[CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR COMMISSION MEETING TODAY.
WE'LL GET STARTED. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A LITTLE PRESENTATION EARLY ON TO CELEBRATE AMERICA 250, SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING BEFORE JULY 4TH. AND MOST OF US ARE WEARING RED, WHITE, AND BLUE. IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE COLOR IN THERE. BUT, RALPH, IF YOU CAN GIVE US SOME INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE CITY COMMISSION IS PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL, 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE, 3RD FLOOR. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ATTEND EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY. IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY, YOU CAN LOG IN USING THE ZOOM APP OR VISIT ZOOM.US ON YOUR BROWSER.
YOU CAN ALSO PHONE IN AT 305-224-1968 OR TOLL-FREE 888-475-4499. AGAIN, THE LOCAL NUMBER IS 305- 224-1968. THE WEBINAR ID IS 813-928-576-71-POUND. AGAIN, 813-928-576-71-POUND.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY ON AN ITEM DURING THE MEETING, PLEASE CLICK THE RAISE HAND ICON IN THE ZOOM APP OR PRESS STAR 9 ON YOUR PHONE.
ALL LOBBYISTS MUST REGISTER WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CITY HALL.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT WITNESS GIVING ONLY TECHNICAL SPECIALIZED TESTIMONY, A REPRESENTATIVE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR NONPROFIT SPEAKING WITHOUT PAY, OR A PRIVATE CITIZEN SPEAKING ON YOUR OWN BEHALF WITHOUT COMPENSATION.
HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE AN EXPERT WITNESS OR A NONPROFIT OR NEIGHBORHOOD REP, YOU DO NEED TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN DISCLOSURE FORM TO THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BEFORE SPEAKING WITH THE COMMISSION OR STAFF.
FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
IF A LOBBYIST GIVES OR AGREES TO GIVE $1,000 OR MORE TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING A CITY MATTER, THAT MUST BE DISCLOSED IN WRITING TO THE CITY CLERK.
NOTE THAT CONTINGENCY FEES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO COMPENSATE LOBBYISTS.
IF YOU PLAN TO SPEAK DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD TODAY, PLEASE SIGN IN.
YOU CAN USE THE SIGN-IN SHEETS AT THE PODIUM OR THE SCANNED QR CODES ALSO LOCATED THERE.
NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO CALL UP PASTOR VICTOR PALACIOS.
FROM IGLESIA BAUTISTA PODER DE DIOS.
A CHURCH RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.
AND RECENTLY WE DID A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, WHICH YOU HAD A NUMBER OF PASTORS, FATHERS, RABBIS.
WE DID A CEREMONY OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
I KNOW YOU ALSO DID A CARAVAN OF CARS.
THE CITY NEEDS TO PRAY, YOU KNOW.
WELL, THE COUNTRY TOO, BUT WE LIVE HERE, AND WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY.
WELL, TODAY, THAT IS THE DAY, THE SPECIAL DAY FOR HEAVEN.
WE'RE GOING TO PRAY FOR YOU, FOR THE MAYOR, FOR THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE MANAGER, FOR THE CITY CLERK, FOR THE ATTORNEY, AND FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, AND FOR THIS CITY.
FATHER, IN THE NAME, WE COME TO YOU TO THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE LORD OF THE LORD.
WE ASK YOU, LORD, FOR WISDOM IN THIS MEETING.
WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO DO YOUR DIRECTION, YOUR ANOINTING.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO SO FAR IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY YOU PUT HERE TO RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE DIRECTION IN THIS CITY, LORD.
WE KNOW YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.
YOU SAY YOU ARE, WE COME TO YOU, YOU RESPOND.
IN THIS DAY, WE COME TO YOU, THAT WAY YOU CAN BE THE GOD FOR THE CITY, BE THE GOD FOR THIS CITY HALL.
WE BLESS EVERYBODY WORKING IN THE CITY HALL.
WE BLESS EVERYBODY LIVE IN THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL CITY, THE MIAMI BEACH.
WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO DIRECTION.
THE PEOPLE WHO COMMAND THIS CITY, DO IT WITH INTEGRITY.
RESPONSIBILITY TO TODAY WE SEE THAT HAPPEN, LORD.
WE PRAY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR EVERYBODY.
[00:05:01]
IN THE CITY.WE PUT EVERYTHING IN YOUR HAND.
AND WHEN WE PUT EVERYTHING IN YOUR HAND, EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL.
WE PRAY IN YOUR NAME, IN THE NAME OF GOD.
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP.
ARE THERE ANY VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES HERE? WOW.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAD THE PLEDGE.
WILL MCDONALD, OUR PARKING DIRECTOR.
WHICH BRANCH WERE YOU IN? (INAUDIBLE) I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU WILL. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SERVICE MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT BEFORE WE STARTED SUTNICK TO COMMEMORATE AMERICA 250, JULY 4TH.
THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING BEFORE THEN, AS I MENTIONED.
I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY MENTION WHAT AMERICA HAS MEANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS WITHOUT GETTING EMOTIONAL.
BUT MY GRANDPARENTS MOVING HERE, LUCKILY BEFORE THE HOLOCAUST.
I DID LOSE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THE FORESIGHT OR THE LUCK, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THAT THEY HAD TO GET OUT.
AND THIS COUNTRY, AMERICA, WHILE THERE WERE QUOTAS AND LIMITATIONS, DID ACCEPT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ESCAPING WHAT WAS BECOMING A VERY OBVIOUS HOSTILE SITUATION IN GERMANY AND EUROPE.
I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS THEIR OWN STORY.
FOR WHY THEY CAME TO AMERICA, WHY THIS COUNTRY CONTINUES TO OFFER SO MANY SO MUCH.
WE HAVE OUR BUMPS AND UPS AND DOWNS, BUT WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO GET BETTER.
I'LL TELL YOU, I HAD A SITUATION RECENTLY.
I WAS AT A RESTAURANT, AND THE WAITER WAS FROM VENEZUELA, AND I ASKED HIM WHY HE MOVED THERE, AND HE SAID, BECAUSE MADURO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TOOK MY BUSINESS.
HE LITERALLY TOOK MY BUSINESS THAT I OWNED FOR 20 YEARS.
AND IT MAKES US REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR SO MANY.
THERE'S A REASON WHY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD CONTINUE TO TRY TO COME HERE, BECAUSE WE OFFER SO MUCH.
AND I KNOW PERSONALLY I'M GRATEFUL.
I EVEN LOOK AT MY OWN STORY, NOT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT ME, BUT A KID FROM BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND, THE LAST THING I THOUGHT IN THE WORLD, I'D BE A MAYOR OF A MAJOR GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL CITY.
BUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE, AND THAT'S EVERYONE.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS THEIR OWN STORIES, THEIR OWN OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
SO I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT.
LOVE YOUR TIE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THE OUTFIT, COMMISSIONER BHATT I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING THERE, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
WE ALSO HAVE THESE COMMEMORATIVE QUANS.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO A PICTURE WITH IT WITH EVERYONE.
POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF, CHIEF ABELLA IS HERE.
MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE GO TAKE A PICTURE, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WHAT YOU MENTIONED IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO MANY OF US, WE ARE HERE OUT OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ALL SEEKING FREEDOM.
THAT ULTIMATELY IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT SO MANY OF US, SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES.
FOR ME AS A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, JULY 4TH MEANS A LOT FOR MY FAMILY AND MYSELF BECAUSE ON JULY 4TH, 1963, MY GRANDMOTHER, MY ABUELA MARY, ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES WITH HER MOTHER ADELINA FROM CUBA.
AND MY UNCLE LARRY, MY DAD'S BROTHER, AND THEY CAME BY SEA VIA THE RED CROSS, A SHIP CALLED MAXIMUS, WHO TOOK SUPPLIES AND TRACTORS TO CUBA IN EXCHANGE FOR BAY OF PIG PRISONERS BEING SET FREE BY CASTRO AT THE TIME.
AND AS HISTORY WOULD HAVE IT, AS FORTUITOUS AS IT MAY BE, THEY ARRIVED TO FREEDOM, ESCAPING CASTRO'S TYRANNY ON JULY 4TH.
AND FOR THEM, AND MY UNCLE WROTE A BEAUTIFUL ESSAY ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, NARRATING HOW
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FOR HIM IT WAS A NEW LIFE, IT WAS LIBERTY, IT WAS FREEDOM.IN THE U.S., THEY CAME IN THROUGH THE U.S.
COAST GUARD AIR STATION IN OPELIKA ON JULY 4TH. AND I THINK FOR SO MANY OF US, THIS COUNTRY HAS GIVEN US SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY GRANDMOTHER.
IT WAS FREEDOM ITSELF THAT THEY GOT ON JULY 4TH, ESCAPING THE CASTRO REGIME.
AND SO IT'S SYMBOLIC FOR SO MANY OF US, SO MANY IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE PART OF OUR COUNTRY, AS YOU WELL MENTIONED, VENEZUELANS AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE FLED DICTATORSHIP.
AND THANKS TO 250 YEARS OF AMERICA AND THIS GREAT COUNTRY, WE'RE ALL UNITED HERE CELEBRATING THAT TODAY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
TRUE, REALLY, YOU CAN'T GO A DAY, ESPECIALLY IN MIAMI BEACH AND SOUTH FLORIDA, WITHOUT MEETING SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED IN A POSITIVE WAY BY AMERICA, WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE FLEEING CUBA'S CASTRO'S REGIME, VENEZUELA, OTHER COUNTRIES.
AND IT'S A CONSTANT REMINDER OF HOW BLESSED WE ARE.
SHOULD WE ALL GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THIS? OKAY.
SPEAKERS ON WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG ON IT.
WE'RE GOING TO START THE SUTNICK HOUR.
WE'LL WAIT FOR RALPH TO CALL UP.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.
[R9 C DR. STANLEY SUTNICK CITIZEN'S FORUM. (8:35 A.M./1:00 P.M.)]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AGAIN.WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS BRENDA JORDAN, 2316 BAY DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH.
AS EVERYONE KNOWS, I'M AN ARTIST VENDOR AND I ASK THE MOST HIGH AND MY ANCESTORS TO GUIDE ME TODAY IN THIS SPEECH.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S ALMOST LIKE A NIGHTMARE WHERE I'M SLEEPING, I'M TALKING.
AND EVERY TIME I COME TO THIS MEETING, THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD.
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS COMMISSION CHAMBERS, THE ITEM OF THE ARTIST VENDORS WERE PUT FORWARD.
AND I SAID, GREAT, FINALLY I GET A CHANCE TO REALLY SPEAK MORE THAN TWO MINUTES TO DEFEND MY LIFE, MY TRADITION, MY ARTS, AND THE CITY AND ITS ARTS PROGRAM.
AND WHEN I GOT MY TWO MINUTES, OTHER PEOPLE WERE INVITED AND THE PEOPLE WERE MANNY, HE'S AN EXPERT IN FINANCE.
CODE COMPLIANCE, THEY FOLLOW THE RULES THAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
THE OTHER ONE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT THE POINT IS NONE OF THEM ARE EXPERTS IN THIS, AND NEITHER ARE YOU.
YOU SET UP A PROGRAM WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM EXPERTS.
I SEE WHEN YOU DO PARKING THINGS, YOU GO THROUGH A FEASIBILITY STUDY, YOU DO ALL OF THIS TO SET UP A VIABLE PROGRAM, NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE PARKING, BUT FOR THE CITY.
[00:15:01]
THE BEGINNING IT WAS DICTATED TO US.AND THEN I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ WAS HERE TO HELP AND HAVE A VIABLE PROGRAM, BUT INSTEAD I WAS DUPED.
I FELT LIKE I WAS USED LIKE A PAWN TO PUSH HIS AGENDA, WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO, AND THEN IT WAS A VOTE TAKEN WITHOUT US SEEING WHAT THE ORDINANCE WAS.
THAT KILLED THE SUNSHINE LAW, AND I'VE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THIS DISRESPECT.
