITH HIM.

IF SO, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL ADVERTISE.

FOUR I REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, MARCH 26TH, 2025.

C FOUR IC

[C4 I REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE - DISCUSS POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ETHICAL CONCERNS RELATED TO MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE’S MULTIPLE ROLES.]

CONFLICT OF INTEREST, ETHICAL CONCERNS REGARDING MD'S, MULTIPLE ROLES.

SHOULD I, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ? UM, I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, THAT YOU HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE AND YOU HAD CERTAIN QUESTIONS, UM, YOU QUESTIONED THE FACT THAT THE CITY, UM, OKAY, SO THE, OUR, JUST SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, OUR MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE IS A NONPROFIT THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THEIR PRESERVATION IS AT THE FOREFRONT.

SO I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT THE, THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE HAS A SEAT ON THE HISTORIC PRE PRESERVATION, UM, BOARD, BUT THEN SO DOES THE DADE HERITAGE TRUST AND THAT'S FINE.

UM, THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE OPERATES ON, UH, HAS A BUILDING ALSO, UM, ON OCEAN DRIVE, A WELCOME CENTER BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ALWAYS PRIORITIZED PRESERVATION.

AND YES, MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE AND ITS DIRECTOR, UM, COMES TO OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS AND LAND USE BOARDS TO ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVATION.

SO YES, THESE ARE THE REASON WE HAVE THESE ITEMS OR THE REASON WE HAVE THIS STRUCTURE AND THE REASON THAT THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE CAN EVEN APPEAL A DECISION IS BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS PRIORITIZED PRESERVATION.

SO WHEN I SAW THAT YOU SOMEHOW THINK THAT THIS REPRESENTS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ETHICAL CONCERNS, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY, UM, YOU THOUGHT THIS IS SO, AND TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE WHY WOULD WE HAVE IT AT A FINANCE MEETING? UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE AND WHY IS THIS AN ATTACK ON THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE? IS THIS AN ATTACK ON DANIEL ERALDO, THE DIRECTOR WHO RECENTLY FILED A CANDIDACY FOR OFFICE? IS THERE SOMETHING POLITICALLY MOTIVATED HERE? I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, BECAUSE ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT I HAVE WITNESSED, UH, DANIEL AND THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS.

AND IF THERE'S SOMEBODY

[07:15:01]

WHO IS NOT MOTIVATED BY ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST, UM, IT'S DANIEL AND THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE, THEY ARE PURELY HERE TO ENSURE PRESERVATION.

AND I THINK THAT THESE TYPES OF, YOU KNOW, ITEMS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME TO RESPOND, I'D LOVE TO.

SURE, SURE.

I I WOULD BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED BY THIS.

AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY NOT ONLY DOES MDPL HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD, THEY HAVE, THEY, THEY CAN ADVOCATE AS A LOBBYIST.

THEY DO HAVE A CITY BUILDING.

WE DO PROVIDE THEM FUNDING.

YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE ALWAYS CARED ABOUT PRESERVATION IN THE PAST, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT'S OUR POSTCARD.

WELL, I, I'D LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND I'M CONCERNED THAT, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A FIRST ATTEMPT TO SOMEHOW DISMANTLE THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE REALLY DETRIMENTAL FOR THE CITY.

AND, AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ATTACK ON THE PRESERVATION LEAGUE IS SOME WAY TO, UH, GET AROUND, UH, TO DISMANTLE OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROTECTIONS.

SO I'D JUST, MR. SUAREZ, THANK YOU.

I'D JUST LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD MY ANALYSIS.

UM, THE MIAMI DESIGN, MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE IS A CITY CONTRACTOR MANAGING THE MIAMI BEACH OCEAN FRONT AUDITORIUM, THE 10TH STREET AUDITORIUM AS A VISITOR CENTER ART DECO MUSEUM.

THIS ORGANIZATION IS ALSO A RE RECIPIENT OF GRANT FUNDING FROM THE CITY AND ENGAGES IN FUNDRAISING TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S RESILIENCY CODE.

AND DPL ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO NOMINATE THREE INDIVIDUALS FOR APPOINTMENT FOR ONE OF THEM TO THE SEAT OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD.

MDPL ALSO HAS BEEN GRANTED SPECIAL STATUS UNDER THE RESILIENCY CODE.

SPECIFICALLY MDPL HAS STANDING WHEN OTHER 30 PARTIES GENERALLY WOULD NOT TO APPEAL CERTAIN DECISIONS OF THE CITY'S LAND USE BOARDS.

IN ADDITION TO THESE INTERACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY, ONE OR MORE MDPL REPRESENTATIVES FREQUENTLY APPEAR BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, VARIOUS COMMISSION COMMITTEES AND THE CITY'S LAND USE BOARDS AS A LOBBYIST AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT COULD AFFECT THE CITY'S DECISIONS ON MATTERS RELATED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

MD'S OVERLAPPING ROLES AS A CITY CONTRACTOR AND LOBBYIST, AS WELL AS ITS PREFERRED STATUS UNDER THE RESILIENCY CODE RAISE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

THE BLURRING OF LINES BETWEEN THESE VARIOUS ROLES COULD CREATE PERCEPTIONS OF IMPROPRIETY OR UNDUE INFLUENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DECISIONS REGARDING CITY CONTRACTS AND LAND USE MATTERS ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON BY THE CITY COMMISSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE TO ASSESS WHETHER THESE MULTIPLE ROLES ARE APPROPRIATELY MANAGED AND WHETHER ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS OR CLARIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS.

THIS DISCUSSION WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S PROCESS REMAINS TRANSPARENT, ETHICAL, AND FREE FROM CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

NOW LISTEN, I AM FROM WHAT I, FROM BEING ON THE COMMISSION FOR A YEAR, I'VE SEEN SOME VERY, VERY ODD THINGS FROM THE STANDARD HOTEL TO NOW.

THIS.

I WOULD NOT BE BRINGING AN ITEM FORWARD IF I DID NOT HAVE ACTUAL CONCERNS REGARDING THE ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY OF SOME OF OUR CITY FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS.

THE ITEM BEFORE US TODAY, I WANTED TO REFER THIS TO FINANCE COMMITTEE.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE AND DISCUSS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

I DO NOT HAVE TO BRING THAT ITEM RIGHT HERE.

I'M NOT PREPARED FOR IT.

I HAVE, UH, I'M WORKING ON A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF WHY I THINK THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IT AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

AS FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS, I THINK YOU SHOULD ALLOW ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AT THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE.

BUT THIS WAS A REFERRAL TO FINANCE.

I'M NOT SURE WHY I'D BE SIGNING MYSELF UP FOR, UH, FORTHCOMING PJ, CAN WE SEE THE SLIDE? ? BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S COMING AHEAD.

UM,

[07:20:01]

UH, I THINK THE COMMISSIONER WANTED TO SEE WHERE YOUR, UH, THOUGHT SLIDE.

I THOUGHT YOU SPELLED OUT SOME THINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK, UH, COMMITTEE IS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR THAT.

I DON'T THINK, UH, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HASH IT OUT HERE, UM, BEFORE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE DETAILS ARE FORMULATED.

UM, SO I'LL MOVE IT TO COMMITTEE, UH, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN NOT TO, UH, PROLONG THIS TODAY.

I'LL SECOND THAT'S CALL A VOTE.

SO TO REFER THE ITEM C FOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANYONE OPPOSED? THE ITEM HAS REFERRED SEVEN ZERO C FOR I.

WAIT, I THINK THAT DANIEL SHOULD HAVE JUST FIVE SECONDS.

PLEASE.

ACTUALLY, THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION, BUT I, I DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE REFERRAL.

I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE SPONSOR IF POSSIBLE BEFOREHAND TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE.

'CAUSE THE, UH, MEMO DIDN'T HAVE MUCH AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM MEMBERS SAYING, IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN'T GO TO SPEAK AT THE COMMISSION.

AND JUST LIKE YOU SAW THIS MORNING, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT IS HARD FOR ME.

I'M WILLING TO TAKE ALL THE BULLETS.

I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE, UH, WHATEVER SIDE I'M ON.

BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE LISTENING.

THEY CAN TALK, THEY CAN ADVOCATE EVEN IF WE DO HAVE A SMALL MUSEUM THAT WE, WE RUN AND HELP WITH THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, AND WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT AT THE COMMITTEE, BUT I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE AFRAID.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF THIS REFERRAL.

AND I THINK IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE.

MR. MAYOR.

MR. MAYOR, IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO NOTE AND PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I DID GET A PHONE CALL FROM YOU.

AND I ANSWERED IT.

UH, AND YOU ASKED ME TO DISCUSS IN PRIVATE, UH, MY CONCERNS AND I WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT DOING IT IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

AND THEN YOU THREATENED ME WITH HAVING ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS PULL IT FROM CONSENT.

AND APPARENTLY THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

UH, I DID NOT HAVE CONVERS, EXCUSE ME.

I AM TALKING A CONVERSATION WITH DANIELLE, BUT THAT'S AN ACCUSATION THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

WELL, YOU CAN CHECK MY PHONE RECORDS.

I HAVEN'T EVEN SPOKEN TO DANIELLE.

LET THE COMMISSIONER FINISH IT.

I LOOK AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, THERE THERE WAS CERTAINLY A THREAT OF, OF ASKING ME TO PULL THIS FROM COMMITTEE OR, OR, OR OFF OF CONSENT.

AND, UM, AT WHICH POINT I, I SAID, LOOK, I THINK IT'S, I THINK SUNLIGHT IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

BUT JUST TO RESPOND TO THE ALLEGED THREAT, VERY BRIEFLY, WHEN I CALLED AND I MENTIONED MICKEY SEINBERG RULE ABOUT WHEN YOU DO PUT SOMETHING WITH A TITLE THAT SAYS ETHICAL AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERNS ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION, I WOULD LOVE FOR ANY OF YOU TO BE IN THAT POSITION WITH YOUR FUNDERS, WITH YOUR MEMBERS, WITH YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHEN YOU DO GET THAT.

SO, YES, I DID CALL YOU AS A SPONSOR AFTER, WITHOUT REACHING OUT, YOU DID PUT THAT ITEM ON, AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK IN PRIVATE, UNLESS YOU WANNA PUT IT OUT IN THE AGENDA, WHICH IS FINE WITH US TOO.

I THINK DOING EVERYTHING, WE LIKE THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE'RE SLANDERED WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING FROM ALL OVER POLITICS.

I KNOW, RIGHT? THANK YOU.

I'VE BEEN SIDE BY SIDE THEM IN THEIR MISSION FIGHTING BAD PRENCE OR HURTING OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND LOOK, AND, AND JUST, JUST THE LAST THING TO TOUCH UP ON, I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, GIVEN, GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH LIKE THE STANDARD HOTEL WHERE THERE WERE BACKROOM DEALS GOING ON, WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAK FOR THE RECORD.

AND, AND I, AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MDPL.

JUST CAN I, CAN I JUST ASK MY COLLEAGUES? WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS ON TODAY, BUT THIS, THIS IS JUST A REFERRAL.

LET'S JUST TAKE THE VOTE.

I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD SAYING, LISTEN, I DON'T THINK MDPL HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I DON'T THINK MDPL HAS AN, HAS ETHICAL ISSUES.

I THINK MDPL HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MDPL ARE LARGER THAN THE INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE IN THEM AT THE PRESENCE.

THEY'RE ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE BARBARA KAMAN, THEY'RE PEOPLE LIKE MADDIE BAUER, THEY'RE PEOPLE LIKE NANCY LIEMAN WHO HAVE BEEN BASTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE PRESERVATION MOVEMENT.

AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MDPL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL.

I DON'T THINK AN ORGANIZATION HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I DON'T THINK AN ORGANIZATION HAS, HAS ETHICAL CONCERNS.

I THINK THOSE, THOSE THINGS BELONG TO INDIVIDUALS.

INDIVIDUALS ARE THE ONES WHO, WHO HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHO HAVE ETHICAL CONCERNS.

I BELIEVE IN, IN MDPL, I WANNA SEE MDPL AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE SEEN THEM FIGHTING IN TALLAHASSEE, THE ENTITY, THE ORGANIZATION AGAINST HORRIBLE PREEMPTION BILLS.

AND SO AND SO, I CANNOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT IS SEEN GOING AFTER MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

I LIKE THEIR MISSION.

[07:25:01]

AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE BIGGER THAN AN, THAN AN INDIVIDUAL.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS REFERRAL.

UH, OVERLY AGGRESSIVE DEVELOPERS.

I I I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SO I WAS ON THE BOARD OF MDPL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS A RESIDENT.

FEEL FREE TO ACCUSE ME OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR BECAUSE I WAS ON THE BOARD OF AN, OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, ADVOCATES NOT JUST FOR MIAMI BEACH, BUT FOR ALL OF MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

HENCE THE NAME MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

ITS ROLE IS ADVOCACY.

THAT'S THE, THE MISSION ON, ON DAY ONE.

THAT IS THE MISSION.

IT IS ADVOCACY IN PRESERVING OUR HISTORIC HERITAGE CULTURE IN MIAMI BEACH PRIMARILY.

BUT THROUGHOUT MIAMI, NORTH BEACH, SOUTH BEACH, UM, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UH, HAVANA, LITTLE HAVANA, UM, SOME OF THE SHOTGUN, UH, CABINS IN, UM, COCONUT GROVE.

WE ARE, I KEEP, I, I ALWAYS REFER TO IT AS WE, 'CAUSE I'M SO USED TO BEING ON THE BOARD, IT WAS SUCH LONG TIME.

BUT THE ORGANIZATION TAKES UNPOPULAR STANCES SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE EASY OR THE OBVIOUS ROUTE.

SOMETIMES THEY WIN, SOMETIMES THEY LOSE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE THAT THIS CITY WOULD NOT BE THE BIGGEST DONOR CITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OTHER THAN DISNEY WORLD IF IT WERE NOT.

FOR BARBARA CAPMAN AND HER LEGACY WITH MADDIE BAUER AND NANCY LIEMAN AND THE OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOUR YEARS AGAINST UNETHICAL COMMISSIONERS.

NOBODY HERE, I'M NOT CASTING ASPERSIONS, BUT IN YEARS PAST DECADES AGO, READ SOME OF THE BOOKS ABOUT HOW THIS HISTORY WENT DOWN.

THE ONLY REASON OCEAN DRIVE STILL LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES, THE ONLY REASON CHECK THE NEWS RECORD IS BECAUSE THE ADVOCACY AND THE FEARLESSNESS OF MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

NOW IF THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEBODY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT DO NOT IMPUGN.

I MEAN, YOU FEEL, FEEL FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT I WILL NOT TAKE LIGHTLY IMPUGNING THE REPUTATION OF AN ORGANIZATION.

THAT SOLE MISSION IS TO DO GOOD FOR THIS CITY.

AGREE OR DON'T AGREE, THAT'S FINE.

BUT DO NOT DENIGRATE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS ONLY ABOUT PROTECTING WHAT WE VALUE IN A HUGE WAY IN MIAMI BEACH.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MEASURE.

MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST CLOSE THIS OUT.

UH, DANIEL, UH, AS CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, I, I WELCOME YOU TO SPEAK THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS CALL A VOTE BECAUSE THERE MIGHT NOT BE THE VOTES.

NO, WE DID NOT ALREADY VOTED TO SEND THIS TO FLAG.

WE DID NOT VOTE TO SEND THIS.

WE DID, WE DID.

WELL THEN I'M MAKING A MOTION TO RESCIND THAT VOTE AND RIGHT NOW TO, IF, IF COMMISSIONER SU SUAREZ HAS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS TO DO, HE CAN DO IT HERE.

THE, THE FULL COMMISSION.

SO DANIEL, YOU HAVE MY FULL PROMISE AND SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE THE FULL FLOOR AT THE FINANCE MEETING.

UM, ANYBODY FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME HAVE, BUT I WAS, WAS MAKING A, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A MOTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW THAT THIS CONVERSATION CAN HAPPEN HERE IF COMMISSIONER SUAREZ WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE FULL COMMISSION NEXT TIME.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF THREATENING AND, UM, ACCUSATORY, UH, LANGUAGE IS, IS, IS JUST, I DON'T SEE WHAT EVERYONE, I DON'T SEE WE HAVE EVEN TO BE AFRAID OF.

IT'S NOT JUST MEAN.

IT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING A ACROSS THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW IN CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE OVERSIGHT THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT THIS IS IS TO CRIMINALIZE OR ATTEMPT TO CREATE SOME SORT OF NARRATIVE SO THAT THEN YOU CAN GO IN AND, YOU KNOW, REDEVELOP.

WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THESE PLANS TO REDEVELOP PARTS OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND WE KNOW, I KNOW I'M NOT COMPLETE.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF IT'S POLITICAL, BUT I DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE WHEN WE ALLOW THIS, OKAY, AND WHEN WE ALLOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO, YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR OTHER RESIDENTS, AND WE ALLOW THIS KIND OF BULLYING AND FINGER POINTING AND INSINUATIONS AND, UH, CREATING A NARRATIVE WITH CERTAIN FACTS, THEN WE ARE ARE JUST GOING.

IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND IF YOU DO HAVE AN ETHICAL, DON'T SEE WHY YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TRANSPARENCY.

YOU SHOULD REFER THIS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO RE RECONSIDER? DOES

[07:30:01]

I WOULD LIKE TO RECONSIDER THIS.

OF CREATING NARRATIVES, ETHICAL CONCERNS, INVESTIGATIONS.

I'D TO SAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT THE DIRECTION WE WANNA BE AS A CITY.

I'VE NEVER, I THINK WE SHOULD RECONSIDER IT.

DOES ANYBODY WANNA SECOND MY MOTION TO RECONSIDER THIS? I DON'T SEE WHAT AND HAVE HIM BRING IT BEFORE ALL OF US, BECAUSE I CAN'T NECESSARILY ATTEND YOUR FINANCE MEETING.

I DON'T HAVE TIME.

I'M ON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COMMITTEES.

UM, SO IF I CAN'T ATTEND AND BE THERE, I KNOW FOR FACT THAT I WILL BE THERE TO PUSH BACK ON YOU.

COMMISSIONER, AT A FULL COMMISSION MEETING.

COMMISSIONER, I HAVE SOME SERIOUS ETHICAL CONCERNS.

WHAT ARE YOUR ETHICAL CONCERNS? WHAT ARE THEY? I'M GONNA, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DEAL IS.

WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

IT'S GONNA BE A SUNSHINE MEETING.

ANYONE HERE IS WELCOME TO COME.

YOU HAVE THE FINANCE CHAIR SAYING THAT MDPL OR DANIEL ALDO WOULD HAVE THE FULL FLOOR.

I INVITE ALL OF MDPL MEMBERS TO COME AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

GOOD, GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I DON'T LOOK, IT'S JUST A REFERRAL.

UM, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS AN ATTACK.

UH, THIS IS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

I THINK YOU DEFENDING THIS IS SOMEHOW POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

IF ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO'S AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO'S VOTED ON BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE DEFERENCE TO THAT, YOUR COLLEAGUE ON THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE, WHENEVER I BRING SOMETHING WITH CONCERNS, WHETHER IT BE THE STANDARD OR FISCAL IMPACT, I, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S COMING OUT OF A VACUUM.

IT'S, THERE'S MERIT BEHIND IT.

AND I HAVE, AND I HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF PUTTING FORWARD A GOOD PRESENTATION WITH THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS.

AND IF YOU ARE SCARED OF, OF HEARING THAT AT A COMMITTEE, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NO, NO FEAR OF HEARING YOU AT ANY COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTEREST.

LISTEN THE OTHER DAY ON NPR, THIS REPORT OF LIKE THE DISMANTLING OF THIS RADIO STATION, LIKE VOICE OF AMERICA, AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THEY STARTED OUT.

THEY START OUT BY, UM, CREATING, CASTING THIS SHADOW OF LIKE ETHICAL CONCERNS.

AND THEN THEY WEAVE THEIR WAY.

AND THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.

WE ARE A RESPECTFUL CITY.

WE WOULD NEVER CAST SHADOW ON MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE AND ALLOW ALL OF US TO HAVE THIS TITLE THAT THEY HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ETHICAL CONCERNS WITHOUT DEFENDING MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE, WHO I HAVE PERSONALLY OBSERVED.

SO IF WE WANNA JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON OKAY.

I MEAN, I GUESS THAT'S WHO WE CAN BE AS A COMMUNITY.

BUT I AM, I I DO NOT.

I I THINK THAT THIS IS A HORRIBLE THING.

IF YOU WANNA BRING YOUR POWERPOINT TO THE FULL COMMISSION, BRING IT ON.

IF YOU REALLY FEEL THAT STRONGLY, THEN YOU CAN REFER MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

MAYBE YOU WANNA GET RID OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW , BUT I AM TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THIS CAUSES A LOT OF COGNITIVE, UM, IT, IT, IT, IT HURTS ME TO SEE YOU HURT OTHERS.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

IT'S JUST FOR, FOR NO REASON.

WE HAVEN'T BECAUSE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT DANIEL HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

NOT, NOT JUST THAT I, I I THINK THAT IT'S JUST SO, IT'S, IT'S HURTFUL AND IT'S NOT WHO MIAMI BEACH HAS EVER BEEN.

AND I'VE NEVER WITNESSED THIS KIND OF GOVERNMENT HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

SO I GUESS THIS IS A NEW THING FOR ME.

AND I'M DEFINITELY GONNA VOICE MY OPPOSITION AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AGAINST BULLIES.

OKAY, SO THE MOTION PASSED, UNLESS WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECONSIDER.

WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

R FIVE RR FIVE R IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RESILIENCY CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BY AMENDING CHAPTER SEVEN ENTITLED ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS.

[R5 R C-PS2 DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS - 6TH STREET OVERLAY AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RESILIENCY CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED “ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS, ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “DISTRICT REGULATIONS,” SECTION 7.2.15, ENTITLED “PERFORMANCE STANDARD DISTRICT (PS),” AT SUB-SECTION 7.2.15.3, ENTITLED “COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DISTRICTS (C-PS),” TO AMEND THE PERMITTED, CONDITIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL USE REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, INCLUDING MAXIMUM PERMITTED BUILDING HEIGHT, WITHIN THE C-PS2 ZONING DISTRICT; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

ARTICLE TWO ENTITLED DISTRICT REGULATIONS SECTION 7.2 POINT 15 ENTITLED PERFORMANCE STANDARD DISTRICTS PS AT SUBSECTION 7.2, POINT 15.3 ENTITLED COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARD DISTRICT CPS TO AMEND THE PERMITTED CONDITIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL USE REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, INCLUDING MAXIMUM PERMITTED BUILDING HEIGHT WITHIN THE CPS TWO ZONING DISTRICT AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPE OF ABILITY ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM REQUIRES FIVE SEVEN'S VOTE.

IT IS R FIVE R I'M THE SPONSOR.

AND, UH, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ FOR CO-SPONSORING WITH ME.

UH, TOM, THIS HAS BEEN, UH, WE'VE BEEN, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2021.

UM, AND IT SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME AT BOTH THE LAND USE COMMITTEE AND THE PLANNING BOARD.

IT WAS RECENTLY, UH, TRANSMITTED TO THIS, UM, COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PLANNING BOARD.

IT HAS NOT BEEN REACHED THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S BEEN REACHED TODAY.

UM, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE.

I'LL JUST ADD THOUGH, THAT, THAT IN THAT INTERIM THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE, RIGHT? CORRECT.

A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS.

A LOT OF, LIKE YOU SAY, LAND USE MEETINGS.

SO IT, IT'S BEEN MOVING, IT'S JUST, UH, TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO THIS LANDING.

THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS.

IT'S, IT'S,

[07:35:01]

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INPUT BY BOTH PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN, AND I'LL THANK AND I'LL GIVE A PUBLIC SHOUT OUT TO THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

'CAUSE THAT'S INITIALLY WHERE THIS IDEA CAME FROM AND THEY BROUGHT IT TO ME WHEN I WAS A COMMISSIONER TO SPONSOR THE ITEM.

AND WHILE IT'S A LENGTHY ORDINANCE AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE PRESSED FOR TIME, WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES ESSENTIALLY IS IT CREATES A TRANSITIONAL AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET, WHICH IS ZONE CPS TWO BETWEEN ALTON ROAD AND WASHINGTON AVENUE.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT CREATES CERTAIN REGULATIONS BY ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES AS WELL AS HEIGHTENED SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, UH, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET.

IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS LIKELY GOING TO OCCUR ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT IS SENSITIVE TO THE MORE LOW SCALE RM ONE AREA TO THE IMMEDIATE NORTH.

THE ONLY AREA THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD, UM, SOME VERY MINOR CONCERNS WITH WAS WITH REGARD TO THE OVERALL HEIGHT THAT, UM, HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET.

AND TO THAT END, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED PRIOR TO SECOND READING, UM, BY ALLOWING FOR THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED HEIGHT WITHIN THE FIRST TWO PLATTED LOTS SOUTH OF SIXTH STREET, NOT TO EXCEED 50 FEET REGARDLESS OF THE PROPERTY USE.

NOTWITHSTANDING FOR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT SITES THAT CONSIST OF FIVE OR MORE PLATTED LOTS, THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED HEIGHT WITHIN 100 FEET OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET SHALL NOT EXCEED 28 FEET.

AND THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED HEIGHT BETWEEN 100 AND 140 FEET FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET SHALL NOT EXCEED 40 FEET.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE A BETTER WAY OF ALLOWING FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT TO BE ABLE TO REALIZE ITS MAXIMUM FAR WHILE STILL BEING LOCATED WITHIN A BUILDING THAT HAS ARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENT.

AND SO WITH THAT ONE CHANGE, THAT ONE RECOMMENDED CHANGE, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AT FIRST READING.

ANYBODY WANNA MOVE THE ITEM? I'LL MOVE THE ITEM.

I'LL CALL THE VOTE.

AND TO CONFIRM, IS IT WITH THAT CHANGE RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION? JUST, UH, JUST RE I KNOW YOU JUST SAID IT.

DESCRIBE THE CHANGE AGAIN.

BASICALLY, UH, IN THE ORDINANCE THAT, UH, IS BEFORE YOU, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT WITHIN THE FIRST 100 FEET OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF SIXTH STREET? YES.

UM, SHALL NOT EXCEED 28 FEET.

WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT THE FIRST TWO PLATTED LOTS BE ALLOWED TO GO TO 50 FEET AND THAT THE LOWER HEIGHT WOULD KICK IN IF THERE WERE LARGER AGGREGATIONS OF PROPERTY.

SO IF SOMEBODY AGGREGATED FIVE LOTS, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME DOWN TO 28 FEET WITHIN THOSE FIRST TWO LOTS.

BUT IF SOMEBODY ONLY WANTS TO DEVELOP A SINGLE LOT OR ONLY WANTS TO DEVELOP TWO LOTS, WE BELIEVE THAT LIMITING THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT TO 28 FEET MIGHT CREATE PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY OWNER BEING ABLE TO REALIZE THEIR MAXIMUM FAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR ENOUGH LATITUDE TO CREATE ARCHITECTURAL IN INTEREST WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THAT FAR.

WHY THE AMENDMENT NOW AT THIS LATE STAGE, WE, WE HAD RECOMMENDED THAT AMENDMENT BOTH TO THE PLANNING BOARD, TO THE LAND USE COMMITTEE, AND NOW WE'RE RECOMMENDING IT A FIRST READING.

AND THAT WAS IT ACCEPTED BY THE PLANNING BOARD? THE PLANNING BOARD DID NOT INCLUDE OUR RECOMMENDATION.

AND THE LAND USE, UH, LAND USE RECOMMENDED IT AS IS.

MEANING NOT WITH THE AMENDMENT? CORRECT.

AND WHAT'S THE VIEWS OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL AS THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? I THINK THE FLU ENGLE PARK ASSOCIATION PREFERS THE ORDINANCE IS DRAFTED.

THEY BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO 28 FEET, UM, IN THE FIRST TWO LOTS.

I THINK MOST PROPERTY OWNERS AGREE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT ALLOWING UP TO THE CURRENT 50 FEET.

ACTUALLY, YOU CAN GO TO 75 FEET NOW IF YOU'RE DOING A RESIDENTIAL OR OR HOTEL PROJECT.

NOW HOTELS WOULD BE PROHIBITED, BUT IF SOMEBODY WAS DOING A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT NOW THEY COULD TECHNICALLY GO TO 75 FEET.

AND THE PLANNING BOARD VOTE WAS WHAT? THEY VOTED TO TRANSMIT THE ORDINANCE WITH THE, UM, WITH THE TEXT AS DRAFTED, WHICH WOULD BE 28 FEET.

AND WHAT WAS THE VOTE? I BELIEVE, UH, LET'S SEE, IT WAS, UH, SEVEN ZERO.

AND LAND USE, LAND USE WAS UNANIMOUS AS WELL.

THIS IS FIRST READING.

I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AS IS AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THE, UH, POTENTIAL AMENDMENT FOR SECOND READING.

I HAVE THREE PEOPLE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.

IS THAT THE MOTION, MAYOR? YEAH, I AGREE.

I WAS THE CO-SPONSOR AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON, ON THIS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AFTER YOU HAD, UM, BEEN ELECTED.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IF, UH, RALPH HAS THEM ONLINE.

[07:40:01]

MARK NEEDLE.

MARK IS ONE OF THEM, PLEASE.

MARK, YOU ARE.

SO IF ANYONE'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME RIGHT UP.

IF NOT, I'LL FIRST CALL MARK.

NEEDLE MARK, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, I THINK THE MOTION NOW IS WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT.

SO IT IS AS IS.

AS IS.

YEP.

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

MARK NEEDLE, LETGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I LIVE AT NINTH AND LENNOX.

UM, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER, UH, DOMINGUEZ FOR, UH, TAKING ON FROM THE MAYOR ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR ALL, INCLUDING THE STAFF FOR HELPING TO GET IT INTO THE SHAPE THAT IT SAID.

NOW I DO WANNA SAY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE, UH, THE COMPROMISE THAT WAS REACHED AT THE PLANNING BOARD.

WHEN THERE ARE AGGREGATIONS, WE FEEL LIKE THE, UM, IF IT'S FOLLOWING THE ONE AND TWO LOT, UH, DEVELOPMENTS, THOSE CAN HAVE THE 50 FEET.

WE AGREED WITH THAT WE COMPROMISE WITH THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORT.

IF THERE ARE AGGREGATIONS OF THREE AND FOUR LOTS THAT EXIST AS OF THE DATE OF THE PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION, UH, WE WOULD SUPPORT THEM BEING GRANDFATHERED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY.

WHAT YOU WILL DO IF YOU INCREASE FROM THREE TO FIVE LOTS, THE NUMBER OF AGGREGATED LOTS THAT WILL BE EXEMPT.

IF YOU'RE CREATING A LOOPHOLE, YOU'RE CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR LOTS TO AGGREGATE, UH, IN ORDER TO EXEMPT THEMSELVES FROM THE HEIGHT.

WE BELIEVE THAT IF THERE'S GONNA BE AGGREGATIONS, THEY SHOULD BE WELL THOUGHT OUT, THEY SHOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN SCALE APPROPRIATELY TO SIXTH STREET AND PRESERVE THAT HISTORIC FABRIC THAT WE ALL SUPPORT SO STRONGLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

DANIEL ERALDO WITH MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD'S POSITION ON THIS.

AND VERY THANKFUL, WE KNOW THIS IS TAKING A VERY LONG TIME, A LOT OF MEETINGS AND CONSENSUS BUILDING, BUT WE, UH, LIKE THE ULTIMATE RESULT.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS KENT ROBBINS.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, SIR.

ROBBINS, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

IT LOOKS LIKE MR. ROBBINS IS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE NEXT SPEAKER REQUESTING TO SPEAK HAS A SCREEN NAME OF IPAD.

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

SCREEN NAME, IPAD PLEASE GO AHEAD.

I GO THEN TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.

JOHAN MOORE.

MR. MOORE, ARE YOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT R FIVE R? YES, I AM.

UH, JOHAN MOORE.

UH, 7 1 7 JEFFERSON AVENUE, APARTMENT EIGHT.

UH, I WANT TO ECHO, UH, THE, THE THINKING BEHIND MARK'S STATEMENT.

AND I WANTED TO PUT IT IN THESE TERMS THAT WHATEVER FINAL APP, UH, WORDING IS APPROVED, IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT, NEW DEVELOPMENT STAIR STEPS UPWARD TO THE SOUTH FROM FIFTH STREET TO SIXTH STREET, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT CANYON WALLS.

AND THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF PROPORTIONALITY.

SIXTH STREET IS ABOUT 25 FEET WIDE.

AND SO A BUILDING THAT IS TOO HIGH, UH, FOR THAT RELATIVELY NARROW THOROUGHFARE IS GOING TO READ AS LOOMING, WHEREAS FIFTH STREET IS MUCH WIDER.

SO I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, CONCEPTUALLY.

OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MITCH NOVIK.

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

MITCH NOVIK.

I MANAGE A PROPERTY AT SIX 10 JEFFERSON AVENUE FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS.

33 YEARS.

UH, I AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT MADE BY BY MARK NEEDLE.

I CERTAINLY WOULD WANNA STEPPING UP NOTHING TO BE HIGHER THAN 28 FEET ALONG SIXTH STREET, WHICH IS TWO LOTS OR TWO PARCELS AWAY FROM MY PROPERTY.

UH, CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A, UH, UH, A WALL OVER THERE.

AND I'M GONNA TRY AGAIN.

SCREEN NAME IPAD, UNMUTE YOURSELF.