LAST TIME I WAS SHUT DOWN BECAUSE WHO WAS SPEAKING WHEN MANNY SAID THERE WERE 48, THERE ARE 15 PEOPLE.
THAT ENTERED THE LOTTERY AND WE USED TO HAVE 58.
THAT'S A BIG DISPARITY AND I THINK THAT THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP GIVING NOTHING TO THE ARTIST, NOTHING.
IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP THERE'S A GIVE AND TAKE.
IS THAT IT OR DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH? THANK YOU, MS. JORDAN.
YEAH, I'M TIRED OF THE DISRESPECT THAT THIS CITY HAS GIVEN DEAF EARS TO WHAT IS OUR LIVELIHOOD AND OUR LIFESTYLE.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK, I'M HERE.
HI, MY NAME IS JILLIAN HABER, 1699 DAYTONA ROAD, MIAMI BEACH.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF AND HOPE THAT ITEM R9AD IS HEARD ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THIS IS THE CITY'S TRAFFIC PLAN FOR ROAD CLOSURE EMERGENCIES.
APPARENTLY, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE WHEN ROADS GET CLOSED DUE TO EMERGENCIES.
IT'S NOT AS RARE AN OCCASION AS YOU MIGHT THINK IT IS.
ON JUNE 5TH, A ROAD WAS CLOSED IN NORTH BEACH THAT CREATED ABSOLUTE MAYHEM AND CHAOS FOR HOURS.
I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE POLICE'S DETERMINATION TO CLOSE THE ROAD.
THE ISSUE IS ONCE A ROAD GETS CLOSED IN NORTH BEACH, WE HAVE ONE ROAD SOUTH, TWO ROADS NORTH.
YOU CANNOT GET OFF THOSE ROADS ONCE YOU'RE ON THEM.
THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC.
WERE DRIVING THE WRONG WAY DOWN THE STREET.
THE ROAD RAGE WAS UNBELIEVABLE, AND THIS WAS AT 7.30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE RUSH HOUR HAD EVEN BEGAN.
I AM SIMPLY ASKING THAT THE CITY HAVE IN PLACE A TRAFFIC CLOSURE EMERGENCY SYSTEM.
YOU WOULD INFORM OUR FOUR NEIGHBORING CITIES, SURFSIDE, BAY HARBOR, BAL HARBOR, NORTH BAY VILLAGE, LET THEM KNOW A ROAD IS CLOSED.
YOU COULD TELL WAYS A ROAD IS CLOSED.
YOU COULD TELL US RESIDENTS A ROAD IS CLOSED.
THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY REDIRECT A TON OF TRAFFIC AND MITIGATE SOME OF THIS.
THERE WERE NO POLICE OFFICERS AT THE TIME HANDLING THE TRAFFIC.
NO ONE WAS CALLED TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SECONDARY PROBLEM WITH ROAD RAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
THE TRAFFIC TIE-UP WAS ABOUT TWO HOURS.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS THAT SAY WHEN A ROAD IS CLOSED WERE NOT TOLD TIMELY, OR WHEN IT WAS RAISED AND WAS NO LONGER CLOSED, THAT WASN'T FIXED EITHER.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ON THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DO I FIND OUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND BY THE WAY, I HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF FRIENDS OF MINE WHO WERE STUCK IN THAT.
AND EVERYONE, I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING IT IN SUCH A RATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL WAY.
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE POLICE ACTIVITY.
PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA SITTING IN THE CAR.
IT WAS LIKE PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME PEDESTRIANS WERE TELLING THEM, HEY, THERE'S A POLICE ACTIVITY UP FRONT.
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN AROUND.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IT WITH FLOODING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER POLICE INCIDENT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TERRIBLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE THEY NEED TO CLOSE THE ROAD OF FATALITY.
AND THEN YOU SWING IT INTO ACTION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A MINUTE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS, OH, THE ROAD'S CLOSED.
ALL THE CITIES KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IF YOU NEED TO PULL PEOPLE FROM THE MID-BEACH POLICE PEOPLE OR THE SOUTH BEACH POLICE PEOPLE TO HELP OUT, WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO, JUST SAY, OKAY, IT'S ON.
YOU TURN A SWITCH, EVERYONE DOES THEIR THING.
JOSE ALZI, 788 SOUTHEAST PARK DRIVE.
COME HERE LIKE NOTHING BUT PRAISE AND ADMIRATION FOR THE WAY MIAMI BEACH DOES
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GOVERNMENT.I WORKED 30 YEARS FOR PARKS AND RECREATION HIALEAH AND I RETIRED 13 YEARS AGO AFTER 30 YEARS OF PARKS AND REC AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE.
I HAD A CONCERN WITH MUSCLE BEACH BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE COUNTY, THE CITY, MAINTAINING THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY ISSUE BECAUSE WITHIN ONE DAY I SAW COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEO SALINAS YESTERDAY AND SHE READ THE EMAIL.
AND SHE ALREADY KNEW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.
AND MARY, YOU ANSWERED MY EMAIL THIS MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND I JUST COME HERE WITH ENCOURAGEMENT, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN MIAMI BEACH, WHERE BEFORE WE WERE CATERED A LOT OF LIKE THE LGBT, THE HIP-HOP, THE PARTY SCENE.
NORTH MIAMI BEACH IS NOW LIKE A VERY, VERY, LIKE A BIG FAMILY DESTINATION.
AND THERE'S A BIG NEED FOR LIKE THE FITNESS PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL FOR FITNESS.
I THINK MUSCLE BEACH CAN BE INCORPORATED IN THAT.
WE'RE A FITNESS DESTINATION AND MIAMI BEACH COULD BE A FAMILY DESTINATION.
AND IF YOU LOOK INTO LIKE WITH THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT OF MIAMI-DADE OR CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, YOUR TOURISM DEPARTMENT, I THINK IF YOU REACH OUT AND PRESENT MIAMI BEACH AS A TOURIST DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES, I THINK YOU WILL GO LIKE A LOT OF FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO LIKE MIAMI SPICE OR SOMETHING WHERE THE FAMILIES WERE A FAMILY COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO SHARE A QUICK STORY ABOUT YOUR CITY CLERK, MR. GRANADO.
THIRTY YEARS AGO, HE WAS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, AND I WAS YOUNG.
I WAS GOING TO TAKE AN INTERVIEW.
I DIDN'T HAVE A TIE, AND MR. GRANADO BROUGHT ME TO HIS OFFICE.
HIS PERSONAL TIE FROM HIS DOOR, HE GAVE ME THE TIE.
HE SAID, WELL, YOU LOOK BETTER WITH THE TIE.
IT JUST SHOWS HIS CHARACTER AND WHAT A GREAT PERSON HE IS.
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF HELPED ME WHEN I CAME HERE EARLIER, ONE OF YOUR ASSISTANTS.
I JUST HAVE ALL PRAISE FOR YOU GUYS.
KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THANK YOU.
BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL.
YOU LAID OUT THE ISSUES, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT STORY ABOUT RALPH AND OUR CITY CHARTER.
TODAY, DURING THE LUNCH HOUR, WE DO OUR REVIEW, OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CHARTER OFFICES, SO VERY TIMELY.
DID YOU FEED HIM THAT, RALPH? YES, I DID.
HI, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MARINA BRAYNON, AND I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY FOR SAVE'S ADVOCACY IS PRIDE CAMPAIGN TO RECOGNIZE MIAMI BEACH AGAIN FOR ITS CONSTANT SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT FOR WHAT'S COMING.
AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, FLORIDA'S SB 1134, OR OFFICIAL ACTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WAS SIGNED INTO LAW EARLIER THIS YEAR DURING THE PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IT'LL PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM FUNDING, PROMOTING, OR TAKING ANY OFFICIAL ACTION REGARDING DEI INITIATIVES, AND IT'S SET TO GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2027.
IF OUR CITIES DON'T TAKE ACTION NOW, THIS LAW WILL STRIP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF THE TOOLS YOU USE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE.
I'M HERE RINGING ALARM BELLS BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, I'M A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS MIAMI BEACH HAS DONE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE SPONSORING MIAMI BEACH PRIDE, WHICH HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES EVERY YEAR, HAVING A FULL-TIME LGBTQ LIAISON IN YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HAVING AN ACTIVE LGBTQA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS, COULD BE AT RISK.
THIS LAW WON'T JUST COME AFTER LGBT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN MIAMI BEACH, THOUGH.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M ALSO A WOMAN AND A BLACK PERSON, AND I'M TELLING YOU NOW, AS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE AIDE, THIS LAW WILL COME AFTER EVERY PROGRAM AND ACTIVITY REFERENCING ANY RACE, ANY COLOR, ANY GENDER, AND ANY ETHNICITY OR RELIGION.
SO FINALLY, JUST LIKE WITH THE FLOOR RATIO EXEMPTION FOR GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER ALEX FERNANDEZ LAST YEAR, WHICH INCENTIVIZES DEVELOPERS TO BUILD INCLUSIVE RESTROOM FACILITIES, WE NEED THIS COMMISSION TO GET VERY CREATIVE.
AND HOW IT FIGHTS BACK AGAINST THE STATE BECAUSE ALL THE AMAZING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS YOU HAVE FOR EVERYONE HERE IN MIAMI BEACH IS AT RISK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND OF COURSE, WE WILL REACH OUT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE DEADLINE IS JANUARY 1ST.
THANK YOU GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M A MEMBER OF SAVE, SOUTH FLORIDA'S LEADING LGBTQ ADVISORY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR THE CONSISTENT SUPPORT THIS COMMISSION HAS SHOWN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
[00:25:04]
MIAMI BEACH'S PERFECT SCORE OF 100 ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX REFLECTS THE WORK THROUGH THE CITY'S POLICIES, SERVICES, LEADERSHIP, AND PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY.THAT RECORD MATTERS, ESPECIALLY NOW.
FLORIDA'S NEW ANTI-DEI LAW IS WRITTEN BROADLY AND MAY AFFECT MORE THAN ANY ONE COMMUNITY OR PROGRAM.
IT COULD REACH CITY POLICIES, FUNDING, CONTRACTS, PARTNERSHIPS, ADVISORY BOARDS, TRAINING GRANTS, RECOGNITION EFFORTS, AND OTHER INITIATIVES CONNECTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
BECAUSE THE LAW DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2027, MIAMI BEACH HAS AN IMPORTANT WINDOW TO ACT.
I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO DIRECT CITY STAFF AND LEGAL COUNSEL TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE LAW.
THAT REVIEW SHOULD IDENTIFY WHAT CAN BE PROTECTED NOW BEFORE JANUARY 1ST, 2027.
THE CITY SHOULD ALSO DEVELOP A CLEAR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY, COMMUNICATE WITH AFFECTED ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS, AND EVALUATE WHETHER MIAMI BEACH SHOULD SUPPORT OR JOIN LEGAL ACTION CHALLENGING THE LAW.
MIAMI BEACH HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT IT IS AN ALLY AND A LEADER ON EQUALITY.
THE GOAL NOW IS TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP AND USE THE TIME AVAILABLE TO PRESERVE THE INCLUSIVE WORK THE CITY HAS ALREADY BUILT.
I HOPE THE COMMISSION WILL ACT NOW TO REVIEW AT RISK, SECURE LONG-TERM FUNDING AND AGREEMENTS WHERE POSSIBLE, AND PROTECT MIAMI BEACH'S PROGRESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
STRONG VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR I THINK OVER A DECADE ADVOCATING HERE MIAMI BEACH NOT ONLY ON LGBTQ RIGHTS BUT ALSO ON HEALTH CARE WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND IS ALSO THREATENED BY A LOT OF THESE OF THESE BILLS I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO SAVE FOR BEING HERE MR. ATTORNEY I KNOW YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH MY OFFICE.
YOU'VE BEEN ANALYZING THE BILLS.
YOU'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE NOT ONLY ON THE LGBTQ ADVISORY COMMITTEE BUT THE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES AS IT RELATES TO LGBTQ SERVICES, EVENTS, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL AND BEYOND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, ITS IMPACTS ON FUNDING THAT WE HAVE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES.