PLEASE GO AHEAD, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

THEY SEEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO, SO, AND THERE'S NO ONE ELSE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

SO PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

I'M MOVING.

I, I ORIGINALLY HEARD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ SECONDED BY FERNANDEZ.

AND I THINK I HAVE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND?

[07:45:01]

COMMISSIONER, IF NO OTHER DISCUSSION, MAY I CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? YES.

VICE MAYOR B.

GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO THE APPLICANT FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.

AIR MINOR? YES.

THE VOTE WAS SEVEN ZERO.

SECOND READING.

PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 23RD.

THE ITEM WAS APPROVED AS IS.

IT'S CALLED R FIVE

[R5 P NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH YEAR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO THE SMALL SCALE PROCEDURES IN SECTION 163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY AMENDING GOAL RLU 1: LAND USE; OBJECTIVE RLU 1.1: ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES; POLICY 1.1.7: HIGH DENSITY MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM-3), CREATING THE NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY LAND USE OVERLAY CATEGORY PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH FLOOR AREA INCENTIVES FOR PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS; AND DESIGNATING THE NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY DISTRICT ON THE 2040 FUTURE LAND USE MAP; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; TRANSMITTAL; REPEALER; SEVERABILITY; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

[R5 Q NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY - LDR AMENDMENT AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RESILIENCY CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, “ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS,” ARTICLE II, “DISTRICT REGULATIONS,” SECTION 7.2.6, “RM-3 RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, HIGH INTENSITY,” SUBSECTION 7.2.6.3, “DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS (RM-3),” TO REFERENCE MODIFIED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS FOR THE NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY, FURTHER AMENDING CHAPTER 7, “ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS,” ARTICLE III, “OVERLAY DISTRICTS,” BY CREATING SECTION 7.3.11, ENTITLED “NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY DISTRICT,” TO ESTABLISH DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING THE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS ON CERTAIN EXISTING OCEANFRONT LOTS WITHIN THE NORTH BEACH RESORT LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

P AND R FIVE Q.

YES, SIR.

R FIVE P IS IN ORDER TO THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MAMEE BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING THE CITY OF MAMEE BEACH YEAR 2024.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO THE SMALL SCALE PROCEDURES IN SECTION 1 63 0.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES BY AMENDING GOAL RLU ONE LAND USE OBJECTIVE, RLU 1.1.

ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES, POLICY 1.1 0.7, HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL RM THREE, CREATING THE NORTH BEACH OCEAN FRONT OVERLAY, LAND USE OVERLAY CATEGORY, PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH FLOOR AREA INCENTIVES FOR PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS AND DESIGNATING THE NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY DISTRICT ON THE 2040 FUTURE LAND USE MAP, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TRANSMITTAL, REPEAL OF ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

R FIVE P IS A FIRST READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

R FIVE Q IS AN NORTH OF MAYOR CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

AMENDING THE RESILIENCY CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BY AMENDING CHAPTER SEVEN ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS.

ARTICLE TWO, DISTRICT REGULATIONS SECTION 7.2 0.6 RM THREE, RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY HIGH INTENSITY SUB HIGH INTENSITY SUBSECTION 7.2 0.6 0.3, DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS R IN THREE TO REFERENCE MODIFIED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS FOR THE NORTH BEACH OCEAN FRONT OVERLAY.

FURTHER AMENDING CHAPTER SEVEN ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS.

ARTICLE THREE OVERLAY DISTRICTS BY CREATING SECTION 7.3 ENTITLED NORTH BEACH OCEAN FRONT OVERLAY DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING THE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS ON CERTAIN EXISTING OCEAN FRONT LOTS WITHIN THE NORTH BEACH RESORT, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPEALS OF ABILITY ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THAT IS A FIRST READING, PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM REQUIRES SIX SEVENS VOTE, SPONSORED BY PRIVATE APPLICANT.

UM, MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST, UM, KICK THIS OFF AND THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO THE PRIVATE APPLICANT.

THERE ARE TWO ORDINANCES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU THAT'LL BE HEARD TOGETHER.

ONE.

AND THE MAIN ONE IS THE LDR AMENDMENT THAT ESTABLISHES, UM, THE NORTH BEACH, UM, RESORT DISTRICT.

UM, ACTUALLY IT'S CALLED THE NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT OVERLAY.

AND IT'S, UM, ESSENTIALLY LIMITED TO THE PROPERTY THAT FORMERLY CONTAINED THE, THE OLD VILLE HOTEL.

AND IT CREATES A SERIES OF INCENTIVES FOR BOTH THE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FORMER VILLE HOTEL, AS WELL AS ALLOWING FOR WHAT WOULD BE, UH, LARGER RESIDENTIAL TOWERS THAN WHAT WOULD BE PERMITTED NOW.

UM, AND I'M SURE THE, THE, UM, APPLICANT HAS A DETAILED PRESENTATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN FAR AND HEIGHT, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OTHER, UH, EXCEPTIONS THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO THE OVERLAY AS WELL.

UM, LARGELY THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSAL.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING, UH, TWO CHANGES IF THIS IS APPROVED AT FIRST READING AS INDICATED IN THE MEMO.

AND THAT WOULD BE MODIFICATIONS TO SECTION 7.31.

THE FIRST IS TEXT TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION INCENTIVES IF APPROVED, WILL REQUIRE THE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FORMER DO DOVA HOTEL.

AND THE SECOND IS THAT, UH, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE INCLUSION OF A MAXIMUM FLOOR PLATE REQUIREMENT SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPER'S VISION OF HAVING TWO SEPARATE TOWERS WITH LIMITED FOOTPRINTS IS ACTUALLY REALIZED.

AND SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING A MAXIMUM FLOOR PLATE LIMITATION OF 9,500 SQUARE FEET PER FLOOR.

UH, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A VERY LARGE RUN-ON BUILDING.

AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTED IS CONSISTENT, UM, WITH, WITH THE, UM, DEVELOPER'S VISION, UM, SHOULD THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT BE APPROVED, THE, UH, LDR AMENDMENT DOES REQUIRE A SIX SEVENS VOTE BECAUSE THIS IS AN FAR INCREASE.

THERE WILL BE A SECOND PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETINGS.

UM, THE FIRST PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING OCCURRED BETWEEN, UM, THE FIRST AND SECOND READING AT THE PLANNING BOARD.

AND WE HAVE ALREADY, UH, PRELIMINARILY SCHEDULED A PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING FOR I BELIEVE APRIL 10TH, WHICH WOULD BE IN ADVANCE OF SECOND READING ON APRIL 23RD, SHOULD THIS ITEM BE APPROVED AT FIRST READING.

SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'LL

[07:50:01]

UH, MY NAME'S, UH, DAVID MARTIN, UH, 33 10, UH, UH, 33 10 MARY STREET, COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA.

UM, LONG DAY, UH, FOR YOU ALL.

AND I JUST WANT TO TRY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

I, UH, I, UM, I'M HONORED TO BE SITTING HERE, UH, AMONGST YOU AND, AND THE DIFFICULT JOBS.

YOU ALL HAVE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR, BUT ALSO, UH, AMONGST THIS COMMUNITY, UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN JUNE, UH, AND, UH, I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET A LOT OF AMAZING PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY.

AND, UM, AND IT'S JUST A SPECIAL THING, UH, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND DOING.

AND, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK AND ATTENTION, UH, AND, UH, AND FOCUS.

UH, I'M JOINED TODAY QUICKLY WITH, UH, EDUARDO FIERRO FROM FOSTER AND PARTNERS, ALAN SCHULMAN, UH, MY COLLEAGUE DICK KEPNER.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LONG PROCESS, SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH, UH, TO ALL NEIGHBORS, ALL AFFECTED STAKEHOLDERS, IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, UH, TO THE NORTH, IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, CONDO ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'VE HAD ZOOM PUBLIC PUBLIC MEETINGS.

WE'VE HAD, UH, PHYSICAL PUBLIC MEETINGS.

UH, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN ATTENDING.

UH, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WHICH, WHICH REALLY I THINK HAS GONE BEYOND EVEN WHAT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS WERE, UH, FOR THE FAR AMENDMENT PROCESS.

I THINK YOU'RE HERE TODAY, HOPEFULLY A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS.

UH, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR OUTREACH, WE, WE WANTED US, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE LEARNED, WHAT WE LEARNED, UH, IN THE LAST REFERENDUM, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT PEOPLE WANTED THE VILLE TO COME BACK AND, UH, IN SOME FORM, UH, AND IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, SEE HOW WE COULD, UH, HACK CAPITALISM, UH, TO REALLY SOLVE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NORTH BEACH NEEDS, WHICH IS REVITALIZATION, WHICH IS A PROJECT THAT'S GONNA CATALY CATALYZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, AND SO, UH, SO WE, HERE WE ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY FEEL TO WORLD CLASS PARK PROJECT WITH AMAZING DESIGN TEAM.

UH, AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY'S HERITAGE AND TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DESERVES, UH, TO SEE THE VILLE SITE FLOURISH.

AS AN OVERVIEW, OUR PROJECT'S GONNA COVER THE PROJECT DESIGN IN DETAIL, THE PROPOSED OVERLAY LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS THE RESILIENCY, ACCESS AND TRAFFIC.

AND, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE BENEFITS THE PROJECT HAS FOR THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYONE.

AND, AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE ALAN SCHULMAN TO TAKE THE FLOOR REAL QUICK.

THE VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE RESINS, TO THE BELOW GRADE, UH, REALLY LEAVING THAT, UH, UH, GROUND FLOOR PLA, UH, GROUND FLOOR AREA, UM, AVAILABLE TO ALL THE, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LIFE OF, OF THE PEOPLE AROUND IT.

THANK YOU, DAVID.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M ALAN SCHULMAN WITH OFFICES AT 7,300 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD.

I'M VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO BE HERE.

UM, SPEAKING, UH, ABOUT THE PROJECT, UM, MANY THINGS, UM, OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS, SO MANY THINGS COULD BE BUILT ON THIS OLD VILLE SITE.

AND, UM, BUT WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT SOMETHING OF THE HISTORIC VILLE BE PART OF THAT, BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT? AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE MIAMI BEACH CELEBRATES ITS HISTORY.

UM, THE VILLE IS ONE OF A SERIES OF GRAND HOTELS THAT REALLY DEFINED THE MIAMI BEACH RESORT IN THE 1950S.

THE, THE FOUNTAIN BLUE, THE EDEN ROCK, ET CETERA.

UM, ONE OF THE GREATS, AND, YOU KNOW, ITS LOSS WAS A LOSS FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT WAS AN ANCHOR OF THE NORTH BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AROUND IT.

NOW, IN MIAMI BEACH, A BUILDING IS OFTEN MUCH MORE THAN THE WALLS, UH, THAT ENCLOSED ITS SPACE.

UM, IT'S ABOUT HISTORY, UH, IT'S ABOUT, UM, THE PAST CULTURE, ET CETERA.

OH, I SEE THAT BETTER.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS BUILDING HAS REALLY PARTICIPATED IN MUCH MORE THAN EVEN JUST MIAMI BEACH'S HISTORY, NATIONAL HISTORY, GLOBAL HISTORY.

IT'S PART, IT'S A CULTURAL ICON.

UM, AND PROBABLY THE BEST SYMBOL OF THAT WAS THE BEATLES, UH, PRESENTING HERE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW.

UM, URBANISTICALLY, THIS IS A BUILDING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT AROUND IT.

IT'S, UM, IT, IT WAS AN ANCHOR OF THE RESORT INDUSTRY IN NORTH BEACH.

IT REALLY COMMANDS THE SPACE, THE STREETS, THE RETAIL AREAS AROUND IT, AND ITS ABSENCE.

UM, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY, UM, HAS BEEN FELT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, THE MOST IMPORTANT RESORT IN NORTH BEACH HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1926, WHEN THE MCFADDEN DOVA WAS, WAS BUILT.

UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE SURROUNDINGS FOR ANOTHER REASON.

IF WE WERE TO BUILD A NEW HOTEL, IT COULD NOT COME TO THE STREET LIKE THIS.

IT COULD NOT PARTICIPATE OF THE SIDEWALK AND CONTRIBUTE RETAIL AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE ACTIVITIES TO THE CITY THE WAY THE VILLE

[07:55:01]

BUILDING DOES.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S AN EMPTY SPACE.

SO THIS IS THE VILLE THAT WAS DESIGNED BY MELVIN GROSSMAN IN 1957.

IT'S AN ICONIC, UH, ARCHITECTURAL, UH, ELEMENT OF THE LANDSCAPE OF MIAMI BEACH, OR IT WAS UNTIL IT WAS DEMOLISHED.

YOU CAN SEE BY MANY OF THE FEATURES THAT IT REALLY BELONGS TO THIS ENVIRONMENT ALONE, MADE IN MIAMI BEACH.

UH, ITS POOL DECK WAS A FAMOUS, UH, PLAYGROUND, UH, IN THE 1950S.

AND WHEN WE BEGAN THIS PROJECT, UH, OUR IDEA WAS JUST TO BE PURELY RESTORATIVE, TO REBUILD THE ORIGINAL VILLE UH, PEDESTAL AND TOWER.

UM, AND THIS IS NOT JUST A HISTORIC PROJECT, THOUGH, IT'S A CONTEMPORARY PROJECT.

AND SO, AS WE BEGAN TO MEET WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, WE REALIZED THAT, UM, THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE TOWER.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SECOND, UM, ELEMENT OF THE DIAGRAM, WE'VE, WE'VE PULLED BACK THE TOWER, BOTH FROM THE EAST AND FROM THE, AND FROM THE NORTH.

AND THIS CREATED A NEW CONDITION WHERE OUR, A TOWER IS NOT REALLY GONNA BE EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS HISTORICALLY.

SO WE'VE REINTERPRETED THE TOWER, AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT JUST TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE BUILDING QUICKLY, THIS IS THE PEDESTAL.

THIS BUILDING WILL BE REDEVELOPED TO APPROACH THE STREET EXACTLY HOW IT WAS WITH ITS DRAMATIC ARCHITECTURAL, UH, ELEMENTS.

UM, AS WE WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING, WE WILL SEE ELEMENTS OF THE, OF THE LOBBY RESTORED AND REINTERPRETED, UM, IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND THERE'LL BE A VARIETY OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE, UH, AND RETAIL SPACES WITHIN THE LOBBY FLOOR.

SO IT'LL BE A VERY, UM, ACTIVE SPACE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST PROUD OF WITH THIS PROJECT IS THE WAY IT ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC REALM.

YOU KNOW, IN THIS AREA, THE SIDEWALKS ARE RELATIVELY NARROW, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE AREA IS SORT OF DOMINATED BY THE CAR.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS TO INCREASE THE SIDEWALK, INCREASE THE PUBLIC REALM, UM, BRING THE PUBLIC SPACE INTO THE BUILDING, BUT ALSO TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO THE BEACH ON BOTH THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH SIDE.

SO, UM, THERE ARE NEW BEACH WALKS, WHICH YOU'LL SEE.

UM, AND TOGETHER THEY CREATE A CIRCUIT OF PUBLIC SPACES, WIDER SIDEWALKS, NEW BEACH ACCESS, AND, UH, BEACH WALK REVITALIZED ON THE EAST SIDE.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE SOUTH BEACH WOULD WALK, WOULD LOOK LIKE ON GRADE, UM, MOVING TOWARDS THE BEACH, UH, LANDSCAPING, UM, SHADED SPACES, FURNITURE, ET CETERA.

AND ON THE NORTH SIDE, UM, THERE WOULD BE AN ELEVATED WALKWAY SO THAT WE ARE MOVING ABOVE THE SERVICE AREA OF THE BUILDING, WHICH WILL BE ENCLOSED TO BE MUCH MORE, UH, FRIENDLY TO, UH, OUR SURROUNDINGS.

AND AS IT COMES DOWN ON THE BEACH SIDE IN A SERIES OF GARDENS, UM, IT'LL BE ATTACH TO THE, TO THE BEACH ROCK ITSELF.

AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOTEL TOWER, UH, IT IS REINTERPRETED, BUT WE'VE, UM, BROUGHT BACK ALL THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S MASSING, IT'S, UM, HORIZONTALITY, IT'S VERTICAL PYLON, THE SIGNAGE, AND, UM, AND THE WAY IT SORT OF LOOKS AT THE OCEAN AND AT THE POOL DECK ITSELF.

AND JUST TO END ON THE POOL DECK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS, ANOTHER THING WE'RE KIND OF PROUD OF ABOUT THE PROJECT IS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE WHAT I THINK MANY WITH WHAT'S VERY TEMPTING TO DO, WHICH IS TO FILL THE COURTYARD.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIG COURTYARD HERE.

WHY NOT PUT SOMETHING IN THE COURTYARD? WE'VE PULLED EVERYTHING OUT OF THE COURTYARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT OPEN SPACE REMAINS, UH, WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA PASS IT TO MY COLLEAGUE, EDUARDO.

THANK YOU, ALAN.