CAN YOU GUIDE US? WHERE ARE WE IN THAT ANALYSIS? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DEDICATING A LOT OF TIME TO THIS.
PLEASE, IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE REGARDING THIS.
SO I'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH KEY MEMBERS OF MY TEAM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY SETTING UP A MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICE, I BELIEVE, NEXT WEEK TO REVIEW OUR FINDINGS AND MAKE CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS AND POTENTIALLY PUT OUT A MEMO WITH GUIDANCE ON WHAT COMMITTEES WILL BE AFFECTED, WHAT COMMITTEES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
AND GENERALLY, BECAUSE PART OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE POSITION THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS IN IS DIFFERENT THAN THE POSITION THAT MIAMI BEACH IS IN.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HAD A WHOLE OFFICE AND SPECIFIC STAFF PEOPLE WHOSE SOLE JOB WERE TO DEAL AND TO LIAISE AND ADVOCATE AND ACT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THESE COMMITTEES.
AND SO THEIR POSITION AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPACTED MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN HOW MIAMI BEACH, HOW WE MIGHT BE IMPACTED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT OUR SYSTEM IS STRUCTURED? THAT IS CORRECT.
THE LAW INCLUDES AN EXEMPTION FOR VOLUNTARY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
THE CITY CAN PROVIDE BASIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE WHOSE SOLE FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT VERY CLOSELY, BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT...
THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRESERVE OUR COMMITTEES.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE FUNDING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, A NUMBER OF HEALTHCARE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING IN OUR TRANSGENDER AMONG TRANSGENDER YOUTH.
THERE'S A LOT OF HOMELESS ISSUES AS WELL THEN AS CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND TOURISM GENERATING ACTIVITY THAT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS IN MIAMI BEACH.
[00:30:02]
IN THE ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE FUNDED BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL, WHETHER THE LAW WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT? SURE.THERE ARE CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT WE FUND FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND BASED ON THE EXEMPTION INCLUDED IN THE LAW, WHICH I THINK WAS IN PART.
THANKS TO EFFORTS BY YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES IN LOBBYING THE LEGISLATURE IN TALLAHASSEE TO INCLUDE SOME EXEMPTIONS FOR THOSE GROUPS.
AND AS IT RELATES, FOR EXAMPLE, PRIDE, WHICH IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR VALUES AND IT RUNS IN WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR BUSINESS IN MIAMI BEACH.
IT GENERATES TOURISM AND PROMOTES US AS A DESTINATION AROUND THE WORLD.
AND IT BRINGS PEOPLE TO OUR BUSINESSES.
WHERE ARE WE IN THE ANALYSIS AS TO WHETHER WE CAN TRY TO STILL ALLOCATE THE FUNDING FOR THAT ACTIVITY AND OTHER ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW JANUARY 1ST? AS OF THE MOMENT, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PRIDE OTHER THAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THERE IS AN EXEMPTION FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.
TO PARADES SUCH AS THE PRIDE PARADE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN DEDICATING TO THIS.
I KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ANALYSIS THAT'S BEING DONE.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO BE ENGAGING WITH OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE SO THAT WE HAVE CLEAR ANALYSIS AND GUIDANCE.
AMONGST THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.
SURE, AND IN FACT, ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS IS REACHING OUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE SIMILARLY SITUATED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICE, AND I KNOW WE'RE PLANNING SIMULTANEOUSLY MEETING WITH THE VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO GIVE THEM THE FEEDBACK AS TO WHERE THEY STAND.
WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING PRESENT AND YOUR CONTINUED WORK.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
COMMISSIONER, PERHAPS IF YOU...
CONSIDER MAKING THAT A SUNSHINE MEETING.
MY OFFICE, MYSELF, I'D LOVE TO ATTEND, AND JUST FOR EFFICIENCY OF GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING THAT SAME.
I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY IS FINE WITH THAT.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND I WILL SAY IT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO OUR STRAIGHT ALLIES ON THE CITY COMMISSION.
WE ARE UNABLE TO SECURE THE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE PROTECTING THEM OR EVEN ADVANCING, IF IT NOT BE FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP, THE FEARLESS LEADERSHIP, AND THE BOLD LEADERSHIP OF OUR STRAIGHT ALLIES LIKE YOURSELF.
AND SO IF IT'S, I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IF HE FEELS IT'S FINE.
I THINK ONCE WE'RE READY FOR PRIME TIME, THEN WE COULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE A SUNSHINE MEETING.
I THINK THAT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, FELLOW RESIDENTS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK HARD AND YOU HAVE A BIG AGENDA TODAY.
I LIVE IN 3015 NORTH BAY ROAD.
CLOSE TO 10 YEARS AGO WE MOVED FROM SOUTH OF FIFTH NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOWER NORTH BAY ROAD WHERE OUR 90 YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR FED COMMUNITY CATS.
WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, WE WERE LEFT WITH A COLONY OF CATS REPRODUCING UNCHECKED.
AND WE HAVE SINCE SPAYED AND NEUTERED OVER 30 CATS FROM JUST OUR BLOCK ALONE, WHICH GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HIDING AS FAR AS FREE-ROAMING CATS.
AND I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE MY WIFE, DANA STILLMAN.
AND WHEN DANA WAS A YOUNG SINGLE MOTHER...
WORKING IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER, SHE FACED A DAILY HEARTBREAK OF PERFORMING EUTHANASIA ON HEALTHY ANIMALS.
ALL BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH HOMES OR CAGES FOR THE CONSTANT STREAM OF DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES, KITTENS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS BROUGHT IN EACH DAY, JUST LIKE THE SHELTERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
THAT EXPERIENCE HAS STAYED WITH HER, AND SHE SAW THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY UNCHECKED OVERPOPULATION AND KNEW THERE HAD TO BE A BETTER WAY.
SHE HAS DEDICATED HERSELF TO PREVENTION AND TARGETED TRAP-NEUTER RETURN.
OVER THE YEARS, SHE'S EARNED NINE TNVR CERTIFICATIONS, SHE'S BECOME A FREE-ROAMING CAT POPULATION EXPERT, AND SHE FOUNDED THE TNR PRO HERO FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT, AND IS NOW IN HER THIRD YEAR SERVING ON THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE OF THIS CITY.
DANA WILL SHARE BEST PRACTICES IN HUMANE CAT POPULATION
[00:35:01]
MANAGEMENT WITH THE CITY.SHE'S PREPARED SOME IMPORTANT DATA, WHICH I THINK IS ON THE SLIDE, AND ON OUR CITY'S OUTDOOR FREE-RANGING.
SHE'S WORKED CLOSELY WITH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERTS LIKE STACEY LEBARON OF COMMUNITY CAT CENTRAL AND THE COMMUNITY CATS PODCAST TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM IS AND WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
DANA IS ALSO A LONGTIME MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WHO TRULY CARES ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL NOW EXPLAIN HOW TO KEEP THE FREE-ROAMING CAT POPULATION FROM INCREASING USING WIDELY KNOWN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEST PRACTICES IN THE HUMANE CAT POPULATION MANAGEMENT.
SO SHE'S DRAWING ON CURRENT CAT POPULATION SCIENCE VERSUS TNVR CERTIFICATIONS AND YEARS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.
SHE'S GOING TO SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE.
3015 NORTH BAY ROAD AND I HAD SENT SOME SLIDES TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR BUT I SEE THEY'RE NOT UP SO I WILL JUST GO OVER OUR CAT POPULATION OUR CAT POPULATION IS GOING UP AND UP AND UP AND UP IT WAS AT 7,000 IN 2014 IT WAS 15,000 IN 2020 IN 2022 THERE'S A PUBLISHED ARTICLE WHICH QUOTES A PERSON FROM OUR CITY AT 30,000 AND IN 2024 THERE THAT JUST THE DUNES IN THE BEACHWALK AREA WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 CATS WITH A 25% STERILIZATION RATE.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? A LOT OF THINGS.
AND I'M HERE TO HELP YOU FIX THEM.
BUT I'M GOING TO CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
WE NEED TO SPRING BREAK THE CAT SITUATION.
WE'RE NOT DOING THINGS RIGHT AT THIS TIME.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT PUTTING ENOUGH MONEY INTO WHERE IT SHOULD BE SPENT, WHICH IS ASSISTING THE OWNED CAT POPULATION.
IT IS THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABANDONING AND SURRENDERING, OR INABILITY TO SURRENDER BECAUSE OUR SHELTERS ARE FULL.
THEY ARE FACED WITH RISING VETERINARY COSTS.
THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD AND THEY'RE HAVING ACCIDENTAL LITTERS WHICH END UP OUTSIDE.
SO IT'S ASSISTING THE OWNED CAT POPULATION.
THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY NEEDS TO GO, NOT INTO FOSTERING AND ADOPTING, WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
SO, NOW I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
SO IN 2023, THE CITY FIXED 893 CATS.
WHILE OUR CITY'S CAT PROGRAM EXPENSES KEEP GOING UP, THE NUMBER OF CATS WE CAN FIX IS ESSENTIALLY REMAINING FLAT.
WHY? WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE VETERINARY CAPACITY, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE SURGICAL RECOVERY CAPACITY, BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH LIVE ANIMALS THAT HAVE TO RECOVER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE TRYING TO DRIVE ALL OF THESE CATS, THE THOUSANDS OF THEM, OFF THE BEACH TWICE TO GET THEM FED? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO, I'VE BEEN MENTORED AND STUDIED UNDER STACEY LEBARON OF THE COMMUNITY CAT CENTRAL AND COMMUNITY CATS PODCAST, AND SHE HAS LOOKED AT OUR CITY'S CAT DATA, AND SHE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING.
INSTEAD OF FIXING 900 CATS, WE NEED TO BE FIXING 1,700 CATS A YEAR, BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS.
THREE TO 400 OF THEM STRAIGHT TNR CATS, AND THE REST SHOULD BE THE FRIENDLY, SOCIALIZED CATS ON THE FOSTER-TO-ADOPTION TRACK.
AND THEN CONTINUE SCALING UP EACH YEAR.
SO KITTENS DON'T FALL FROM THE SKY.
WE HAVE TO FIX THE ADAM AND EVE'S, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, SARAH DE LOS REYES, SUNSET HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANT TO SUPPORT.
C7N, WHICH IS DEAR TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE MAURICE GIFF PARK RECONSTRUCTION.
WE AGREED IN THE BEGINNING THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ASTRO SERVE IN THE DOCK PARK.
DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE IT ON AFTERWARDS AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE TRIED THE GRASS AND THE DOGS ARE DIGGING AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIRT THERE AND IT'S A SMALL PARK IT'S NOT LIKE THE ONE IN BELL ISLAND THAT IS VERY GOOD IT'S VERY BIG SO I REALLY WANT YOU TO SUPPORT THIS AND TO GET IT DONE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MARILYN COULD NOT BE HERE SHE IS SOMEWHERE IN ARIZONA IN SOME OF OUR PARKS.
VISITING AND SHE'S IN SATELLITE SO SHE COULD HAVE CALLED IN SO SHE SAID TO PLEASE STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS AND ANOTHER ITEM I WANT TO THANK TANYA BOTT FOR SUPPORTING THE HISTORICAL MARKER ON 1801 BAY ROAD WHERE THE BGS HAD THEIR STUDIO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA I THINK HE NEEDS TO HAVE THAT DONE THANK YOU TANYA THANK YOU GO AHEAD PLEASE
[00:40:04]
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.MY NAME IS MATTHEW GOLTANOV, 125 JEFFERSON AVENUE.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON A FEW MOBILITY-RELATED ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE MAYOR RECENTLY SHARED HIS CONCEPT FOR A SOUTH OF 5TH TO BAYSIDE ROUTE.
SOPHNOS SAID THEY WOULD SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND IT CONNECTS DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH REAL DESTINATIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
I'M HAPPY TO WORK TOGETHER AND WITH FDOT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
C7Q, THE TROLLEY ADVERTISING WRAPS, THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT FULL WRAPS COVERING THE WINDOWS, AND I'D ASK YOU TO TAKE THOSE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY.
C4S AND R9AI, THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE DISLIKE AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT, BUT STOPPING AT RED LIGHTS IS A BASIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT RED LIGHT CAMERAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED T-BONE CRASHES.
THE ONES THAT CAUSE THE MOST SERIOUS INJURIES.
REMOVING RED LIGHT CAMERAS MAY BE A GREAT CAMPAIGN TALKING POINT, BUT IT COULD MAKE OUR STREETS MORE DANGEROUS.
R5V, WHICH WOULD BAN FISHING AT THE STREET END PARKS AT 10TH, 14TH, AND LINCOLN ROAD.
I PERSONALLY DON'T FISH, BUT I'M CONCERNED WITH THE CONTINUED DEGRADATION OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIVITIES.
MY MAIN POINT, THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COORDINATOR, THE COMMISSION FUNDED THIS POSITION THROUGH A VIGOROUS MULTI-YEAR PROCESS, AND WE RECENTLY WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT IT WAS NEVER FILLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
MEANWHILE, BICYCLE AND MICRO-MOBILITY USE HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY, AND SO HAVE SERIOUS CRASHES, INCLUDING RECENT DEATHS OF PEOPLE WALKING AND RIDING E-SCOOTERS, WHEREBY THE LIMITED INFORMATION RELEASE WEREN'T AT FAULT.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED LARGELY THROUGH THE HALF-PENNY SALES TAX.
AND RESORT TAXES, NOT THE GENERAL FUND.
AND MR. MAYOR, YOU YOURSELF HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RESORT TAX REVENUES ARE AT RECORD LEVELS.
PLEASE DON'T ELIMINATE THIS POSITION.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT MEETING TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ALAIN CLOUTIER AND I HAVE WORKED FOR CDL.
OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT FOR 22 YEARS.
I'M ALSO VICE PRESIDENT OF CWA, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN BOTH CAPACITIES, PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND CWA.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM C7AC REGARDING THE RECALL OF THE IMPROPERLY TITLED UNIFORMS RECENTLY ISSUED TO PARKING ENFORCEMENT SPECIALISTS.
THE UNIFORM READS PARKING SPECIALIST AND LEAVES OUT ENFORCEMENT.
OUR CORRECT LEGALLY ESTABLISHED TITLE IS PARKING ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST.
WE ARE TOO OFTEN THE TARGETS OF VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE ON THE JOB.
THE WORD ENFORCEMENT IS THE ONE WORD IN OUR TITLE THAT SIGNALS AUTHORITY AND IN A TENSE MOMENT THAT ONE WORD CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SITUATION THAT DID ESCALATE AND ONE THAT DOES NOT.
FOR THIS REASON, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU PASS ITEM C7AC.
SO THAT UNIFORM REFLECTING OUR CORRECT TITLE CAN BE USED TO ALL OUR MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, THE GOOD THING IS I DON'T THINK ANYBODY PULLED IT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO...
I'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR THE ITEM ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
COMMISSIONERS, MAY I SAY SOMETHING FOR A MOMENT? PLEASE.
I'M A PARKING OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
FIRST, GOOD MORNING TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND MR. MAYOR.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT TEN AND A HALF YEARS AND RECENTLY THERE'S BEEN A UNIFORM CHANGE PER OUR NEW DIRECTOR MR. MCDONALD AND FOR THE LAST TEN AND A HALF YEARS WE'VE BEEN WEARING WHITE SHIRTS I'M WEARING THE BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT.
SOME OF THE OFFICERS, OR MOST OF THE OTHERS, ARE WEARING THE WHITE POLAR SHIRTS, LIKE THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE.
THE POLAR SHIRTS HAVE AN ENGRAVED BADGE WHICH SHOWS AUTHORITY, LIKE I'M WEARING THIS BADGE HERE.
WE HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL PATCHES ON THE SIDES, AND WHEN A CITIZEN COMES UP TO US EITHER HAPPY OR UPSET, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S USUALLY THE LATTER, THEY'RE UPSET, THEY SEE THIS RIGHT HERE, THEY SEE WHAT WE ARE.
WE'RE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THE NEW UNIFORMS THAT WERE JUST ASSIGNED TO US, LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN HERE ARE WEARING, ALL IT HAS HERE IS A P.
AND ON THE BACK, IT SAYS PARKING SPECIALIST.
MOST CITIZENS THAT APPROACH YOU ON THE STREET ARE NOT LOOKING AT YOUR BACK.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU FROM HERE UP.
AND WE'VE BEEN ISSUED A BADGE FOR THE BELT.
AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU FROM YOUR CHEST UP, AND THEY WANT
[00:45:03]
TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE.THEY HAVE TO BECAUSE WE DO RUN INTO A LOT OF AGGRESSIVE, AGITATED, UPSET, IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ISSUE THEM TICKETS AND THEY JUST GO BONKERS.
I SPENT FOUR AND A HALF HOURS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY SIX WEEKS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.
I'VE HAD OTHER INCIDENTS WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
WE HAVE A TERRIFIC POLICE FORCE THAT ALWAYS COMES WITHIN 25 SECONDS TO HELP US OUT.
THEY'RE FANTASTIC, PROBABLY THE BEST POLICE FORCE IN THE COUNTRY.
AND THE MAIN CONTENTION HERE WITH ME IS...
THE MAJORITY OF MY COWORKERS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO WANT TO RETAIN THESE WHITE SHIRTS.
THEY'RE HIGHLY VISIBLE AT NIGHT.
IF THE POLICE NEED TO FIND US ON THE STREET, IF WE'RE IN TROUBLE, IT'S A LOT COOLER DURING THIS OBSESSIVE, INCREDIBLE HEAT.
AND THE MAIN THING IS IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE THAT WE'RE OFFICERS AND WE'RE DOING OUR JOBS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MISTAKING US FOR, CITIZENS HAVE BEEN MISTAKING MY COWORKERS THAT ARE WEARING THESE SHIRTS AS PARKING ATTENDANTS.
THE SAME SYMBOL HERE IS THE ONE USED IN PRIVATE PARKING LOTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE CAR RUNNERS, PARKING ATTENDANTS, AND WE SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS, A PARKING OFFICER.
I THINK THIS UNIFORM THAT I'M WEARING IS FANTASTIC.
I THINK IT'S THE BEST UNIFORM IN THE WHOLE CITY.
I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT.
NOBODY PULLED THE ITEM, SO IT'S GOING TO PASS.
I CAN TELL YOU I GREW UP IN NEW YORK, AND THE PARKING ATTENDANTS I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID WORE THEY THEY WORE THESE BROWN UNIFORMS THAT LOOKED LIKE UPS OFFICERS, AND AS SOON AS THEY SWITCHED TO A MORE PROFESSIONAL, IT HAD A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE ON HOW THEY WERE TREATED.
IF I MAY INTERRUPT, I'VE BEEN TO OTHER CITIES AROUND FLORIDA WHEN I TRAVEL, WHEN I HAVE SOME VACATION TIME.
EVEN IN KEY WEST, THEY WEAR BLUE SLACKS OR BLACK SLACKS, A WHITE SHIRT.
THEY HAVE A BADGE THIS BIG, LIKE THEY WEAR IN L.A.
THEY HAVE PATCHES ON THEIR ARMS, AND THEY LOOK VERY PROFESSIONAL.
AND TO GO FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO THIS, I THINK, IS UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU GOT IT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO PASS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR TABLE.
I JUST ACTUALLY WANTED TO TURN IT TO ERIC.
WILL, TO ME, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE AT ANY TIME I'VE CALLED HIM WITH ANYTHING, SO I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS HOW THIS CAME UP.
IT KIND OF CAME TO MY ATTENTION PRETTY LATE IN THE GAME.
SO, JUST TO PUT MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE SITUATION OUT THERE, WE HADN'T ORDERED NEW UNIFORMS. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, MR. MCDONALD HAD TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT SPECIALISTS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY CANNOT BE REFERRED TO AS OFFICERS UNDER STATE LAW.
AND SO THERE WERE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE UNIFORM THAT WERE BEING DISCUSSED, PROPOSED.
WE THEN GOT FEEDBACK FROM THE TEAM THAT THEY FELT THAT THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT.
SO MR. MCDONALD MODIFIED HIS PERSPECTIVE ON IT AND ALLOWED THEM TO KEEP THE CLASS A WHITE UNIFORMS THAT MR. WACHOLDER'S WEARING TODAY.
AND THAT CLASS A WHITE UNIFORM IS CURRENTLY PART OF THEIR ALLOWABLE.
UNIFORM WEARING AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO AND HE'S ORDERING MORE OF THOSE UNIFORMS SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AT THIS POINT.
AND THANK YOU MR. MANAGER AND MR. MAYOR.
SO YOU GUYS ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR THE CLASS A UNIFORM.
I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE MEMBERSHIP.
YES WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE CLASS UNIFORM.
HOW MANY SO WHY AREN'T ALL THE EMPLOYEES WHY AREN'T ALL THE EMPLOYEES WEARING THE UNIFORM? UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS ONLY TWO OFFICERS AND THREE, I INCLUDE MYSELF, THAT THEY NORMALLY WEAR THE CLASS A.
WHAT THEY NORMALLY WERE WEARING AT ALL TIMES WAS THIS KIND OF SHIRT, THE POLAR SHIRT.
THIS IS KNOWN AS THE CLASS YEAH, THAT'S THE CLASS A.
THIS IS SIMILAR, BUT IT'S JUST A POLAR SHIRT AND IT HAS AN ENGRAVED BADGE.
WELL, THE POLO IS WHAT I THINK I'M ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING MOST OF OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WEARING THE WHITE POLO.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS CLASS A UNIFORM LOOKS OLD, AND YOU'RE SAYING HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM THE PARKING DEPARTMENT HAD IT? BEFORE, WE HAD THE CHOICE OF THE CLASS A AND THE POLO SHIRTS.
[00:50:02]
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE WEARING POLO SHIRTS, AND NOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE.INCLUDING MYSELF, THREE ARE WEARING THE CLASS BUT THIS CLASS A HAS BEEN HERE, LIKE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN UNIFORMS LIKE THIS IN OVER TWO YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
SO IF ONLY THREE OF THE EMPLOYEES REALLY HAD THAT UNIFORM AND WERE USING IT, YOU'RE PUTTING AT A DISADVANTAGE ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE THAT ARE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK? BUT 48 TO 50.
SO, SO WE'RE PUTTING ALL THE OTHER 47 EMPLOYEES AT A DISADVANTAGE.
YOU GUYS ARE IN THE HEAT IN ELEMENTS THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE DEALING WITH.
AND AS YOU VERY WELL DESCRIBED, YOU DEAL WITH VIOLENCE.
YOU DEAL WITH AGGRESSION ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY.
THAT YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE UNIFORM THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO WEAR.
AND IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A CITY TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
MY FRUSTRATION WAS THAT FOUR OF US SAT ON THE DAIS AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
WE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
I THOUGHT WE OFFERED GOOD FEEDBACK.
AND THEN I FEEL ALMOST LIKE OUR FEEDBACK.
OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS WAS JUST IGNORED.
SO MOST CERTAINLY, FORGET ABOUT US.
YOUR FEEDBACK, I FEEL, WAS IGNORED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE ROLLOUT MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT GIVING THAT, I FEEL, THE PROPER CONSIDERATION.
AND SO I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR NOT PULLING THE ITEM.
AND I THANK YOU GUYS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE STREETS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE.
WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY, BUT YOU ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, YOU ARE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, YOU ARE IN THE HEAT, AND YOU'RE DOING DIFFICULT WORK, AND YOUR OPINION AND YOUR UNIFORM MATTERS, AT LEAST TO ME AND TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S COMMENTS BECAUSE I WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AS...
PROFESSIONAL AND POWERFUL AND INTIMIDATING AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS POTENTIALLY GET ATTACKED ON YOUR JOBS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
I FEEL SO BAD FOR YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO, AND NO ONE WANTS TO GET A PARKING TICKET EVER.
SO OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE UPSET WHEN THEY GET IT.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE TO BE THE FACE OF THAT.