EDUARDO RU IS FOSTER AND PARTNERS LONDON.

UM, THERE YOU GO.

SO THE RESIDENCES ARE THE MAIN ADDITION TO THE SITE.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE, UH, HISTORIC FOCUS OF THE VILLE WITH THE MOST STRIKING DIFFERENCE IN HOW IT, UH, RELATES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WAS TOWARDS THE OCEAN SIDE.

WITH THE CREATION OF THE SOUTH PATH AND THE, AND THE DUNE, WE THOUGHT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LINK, UH, THE CULTURE THAT REMAINS FREE IN THE DESIGN.

UM, UH, FILL IT WITH THE ECOLOGY OF THE JUNE AND OPEN IT TO, TO A WIDER AUDIENCE.

AND THE POOLS WOULD, UH, BE MOVED TO A HIGHER DECK, UH, AS, AS MORE PRIVATE ELEMENTS AT GRADE.

UH, THIS WOULD BE A PUBLIC GREEN OR, UH, RELATIVELY OPEN GREEN SPACE WITH, UH, SHADE.

AND, AND, AND AS AN OASIS, IT GATHERS THE REST OF THE BUILDINGS AROUND IT, CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE.

UM, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, WE ARE WIDENING THE SIDEWALK ON COLLINS AVENUE AND CREATING A, A BUFFER, UH, WITH PEDESTRIAN LIFE AND, AND RETAIL AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AND A VERY LIGHT, UH, VEHICULAR DROP OFF.

AND THIS HAS BEEN, UH, ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF, UH, BY BRINGING DOWN

[08:00:01]

UM, THE GROUND FLOOR HERE SHOWS, UH, THIS GROWTH OF THE PUBLIC REALM AND ALSO THE GROWTH OF THE LANDSCAPE, SOFT LANDSCAPE AREA.

AND AS WE MOVE UP, UH, THIS IS THE LOBBY LEVEL, THE, THE STRUCTURE OF THE NEW BUILDINGS, THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT THREADS THROUGH THE HISTORIC, UM, BALLROOM, CREATING A NEW SPACE THAT'S DAY LIT AND COULD BECOME, UH, ANOTHER FOOD OFFERING RESTAURANT OR CLUB FOR THE HOTEL.

IN DOING SO, UM, WE'VE, UH, GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO BRING THE STRUCTURE INTO, TO THE CORE, TO REALLY THREAD IT AS LIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, REDUCING THE FOOT, THE FOOTPRINT OF THE TOWER, UH, AND CREATING THE GREENEST POSSIBLE OPEN DECK ABOVE.

AND ALSO RESPECTING THE, THE NATURE OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING BY CREATING A SMALLER TOUCH AND CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO STRUCTURES.

THIS IS ALSO, THIS STRATEGY OF REALLY, UH, MINIMAL IMPACT HAS BEEN, UH, CARRIED OUT, UH, UPWARDS, UH, THROUGH THE BUILDING, UH, 23%, UH, OF SITE COVERAGE, UH, IN THE MID TOWER LEVELS WHEN INCLUDING THE HOTEL, AND THEN DOWN TO 12% AS WE GO UP WITH A VERY, VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT AND SLENDER BUILDINGS.

IN SEPTEMBER, WELL, WE STARTED OFF WITH A, A HEIGHT OF 437, UH, FEET, UH, WITH A STEP STEPPED MASSING.

AND, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, UM, DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 400.

AND, UH, AND NOW WE ARE EXPLORING, UH, A FURTHER REDUCTION OF 20 FEET, BRINGING IT DOWN TO 380.

UH, THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE WEST SIDE, UH, TOWARDS THE EAST.

UH, WE ARE QUITE HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THAT THE RHYTHM OF THE NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS IS CARRIED THROUGH WITH THE TWO SLENDER TOWERS AND HOW IT FITS IN THE GENERAL SKYLINE.

UM, FROM THIS SIDE AND FROM THE WATER.

AS THE TOWERS PUSH ALL THE WAY TO THE COLLINS, UH, AVENUE SIDE, LEAVING THE GREEN COURT FREE, UH, THE STRIP OF GREEN THAT CARRIES, UH, ALONG THE EDGE OF THE, OF THE PATH IS CONTINUED.

AND, AND THAT IS THE MAIN EXPERIENCE THAT, THAT, UM, PEDESTRIAN WILL HAVE ON THE SIDE OF THE BEACH.

COLLECTION, INCREASING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WATER CONSERVATION, AND, UH, AND REALLY JUST TRYING TO HAVE A SMART, A SMART LANDSCAPE DESIGN THAT'S GONNA, UH, REALLY BE, UH, A MODEL FOR, FOR, UM, FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MIAMI BEACH.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, ALAN, AND THANK YOU, EDUARDO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT MOVES I THINK WE'VE MADE IS THAT THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE BEING SET BACK 160 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, 160 FEET FROM THE BEACH WALK, WHICH IS A BIG, UH, BIG MOVE.

UH, WE COULD HAVE PUT THE BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, AROUND 80, APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET, UH, FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.

SO IT'S AN ADDITIONAL 80 FOOT SETBACK, UM, WHICH I THINK WAS IMPORTANT IN, IN A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE, THE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION POSSIBLE, WE'VE CREATED, UH, AND PROPOSED AND WORK WITH CITY STAFF AND, AND, AND, AND, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERYONE TO COME UP WITH A, UH, DESIGN GUIDELINES OF, OF HOW WE COULD GO ABOUT THE, THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, WHAT ARE, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE SPECIFICALLY ON SETBACKS.

UM, ORIGINALLY THE DOVA WAS ZERO SETBACK.

WE'VE PUSHED IT BACK 50 FEET.

WE HAD OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, THE , UH, UH, PROJECT WE'RE HERE TODAY.

WE HAD OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS IN, IN, IN THE STERLING BUILDING WHO ARE ALSO HERE TODAY, UH, THAT WE NEEDED TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE IN ORDER TO SATISFY THEM.

WE'VE ALSO, UH, LOOKED AT OUR SIDE SETBACKS.

UH, UH, WE, WE STARTED OUT AT AROUND, UH, 15 FEET, UH, FOR OUR TOWER SETBACK, UH, TO THE SOUTH.

AND, UH, AND, AND, AND WORKING WITH, WITH THE SUSSMAN FAMILY AND, AND, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY WANTED US TO MOVE THE, THE BUILDING OVER TO, AND, AND WE MOVED IT, UH, UH, 30 FEET.

UH, WE ALSO HAD A PEDESTAL THAT HAD A, THAT THE HISTORIC PEDESTAL WAS AROUND ZERO, UH, MAYBE FIVE FEET, UH, FROM THEIR PROPERTY LINE.

AND WE'VE MOVED IT TO BE A 20 FOOT SETBACK FOR THE PEDESTAL AS WELL, UH, TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY, UH, REALLY TRY TO ADDRESS AND MINIMIZE ANY IMPACTS OF THE, OF THE REDEVELOPMENT.

UM, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT, UH, HERE SHOWS KIND OF THE FAR KIND OF, UH, ANALYSIS.

UM, BASICALLY, UH, PRIOR TO THIS, UH, WE, WE WENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD, UH, FOR BOTH, FOR TWICE AND, AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET A UNANIMOUS VOTE THERE, WHICH I THINK WE'RE VERY, UH, HAPPY WITH.

AND, AND A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION, UH, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESILIENCY THAT WE'RE DOING.

YOU SEE THAT GREEN AREA AND, AND, AND GREEN SPACE THAT WE'RE CREATING, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A SERIES OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, OF GRAVITY WELLS THAT ARE GONNA BE NOT ONLY HANDLING FLOODING AND STORM WATER RETENTION FOR OUR PROPERTY, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THAT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.

HAVE HERNANDO HERE, OUR CIVIL ENGINEER, UH, BE FOR EFFICIENCY PURPOSES.

I'M NOT GONNA HAVE HIM TALK THROUGH THESE SLIDES.

I JUST WANT, UH, HE'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO STORMWATER AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

UH, AND AGAIN, WE'RE DOING RAINWATER

[08:05:01]

UM, TRAFFIC, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, UH, THIS PROJECT IS LOW DENSITY.

AND, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.

YOU COULD BUILD ALMOST A THOUSAND HOTEL KEYS ON THE PROPERTY.

AND, UH, WE'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR LEGISLATION REDUCES THAT.

SO OUR TARGET PROGRAM, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO DEVELOP, IS AROUND 120, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND, AND AROUND 150 HOTEL KEYS.

WE COULD DO A THOUSAND, UH, ON THIS SITE TODAY.

SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF, UH, REDUCED IMPACT.

SECONDLY, TRAFFIC FLOW, UH, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE, WE'VE MET A LOT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DURING CONSTRUCTION, HOW DO WE MITIGATE TRAFFIC? AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY A GARAGE THAT HOPEFULLY IS GONNA BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON 60, ON 67TH AND HARDING.

AND, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

BUT, BUT HERE WE HAVE TWO DROP-OFFS.

SO WE CREATED A RE RESIDENTIAL KIND OF, UH, RIDE SHARE DROP OFF.

WE ALSO CREATED QUEUING INSIDE THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THE PROPERTY'S WIDE, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A LOADING QUEUING SO THAT NO TRUCKS ARE BACKING UP INTO COLLINS AVENUE.

AND YOU COULD SEE THAT ON THE LEFT THERE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WE ALSO ARE PROVIDING ALL THE PARKING.

WE'RE PROVIDING AROUND 250 PARKING, 250 PARKING SPACES ON THE PROPERTY WITH, WITH INTENSE QUEUING TO GET CARS OFF THE STREET.

UH, WHICH WAS, I THINK, IMPORTANT IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA GONNA BE OPENING UP THE GARAGE, THAT SHOULD, THAT, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY, WE'RE GONNA BE OPENING UP THE, UH, THE 67TH STREET GARAGE, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WITHIN MONTHS, UH, WE'VE BEEN JUST, UH, SINCE WE GOT INVOLVED, WE'VE BEEN, UH, UH, CLEARING UP SOME VIOLATIONS IN THE GARAGE.

AND, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE DOING SOME ENHANCEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENT TO THAT GARAGE.

UM, THIS SHOWS YOU THE GARAGE HERE.

THIS SHOWS YOU THE, THE GARAGE THAT WE HAVE ON, ON 67TH AND HARDING.

UM, AND, AND SO IN INDIAN CREEK, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'RE ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, GONNA TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THERE.

THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY IS AROUND A 62% DECREASE FROM WHAT COULD BE BUILT THERE UNDER THE CURRENT CODE.

UH, AND IT'S ALSO ON, ON THE AM AND THEN ON THE PM AT NIGHT, THIS IS A 66% REDUCTION FROM WHAT YOU KNOW COULD BE BUILT TODAY WITHOUT MAKING THIS MODIFICATION AND WITHOUT OUR PROPOSED MODIFICATION, WHICH WE'VE SHOWED.

WE HAVE KIMLEY HORN THAT WORKED ON THIS TRAFFIC PLAN, AND THEY'RE HERE TO ASK, YOU KNOW, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

SO AGAIN, ONSITE TRAFFIC CON CONSIDERATIONS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE VEHICULAR ACCESS POINTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL, UH, UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZING A LOT OF THE FRICTION THAT OCCURS WITH DIFFERENT USERS.

UH, LOADING OPERATIONS, COMPLETELY INTERNALIZED AND HIDDEN FROM THE COMMUNITY.

UH, AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, RESIDENTIAL VALET OPERATIONS.

THAT'LL BE, UH, YOU KNOW, INSIDE THE BUILDING A LOT OF THE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH, OBVIOUSLY COLLINS AVENUE, DOT, WE'VE BEEN INTERFACING WITH THEM, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, OF THE CITY TRAFFIC.

WE DID A TRAFFIC PLAN, WE REVIEWED IT WITH THE CITY WHEN WE FILED IN JUNE.

UM, AND SO THIS IS JUST SOME, UH, A QUICK LIST OF, OF SOME OF THE HA THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING.

AND I, I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER THAT WE ONLY HAVE A, A, A BEACH WALK THAT'S ELEVATED.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO BEACH WALKS.

I DON'T KNOW MANY DEVELOPMENTS THAT ACTUALLY DO TWO BEACH WALKS, ONE IN THE NORTH, ONE IN THE SOUTH, ONE IS AT GRADE ONE IS ELEVATED.

UH, BUT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT JUST TO, TO PROVIDE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT.

UM, AND, AND HERE'S A, A SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENTS, UH, THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

JUST REAL QUICK, LOWER DEMAND ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

UH, THE INDIAN CREEK PARKING GARAGE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DEDICATING MAYBE A FLOOR OF PARKING, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY, UH, SOME GROUND FLOOR, UH, RETAIL SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE CIVIC PURPOSES, UH, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

UH, AND, UH, AND ALSO, UH, THIS TALKS ABOUT THE RESILIENCY.

THERE'S A LITTLE POCKET PARK ON 67TH AND HARDING AND INDIAN CREEK.

I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE, I'VE MET WITH A LOT OF YOU AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT HARDING AVENUE, AND I THINK HARDING SHOULD BECOME THE CULTURAL STREET IN, IN, IN NORTH BEACH, AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT AS WELL AS SOME OTHER, UH, PUBLIC BENEFITS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

THIS IS SOME DEDICATED FUNDING, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

UH, WE PROVIDED THE CITY, UH, PRIOR TO SECOND READING, OBVIOUSLY, AND IT'S GONNA GO TO PLANNING BOARD, A, A, UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT'S GONNA HAVE A LIST OF, OF PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT THIS PROJECT'S GONNA BE, UH, EITHER GENERATING OR FUNDING.

UM, AND SO THIS IS JUST A, A, A, A QUICK LIST OF, UH, OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR DEDICATED FUNDING.

THIS TALKS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THAT WE'RE DEDICATING KIND OF TO, TO THE PUBLIC, THE BEACH WALKS, THE COMMUNITY GALLERY, UH, THE PARKING GARAGE, UH, THE, THE POCKET PARK, AND THEN SOME OF THE FINANCIAL, UH, UH, COMPONENTS WHICH, UH, THAT WE'RE DOING TO KIND OF HELP KIND OF THE TREE CANOPY PLAN AND, AND SOME OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ARE, THAT ARE NECESSARY.

THIS IS WHERE THE, THE BIG CATALYST IS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT REVENUES FOR THE CRA.

I'VE MET AND ATTENDED THE CRA BOARD MEETINGS, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PASSION TO MAKE NORTH BEACH A, YOU KNOW, A A STRONGER

[08:10:01]

AND, AND, UH, A BETTER AND A MORE WALKABLE, VIBRANT, UH, COMMUNITY.

AND, AND, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOT A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND SO WE REALLY FEEL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF, UH, THESE TYPES OF DOLLARS ARE, ARE ESSENTIAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UH, 'CAUSE I, I KNOW, SEE, YOU KNOW, NORTH BEACH NEEDS IT.

UH, SO JUST TALKS A LITTLE MORE ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST SOME QUICK NUMBERS ON SCHOOL BOARD IMPACTS, UH, NOT ONLY AFTER, AFTER THE CRA, THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE AFTER THE CRA EXPIRES.

THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE MONEY GOING TO THE COUNTY, MONEY GOING TO THE CITY.

UM, SO, SO THIS IS BASICALLY THE, THE, YOU KNOW, AN APPENDIX AND, AND THAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, AND YOU TO HAVE INPUT AND, AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND SORRY FOR GOING TOO LONG, IF I DID.

LUCKILY, YOU TALKED QUICKLY, SO I APPRECIATE IT.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN, UH, WE'LL DELIBERATE.

SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, I'M GONNA CALL THE FIRST VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKER, WHICH IS LUIS SLO.

MR. SLO, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS.

UH, HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON, LOUIS.

OH, YES, OME, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH.

ADDRESS IS 8 1 5 NORTH SHORE DRIVE.

UM, A LITTLE BIT, GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT IN HISTORY.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL, WE USED TO HAVE THE OPTIMIST, UH, BANQUET AT THE VILLE, SO IT'S REALLY NICE THAT IT'S COMING BACK.

LOVE THE WAY THE DEVELOPER HAD AN OUTREACH WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE, GLORIA SLO AND ALL MY FAMILY HERE, WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NORTH END.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW TO VIRTUAL.

UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSIONER'S, ROBERT ROSENTHAL, 67 99 COLLINS, UH, AVENUE, RESIDENT TAXPAYER, CONSTITUENT VOTER.

UM, GENERALLY NOT, UH, A GUY THAT'S IN FAVOR OF, UH, OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND I THOUGHT, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ANYBODY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE VILLE? AND IT SEEMS TO ME IT WAS 1965 WHEN THE BEATLES WERE HERE.

SO WE GOT SIX, WE GOT 60 YEARS.

AND, AND I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, LOOK AT US NOW.