SO I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT YOU ARE A POLICE OR AN EXTENSION OF THE POLICE.
AND SO THIS UNIFORM THAT YOU'RE WEARING, THE CLASS A? YES, IT IS GLOBAL.
DO YOU GET THE SAME RESPONSE WHEN YOU'RE WEARING A WHITE POLO? I THINK THEY DO.
IT'S JUST SOME PEOPLE PREFER A POLO SHIRT.
AND TO ME IT'S OKAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BADGE, AND THIS BADGE MEANS JUST AS MUCH AS THIS ONE.
SO THEY'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A POLO SHIRT.
I LIKE TO LOOK A LITTLE MORE DRESSY, SO I WEAR THIS ONE, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC.
I JUST DO TWO OR THREE OTHER OFFICERS.
AND A LOT OF THEM USED TO WEAR THIS, BUT WE'VE HAD NEW OFFICERS COME ON BOARD NOW.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE.
YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL PROTECTED AND EMPOWERED AND THAT PEOPLE DON'T ASSAULT YOU OR THREATEN YOU IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION, THE GENTLEMAN IN THE GRAY AND THE GAL IN THE WHITE, COULD YOU TURN AROUND SO I CAN SEE THE BACK, PLEASE? OKAY, SO THERE WAS NEVER, AND YOU WERE SAYING, ERIC, THAT WHAT, WHAT CAN WE NOT SAY? OFFICER.
CAN WE SAY ENFORCEMENT? AND NEITHER, NEITHER OF THEM SAY OFFICER.
SO WE WILL BE INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT ON ALL OF THE FUTURE.
ORDERS THE GRAY ONES HAD ALREADY BEEN ORDERED AT THE TIME THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD THE DISCUSSION AND SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWING AWAY MONEY TO NOT AT LEAST HAND THEM OUT AND GIVE THEM TO THE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE ABILITY TO WEAR THEM MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF THEY WANT TO WEAR THE WHITE POLOS IF THEY WANT TO WEAR THE GRAY POLOS IF THEY WANT TO WEAR THE CLASS A WE'RE OKAY WITH ALL OF THAT UNTIL THE NEW UNIFORMS GET ORDERED THE NEW UNIFORMS WILL HAVE CLASS A, WILL HAVE WHITE POLOS, WILL HAVE GRAY POLOS, AND WILL INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT IN THE TERMINOLOGY.
BUT NONE OF THEM EVER SAID OFFICERS, SO THAT'S KIND OF A MOOT POINT TO MENTION THAT THAT ISN'T PART OF THIS.
IT ONLY SAYS OFFICERS IN THE BADGES.
[00:55:01]
WAIT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME.YEAH, FINISH UP, BUT THEN I HAVE COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AND COMMISSIONER BHATT THANK YOU.
BY THE WAY, I WAS GOING TO MAKE THIS COMMENT A LITTLE LATER.
THIS ITEM PASSED, SO IT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION, BUT WE REALLY I'M HEARING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS, MAYBE YOU HAVE AS WELL, THAT WE'RE TAKING TOO LONG ON ITEMS. THIS ITEM IS PASSED.
THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANT, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP ITEMS MOVING.
SO I'M ASKING THAT TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES TODAY.
I'M GOING TO START CUTTING ITEMS OFF BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO HEAR SOME VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS. BUT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, COMMISSIONER BHATT , LET'S LET'S MOVE ON.
MR. MANAGER, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THE EMPLOYEES CAN WEAR EITHER THE CLASS A OR THE POLO OR THE GRAY POLO.
YESTERDAY DURING OUR BRIEFING, I ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS, AND YOU GAVE ME A COPY OF AN EMAIL THAT SAYS THAT ANY EMPLOYEE CURRENTLY WEARING A CLASS A UNIFORM FULL-TIME COULD CONTINUE DOING SO.
BUT THAT'S ONLY THREE EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE 47 EMPLOYEES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF THE 47 EMPLOYEES? AND SO WHAT WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE MEMBERSHIP BASED ON THE EMAIL THAT YOU PROVIDED ME IN MY BRIEFING WAS THAT THOSE WHO WERE WEARING THE CLASS A UNIFORM COULD CONTINUE DOING SO.
AND SO THAT'S GREAT FOR THREE PEOPLE.
AND SO WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 47? WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HERE, THE REST OF THEM CAN CHOOSE TO WEAR THE POLO OR WHATEVER THEY FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IN WITHIN THEIR UNIFORM OPTIONS.
YES, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO WEAR THE WHITE POLOS UNTIL WE GET THE NEW ORDER DONE.
AND I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF, MR. MAYOR, AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT TRYING TO LIMIT NON-NECESSARY DEBATE.
ANYTIME THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S PROACTIVE, LIKE A CHANGE FROM ENFORCEMENT TO SPECIALIST, THERE HAS TO BE RHYME OR REASON BEHIND IT, RIGHT? SO THERE WAS PROACTIVE CHANGE.
WHAT DROVE THAT? SO I THINK THE CONCEPT WAS SIMILAR TO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT BECOMING A CODE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO EMPHASIZE PEOPLE'S PARKING COMPLIANCE.
WHICH I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE, BUT ULTIMATELY, IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE EMPLOYEES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN HARM'S WAY, THAT'S NOT WORTH IT.
SO WE CAN WALK THAT BACK IF THAT'S NECESSARY TO KEEP THE WORKFORCE HAPPY.
COMMISSIONER BHATT ? A QUICK QUESTION TO CLARIFY.
SO THE NEW UNIFORMS THAT ARE BEING ORDERED ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHAT? I MEAN, WILL, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THIS? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU AN AWFUL LOT.
WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO PUT ANYBODY IN HARM'S WAY.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR JOB BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL GET QUITE TESTY.
WELL, NOT WE ALL, BUT MANY PEOPLE GET QUITE TESTY WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO IT FOR A LIVING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE TOOLS NECESSARY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO MALICE IN THIS CHANGE, RIGHT? WE ARE TRYING TO COLLECTIVELY BE A CITY THAT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO SHIFTING NORMS. WE'RE DOING IT WITH MICRO MOBILITY, WE'RE DOING IT WITH SIGNAGE IN STORES, WE'RE DOING IT WITH WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH YOUR HOME.
WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT SO IF THERE WAS A MISSTEP IT WAS NOT MALICIOUS IT WAS YOU KNOW A SIN OF OMISSION, NOT COMMISSION THAT IS BEING RECTIFIED.
SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM MY OWN EDIFICATION WHAT THE NEW UNIFORMS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT A GRAY POLO OR WHITE POLO IS PROBABLY MORE COMFORTABLE TO WEAR, BUT I DO LIKE HAVING ALL THE SORT OF OFFICIAL BELLS AND WHISTLES, THE PATCHES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OFFICER CAN'T BE USED LEGALLY, BUT ENFORCEMENT CAN.
TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE SOFTER, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF THAT ENDS UP NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE FOR YOU GUYS IN THE FIELD, THEN THAT'S A THING, A CONVERSATION.
SO, WILL, AGAIN, I KNOW THIS WAS NOT DONE OUT OF MALICE OR TRYING TO DO ANYTHING UNTOWARD, BUT WHERE DID WE END UP ON THE NEW UNIFORM SO THAT EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED? WILL MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PARKING.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY, WE MET WITH THE UNION ON MONDAY REGARDING WHAT A NEW UNIFORM WOULD LOOK LIKE.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THE FEEDBACK.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK BEFORE EVERYTHING IS FULLY BAKED.
ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THE BADGES ARE IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT BRAND NEW METAL BADGES FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR OUR BADGES WERE VERY IMPORTANT.
[01:00:02]
PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTARILY WORE THEM.THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO FEW CLASS A'S.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE DENIED THEM THE CLASS A'S.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
AS FAR AS THE POLOS, WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE UNION, WE'VE HEARD.
INSTEAD OF CHARCOAL, START WITH DARK AND GO TO A WHITE POLO FOR EVERYBODY THAT WANTS.
WE'VE HEARD THE TALK ABOUT INSTEAD OF AN EMBROIDERED BADGE, WE TALKED ABOUT A FLEX BADGE.
SO IT'S LIKE A RUBBERIZED BADGE THAT YOU VELCRO ON, BUT IT LOOKS METALLICIZED.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT, I'LL JUST SAY IT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESENCE, ALONG WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLEX METALLICIZED NAME PATCH THAT CAN GO ON THE SHIRT.
WE SENT THEM A FEW MOCK-UPS LAST NIGHT.
AND WE JUST NEED TO HEAR BACK.
SO YOU GUYS ARE ACTIVELY COLLABORATING AND GETTING NEW SHIRTS THAT EVERYBODY FEELS GOOD ABOUT, THAT GIVE YOU, THE FOLKS IN THE FIELD, THE PROTECTIONS THAT YOU NEED, AND PROVIDE WHATEVER NEW STANDARDS WE WANT AS A CITY.
SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD STEP FORWARD.
IS EVERYBODY WHO'S UP AT THE PODIUM FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS? YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.
LET THE BYGONES BE BYGONES, AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT AS A CITY WE'RE MESSAGING THE RIGHT THING, AND AS OUR EMPLOYEES YOU'RE GETTING THE PROTECTIONS YOU NEED IN THE FIELD.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO, AND I THINK WE REACHED A GOOD PLACE.
AND, WILL, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE ON ISSUES.
AND HELPING AND HELPING I THINK YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD ADDITION TO THE CITY SO THANK YOU YEAH I AGREE GOOD MORNING MY ENGLISH NOT VERY GOOD LOOKING MY NAME IS MARTIN SANCHEZ I REPRESENT THE EXPERT TECHNOLOGY CHOICE A WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM SYSTEM A COMPANY ESTABLISHED SINCE THE 2016 I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING A LOT OF SITUATION PROBLEM I BRING SOLUTION TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
I'M HERE TO THANK THE BEAUTY, BLAKE, AND ALSO ALICE FERNANDEZ.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY EMAIL.
DAVID, I'M THE ONE THAT CALLED YOU LAST NIGHT.
AT THIS MOMENT, THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IS FACING A SITUATION WITH WATER AND SEWER.
AND ALSO, THE GREAT THING IS THAT IT'S NOT INITIALLY BEST.
I CAN BRING A SOLUTION TO SAVE ON WATER THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH PAYS TO MIAMI DADE.
AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE WHOLE PROJECT.
SO HE DIRECT ME TO THE ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.
I JUST ASKING A FEW DETAILS THAT I NEED TO PRESENT THE PROJECT.
SO IN A FEW WEEKS, WHEN YOU GUYS GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY, I'LL BE READY TO BRING TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE IN THE MONEY THAT YOU GUYS PAID TO MIAMI-DADE WATER AND SEWER.
IF THE WATER AND SEWERS RAISE THE WATER THAT YOU HAVE TO RAISE TO THE CITIZENS.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO LOAD UP THAT POSSIBILITY.
AND I'M JUST HERE FOR A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF YOU.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
MY HUSBAND AND I, WE MOVED HERE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
WE PLAN FOR STAYING TWO YEARS, BUT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE CITY AND THIS COUNCIL MAYOR.
WE'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST SIX YEARS.
I FEEL SAFE WALKING THE STREETS.
WE WALK ALL THE TIME AND BIKE.
WE LOVE GOING DOWN LINCOLN ROAD.
WE PLAY BASKETBALL AT FLAMINGO PARK AND ROLLER SKATE, AND WE LOVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY.
REJUVENATION, THE THINGS IN THE BACK OFFICE, THE CONCIERGE SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO MY HUSBAND TO MOVE HIS OFFICE A LITTLE BIT
[01:05:01]
EASIER FOR HIS BUSINESS.WE'RE NOT ONLY RESIDENTS BUT BUSINESS OWNERS.
I SEE YOU MAYOR ALL OVER THE CITY.
YOU'RE VERY CLEAR, DIRECT, AND INSPIRING AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AS A RESIDENT AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE CHILLS FROM YOUR SPEECH, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S VERY, VERY KIND OF YOU.