UH, THE DEMOLITION OF THAT BLIGHTED, THAT EYES SAW THAT HAD BEEN DETRACTING FROM THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS, NOT ONLY RAISED, UH, OUR HOPES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME REVEALED AND HIGHLIGHTED THE POTENTIAL WE NOW HAVE TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'VE DONE, UH, SOME HOMEWORK AND SOME DUE DILIGENCE.

HERE'S WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED IS KIND OF THE THREE KEY FACTS.

ONE IS THAT THE LAW, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM, UH, MR. MARTIN, HERE, THE LOT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A, A DENSE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT.

UH, BUT, BUT THESE, UH, THE DEVELOPERS HERE HAVE, UM, INSTEAD OF MAXIMIZING THE NUMBER OF UNITS, THEY, UH, ARE REVIVING THE ICONIC HOTEL AND HONORING THE SITE'S RICH HISTORY, WHILE KEEPING RESIDENTIAL DENSITY, WHAT YOU FOLKS WOULD CALL INTENSITY, UH, DOWN TO A MINIMUM.

I'M HEARING 120, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS WHERE, WHERE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN 800 IN A LOT THAT SIZE, UH, AND 150, UH, KEYS TO THE HOTEL ROOM WHERE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN 900, BOTH REASONABLE WAYS TO REDUCE IMPACT.

I SEE THE TIME IS RUNNING LOW.

I WANNA SAY THAT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THEM, UH, PERSONALLY, BUT THE, THE REPUTATION THAT DAVID, UH, MARTIN AND TARA HAVE, UH, HAVE EARNED OVER TIME FOR DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CONSCIENTIOUS DEVELOPMENTS HAS BEEN IN EVIDENCE OF THEIR MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, OF THEIR OUTREACH, OF THEIR, UH, WILLINGNESS TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEY MADE TO KEEP THIS WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF, OF MIAMI BEACH.

BEYOND THE AESTHETICS, UH, AND THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS ARE UNDENIABLE.

I DON'T YOU FOLKS KNOW THE NUMBERS BETTER THAN I DO, BUT THAT CRA IS A LITTLE BIT OF BRILLIANCE.

AND AT 16 MILLION OR WHATEVER YOUR ESTIMATED REVENUE INCREASE IS OVER 30 YEARS.

THAT'S ABOUT A HALF, HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, UH, DEVOTED TO, UH, UH, UH, DESIGNATED TO, TO, TO NORTH BEACH TO MAKE IT A, MAKE IT BETTER BEAUTIFICATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE COMMON CONCERN, UH, AND THIS IS FUNNY, COMING FROM A GUIDANCE DERMATOLOGIST SAID, WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T EVER GO IN THE SUN AGAIN.

BUT I, I THINK THAT A COUPLE OF HOURS, UH, UH, OF SHADE, UH, FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS TODAY, SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS POTENTIALLY HERE, AN ENORMOUS, UH, UH, ADVANTAGE NOT ONLY ECONOMICALLY, BUT CULTURALLY TO NORTH BEACH.

AND I WOULD URGE YOU, UH, UH, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WITH, UH, RESPECT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS, UH, MEANS TO THE FUTURE OF, OF, OF THIS COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING, UH, THAT PUTS NORTH BEACH, UH, BACK TO THE LEVEL OF PROMINENCE THAT IT SO DESERVES, UH, IN MIAMI, MIAMI.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND FOR YOUR VOTE.

[08:15:03]

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL CALLER IS YVONNE ANDRES, GO AHEAD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS YVONNE ANDRES.

I'M A PARTNER WITH THE LAW FIRM OF SIEGFRIED RIVERA.

AND I'M HERE SPEAKING THIS EVENING ON BEHALF AND REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE STERLING CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.

LOCATED AT 67 67 COLLINS AVENUE.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING AT THE REQUEST OF THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO EXPRESS THEIR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE VILLE SITE.

THE PROJECT PRESENTS A RARE AND VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE A HISTORIC LANDMARK WHILE BRINGING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.

RECENTLY, THE BOARD HAS GAINED A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE THOUGHTFUL PLANNING, ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE, AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED APPROACH THAT THE DEVELOPER IS BRINGING TO THIS REDEVELOPMENT.

THEIR COMMITMENT TO HONORING THE SITE'S HISTORY WHILE INTRODUCING A MODERN AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN HAS REINFORCED THE BOARD'S CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO, TO DELIVER A PROJECT THAT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE CITY.

THE VILLE HAS LONG BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S IDENTITY, AND THE BOARD FEELS ITS REDEVELOPMENT WILL REINVIGORATE THE SURROUNDING AREA, CREATING JOBS, ATTRACTING INVESTMENT, AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.

THE PROJECT'S EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SPACES, PE, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DESIGN, BEACH ACCESS AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS FURTHER DEMONSTRATES ITS ALIGNMENT TO THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE ASSOCIATION THROUGH ITS BOARD BELIEVES THIS PROJECT WILL POSITIVELY, POSITIVELY, EXCUSE ME, TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITY AND THE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THIS DEVELOPMENT AND LOOKS FORWARD TO THIS MUCH NEEDED REVITALIZATION COMING TO FRUITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO THE MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY.

THE ASSOCIATION APPRECIATES YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.

GO AHEAD SIR.

HI, MY NAME IS BRAD NESSI, 7 3 3 OH OCEAN TERRACE, MAYOR MINOR, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS.

I AM HERE FOR ONE REASON, I'M HERE 'CAUSE I LOVE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

LIKE YOU LOVE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

I AM HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN NORTH BEACH AND I KNOW DAVID MARTIN BELIEVES IN NORTH BEACH.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS PROJECT DONE.

I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE I HEARD ZERO SETBACKS.

I WENT TO A MEETING AND I HEARD THAT THAT WAS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW ME, SETBACKS SET ME OFF AND I WAS PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THAT.

AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STERLING AND OTHER BUILDINGS, BUT THEY, THAT WAS A LONG RECTIFIED.

I SAW THE PROJECT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRA $300 MILLION IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU KNOW, NEVER WATCH, NEVER WATCH THIS COMMISSIONER MEETING PRIOR TO COMING TO WHAT LIVING, COMING, SPEAKING.

BECAUSE WHEN I SAW THE WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE DIALOGUE THAT YOU GUYS WERE HAVING, YOU KNOW, IT SORT OF GAVE ME AITA AND I SAW POSSIBLY THE 72ND STREET, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, ONE, WE MOVE THE UH, AND NUMBER, NUMBER ONE, I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTING OF THIS PROJECT.

AND I HOPE YOU GUYS GIVE A SEVEN ZERO VOTE ON THIS.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT SAID, GETTING THIS DONE, UM, AND I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR NORTH BEACH 'CAUSE I REALLY LOVE NORTH BEACH.

UM, I'M ASKING THAT WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, DO NOT TOUCH THE 72ND STREET PARK.

IT'S NOT A POOL, IT'S A PARKING ISSUE.

THAT'S WHAT THAT BUILDING IS GONNA BE DONE FOR.

SO WHEN THE LIBRARY MOVES, WE HAVE A HUGE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLD THAT COULD BE GONE TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I AM BEGGING YOU THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO GETTING THIS DONE FOR, UH, US UH, LONG TERM.

SO, UM, UH, YEAH, SO I I I'M TOTALLY, OH, LASTLY, BUT AT LEAST PAULA KINGSBURY IMPACT FEES, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY SHE CLOSED WITH IMPACT FEES.

NOW I GET IT.

WE GOTTA LOOK AT THE IMPACT FEES 'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HOW WE'RE GONNA GET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STRAIGHTENED OUT BECAUSE THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE AND YOUR FOUNDATION'S, UH, CRACKED AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIX IT.

YOU GOTTA FIX THE FOUNDATION.

TO EXPECT AS FAR AS, UH, NOISE, NOISE MITIGATION THAT, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM IS GONNA TAKE INTO, UM, UH, INTO CONSIDERATION SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO, UH, BEEPING FOR, UH, YEARS WHEN THE, UH, PROJECT IS SLATED TO START AND WHEN IT'S SLATED TO, UM, TO END.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME.

UH, IT'S, IS IT MARK? MARK, PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FROM ME.

FROM YOU.

HI THERE, MARK FISHER LIVE AT, UM, 65 1 5, UH, COLUMNS AVE.

I'M IN THE, UH, BEL AIR BUILDING IN MY UNIT FACES THE OLD DEVAL HOTEL.

UH, I WAS PRESENT WHEN THE, UH, HOTEL WAS, UH, IMPLODED AND DESTROYED.

AND, UM, MY MAIN CONCERNS, UH, COMING TO THIS MEETING IS JUST AROUND, UH, THE IMPACT ON MY LIFESTYLE.

I'M EXPECTING A NEWBORN, THIS, UM, UH, SUMMER AND, UM, I WANNA KNOW WHAT

[08:20:01]

AND, UM, ALSO WHAT I SHOULD BE EXPECTING AS FAR AS, UM, DUST BEING PICKED UP, UH, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE, UH, ISSUES WITH, UH, BREATHING THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT.

SO THOSE ARE MY MAIN CONCERNS, UH, ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, I THINK THE, UH, THE PLANS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, UM, UH, DEMONSTRATING THOUGHTFULNESS IN THE, UH, THE PROJECT.

SO I'LL SEED MY TIME THERE, HOPE TO HEAR, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MY CONCERNS, UM, BEING MET.

MY NAME IS ANTHONY STI.

SO I LIVE AT THE STERLING CONDOMINIUM 67 67 COLLINS AVENUE, WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR 24 YEARS, VERY HAPPILY.

UM, MYSELF.

I ALSO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE STERLING.

MYSELF AND THE OTHER DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING OUR NEW NEIGHBORS, AND WE HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL ALSO.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A LIST OF FIRST NAME OF RICHARD.

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

HELLO, MY NAME IS RICHARD ZACKY.

I'M A OWNER RESIDENT AT THE STERLING CONDOMINIUM, UH, COMPLEX NEIGHBORING, UM, THE FUTURE PROJECT OF THE VILLE.

A LOT OF VERY POSITIVE THINGS, UH, HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SO I WILL REITERATE ALL OF THOSE POINTS, BUT I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU FROM MY HEART WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THIS PROJECT IS BRILLIANT.

AND, UH, MR. MARTIN, THE TIME HE HAS SPENT LISTENING, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS, I THINK THE HUMANITY OF IT IS ALSO BRILLIANT FOR SUCH A BIG PROJECT.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FINALIZE BY SAYING, PLEASE, LET'S PUSH THIS PRODUCT.

IT IS A FANTASTIC PROJECT.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS.

HELLO, MY NAME'S DAVID SHARPS, AND, UH, I LIVE AT THE STERLING AS WELL.

UM, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING.

I STRUGGLED WITH THIS PROJECT AND I STRUGGLED BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE BLOCKED COMPLETELY BY IT.

I'M A NATIVE, I GREW UP HERE, WAS BORN IN COCONUT GROVE, UM, BEEN HERE FOR 60 SOME ODD YEARS, BUILT A BUSINESS HERE, UH, AND I HAD CHALLENGES TRYING TO APPRECIATE NOT BEING BLOCKED OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I DECIDED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE DEVELOPER.

I'D NEVER MET HIM BEFORE, DAVID MARTIN.

SO I CREATED A TASK FORCE AT THE STERLING FOR THAT PURPOSE.

UM, AND I REALIZED THE FOLLOWING, MIAMI, ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES IN THE WORLD NOW, WAS BUILT ON DEVELOPERS.

AND DEVELOPERS HAVE ENRICHED ALL OUR LIVES AND THEY'VE ENRICHED ALL OUR LIVES.

LOOK AT OUR HOME VALUES.

IT'S BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY IS A MAGNIFICENT CITY, AND IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES IN THE WORLD NOW.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS, AND WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS SO MUCH GREATER NOW.

THE COST OF LAND TO DEVELOP, TO BUILD GREATNESS COMES WITH GREAT RISK, AND IT REQUIRES THE HELP OF THE, THE COMMUNITY, THE LEADERS, THE DECISION MAKERS THAT ARE OPEN TO GOING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND APPROVING THINGS THAT MIGHT BE BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY THINK IS REALISTIC.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A DEVELOPER WHO CARES MORE THAN ANYONE I'VE EVER MET, NEVER MET THIS GUY IN MY LIFE, WANTS TO DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, HAS JUMPED THROUGH EVERY HOOP POSSIBLE TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO THE COMMISSION IS THIS.

OUR CITY WAS BUILT ON TAKING RISK, BUT THE RISKS HAVE CHANGED WHERE THE LAND VALUES, THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME CONCERN FOR THE DEVELOPERS AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

AND IN THIS CASE, FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO APPROVE SOME CHANGES TO THE LAW.

AND I CAN SAY THAT THIS VERY CLEARLY, THAT DAVID MARTIN WILL DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M GONNA BE COMPLETELY BLOCKED, BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER, NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS DAVID SEXTON.

MR. SEXTON,

[08:25:01]

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS DAVID SEXTON.

I LIVE AT 1 2 5 5 MARSAY DRIVE.

I'VE LIVED IN NORTH BEACH FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORMANDY FOUNTAIN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, AND I'M CALLING IN TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE DOVAL SHUT DOWN, IT WAS A BLOW TO ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT.

EVERYONE SUFFERED GREATLY, AND IT, WE STILL HAVE AN ENTIRELY RECOVERED ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

UH, THAT SPACE WHERE THE VILLE USED TO BE IS A, IS A SOAR, IS A HOLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THIS PROJECT IS A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO FILL THAT SPACE.

UH, I LOVE THE RECREATION OF THE VILLE.

THEY DO SEEM TO BE, THE DEVELOPERS DO SEEM TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, UH, UNLIKE SOME DEVELOPERS WHO JUST TRY TO FORCE THROUGH THEIR PROJECTS.

SO I'M, I'M SUPPORTING THIS ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESSES AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

UH, MY NAME IS J BOLT, 7 3 3 0 OCEAN TERRACE.

I WAS ON THE BORDER OF CENTER PAGE FROM 2014 2021, AND CURRENTLY AGAIN, AND WORKED WITH OCEAN TERRACE HOLDING TO SUPPORT REVITALIZING THAT AREA.

AND THROUGH ECONOMIC SIMULATION AND, UH, LIV IMPROVED LIVABILITY.

OCEAN TERRACE HOLDING DIDN'T WORK.

I HAVE A PHD IN ECONOMICS, AND I THINK THERE WERE ECONOMICS REASONS FOR THAT.

UM, CURRENTLY 65 TO 69TH STREET IS ALSO A PROBLEM.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STRUGGLING.

UM, HONESTLY, IT'S AGRA DISGRACE FOR VISITORS IF YOU GO BY AND FOR THOSE WHO LIVE THERE, THAT, THAT AREA.

SO MUCH POTENTIAL.

AND SO MORE THAN EVER, WE DON'T ONLY NEED, UH, REVITALIZATION IN THAT AREA, BUT STILL AN OCEAN TERRACE AS WELL.

AND THE REASON WHY OCEAN TERRACE HOLDING DIDN'T HAPPEN, UH, FROM AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW, WAS THAT THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY DIDN'T WORK.

THEY, THEY TRIED TO GET A, A FIVE STAR HOTEL IN AND THEY WOULDN'T GET IN BECAUSE THE AREA WASN'T GOOD.

AND THEN WE BUILT A PARK.

AND THEN, ANYWAY, ALL THAT DID, NOTHING HAPPENED.

10 YEARS LATER WE'RE HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, LAST WEEK THEY SIGNED FOR OCEAN TERRACE RESIDENCE WENT UP AND IT'S HAPPENING.

AND WHY DOES IT HAPPEN FROM AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW? 'CAUSE IT CHANGED THE PLANS.

THERE ARE FEWER UNITS LIKE THIS WITH VILLE WITH A HIGHER PRICE POINT, AND THEY ALSO PUT, UH, A CONNECTION THERE WITH THE LUXURY COLLECTION, WITH THE MARRIOT, WHICH IS FOCUSED AS SUDO IS ON THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF THAT AREA.

UM, THE SALES OFFICE SALES OFFICE OPENED LAST WEEK.

WE WERE THERE, AND THINGS ARE GOING FAST THERE.

AND THE GREAT THING IS THAT VILLE IS ACTUALLY THE SAME TARGET AUDIENCE.

AND, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE NORTH BEACH REALLY NEEDS A CORNER DEVELOPMENT ON THE, ON THE SOUTH SIDE TO HELP STIMULATE THAT WHOLE AREA FROM A 10 BLOCK AREA, FROM 65TH, 67 TO 74TH.

AND, AND WE CAN DO THAT WITH THIS PROJECT, AND ESPECIALLY IF WE MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH THE 71ST, UH, STREET REVITALIZATION AS WELL, WHICH LIKE TO CALL THE NORTH BEACH, UH, UH, BOULEVARD.

UM, SO PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THIS PROJECT.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME.

JR BOLT, BULT ADE, BRO.

RENEE DEPA JEWELRY STORE 6 6 0 8 COLLINS AVENUE, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PROJECT.

HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION.

YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB CLEANING UP MIAMI BEACH, DOING A GREAT JOB.

WE'RE SEEING THE PROGRESS.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS DAVIDE, MY BUSINESS PARTNER IS DON FRANK VENTURA.

HE'S 80 YEARS OLD.

WE'RE THE OWNERS OF RENEE DE PARIS JEWELRY STORE.

DON FRANK CAME OVER AS A JEWISH CUBAN IMMIGRANT IN 1960 AND PURCHASED OUR JEWELRY STORE AND ALSO HIS FAMILY IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF TEMPLE MOSHI ON 71ST STREET.

I REPRESENT SIX OF THE OWNERS OF THE BUSINESSES IN FRONT OF THE DEVILLE PROJECT.

WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT FROM DAVID MARTIN AND SUPPORT KEEPING MIAMI BEACH HISTORIC.

WE'RE GOOD.

COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM IT, BUT THE MEMBERS OF THE, THE COMMUNITY IN THE STERLING ARE GONNA BE HARD PRESSED, UM, TO TOLERATE, UM, TWO YEARS OF BUILDING, UM, DIRECTLY IN OUR FACES.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER, JASON WALKER.

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

UH, I'M A STERLING RESIDENT.

I'M A 67 67 COLLINS.

AND, UM, I DON'T REALLY SHARE THE ENTHUSIASM THAT SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE EXPRESSING.

IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE, UH, NOT TAKING OUT OF THE CLOSET.

THE FACT THAT THE, THE MET HOTEL IS ALSO BEING PROPOSED AS A BUILDING PROJECT RIGHT BETWEEN THE STERLING AND THE DEVILLE.

AND I THINK THE COMMISSION REALLY NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL AS THEY AS, UH, THEY DECIDE HOW TO COORDINATE THESE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS.

UM, IN THE LONG RUN, I ASSUME THAT THE

[08:30:01]

AND I WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, THE COMMISSION TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE MEMED HAS IS, IS COVERED UP IN THESE SCHEMATICS.

IT'S NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT.

AND IT'S RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THE STERLING AND THIS PROPOSED PROJECT.

AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA CREATE A HARDSHIP FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE STERLING.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND JUST SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE SPEAKERS, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK OTHERWISE? THEN PLEASE STAY ON THE LINE IF YOU CAN, OR LET ME KNOW.

THAT WAY I CAN, I CAN KIND OF JUDGE AND THE SAME THING TO ANYONE IN ZOOM IF THEY CAN RAISE THEIR HANDS SO WE KNOW WHO'S WAITING TO SPEAK.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

HI, MY NAME IS SUSAN COHEN.

I RESIDE AT THE CARON.

I'VE BEEN IN NORTH BEACH SINCE 2007, AND I'VE WATCHED THE DEMISE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S TERRIBLE.

AND IT'S, I FEEL LIKE NORTH BEACH HAS BEEN SO OVERLOOKED.

IF YOU WALK ON THE STREETS, YOU CAN TRIP.

THEY'RE BROKEN.

THE SIDEWALKS ARE IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.

AND I REALLY HOPE THIS PROJECT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO REALLY REVITALIZE NORTH BEACH.

AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR IT TO COME.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE OTHER REASONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I DON'T WANNA WASTE YOUR TIME, BUT I REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE THIS PROJECT FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER, OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME WITH A FIRST NAME OF SHARON.

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

SHARON.

I LIVE AT, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HI.

HI, YES, THIS IS SHARON WEISS.

I LIVE AT 2 33 80 FIRST STREET.

UM, I'VE LIVED UP HERE, UH, IN NORTH BEACH FOR, UH, ALMOST 15 YEARS.

AND, UH, WHILE I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS, UH, THERE'S BEEN ALMOST NO DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFIT, UH, OTHER THAN, WELL, WE'RE NOT BUILDING AS BIG AS WE CAN BUILD.

UM, THERE HAS BEEN NO, UH, NO DISCUSSION ABOUT HOLDING THE DEVELOPERS TO A TIMELINE.

I THINK THEY HAVE LIKE FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY CAN BREAK GROUND, WHICH IS CRAZY.

UM, THERE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE, ALL OF THE FINES THAT THE MORELOS RACKED UP WHILST DOING DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE USEFUL.

UM, NO ONE'S MENTIONED THAT, UH, NO ONE'S MENTIONED COLLECTING APPROPRIATE IMPACT FEES FOR THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TRAIN THAT THIS IS GONNA PUT ON OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND LASTLY, I MEAN, THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING IN PASSING ABOUT PERHAPS OPENING UP THE PARKING GARAGE ON INDIAN CREEK, WHICH HAS BEEN HELD HOSTAGE FOR ALMOST A DECADE.

UH, WE'RE DESPERATELY NEED IN NEED OF PARKING.

PERHAPS WE CAN IMPEL THE DEVELOPER TO BUILD THE 72ND STREET PARKING GARAGE SINCE THE CITY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO, UH, IN THE LAST LIKE EIGHT YEARS.

UM, WE DESPERATELY NEED PARKING.

WE KEEP TAKING AWAY PARKING, WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING MORE PEOPLE, WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC AND WELL WITH, WITH NO PARKING RELIEF, UH, FOR US AT ALL.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE DEMANDING FAR MORE FROM THIS DEVELOPER.

TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

I'M GONNA PUT THE CLOCK AT ONE.

IF YOU NEED JUST A TINY EXTRA TIME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, BUT LET'S TRY TWO.

'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SPEAKERS ALSO ON ZOOM, SO PLEASE GO AHEAD, SIR.

TOM RICHARDSON, 64 50 COLLINS AVENUE.

UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK DAVID AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A REALLY THOUGHTFUL JOB OF, UH, ADDING SOMETHING SPECTACULAR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY HERE TO VOTE FOR IS THE FAR INCREASE OR NOT.

AND IN THAT CONSIDERATION, YOU HAVE TO THINK WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE DRAWBACKS? I'M STRUCK WHEN I'M IN HERE BECAUSE I KNOW BRAD AND I MET YOU KRISTEN IN 2014 WHEN WE WERE DOING OCEAN TERRACE.

IT'S 11 YEARS LATER, THAT PROJECT IS STILL NOT BUILT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HA NOT TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE TURN DOWN THIS GOOD PROJECT AND THIS DOESN'T GET BUILT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT BISCAYNE ELEMENTARY, GETTING FUNDING FROM IT FOR THE CRA, THAT'D BE WONDERFUL.

THAT'D BE A GREAT PROJECT.

I'M ON THE CRA, IT'D BE A HUNDRED PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT YOU NEED MONEY TO DO THAT.

AND THIS PROVIDES TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OUR COMMUNITY BESIDES A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

IT HAS A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT GO PAST THE IMMEDIATE THING.

SO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR ALL OF NORTH BEACH, IT'LL BE A GREAT THING AND I HOPE YOU PASS IT UNANIMOUSLY, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN REALLY DETERIORATED OVER THE LAST DECADE.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS PETER VANDER.

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

YES, ARMANDO POMAR.

AND THE LAST NAME, HOLD ON IS IMPORTANT.

OKAY, WELL, ,

[08:35:01]

77 10 AVENUE MIAMI BEACH.

PROBABLY.

I AM THE YOUNGER SPEAKER AT THIS MEETING AND ONE OF THE NEWCOMER SINCE BACK 1962.

SO I HAVE SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF MIAMI BEACH.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES AT DIFFERENT SITES, UH, EVEN AT, UH, NORTH BEACH AND, UH, ON, UH, HOW YOU CALL IT THE PARK, RIGHT? BY, SO I MEAN QUITE A LOT OF PROPERTY.

WE HAVE HOME AND TRANSFER.

NOW THE POINT IS THIS, WHEN I HAVE SEEN ALL THESE TRANSFORMATION OF MIAMI BEACH INCLUDED THE MARI BO LEAF, EVERYTHING.

AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THAT MIAMI BEACH IS RESURGENT, BUT WE NEED PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE ON THE, THE WHEEL.

I SAW THE WILL WHEN IT WAS THE WILL, AND I GOT THE NOSE HERE.

BUT ALWAYS SAY, I THINK THAT WE WILL NEED THIS PROJECT FOR ECONOMIC PURPOSE, FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND ARMANDO CAN LIVE ANOTHER FIVE MORE YEARS AND MAYBE GO TO THE THE WILL PROJECT.

PETER, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.

LET'S GO BACK TO PETER.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE TWO, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, IT'S PETER VANDER LEE.

I'M AT 63 65 COLLINS AVENUE.

UM, I WANNA EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER THIS FAR INCREASE, WHICH IS STILL SIZABLE.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE PROJECT WAS VOTED DOWN WHEN AN FAR INCREASE WAS ASKED FOR BY THE, BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE ISSUE I HAVE IS TWOFOLD.

WHY HAVE AN FAR RATIO IF THE REQUEST IS TO MEANINGFULLY EXPANDED IN THE FIRST PLACE? AND SECONDLY IS I THINK IT WILL SET A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT.

THIS AREA, NORTH BEACH IS GOING TO UNDERGO A LOT OF REDEVELOPMENT GOING FORWARD.

AND BY SETTING THIS PRECEDENT, YOU ESSENTIALLY ARE POTENTIALLY SETTING A, UH, A STAGE OF A VERY DIFFERENT, UH, LOOKING AT NORTH BEACH THAN THE ONE WE NOW HAVE.

AND, AND I, I REALLY ENJOY.

SO MY ISSUE IS NOT SO MUCH WITH THE PROJECT.

MY ISSUE IS THIS ASK IS A HUGE ASK, AND THE PRECEDENT SET IS VERY DAMAGING FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA.

HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? UH, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UM, I AM, UH, JAMES REIO, UH, THE FOUNDER AND, UH, MANAGER, UH, PRINCIPAL OF SUSHI BEACHY ON 73 30 OCEAN TERRACE, COMMERCIAL UNIT FIVE.

SO I, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, UH, SUPPORT THE VILLE PROJECT.

SMALL, SMALL BUSINESSES IN NORTH BEACH IN ANYWHERE NEED, UH, HOTEL ROOMS. THEY NEED DENSITY.

UH, DESPITE, UM, THE POPULARITY AND ACCEPTANCE FROM THE COMMUNITY OF SUSHI BEACHY.

AND DESPITE US HAVING LOYAL GUESTS THAT ARE AT THE RESTAURANT TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK, WE STILL NEED HOTEL ROOMS. WE NEED TO KEEP THE RESTAURANT OR ANY BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER, BUSY THROUGHOUT ITS OPENING HOURS AND WITHOUT, UH, HOTEL ROOMS. AND, UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, FAR INCREASES.

I SUPPORT THOSE AS WELL.

WE NEED MORE HOTEL ROOMS AND DENSITY IN THE AREA TO SUPPORT GOOD QUALITY BUSINESSES.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS JANE KROPP.

ONE FOR GLASS TOWERS, BUT THIS IS NOT A PHONED IN, YOU KNOW, AUTOCAD, UH, UH, SNAPPED TO A GRID GLASS BOX.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

HI, JANE KROPP, 1390 OCEAN DRIVE.

UM, I'M A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER, WORKED WITH MANY ARCHITECTS, AND I THINK THAT THIS PROJECT IS, HAS JUST BLOWN ME AWAY.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL AND THOUGHTFUL AND INTELLIGENT, AND I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DEVELOPER AND THE TEAM.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT HAS OVERWHELMING APPROVAL, A FEW DISSIDENTS, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR BEACH ACCESS.

WELL, WHEN I SEE THOSE BEAUTIFUL RENDERINGS OF A SHADED PERGOLA, WHO WOULDN'T WANNA WALK UNDER THAT WITH THEIR DOG, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST MAGNIFICENT.

AND I THINK IT, IT SETS A HIGH BAR FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF MIAMI BEACH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SKYLINE WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT

[08:40:01]

THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL, THOUGHTFUL BUILDINGS.

AND YOU LOOK AT, UM, THE PORTFOLIO OF FOSTER AND PARTNERS.

EVERY BUILDING IS UNIQUE AND, UH, GLOBALLY, I, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZED AS ICONIC.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR MIAMI BEACH, SETTING A HIGH BAR.

IT'S GONNA DO FOR THE SKYLINE, WHAT HADIDS, UH, SCORPION BUILDING DID FOR THE GLASS BOXES IN MIAMI.

IT'S GONNA CREATE A NEW STANDARD, AND I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ELISE KREINS.

I LIVE AT THE CARON.

I HAVE BEEN A MIAMI RESIDENT FOR FIVE YEARS.

UM, I MOVED FROM NEW YORK, AS DID ALL MY CHILDREN AND MY VERY YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN.

WE HAVE ALL FALLEN IN LOVE WITH MIAMI BEACH AND, UM, A FEW OF MY KIDS DO LIVE IN NORTH BEACH AND WE LOVE IT.

AND THIS WILL BE A WELCOME ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I ASK FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN PASSING THIS.

AND WE JUST ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THE MONEY COMING INTO THE PARKS, UH, BEACH ACCESS AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO ON BEHALF OF ALL THE LITTLE ONES OUT THERE, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

GOOD EVENING, WAYNE ROBERTS, SOUTH FIFTH.

OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF W STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE AND UNMUTE YOURSELF.

UM, GOOD EVENING.

UM, YEP, IT'S EVENING.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I'VE COME TO KNOW DAVID MARTIN AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE HOW HE'S GROWN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

UM, UH, HE'S REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

UM, UH, CERTAINLY THE PROJECT IS BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT WE TURNED DOWN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

UM, AND, UH, I KNOW, UH, SHARON HAD SOME CONCERNS AND I HOPE HE REACHES OUT TO SHARON TO TRY TO, UM, UH, UH, MAKE HER HAPPY.

BUT, UM, I, I REALLY RESPECT DAVID NOW.

AND, UM, HE'S, HE'S A MIAMI BEACH BORN AND RAISED, AND, UM, I THINK HE CARES ABOUT THE CITY.

AND, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA POST A SIGN THAT SAYS IN MARTIN, WE TRUST AS WE ENTER THE CITY.

UM, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR MIAMI BEACH AT THIS POINT.

HI, MY NAME IS PAM LIEBMAN.

I AM A TAXPAYER AND A VOTER.

I LIVE AT THE CARON.

I'VE BEEN IN MIAMI BEACH SINCE 2007, SINCE I MOVED IN.

ALL I HEARD ABOUT WAS HOW NORTH BEACH WAS GOING TO EVOLVE AND BECOME THE NEXT GREAT AREA.

IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT.

AS I LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER AREAS AROUND MIAMI, I SEE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE GROWN AND WHAT NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS DONE TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES AND HELP BUSINESSES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

I'VE ALSO BEEN IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF REALLY GOOD DEVELOPERS AND A LOT OF REALLY BAD DEVELOPERS.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO WORK WITH ONE OF THE BEST DEVELOPERS IN ALL OF FLORIDA TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND LET IT GO BECAUSE THERE'S A FEW EXTRA SQUARE FEET OR BECAUSE SOMEONE'S VIEW WOULD GET BLOCKED OR BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE CONSTRUCTION.

GUESS WHAT? SOMETHING'S GONNA BE BUILT THERE.

AND IN ORDER TO BUILD, YOU GET CONSTRUCTION, YOU GET DUST.

I'VE BEEN DELIVERING WITH A HAMMER OVER MY HEAD FOR A YEAR NOW AT THE CAROLYN WITH EVERYTHING AND I CAN DEAL WITH IT.

PLEASE DON'T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS US BY.

NORTH BEACH NEEDS THIS.

OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF IPAD STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

I HAVE TO CUT IT OFF.

YOU PROVE IT, AND MAKE IT SOMETHING YOU'LL BE PROUD OF VOTING FOR.

ALFRED FAA STERLING 67 UNIT 1903.

I'M A SEASONAL RESIDENT.

YEAH, I'LL DO IT.

I AM A, A LAND USE ATTORNEY IN NEW JERSEY OF SOME NOTE AND HAVE DONE, I'M FRANKLY, BEEN INVOLVED WITH CLIENTS IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROJECTS.

I WILL TELL YOU, MR. MARTIN MET WITH OUR GROUP IN THE, IN THE, IN THE STERLING.

AND I'VE REALLY NEVER SEEN DESIGN AND THOUGHTFULNESS.

THIS IS UNIQUE.

I REALLY THINK IT'S A WORLD CLASS PROJECT AND BELIEVE ME, AND THE 12 MILLION BILLION DOLLARS OF PROJECTS BEEN INVOLVED WITH DEVELOPERS.

THAT'S A LOT TO SAY.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THOUGH, OR AS IMPORTANT.

DESIGN IS NICE.

MR. MARTIN IMPRESSES ME.

I THINK HE'S GOT VISION AND INTEGRITY.

GOD KNOWS HE'S GOT RESOURCES THAT'S AS IMPORTANT AS THE PROJECT AS IT'S DESIGNED, MAYBE MORE SO.

SO I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE TELLING YOU THIS IS A WORLD CLASS PROJECT.