I THINK WE ALL DO FROM A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IT'S VERY KIND OF YOU TO COME UP AND EXPRESS THAT HERE.
RUN FOR OFFICE? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAYING THAT.
WE DON'T HEAR THAT ALL THAT OFTEN.
I MEAN, WE DO HEAR IT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT...
THAT OUR STAFF HEARS THAT AS WELL BECAUSE NONE OF US UP HERE IS DOING THIS ALONE.
IT IS WITH THE FULL SUPPORT AND COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK FROM EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE, FROM DIRECTORS TO THE NEWEST HIRE IN ANY DEPARTMENT.
SO IT IS A TRUE TEAM EFFORT, AND SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR THAT LOUD AND CLEAR.
ERIC DROLIS ON BEHALF OF THE FIREFIGHTERS OF MIAMI BEACH UNION.
I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR BEING SO POSITIVE BECAUSE I WORK WITH THEM A LOT, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DO NOT GET NEARLY ENOUGH THANK YOUS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ACTUALLY HERE FOR, IS TO THANK YOU IN MULTIPLE WAYS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL DOING SO MANY GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR MEMBERSHIP, HE WANTS TO LET YOU KNOW HE'S VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE NEWS THAT WE GOT THAT THE MARINE PATROL AND FIRE PATROL IS MOVING FORWARD ON PURDY.
THAT'S A VERY WELCOME LOCATION FOR OUR FIREBOAT OPERATIONS.
GREAT RESPONSE TIMES BOTH TO THE SOUTH AND NORTH, AS WELL AS WE GOT GREAT NEWS THAT ALSO FIRE STATION 1 IS MOVING ALONG.
SO THOSE ARE, AGAIN, GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
I SEE YOU'RE SPONSORING OUR WHOLE BLOOD INITIATIVE, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR FIRE CHIEF, DIGNO BELLO, FOR ENABLING OUR RESCUE CHIEF, DAVID SOLA, WHO I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW.
BUT HE HAS HELPED LAUNCH THIS WHOLE BLOOD INITIATIVE.
HE ALSO BROUGHT TWO OTHER DRUGS.
SO WHEN THOSE ARE COMBINED FOR TRAUMA INCIDENTS, THEY HELP AMAZINGLY WITH THE PATIENT OUTCOMES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
ALSO, HE'S INSTITUTED SEPTIC ALERTS.
SO WE HAVE A NEW DRUG THAT WE HAVE, ROCEPHIN, THAT WE'VE ADDED INTO OUR TRUCKS.
THAT HELPS WITH SEPTIC PATIENTS.
SO OVERALL, WE'RE JUST DELIVERING MORE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF MIAMI BEACH, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES.
WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICE A LOT, BUT CERTAINLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TOP NOTCH.
WELL, IT TAKES A VILLAGE, ALSO PARKING, LIKE EVERYONE REALLY IN THE WHOLE CITY.
WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, ONE CITY, ONE TEAM.
SO IT'S GREAT BEING PART OF THE TEAM.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO SWITCH TO ONLINE.
OUR FIRST CALLER IS ALICIA CASANOVA.
ALICIA CASANOVA, 4775 COLLINS AVENUE.
I AGREE WITH WHAT THAT BEAUTIFUL LADY JUST SAID.
I REPRESENT THE MID-BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THREE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT IMPACT OUR AREA.
FIRST, WE SUPPORT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S R5AF, WHICH WOULD MODIFY THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE BULK OWNERS OF CONDOMINIUM UNITS.
THIS MEASURE PROMOTES GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND HELPS ENSURE THAT BOTH RESIDENTS AND ASSOCIATIONS YOU ARE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT SIGNIFICANT OWNERSHIP CHANGES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SECOND, WE SUPPORT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S R5X REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES SINCE THIS ITEM SEEKS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THE AWARDING OF CONTRACTS.
AND FINALLY, WE SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BAATH'S R5Y WHICH ESTABLISHES A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR MICRO-MOBILITY DEVICES.
THIS ORDINANCE STRENGTHENS BASIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND HELPS PROTECT PEDESTRIANS CYCLISTS AND ALL USERS OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES WE DO HOWEVER RESPECTFULLY REQUEST CLARIFICATION OF THE LANGUAGE IN SECTION SEVENTY SIX THE PROPOSED DEFINITION OF MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES INCLUDES BOTH HUMAN POWERED AND NONHUMAN POWERED DEVICES SUCH AS BICYCLES ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS THAT SAME SECTION HOWEVER INCLUDES MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH COULD CREATE UNINTENDED CONFUSION REGARDING TRADITIONAL BICYCLES.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED ONE-YEAR GRACE PERIOD IS TOO LONG.
BASIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS INVOLVING LIGHTS, BRAKES, HELMETS, AND PASSENGER LIMITS SHOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE AFTER A MUCH SHORTER PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WARNING PERIOD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
[01:10:01]
JOHAN MOORE.MR. MOORE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
TWO MINUTES GOOD MORNING UH COMMISSIONERS I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF TWO ITEMS UH NO EXCUSE ME IN FAVOR OF ONE UH TWO ITEMS AND IN OPPOSITION TO TWO OTHERS UH I AM SUPPORTIVE OF R5N UH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ UM BASICALLY UH CHEAPER MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS GARBAGE COLLECTION UH THIS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT MANY IN FLAMINGO PARK HAVE LONG AGITATED FOR.
I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ R7F CONDO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ASSISTANCE FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
LIKEWISE AN ISSUE OF GREAT CONCERN TO OUR RELATIVELY LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM IN OPPOSITION TO AS ARE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS R5E THE 1600 WASHINGTON LDR AMENDMENT AND R5F THE 1600 WASHINGTON UM PARKING LDR AMENDMENT.
I HAD ASSUMED THAT SOMEONE ELSE FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WOULD BE PRESENTING TODAY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING AFTER MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS HAD MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW WHAT YOU ALL DECIDE TODAY.
TO MAKE A FINAL COMMENT IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAID EARLIER, I WONDER IF THE COMMISSION CAN DO AN END RUN AROUND THE STATE'S PRECLUSION OF DEI FUNDING BY ESSENTIALLY, FOR INSTANCE, GIVING WHATEVER GRANT MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO PRIDE DURING THIS YEAR, WHILE IT IS POSSIBLY STILL LEGAL, FOR, LET'S SAY, 10 YEARS IN ADVANCE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK CREATIVELY IN THAT RESPECT TO COUNTER TALLAHASSEE'S ASSAULT ON OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
SPEAKER IS SHARON. SHARON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THIS IS SHARON WEISS, 233 81ST STREET.
I'M CALLING TODAY ABOUT THE PROPOSED OR THE DISCUSSION REGARDING WATER AND SEWER RATE HIKES OR THE ISSUANCE OF A GEO BOND TO ADDRESS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
TODAY IS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SURFSIDE CONDO TOWER COLLAPSE.
AND ONE THING THAT I REMEMBER AFTER THE COLLAPSE WAS THAT THERE WAS A COUNTYWIDE MORATORIUM ON BUILDING IN SURFSIDE DURING THE 1970S BECAUSE OF CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER.
AND PART OF THE REASON WHY THE CHAMPLAIN TOWER WAS BUILT WAS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER PAID FOR FUNDED HALF OF THE COST OF WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS JUST BEEN A BLITZ OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPER GIVEAWAYS.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO FUND THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES VIA VIA INCREASES TO THE BILLS OR VOTING ON A GEO BOND, EITHER WAY THAT MONEY COMES OUT OF THE TAXPAYER AND THE RESIDENTS.
AND WHAT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST IS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS WHERE DEVELOPERS WANT TO INCREASE FAR OR HAVE MORE HEIGHT OR VARIOUS GIVEAWAYS.
AND INSTEAD OF JUST ACCEPTING ANOTHER FREEBIE PUBLIC PARK, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DEMANDING THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANT MONEY TOWARDS OUR WATER AND SEWERAGE.
WATER AND SEWER IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
THE EXISTING RESIDENTS ALREADY PAY FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE THROUGH TAXES ON OUR BILLS AND ASKING US TO PAY MORE WHEN WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE SYSTEM IS NOT FAIR.
WE NEED TO DEMAND MORE OF THE DEVELOPERS THAT WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS TROY WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEO SALINAS, FOR BRINGING THE ARTICLE 111 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS DIVISION 4 ABANDONED AND VACANT PROPERTIES REGISTRY BACK.
WE SUPPORT THAT AND ENCOURAGE PROPERTY ACTIVATION, IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF VACANT PROPERTIES, AND CREATE A STRONGER ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS.
A WELL-MAINTAINED CORRIDOR AND CITY OBVIOUSLY BENEFITS EVERYONE.
HOWEVER, RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER A FEW IMPORTANT POINTS.
FIRST, THERE SHOULD BE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN A TRULY ABANDONED PROPERTY AND A PROPERTY THAT IS TEMPORARILY VACANT WHILE ACTIVELY PURSUING
[01:15:01]
REDEVELOPMENT, LEASING, FINANCING, OR PERMITS.THOSE SITUATIONS ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND SHOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE TREATED THE SAME.
SECOND, MANY PROPERTY OWNERS EXPERIENCE DELAYS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL, INCLUDING PERMITTING, PLAN, REVIEW, AND CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES.
WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO UNINTENTIONALLY PENALIZE OWNERS WHO ARE MAKING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES.
AND FINALLY, I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER INCENTIVES IN ADDITION TO ENFORCEMENT.
IF A PROPERTY OWNER ALLOWS TEMPORARY ACTIVATION SUCH AS PUBLIC ART, MURALS, RETAIL POP-UPS, CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, OR COMMUNITY EVENTS, PERHAPS THERE COULD BE REDUCED FEES OR OTHER INCENTIVES THAT HELP KEEP PROPERTIES ACTIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC REALM WHILE PERMANENT PLANS MOVE FORWARD.
THE GOAL SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE FEWER VACANT PROPERTIES.
THE GOAL SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE, ATTRACTIVE, AND PRODUCTIVE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT MIAMI BEACH.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CONDITIONS ARE AND WILL BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE A DARK STOREFRONT SENDS A MESSAGE OF DECLINE.
AN ACTIVATED STOREFRONT SENDS A MESSAGE OF INVESTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, IN HONOR OF AMERICA'S 250 YEARS ON THE 4TH OF JULY, VISIT A WASHINGTON AVENUE BUSINESS AND YOU GET A COMPLIMENTARY AMERICAN FLAG.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS DIANE BRESLOW.
DIANE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
I LIVE AT 750 WEST 51ST STREET.
AND I AM JOINING TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION R7-AD AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND I ASK THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THIS R7-AD AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THIS FUND IS FOR CRITICAL NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS.
WE NEED TO FIX THE FLOODING PROBLEMS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE LAKEVIEW AREA.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 57 YEARS, AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.
EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO THE POINT WHERE I'VE LOST A CAR, WATER INTO MY HOUSE.
THIS IS HAPPENING AND WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
I WANT TO ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEA SALINAS AND JOHN NORRIS FROM PUBLIC WORKS WHO HAVE BEEN AMAZING AND SO OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WITH US.
REALLY, IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE PEOPLE REPRESENTING US THAT WANT TO HELP.
SO I REALLY AM BEGGING THIS COMMISSION TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND WE GET IT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS BRETT BENZA.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD HERE.
I'M CALLING TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT A SITUATION AT CANOPY PARK.
WE ALL VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC PARK WHEN THE DEVELOPER HAD SUGGESTED A VERY DENSE HOUSING PROJECT.
WE DID NOT VOTE FOR A PUBLIC MENTAL INSTITUTION.
NOW, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS POLITICALLY CORRECT ON ME, THIS IS NOT A HOMELESS ISSUE.
THAT TITLE PAINTS A WIDE SWATH, AND WE ALL HAVE EMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK AND NEED SUPPORT.
THIS IS A MENTALLY UNSTABLE POPULATION THAT FALLS BETWEEN THE CRACKS OF OUTREACH SUPPORT AND POLICE ENFORCEMENT.
MOTHERS WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN STROLLERS ARE AFRAID TO WALK THE PARK WITHOUT THEIR HUSBANDS.
MEN ARE ARMING THEMSELVES WITH WALKING STICKS OR WORSE.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FACE SCREAMING MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE, HARASS, AND SCARE THEM FROM USING THE PARK.
I HAVE IN MY HAND A PETITION MY WIFE STARTED AT 5 P.M.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE FOUR BUILDINGS NEAR THE PARK ARE AT 50% CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.
BY NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, I'LL HAVE OVER 500.
THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR IS MORE SUPPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'D LIKE THE RANGERS BACK AT THE PARK JUST LIKE THEY WERE BEFORE.
FIVE PARKS SOLD MOST OF THEIR APARTMENTS.
THAT PARK WAS PATROLLED DAILY BY A PARK RANGER.
THEY ARE INTERMITTENT NOW AT BEST AND WE NEED FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ISSUES IN THE SOUTH PART OF WEST AVENUE.
YOU KNOW THE FIRST ONE IS THE LIVE LOCAL ACT.
WITHOUT SECURITY, PEOPLE CAN'T ENJOY THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY PAY SO MUCH TO LIVE IN SOUTH BEACH FOR.
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.OUR NEXT CALLER IS ERIC, WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE GETTING CALLS LIKE THIS.
I'VE BEEN SEEING EMAILS ABOUT THIS FOR WEEKS.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY.
OFFICERS NEED TO BE OUT OF THEIR CARS WALKING.
I KNOW WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT I'M VERY THIS ONE I'M UPSET ABOUT.
THIS IS NOT COMING THAT CALL DIDN'T COME OUT OF THE BLUE.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS JUDITH SMIGEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
LORI BACKHAM, 903 80TH STREET.
AS A LIFELONG DOG LOVER WHO HAS RAISED MANY DOG FAMILY MEMBERS IN MIAMI BEACH, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE OPPOSE C7N, WHICH CHANGES NATURAL GRASS IN ALL OUR DOG PARTS TO ARTIFICIAL TURF.
ARTIFICIAL TURF IS BAD FOR DOGS AND BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
EVERY ARTICLE I CAN FIND SUPPORTING ARTIFICIAL TURF IN DOG PARTS WAS INDUSTRY PUBLISHED.
ARTIFICIAL TURF CREATES HEAT ISLANDS, WHICH WILL MAKE THEIR USE UNBEARABLE FOR DOGS AND PEOPLE HALF THE YEAR AND ALSO IMPACT.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE THOUGHT OF INTRODUCING THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET OF PLASTIC INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH OUR GOAL TO BE GREEN.
GREEN IS NOT A COLOR, IT IS A PRACTICE.
DAILY, WE WILL BE INTRODUCING MICROPLASTICS INTO OUR WATER AND AIR, AND AT THE END OF ITS USUAL LIFE, WE'LL HAVE A BUNCH OF GARBAGE TO DEAL WITH.
PERF IS ALSO A HARD SERVICE THAT WILL POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM TO PLAYING DOGS, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY ONES.
IT IS SUSTAINABLE, AND MOST OF ALL, DOGS LOVE IT.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF IS EASIER TO MAINTAIN AND HAS A BETTER LOOK AND CAN BE CLEANER, BUT I DO IMPLORE YOU TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PUT THE INVESTMENT INTO MAINTAINING OUR DOG PARKS IN A NATURAL WAY.
IT'S BETTER FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ALWAYS THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR TIME.
WE DO REALLY HAVE THE VERY BEST.
COMMISSION AND CITY STAFF OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS CHRIS DELISE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES GO AHEAD.
OKAY THANK YOU SORRY ABOUT THAT.
GOOD MORNING I'M CALLING IN REFERENCE TO TO R5M, WHICH IS THE REPEAL FOR LAND-BASED SHARK FISHING IN MIAMI BEACH.
I JUST WANTED TO BASICALLY CALL AND SAY THANK YOU TO ATTORNEY MARK FISHMAN THAT I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH AND THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING THIS REPEAL IN GOOD FAITH.
AND I JUST WANTED TO DRIVE HOME THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO PROVOKED SHARK ATTACKS EVER IN MIAMI BEACH GOING BACK TO 1958.
AND ZERO INSTANCES EVER WHERE A SWIMMER OR BEACHGOER WAS EVER ENTANGLED IN ANY SHARK FISHING LINE, HOOKS, OR LEADERS OF ANY KIND.
I KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION WHEN IT INITIALLY PASSED, I BELIEVE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, BY AN ACTIVIST MAKING THESE CLAIMS. BUT THOSE CLAIMS WERE FALSE AND UNCHECKED.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE POTENTIAL REPEAL.
YOU'VE BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO WORK WITH EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE, AND I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF SOBECAT SPAY AND NEUTER, WHICH IS A PARTNER WITH THE BEACH ON THE CAT PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE.
SINCE OUR PROGRAM HAS BEGUN, WE HAVE SPAYED AND NEUTERED 14,120 CATS.
THE REPRODUCTIVE SUPPRESSION RATE, MEANING IF THOSE CATS HAD PROCREATED, WHICH THEY CAN SINCE THEY FIX THEM, WOULD BE AT 57,232 CATS.
SO WE ARE MAKING A HUGE IMPACT AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED AT BETTER CITIES FOR PETS.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING PRESENTATIONS FOR DIFFERENT CITIES, SUCH AS THE CITY OF HONOLULU.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY JACKSON GALAXY.
YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM THE ANIMAL PLANET, HIS SHOW, THE CAT FROM HELL.
OUR PROGRAM DOES TNVR, TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE, RETURN, ADOPTION, FOSTER, AND WE HAVE A FEEDER PROGRAM.
WE ARE RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMISSION FOR SUPPORTING US.
[01:25:01]
THAT'S IT.OUR NEXT CALLER HAS A PHONE NUMBER ENDING 600.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE AT 65 WASHINGTON AVENUE, GOLDEN DREAMS CONDOMINIUM.
AND TO PRESENT CYBER MONEY LAUNDERING IN REAL ESTATE INVESTIGATION CORPS I'M HERE TO OBJECT TO ITEMS R5C AND R5D THE ALTON CITY CENTER OVERLAY FIRST DEVELOPER EXPLICITLY ADMITS TO ACTIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS OF THESE PARCELS LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION SECTION 2.4 POINT ONE POINT THESE STRICTLY MANDATES THAT PRIVATE APPLICANTS MUST BE IN CERTIFIED GOOD STANDING PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION UH SECOND THE DEVELOPERS MANDATORY DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST LIST ENTITIES PRICE ALBUM LLC NEXT ONE IS ALTON ROSE J V COMMA LLC NEXT ONE IS CROSNEY CAPITAL LLC AS THE PRIMARY BENEFICIAL OWNERS HOLDING COMBINED 54 PERCENT OF INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY OUR PUBLIC AUDITS OF FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT STATE DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS PORTAL AND OPEN CORPORATE CONFIRMED THAT THESE THREE ENTITIES DO NOT EXIST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
THIRD, THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION THIRD, THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION THIRD, THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION LISTED IN THE APPLICATION AND LISTED IN THE APPLICATION AND LISTED IN THE APPLICATION AND OTHER DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO OTHER DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO OTHER DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THIS ARE INACCURATE.
WE VERIFY THOSE LEGAL WE VERIFY THOSE LEGAL WE VERIFY THOSE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS AGAINST MIAMI DADE DESCRIPTIONS AGAINST MIAMI DADE DESCRIPTIONS AGAINST MIAMI DADE COUNTY RECORDERS' DATA AND COUNTY RECORDERS' DATA AND COUNTY RECORDERS' DATA AND PROPERTY APPRAISER'S DATA.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS OUR NEXT CALLER IS OUR NEXT CALLER IS YOHANN BERMOUX.
ROMEO? HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO AHEAD PLEASE.
HI, YES, I'M CALLING TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO WITH WAY SAVER.
SO, I LIVE IN 7441 WAYNE AVENUE.
I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT, I'M SORRY, THE PROJECT ON 16.
I THINK THE PROJECT AT HOUSING IS SOMETHING TRULY NEEDED IN SOUTH BEACH SINCE I WORK HERE RIGHT HERE IN 16 AND WASHINGTON ACTUALLY.
SO I THINK THAT THE PROJECT WOULD ADD A LOT OF HOUSING AND WOULD HELP ACTUALLY THE TRAFFIC, WHICH IS INSANE SOMETIMES TO GET HERE.
AND I THINK IT'S A PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE VOTED FOR YES.
YOU CAN HEAR ME, RIGHT? YES, GO AHEAD.
ABOUT MATTHEW'S DISCUSSION OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS, MATTHEW FROM BETTER STREETS, I AM TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
WE ALL KNOW HOW RECKLESSLY PEOPLE RUN LIGHTS AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.
IF IT IS ALLOWABLE, I BELIEVE IN THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF HAVING SIGNAGE SAYING, IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD SAY CAMERAS ON THIS AND OTHER SIGNALS.
OUR LAST CALLER VIRTUALLY IS JOHN STEWART.
MAYOR MINOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS, I'M JOHN STEWART.
I LIVE AT 900 BAY DRIVE, APARTMENT 825 IN MIAMI BEACH.
AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF R5E AND R5F.
THEY'VE BEEN MENTIONED RECENTLY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M A PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE AT FIU.
I SERVED ON THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING AS CHAIR WHEN THIS PROPOSAL FIRST CAME BEFORE THE HPB.
AT HPB, WE ASKED THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS THREE PRIMARY CONCERNS TO PROVIDE A MORE APPROPRIATE HOMAGE TO THE
[01:30:01]
BUILDING'S HISTORY AND ITS ARCHITECT, HENRY HOHHAUSER, TO IMPROVE THE ARTICULATION OF THE FACADE.THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THE BALCONIES AND TO CLARIFY THE TREATMENT OF THE ALLEY AND VEHICULAR ACCESS.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE APPLICANTS RESPONDED WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THOUGHTFULLY AND SUBSTANTIVELY TO EACH OF THESE REQUESTS AND I SUPPORT THE ACCOMPANYING AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE LAND USE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION.
BUT I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST MENTION THE HOUSING NEEDS THAT THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES.
FOR MORE THAN 13 YEARS, I'VE WORKED FOR FIU ON THE BLOCK WITH THIS PROJECT'S PROPOSAL.
PROPOSED AND DURING THAT TIME I CAN PROBABLY COUNT ON ONE HAND IF I DON'T EVEN NEED A WHOLE HAND THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE IN SOUTH BEACH WHILE WORKING AT EMBUS THE LACK OF ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT CHALLENGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY OUR INSTITUTIONS AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THIS PROJECT REALLY HELPED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED THAT'S EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS AND IS EVEN MORE URGENT TODAY SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRING SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND FOR CONSIDERING THESE AGENDA THE OFFICER IN PERSON, I'LL GIVE YOU ONE MINUTE.
KEVIN KRUGER, NINE-YEAR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT IN FLAMINGO PARK.
CURRENTLY, JON STEWART'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, BUT HELLO, MY FRIEND, MY FELLOW REAL ESTATE PRO.
AS YOU ALL KNOW ME, I ALSO ADVOCATE FOR SPORTS TOURISM.
I GOT A BACKUP, LORI, ASKING FOR NATURAL GRASS RATHER THAN ASH TO THE TURF.
I THINK I SHARED SOME INFORMATION LAST YEAR WHEN WE DEBATED PLACING THE FIRE STATION AT FLAMINGO PARK AND CLAIMED THAT WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE GREEN SPACE, WHICH THE FOOTBALL FIELD IS ASTROTURF, MOSTLY BLACK PELLETS, WHICH ARE CARCINOGENIC.
AND I GAVE YOU SOME RESEARCH FROM PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES CASE STUDIES, HALF A DOZEN OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS.
YOU KNOW HOW RARE IT IS TO MAKE IT TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES, AND SIX OF THEM COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE PROBABLY KNOWS TUG MCCALL AND SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE DIED FROM BRAIN CANCER IN THEIR MID-50S.