I HOPE YOU EMBRACE IT, YOU ADOPT IT,

[08:45:01]

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

HI, MY NAME'S CHRISTINA SOSA.

I'M A RESIDENT AT THE CARON AND I JUST CAME TO, UH, SAY MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.

UH, NORTH BEACH REALLY NEEDS THIS AT THIS TIME.

IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS THAT I LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE, UH, DAVID MARTIN IS NO OTHER, YOU KNOW, BETTER SOURCE TO GO TO, TO BE A, A TRUSTED, UH, UH, PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US GET THIS DONE AND TO, TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF HIS CONSCIOUS EFFORTS AND OUTREACH THAT HE'S DONE TO WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PASSING.

WILL TALKS IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.

STATE YOUR FULL NAME, WILCOX.

OKAY, LET'S GO TO LARRY SCHAFER.

UM, OKAY, SO EARLIER TODAY YOU PASSED AN ITEM TO CREATE A DOCUMENTARY TO HONOR MORRIS LAPITA.

DAVID MARTIN DESTROYED A MORRIS LAPITA BUILDING IN NORTH BEACH IN ORDER TO BUILD 87 TERRACE.

WHEN YOU DISCUSS PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM THIS, PLEASE REMEMBER THE HISTORY.

IT'S NOT JUST A FEW YEARS, HE'S BEEN AROUND QUITE SOME TIME, AND THAT PROJECT DIDN'T GO VERY WELL.

THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS NEW PROJECT.

PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.

NEXT, PLEASE, SIR, GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, FROM THE, UH, FAMILY THAT OWNS THE SHERRY FRONTENAC, UH, INTRODUCED MY FATHER, ELI SUSSMAN.

HE BOUGHT THE SHERRY FRONTENAC JUST SOUTH OF THEO IN 1973.

HE'S DUE THE MATH.

IT'S OVER 50 YEARS.

HE'S GONNA BE HONORED AT THE HEAT GAME THIS SUNDAY AS A A, A VETERAN.

ANYHOW, UM, WE SUPPORT DAVID AND WE, WE LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN AT, AT THE VILLE.

UM, IF IT'LL IN THE AREA NEEDS IT, UM, WE HAVE ONE CONCERN.

IT'S OUR SOUTH YARD SETBACK.

WE SPOKE TO DAVID, WE ARE WORKING WITH HIM.

HE'S AT 30 FEET.

WE NEED WHAT THE, THE LAW REQUIRES THE ZONING LAW REQUIRES, WHICH IS 50 FEET.

HE'S GETTING MANY VARIANCES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

GOD BLESS.

WE ARE GOING TO REDEVELOP OUR PROPERTY.

UH, A NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE THAN ONE DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE REVITALIZATION OF NORTH BEACH.

WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ASKING FOR, FOR THIS MUCH, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SIDE YARD SETBACK SO IT WON'T BLOCK OUR, OUR DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PROFESSOR VLADIMIR SOFF.

HELLO, GO AHEAD.

MY NAME IS VLADIMIR YUKO.

UH, ME AND MY WIFE ARE THE NEW RESIDENTS.

I'M PRESIDENT AT MIAMI BEACH.

AND, UH, WE ACTUALLY MOVED FROM CHICAGO AREA AND WE ARE PROFESSORS FOR, UH, 40 PLUS YEARS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT AND STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.

UM, THE, THE RULE SAYS THAT THE QUALITY OF, UH, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DEFINED BY THE QUALITY OF THE WEAKEST ELEMENT.

AND WHEN WE SAW THE EMPTY SPACE, THEN, UH, OF COURSE WE WERE NOT HAPPY.

HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL, I DIDN'T KNOW, UH, MR. DAVID MARTIN.

AND, UH, AFTER ATTENDING SEVERAL MEETINGS, I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE'S A VERY VISIONARY, UH, PERSON.

AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY THIS PROJECT, IT IS NOT JUST ONE MORE BUILDING HOTEL.

IT IS ACTUALLY A CHANGE.

IT IS FROM THE WEAKEST ELEMENT TO THE NEW, UH, STRONGEST ELEMENT PROBABLY OF, UH, NORTH MIAMI BEACH.

AND, UH, THANK YOU SIR.

SETS THE EXEMPLARY, UH, UM, MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE BENEFITS.

OH, I'M SORRY.

UM, I LIVE AT THE CARON 6 8 9 9 COLLINS AVENUE.

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE BENEFITS.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE NORTH TOWER OF THE CARON, AND OUR BOARD IS UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.

UM, WE THINK THAT, UH, THE DEVELOPER HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB TRYING TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.

UM, AND WE ALSO THINK THAT THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED.

AND IF THERE'S TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS OF DEVELOPERS TRYING TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT, UH, IS IT GONNA BE ANOTHER 10 YEARS BEFORE SOMETHING GOES THERE? I JUST, I, I DON'T SEE THE, UM, UH, I THINK THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT FAR OUTWEIGH GIVING UP WHAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN UP, UH, TO THE DEVELOPER TO GET IT DONE.

OUR VIRTUAL CALLER IS WILCOX WILCOX.

[08:50:01]

UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE.

YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I OWN A BUSINESS AT 67 52 COLLINS AVENUE, SAND BARN KITCHEN.

AND I BELIEVE THIS PROJECT WOULD BE A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVER SINCE VILLES CLOSED, WE'VE PROBABLY LOST 40% OF OUR WALK BY BUSINESS, MAYBE EVEN MORE.

AND IN GENERAL, IT WOULD JUST IMPROVE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, BRING A BETTER, UH, GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING, WALKING.

AND I JUST THINK OVERALL IT WOULD BE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FOR THE NORTH BEACH AREA AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SIXTIES WHERE WE'VE SEEN SUCH A DECLINE IN BUSINESS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

IT'S BEEN A FUN DAY FOR Y'ALL, I'M SURE.

UM, I'M SAM LATON.

I LIVE AT 65 15 COLLINSON AVENUE, TWO BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND OUR BOARD HAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

WE THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

EXCUSE LAST, UM, COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE CRA CAN BE VERY FRUGAL WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LIMITED BUDGET.

I'M ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A BINARY DECISION WHERE WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT PROJECTS WE CAN ACTUALLY FUND GIVEN THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.

THIS PROJECT CHANGES ALL OF THAT.

I KNOW THAT WAS VERY SMALL PRINT, BUT THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE OVER $300 MILLION INTO THE CRA OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE RISE IN PROPERTY VALUES THAT RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT GO INTO THE CRA.

I HEARD OF CONCERN ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE FORMER DO HOTEL WAS 577 UNITS.

WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT HALF THAT FROM A DENSITY PERSPECTIVE.

I'M A RETIRED RESIDENT AND OWNER AT THE KOYA 63 65 COLLINS AVENUE.

I'M A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE KOYA.

I'M A FORMER ORGANIZER FOR SAVE ALLISON PARK COMMITTEE, AND I'M A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER OF THE ALLISON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UNLIKE MANY OF THE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING, I BELIEVE THAT I WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU SEE, WE'RE NOT SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN THIS PROJECT STARTS, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN THIS PROJECT IS FINISHED.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHEN THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED NOW AT 75 YEARS OF AGE.

UH, I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF THE SENIORS THAT WE HOPE TO BE AROUND, TO ENJOY THE AMENITIES, TO ENJOY THE SERVICES, TO ENJOY THE RESTAURANTS AND THE BEACH ACCESS POINTS AND THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT WILL COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT .

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'VE BEEN IN MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT, I'M SORRY, YOUR NAME.

I'LL TAKE YOUR TIME FOR THAT.

FERNANDO MARTINO, I LIVE AT THE CAR ALONE, 68 99 COLLINS.

AND I'VE BEEN IN FULL-TIME REAL ESTATE FOR 20 YEARS.

AND I USED TO LIVE SOUTH OF FIFTH AND I SAW SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS GETTING SO BEAUTIFUL WITH TONS OF RACHEL SPACES AND BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS IN-HOUSE AT THE AND FOR 14 YEARS I'VE BEEN WAITING WHAT WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN LIKE 10 YEARS.

AND I SEE THIS TAKING LIKE ANOTHER 10 YEARS AND I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER 10, 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE HAVE A GREAT DEVELOPER.

I LOVE THE WAY HOW YOU BLEND NEW, EXCITING LUXURY MIXED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL OF THE OLD AND KEEPING THE MIAMI BEACH HISTORIC.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT, A GREAT ADDITION.

I WOULD, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE OF 508 UNITS AT THE CARRY LOAN.

NO ONE IN THIS TO COME.

WE LOVE THE BEACHY.

WE NEED MORE PLACES LIKE THAT JUST FOR EVERYONE, EVEN FOR SAFETY, FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

EVERYONE WHO WAS ALIGNED WHEN WE CUT IT OFF HAS SPOKEN AND THERE'S NOBODY THAT LEFT REMOTE.

HOW MANY? THERE'S NO ONE LEFT REMOTE, BUT EVERYONE WHO WAS ALIGNED SPOKE, YOU KNOW, CAN WE MAKE FOR DANIEL MAYBE? OH

[08:55:01]

LET'S REFER TO FIRST .

WHERE'S THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DANIEL SERAL WITH MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

I'LL TRY TO BE ONE MINUTE AS QUICK AS I CAN.

UM, WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UNLIKE THE LAST PROJECT WHERE A PROJECT WAS HOISTED ON US BY A DEVELOPER THAT LITERALLY SAID, THIS IS NOT A HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND WE HEARD WHAT THE VOTERS SAID.

THEY SAID, SEE YOU IN WEST PALM BEACH, .

NOW WE'VE GOT A LOCAL DEVELOPER.

ALAN SCHULMAN, THOUGH, I THINK GETS THE BEST CREDIT BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY DESIGNED A REALLY BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

IT'S NOT AN EXACT RECONSTRUCTION THOUGH, BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE IT, IN SOME WAYS IT'S EVEN BETTER BECAUSE THERE ARE BALCONIES ON THE NORTH SIDE AS WELL, WHICH IS PROBABLY BETTER FOR THE NEIGHBORS.

UM, BUT I DO WANNA MENTION IN MY 18 SECONDS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT THE OWNERS ARE ALSO THE S AND THEY OWE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

AND DAVID MARTIN IS A, A VERY, UH, GOOD DEVELOPER, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER OWNER THAT A LOT OF US KNOW CANNOT ALWAYS BE TRUSTED.

SO WE LOOK TO YOU, UH, TO SEE WHAT PROTECTIONS THAT OWNER, THE, THE MAYOR FAMILY.

YOU SAID THAT OTHER OWNERS CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

WHO IS IT? THE, THE MAYORS.

I MEAN, THE ONES THAT LED IT TO TANYA COULD TELL YOU ALL VICE MAYOR COULD TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DID JUST WANNA MENTION IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, I GOT A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT NOT JUST FROM THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.

THEY LOVE IT AND, AND WE AGREE THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, BUT RESIDENTS ABOUT THE HEIGHT, IT IS A DOUBLE HEIGHT OF WHAT WAS THERE.

NOW WHEN THE CARON WAS BUILT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THERE LOVED IT.

BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTUALLY, THANK YOU DANIEL, FOR, UH, 200 FEET.

SO BETWEEN PERSON SECOND, I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN REALLY NEGOTIATE THE, THE HEIGHT, MAKE IT EVEN BETTER, AS GOOD AS WE COULD MAKE IT FOR THE CITY.

AND, UM, BUT THANK YOU ALL.

UM, OH, ARE YOU HERE? CAN I SPEAK? OH, I DIDN'T KNOW YES.

WEREN'T LINE, BUT WE'LL GET BUT THE LAST SPEAKER MOTION TO NO, NOT MR. TONE.

I'M SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT, NOT A MEMBER OF ANY ASSOCIATION, NOT AS A MEMBER OF ANYTHING AT ALL.

BUT I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE CAN WAIT.

HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE WAIT? AT WHAT POINT IS SOMETHING GONNA BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THIS SPOT? YES.

WE HAVE TERRIBLE OWNERS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THEY ARE TOXIC.

UM, BUT WE CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE.

AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GONNA GET SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO COME IN AND DO WHAT THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE DONE? WE'RE NOT OKAY.

SO LISTEN, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M, I'M, I'M HONESTLY BEGGING YOU.

WE CANNOT WAIT ANYMORE.

WE ARE DYING.

OF ALL, THIS IS A NOT, THIS IS NOT A PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORS AND IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS, UH, VICE MAYOR BOT.

UM, SO I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY.

UM, BOY, SETTING THAT UP SOUNDS GREAT.

UM, THIS IS AS ALMOST AS AN EMO AS EMOTIONAL AN ISSUE FOR ME AS THE FIRST ITEM OF THE DAY WAS FOR THE MAYOR, NOT ON THE SAME ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, BUT I FOUGHT LIKE HELL TO TRY TO KEEP THE VILLE STANDING.

I HAVE A DOSSIER THAT THICK ON THE MORELLO'S BUSINESS PRACTICES.

THEY'RE NOT GOOD EGGS.

AND THEY, I HATE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS.

I'M SORRY, DAVID.

I KNOW THEY'RE YOUR BUSINESS PARTNERS, BUT THE FACT REMAINS, THEY OWN THE LAND.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO COMES UP WITH A PROJECT, THEY ARE GOING TO GET PAID.

WE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO GET PAID BECAUSE WE ARE IN FINAL STAGES OF COLLECTING, OF NEGOTIATING, COLLECTING WHAT THEY OWE US.

BELIEVE ME, THIS IS NOT LOST ON ME.

WHEN, WHEN DAVID AND HIS TEAM CAME IN TO SPEAK TO ME FOR THE, THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THIS, MY BODY LANGUAGE, FIRST OF ALL WAS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE DEVELOPERS.

ASK ANY OF THEM.

ASK MATISSE COHEN HOW I FEEL ABOUT DEVELOPERS.

THE FIRST THING I SAID, DAVID, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WHEN ARE YOU PAYING? NOT YOU, WHEN ARE YOUR BUSINESS PEOPLE, YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS PARTNERS PAYING WHAT THEY OWE? I WISH IT WERE ALREADY IN OUR BANK, BUT IT'S NOT.

BUT IT WILL BE SHORTLY.

I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

A LOT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT THE BENEFITS.

SO WHAT I WANNA DO WITH MY TIME IS SAY VERY QUICKLY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD OVER EMAILS AND IN MEETINGS THAT ARE FACTUALLY INCORRECT.

AND I WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD HERE.

FIRST

[09:00:01]

THAT'S A NICE SIDE EFFECT, I GUESS IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE NEXT DOOR.

BUT IT IS A PROJECT THAT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN NORTH BEACH.

SOMEBODY CALLED IN AND SAID YOU HAVEN'T NEGOTIATED ANY, ANY, UM, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BENEFITS.

LET ME, WE ARE, THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT GAVE OFF A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, INCLUDING HELPING US TO PAY FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT PROJECT THAT WE ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF IN NORTH BEACH TO FIGURE OUT HOW BAD OUR PIPES ARE, INCLUDING HELPING TO, UM, JUMPSTART SOME PROJECTS LIKE THE, THE PLAYGROUND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AT THE SCHOOL, THE BYRON CARLISLE PROJECT, INCLUDING THE PARKING GARAGE, WHICH IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THIS PLAN, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE WE NEED PARKING.

AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST CONVENIENT THING FOR EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH BEACH, AT LEAST AS A, AT A MINIMUM WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, A FLOOD, YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO SCHLEP DOWN TO SOUTH BEACH AND HOPE THERE'S STILL A SPOT FOR YOU.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THE, THE MONEY THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT ALONE THROWS OFF INTO THE CRA IS SO STAGGERINGLY COMMUNITY CHANGING.

IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO THINK ABOUT THIS ANY OTHER WAY.

LOVE THE ARCHITECTURE, HATE THE ARCHITECTURE.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL WELLBEING OF OUR CITY AS A WHOLE AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTICULAR, THEN THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET BEHIND.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT NOT FOR NOTHING, BUT THIS, THIS HOTEL WILL CREATE 228 FULL-TIME JOBS.

THAT'S NOT CONSTRUCTION JOBS, THAT'S FULL-TIME JOBS AND THERE WILL BE PARKING ON SITE SO PEOPLE WON'T BE CIRCLING FOR THEIR TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR CARS IN.

THERE'S A LOT STILL TO BE, UM, FINESSED.

ONE OF THE THING, ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO, UM, BRING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD SO THAT WE CAN START FIGURING ALL OF THIS STUFF OUT.

BUT TO WAIT UNTIL THAT IS DONE IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

WE, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED THAT.

WE DO THIS.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE SAYING THERE'S NO BEACH ACCESS OR IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, THERE IS NO BEACH ACCESS NOW ONE IS AT STREET LEVEL AND ONE IS ACTUALLY COVERED SO THAT THE PEOPLE NEARBY ARE NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THE TRUCKS BACKING IN AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING OR WHENEVER THEY'RE BACKING IN, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.

UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS.

WE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAID IT'S JUST A, A VACANT LOT.

IT'S A TRUE THING.

WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT, NOT JUST THESE FEW BLOCKS, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY BECAUSE AS ONE PART OF THE CITY GOES, SO GOES THE REST OF THE CITY.

WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT OUR FINANCES GOING FORWARD.

IT'S GONNA BE A ROUGH FEW YEARS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

AND IF WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT ONLY APPLIES TO THIS PARTICULAR PLOT OF LAND, AND I'M THE FIRST ONE TO TALK ABOUT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR KIND OF CONCERNS AS PRESIDENT OF MBU FOR YEARS, THAT WAS MY, MY MY BENCHMARK.

THIS CANNOT APPLY TO OTHER PROJECTS.

IT IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION.

AND THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS RESOUND RESOUNDINGLY REJECTED THE INITIAL FAR WAS NOT BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT OR EVEN THE FAR, IT WAS BECAUSE THE PERSON BEHIND THAT PROJECT SAID, HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING, DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.

WE'RE JAMMING IT DOWN YOUR THROATS.

AND WHEN WE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT, IT HAS SOME HISTORIC VALUE, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME INPUT AS A COMMUNITY THAT SAID, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE LEAVING IT.

SO NOW WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AND LISTENING AND REFINING AND REFINING.

AND THERE'S STILL ROOM TO REFINE.

I DON'T LOVE TALL TOWERS.

I'M GOING TO ASK AND HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE TO BRING THEM DOWN.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO UNBENDED KNEE ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS CITY CHANGING PROJECT THAT WILL IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN NORTH BEACH WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS PROJECT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK MY COMMISSION COLLEAGUES TO, UM, UH, SUPPORT A MOTION TO REFER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD SO WE CAN MOVE THIS ALONG SO THAT WE CAN GET THE SHOVEL IN THE GROUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND GET PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES AND VISITING OUR, OUR BEACHES AND STAYING AT THESE HOTELS AT, AT THIS HOTEL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

[09:05:01]

IT IS A GIANT GAPING HOLE IN OUR HEARTS.

AND THE SOONER WE FILL IT UP WITH VIBRANT, EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING, THE BETTER OFF WE ALL WILL BE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

F COMMISSIONER, I'LL, UH, I'LL COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

COMMISSIONER, I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION.

UM, GONNA BE A BRIEF AND CONCISE.

UH, BEFORE COMMISSIONER, BAD EVEN MENTIONED THIS MORNING, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE PARALLELS OF, UH, THIS MORNING TO THIS EVENING WHERE THIS MORNING WE CAME INTO THE MEETING AS A VERY DIVIDED COMMUNITY, EACH OTHER'S THROATS.

WE SAT DOWN, WE UNDERSTOOD, UH, EACH OTHER'S PERSPECTIVES, AND WE LEFT UNITED.

WE LEFT LOOKING AT A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT REALLY DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WAS VERY DIVISIVE.

UH, BUT WHAT WE SEE HERE TONIGHT, THE OUTREACH, THE OVERWHELMING, COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SYMBOLOGY ABOUT NOW.

OUR COMMUNITY'S COME TOGETHER AFTER BEING DIVIDED ON THIS PROJECT.

UH, SO I'M NOT GONNA GRANDSTAND ON THE DETAILS.

I'M NOT GONNA ASK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.

I ALREADY KNOW THIS IS A DAY WE SHOULD ALL BE EXCITED FOR, PROUD OF.

THIS IS A DAY THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER FOR THE FUTURE OF NORTH BEACH.

UM, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS ACCELERATING THIS TIMEFRAME, GETTING IT DONE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

MAKE SURE NORTH BEACH, YES, THE PROJECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND WE ALL LEAVE HERE UNITED WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

SO, UH, TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, I WISH YOU LUCK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HOPE WE CAN DELIVER THIS AND, UH, HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS HAVE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.

THE REVITALIZATION OF THE DEVILLE SITE REPRESENTS ANY AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR NORTH BEACH.

IT'S TRULY A CHANCE TO TRANSFORM A LONG, NEGLECTED PROPERTY INTO A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CULTURAL RESTORATION.

UM, I SUPPORT THE OVERARCHING VISION, UH, BEHIND THIS EFFORT AND RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TO ACHIEVE TO, TO, TO BOTH ACTIVATE THIS SIDE AND HONOR ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

UM, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN FACT, OUR CODE SAYS THAT THE PRESUMPTION UNDER THE BASIS UNDER WHICH THE BILL IS NO LONGER THERE, THE PRESUMPTION IS THAT REPLICATION IS A REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE RESILIENCY AND SAFE STRUCTURES ACT THAT WAS PASSED BY THE STATE, THE DEVELOPER IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO REPLICATE THE HISTORIC PROPERTY.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA PREEMPTED US.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY REGAIN OUR LOCAL CONTROL AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH A GOOD PRIVATE PARTNER TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK THIS IMPORTANT, UM, THIS IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL, UM, GEM THAT WE LOST BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF A PROPERTY OWNER.

AND SO, COMMISSIONER BOND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, IN THIS, UM, NORTH BEACH NEEDS THIS.

OUR ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY DESERVES THIS, AND THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA HAVE BEEN NOT ASKING, BEGGING FOR IT.

AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU, COMMISSIONER BOT, IT'S TIME TO BRING LIFE BACK TO THIS EMPTY PARCEL AND IT'S TIME TO PUT NORTH BEACH BACK FORWARD IN THE RIGHT PATH.

AND SEEING THE COMMUNITY GET BEHIND IT, WHETHER IT'S THE ALLISON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, THE STERLING, THE , UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AND A LOT OF THE POINTS, UM, THAT I HAD JOTTED DOWN HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT, UM, THIS WENT TO THE VOTERS BACK IN 2022 AND WHAT DIDN'T PASS WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT.

UH, THE HEIGHT OF THESE TOWERS IS ROUGHLY THE SAME AS THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT HERE IN WORKING WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND, UM, THE DEVELOPER, THE SUGGESTION WAS GIVEN THEN, RATHER THAN HAVING ONE MASSIVE HOTEL, YOU SPLIT IT INTO TWO AND LOOKING AT THE RENDERINGS, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT REALLY IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

I'LL ECHO OF THE VICE MAYOR IN SAYING THAT I WAS REALLY EXCITED THAT IT'S GONNA BRING JOBS TO THE AREA AND THEY WILL HAVE PARKING TO, UH, GET TO WORK.

AND I ALSO LIKE THAT, UM, FOR DELIVERIES THERE, IT'S BEEN THOUGHT OUT IN ADVANCE

[09:10:01]

ONE THING I'LL MENTION, UH, BECAUSE I, UH, WAS BROUGHT UP IN A MEETING THAT I HAD WITH HIM ONE-ON-ONE.

UM, IF YOU COULD, UH, MEET AGAIN WITH THE SUSSMAN FAMILY AND, UH, DISCUSS THE SETBACK.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND, UM, AND MAYBE BY SECOND READING THERE'LL BE SOME COMPROMISE.

BUT I, I LOVE IT AND I LOVE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING GREAT FOR NORTH BEACH.

UM, WHEN MARK WAS ALIVE, WE WERE MEMBERS OF THE CARON, AND WHEN THE DVO CLOSED AND WE WERE SEEING HOW QUICKLY IT BLIGHTED AND CHANGED THE BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOW THEY STRUGGLED.

AND I THINK IT WAS TOM RICHARDSON THAT SAID IT COULD BE ANOTHER 10 YEARS OF THIS AND WORSE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT HERE.

DAVID, THANKS FOR BRINGING, UH, THIS PROJECT.

OH, OH, WE'LL CALL ON OTHERS, BUT I THINK IT'S, UH, AND, AND, AND VICE MAYOR BOT MENTIONED THAT I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A CREDIT TO YOU THAT YOU DID SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU, UH, THAT YOU GOT THE BUY-IN THAT YOU'RE GETTING.

I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.

UH, WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW UP, UH, ABOUT THE SETBACKS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.

THERE WAS A CALLER MENTIONED ABOUT NOISE MITIGATION PROJECT, PROJECT TIMELINE.

MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS ON THAT AND, AND DISCUSS THAT AT SECOND READING.

UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S CLEAR AND OVERWHELMING THE THE SUPPORT YOU'RE, YOU'RE HAVING FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHO'S HERE ADVOCATING FOR THIS.

I HAVE ALL MY SAVES.

SAVE ALLISON PARK.

I SAW YOU SAVE OCEAN TERRACE.

YOU KNOW, UM, WITH DANIEL, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, FOUGHT THE FIRST ITERATION OF, OF THE VILLE.

AND, UM, I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN WITH STEVEN ROSS AND FRANK GARY CAME HERE AND EVERYBODY PARADED OUT.

AND WE LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT WERE THESE TWO TWISTING MIRROR TOWERS THAT REALLY PAID NO HOMAGE TO THE VILLE.

AND WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO TO REPLICATE OR PAY ANY HOMAGE AT ALL TO THE VILLE, HE SAID, WE'RE GONNA SCREEN SOME PICTURES IN THE BAR.

AND AT THE TIME I SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ICONIC HOTEL.

AND IF I TOLD YOU HOW MANY MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS WERE UPSET, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MELOS, UM, YOU KNOW, DEMOLISHED THE HOTEL WHEN THEY CLOSED THE HOTEL IN 2017 FOLLOWING HURRICANE IRMA, AND THEN HAD NO INTENTION OF REOPENING IT.

AND WE WATCHED THE ENTIRE AREA BECOME BLIGHTED.

AND I THINK MY HEART REALLY BROKE WHEN I SAW ATHENS JUICE BAR CLOSE.

THAT JUST KILLED ME.

AND AT THAT MOMENT, I REALIZED, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW DESTRUCTIVE IT WAS TO THE AREA BECAUSE THAT WAS A PLACE THAT EVERYBODY, UH, WENT TO.

BUT THE VO WAS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.

GRANTED TOWARD THE END, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT OWNERS WERE NOT TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE PROPERTY.

WHEN I WOULD WALK ALONGSIDE, BECAUSE AT ONE POINT I DID LIVE IN NORTH BEACH AND I WOULD SEE THE POOL AREA FROM THE BEACH WALK IT, IT DID NOT LOOK, UH, GREAT.

SO TOWARD THE END IT WAS, IT WAS BLIGHTED.

GONNA START REALLY HASHING OUT WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE TO THE CITY.

AND THEN HAVING THE DERELICT PROPERTY THERE, AND THE MORELOS NOW HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FINES THAT THEY OWE THE CITY, WHICH I'M HOPING IS PART OF THIS PROJECT.

UM, THEY ARE GOING TO PAY OFF.

SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY, THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT AREA NEEDS A REALLY GREAT PLACE, A GATHERING PLACE, UM, ON THE BEACH WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HOLD PARTIES AND, AND GO AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A NICE MEAL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ORGANIC THING.

I MEAN, THE PEOPLE FROM THE STERLING, WHERE'S THE GENTLEMAN WHO SAID, BLOCK MY VIEW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS IT.

I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD ANYONE SAY ANY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW? AND WHEN, WHEN WE WON THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DEVIL, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU WERE UPSET AT THE TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, I UNDERSTOOD THAT, THAT IT WAS, THAT IT WAS BLATANT.

NOW I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE TOWERS ARE SET BACK SO THAT YOUR BEACH IS NOT CAST IN SHADOW.

BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I CAN'T STAND IS THAT SUNNY ISLES EFFECT.

NOW, COMMISSIONER BOT, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO BRING DOWN THE HEIGHT A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE REFERRING IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD TO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN BRING DOWN THE HEIGHT.

SO I, SO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NEEDS TO GO TO THE PLANNING BOARD, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE

[09:15:01]

INCLUDING, I MEAN, I, I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT TWO STORIES, AT A MINIMUM, TWO STORIES, OKAY? SO, UM, THE TOWERS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THE BEACH IS NOT GOING TO BE CAST IN ANY SHADOW.

I'M SURE THAT THERE'S PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE NOT REALLY SPOKEN ABOUT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THOSE FEES WILL BE PAID OFF.

THE, THE ONLY PART ABOUT THIS THAT I DON'T LIKE IS REWARDING THE MELOS BAD BEHAVIOR.

HONESTLY, BLAMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR, FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

UM, BUT I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE PLANNING BOARD, UM, COMES BACK WITH.

AND I KNOW THAT THE, AND ALSO THAT THE SUSSMANS OVER HERE, 30 TO 50 FEET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO, UM, WORK WITH THE SUSSMANS ALSO.

I THINK THAT'S IM IMPORTANT BE BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UH, YOU RENOVATE YOUR PROPERTY TOO AND MAKE IT SOMETHING ICONIC AND BEAUTIFUL AND RENOVATE THE HISTORIC PART OF IT.

UM, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING ACROSS MIAMI BEACH.

WE DID THIS NOW, UM, WITH THE, THE SHORE CLUB.

IT'S HAPPENING HOPEFULLY WITH THE RALEIGH.

UM, WHAT IS THE VLA RONAN PROJECT CALLED? WHICH ONE IS THAT? THE, WE'RE GETTING THE, AN AMMAN, BUT WHAT IS THAT BUILDING? THE VERSAILLES.

VERSAILLES, OKAY.

AND, UH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FAINA WERE THE FIRST TO ACTUALLY DO THIS.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE FAINA DISTRICT, UM, AND YOU SEE WHAT THEY'VE CREATED THERE WITH THEIR PROPERTY, IT'S, IT'S VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT IT'S 120 UNITS, WHICH IS 60 UNITS PER BUILDING, I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DENSITY.

BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC IN NORTH BEACH, SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE.

SO EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE ARCHES AND THE OLD SIGN BACK UP AND HAVE, WALK IN AND SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL LOBBY, WHICH I'M HOPING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A REAL TRIBUTE TO THE DOVA SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE FILMING DOCUMENTARIES ON MIAMI BEACH, THEY'RE GONNA GO TO THIS LOBBY.

I HOPE WHEN THIS IS FINISHED, , AND BE ABLE TO RECREATE THAT FEELING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PRESERVE WHAT WAS THERE, BUT WE'RE TAKING A STAB AT REPLICATION.

AND THAT WAS A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO, UM, I AM, YOU KNOW, SIGNING ON BOARD.

EVERYBODY WAS NERVOUS THAT I WAS GONNA BE AFRAID.

I, AND, AND, AND BY THE WAY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN SOME CRITIQUES BY SOME MEMBERS UP HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN FIFTH STREET WAS BUILT, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED AT FIFTH STREET TOO.

WHEN THE FLORIDIAN CAME TO US, UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, YOU WERE ONE OF THE BIGGEST AD ADVOCATES FOR GETTING A PARK.

AND WHEN I SAW, UM, DAVID MARTIN BUILD THE PARK THERE, I THOUGHT, OH, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET THAT PARK.

IT'S GONNA TAKE 10 YEARS TO BUILD THE PARK, LIKE THE PARK THAT WAS 86 ON PARK.

BUT WHEN YOU TOOK IT ON, YOU BUILT THAT PARK WITH THAT DRAINAGE IN A YEAR.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY GET IT DONE SO QUICKLY.

AND NOW WE'RE GETTING THAT WALKWAY, WHICH SOME PEOPLE HAVE CRITICIZED AND OTHERS CALL ICONIC.

BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND TODAY, I THINK WE RENAMED IT AFTER COMMISSIONER MARK SAMUEL.

IT'S GONNA BE THE MARK SAMUEL WALKWAY GUYS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE, I'VE, I'VE WATCHED YOUR WORK.

I'VE WATCHED THIS COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT YOU'VE DONE HERE, WHICH IS REALLY TREMENDOUS AND TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE.

AND I THINK THAT LAND USED ATTORNEY FROM NEW JERSEY, YOU KNOW, HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU.

WAYNE IS IN LOVE WITH YOU, MAKE IT JEALOUS, , UM, .

BUT, UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY WITH, WITH A LITTLE BIT LESS HEIGHT, WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

OKAY, LET'S CALL EV VOTE.

UH, OH, I HAVE, I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BOT SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.

IT INCLUDES A REFERRAL TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS A VOTE ON THE COMP PLAN.

THIS IS A VOTE ON THE OVERLAY TO BOTH ITEMS. COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, RALPH, UM, ONE QUICK QUESTION.

YEP.

DOES IT ALSO INCLUDE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE MEMO REGARDING THE FLOOR PLATE AND THE, UM, ADDITIONAL CONDITION REGARDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE, UM, RE PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE VILLE? YES.

TOGETHER.

SO IT WAS A, I'M SORRY.

IT WAS A YES, YES, YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE PROUDLY? YES.

VICE MAYOR BAUGH.

OH YES.

MR. DOMINGUEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? NO.

MAYOR MINOR.

MOTION CARRIES.

UH, SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING IS APRIL 23RD.

QUITE A DAY, BUT, UH, A PRODUCTIVE DAY IN MANY WAYS.

IT'S BEEN, UH,

[09:20:01]