AND WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN OUT THERE PLAYING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE THAT WE RESEARCH THIS.
I THINK IF WE HAVE ENOUGH TO STAFF GUM CLEANERS.
I LIKE OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT'S MAINTENANCE GUYS OVER AT THE BASEBALL FIELD WHERE I PLAY.
LET'S HIRE MORE AND DO NATURAL GRASS, NOT JUST FOR DOGS, BUT LITERALLY OUR CHILDREN.
THERE'S ALSO STATS, IF I MAY, ONE SECOND.
WE'RE WATCHING THE WORLD CUP RIGHT NOW, AND GOALIES THAT PLAY ON ASHWOOD TURF HAVE 30 TIMES THE BRAIN CANCER.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OUR WORLD CUP FIFA WAS REQUIRING NFL STADIUMS TO PERFECT THEIR TURF.
WE ALL KNOW THAT FAMOUSLY, IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE.
BUT LET'S PLEASE LOOK THIS UP.
AND LEAN INTO THIS AND BE THE ENVY OF MIAMI-DADE PARKS.
WITH NATURAL GRASS AND BEAUTIFUL FIELDS THEY'RE BETTER TO PLAY ON ANYWAY THANK YOU INCLUDE SUBJECTS OKAY, SO LET'S
[CONSENT AGENDA]
GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE POLLED ITEMS, AND THEN LET'S APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.SO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MAYOR MINOR HAS SEPARATED C4B AND C4S.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ HAS SEPARATED C2D, AS IN DOG, C2C, AND C7A.
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SEPARATED C4S.
COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS HAS SEPARATED C7D, C7Z, AND C7AG.
NOW, THESE THREE THAT I'M GOING TO READ NOW ARE NOT ON YOUR SEPARATED LIST.
IF YOU COULD WRITE THESE DOWN.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS SEPARATING THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, C4G, C7AJ.
AGAIN, COMMISSIONER AS FAR AS C4G.
C7 AJ MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING THE SEPARATED AND ANY ADDENDUM ITEMS THAT THERE ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO MOVED MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SAY I HEARD A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER SUAREZ ALL IN FAVOR.
PLEASE SAY AYE AYE ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NONE THE ITEM IS APPROVED 6-0, MAYOR MINER IS ABSENT YOUR DEVICE THANK YOU.
[R5 U 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, FLORIDA, ENTITLED "PUBLIC PROPERTY," BY AMENDING ARTICLE III, ENTITLED “USE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY,” BY AMENDING DIVISION 1, ENTITLED “GENERALLY,” BY AMENDING SECTION 82-72 THEREOF, ENTITLED “COMMERCIAL VESSEL ACTIVITY HOURS OF OPERATION AT PUBLICLY-OWNED MARINAS,” BY AMENDING AND REFINING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR COMMERCIAL VESSEL ACTIVITY AT PUBLIC MARINAS AND PUBLIC MARINE FACILITIES; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
WE HAVE TO GO BY TIME, RIGHT? R5U?[01:35:03]
R5U IS 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, FLORIDA, ENTITLED PUBLIC PROPERTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3, ENTITLED USE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY BY AMENDING DIVISION 1.ENTITLED GENERALLY BY AMENDING SECTION 82-72 THEREOF, ENTITLED COMMERCIAL VESSEL ACTIVITY HOURS OF OPERATION OF PUBLICLY OWNED MARINAS BY AMENDING AND REFINING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR COMMERCIAL VESSEL ACTIVITIES AT PUBLIC MARINAS AND PUBLIC MARINE FACILITIES AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS A SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING ON THE ITEM.
I WORK CLOSELY WITH THIS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND ALSO WITH THE SOUTH OF FIFTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND THIS BASICALLY MAKES THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 31 BTRS THAT HAVE OPERATORS THAT HAVE APPLIED AND BEEN APPROVED FOR THE SUNSET CRUISES.
AND IF AN OPERATOR HAS A VIOLATION THAT IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY OR QUALITY OF LIFE RELATED THEY CAN APPLY FOR CONSIDERATION TO BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE SO THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS ABOUT AND I WILL MOVE THE ITEM SECOND ALL ABOUT I HEARD A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BHATT ROLL CALL COMMISSIONER BHATT YES.
MAYOR, I FORGOT TO MENTION TWO THINGS.
YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM THREE, WHICH WAS R9AI, DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION, ELIMINATE RED LIGHT CAMERA CITATIONS AND NOTICES FOR RED LIGHT, RIGHT ON RED, CO-SPOT.
SPONSORED PRIME BY BOTH MAYOR MEINER AND FERNANDEZ.
SO YOU HAVE THAT SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO WHEN WE HEAR IT, IT WAS AN ADDENDUM THAT WAS DONE THIS MORNING THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU SHORTLY.
ADDENDUM FOUR IS R7AI, AUTHORIZED CITY ATTORNEY TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, LEGAL OPTIONS TO THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, JOINTLY SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER BHATT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THAT ONE WILL BE PROVIDED LATER ON.
[R7 W A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO ENGAGE A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY TO FURNISH A 15 PASSENGER VAN TO ENABLE THE RESIDENTS OF THE STELLA MARIS HOUSE TO TRAVEL TO PUBLIX THREE TIMES PER MONTH, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $16,000 PER YEAR; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTNERING WITH MIAMI DADE COUNTY TO SHARE IN THE COSTS OF FUNDING THIS PROGRAM; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET TO COVER THE PRO-RATA COST FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND TO INCLUDE THIS PROGRAM AS A RECURRING EXPENDITURE COMMENCING IN FY 2027; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO UNDERTAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.]
AND THE RED LIGHT CAMERA ITEM WE'LL CALL WITH C4S THAT BOTH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ AND I PULLED.R7W IS TRANSPORTATION TO PUBLIC SELIMAR'S HOUSE RESIDENCE THREE TIMES A MONTH.
SO COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS AND I ARE CO-PRIMING COMMISSIONER VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ CO-SPONSORING.
LAST YEAR, I BROUGHT AN ITEM TO HELP OUR SENIORS WITH GETTING AROUND TO WALMART.
IT'S REALLY A CHALLENGE FOR SOME OF OUR SENIORS WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSING AT PLACES LIKE REBECCA TOWER, STELLA MARIE, TO GET AROUND.
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CONTINUATION OF THAT AS WELL.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS.
SO ON A RECENT VISIT TO SELIMERA'S HOUSE, WHICH IS UP IN NORTH BEACH, THE RESIDENTS REALLY APPRECIATED HOW WE HAVE A ONCE-A-MONTH TRANSPORTATION TO, I BELIEVE IT'S WALMART, OFF THE BEACH.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THESE RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE CARS.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET.
TO AND FROM THE GROCERY STORE.
THEY ACTUALLY DON'T LIVE IN A WALKABLE AREA FROM A GROCERY STORE, SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO FREQUENT A GROCERY STORE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, WHICH I THINK IS REASONABLE.
SOME OF THEM WERE EVEN ASKING FOR TWICE A WEEK.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE A BUDGET, AND THE ITEM STATES THREE TIMES A MONTH BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE GOING TO THE LOCAL PUBLIX, AND THEN ONCE A MONTH THEY WOULD BE TAKING THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM TO WALMART SO THEY CAN GET, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF THEY NEED TO GET SOME STUFF THAT PUBLIX DOESN'T HAVE.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE MY ITEM.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS , SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
ALL IN FAVOR? CAN YOU SAY AYE? AYE.
[01:40:01]
RALPH, IF I COULD BE A CO-SPONSOR.R7W IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AND WE'RE ADDING COMMISSIONER BHATT AS A CO-SPONSOR.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, R5U, IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE WAS NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK, EITHER IN PERSON OR IN THE AUDIENCE.
CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION ON THE LAST ITEM? AND MAYBE IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE FOLLOW UP ON.
BUT DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE SERVICES IN SOME OF THE ELDERLY COMMUNITIES THAT HELP FACILITATE ONLINE ORDERING? MAYBE I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE IN THE ABYSS AS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET WITH OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
[R7 E A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND WAIVING, BY 5/7TH VOTE, THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT AS PERMITTED IN SECTION 2-367(E) OF THE CITY CODE, FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY; AND APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, A NEW CONCESSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRAFTS & TRADES CORP. FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE FRENCH MARKET AT SOUTH POINTE PARK, HAVING AN INITIAL TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS, COMMENCING RETROACTIVELY ON OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND EXPIRING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2028, WITH TWO (2) ONE-YEAR RENEWAL TERMS AT THE CITY'S OPTION; FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.]
SERVICES FOLKS.MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD EXPLORE.
R7E IS ACCEPT RECOMMENDATION, WAIVE BID, EXTEND.
CONCESSION AGREEMENT FRENCH MARKET AT SOUTH POINT PARK.
LET ME JUST SAY YOU DO A FABULOUS, FABULOUS JOB.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND ALSO COMMISSIONER.
CAN I SAY A FEW WORDS? PLEASE, TAKE IT AWAY.
MY NAME IS CORINNE WILLADGINGER.
I HAVE PROUDLY CALLED MIAMI BEACH HOME FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE FRENCH-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRAFTS AND THREADS, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RUN ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS.
AS AN ARTISAN MYSELF, I SUPPORT CRAFTSMANSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
IT'S NOT ONLY MY PROFESSION, IT'S MY...
THE FRENCH MARKET WAS CREATED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO HELP ARTISANS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK DURING A DIFFICULT TIME.
SINCE THEN, IT HAS GROWN INTO MUCH MORE THAN A MARKET.
WE CAREFULLY SELECT OUR ARTISANS TO ENSURE QUALITY, AUTHENTICITY AND PROFESSIONALISM.
AFTER OUR FIRST YEAR IN SOUTH POINT PARK, WE ARE PROUD TO SEE THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE MARKET HAS HAD.
RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE US RETURN AND MANY HAVE TOLD US HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY WE BRING.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING RESPECTFUL NEIGHBORS.
WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO CLEANLINESS, ORGANIZATION, SAFETY AND THE OVERALL EXPERIMENTS FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND LOCAL BUSINESS.
INQUIETLY DRIVEN BY MASS PRODUCTION, PRESERVING CRAFTSMANSHIP AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISAN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH EVENTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND THROUGH THIS YEAR AND THEIR SUPPORT HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL.
TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FRENCH MARKET.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK MAYOR STEVEN MEINER AND ALL OF YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND TRUST.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ARTISAN AND WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF WOMEN LIVES TO A WARM KNOW-HOW AND BEYOND EVIL MAN WE HAVE SOME FAMILIES I REMEMBER THAT SOME OF THE CULINARY EVENTS THAT YOU DO YOU GET HUNDREDS I THINK ONE OF THEM YOU HAD OVER 500 PEOPLE YES I WALK IN THERE'S FRENCH MEDIA ALL OVER THE PLACE THERE YES I WARM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WE SUPPORT ALL THE ARTISANS AND WE ORGANIZE ALSO SOME CONTEST TO SUPPORT ARTISAN AND SHINE THE BUSINESS AND THE NEXT MAJOR EVENT IS IN NATIONAL HOTEL OCTOBER 25TH FOR THE BEST BAGUETTE AND THE BEST CROISSANT IN FLORIDA AND WE'RE WAITING FOR 600 VISITORS.
[01:45:01]
JOHN? THE ONLY THING I'VE GOT TO ADD IS WE FULLY SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM IF IT'S APPROVED.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATTEL SALINAS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF R7E, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[C4 B REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE A DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND SODEXO LIVE! FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AND CAMPUS.]
AYE.ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED 7-0.
C-4B IS PROPOSED IN THE AGREEMENT WITH SODEXO LIVE FOR MBCC FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE.
C-4B WAS SEPARATED BY MAYOR MEINER.
AND I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER DONE.
I'M GOING TO ASK THIS COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE THIS REFERRAL.
I KNOW THERE'S THREE SPONSORS AND CO-SPONSORS, BUT I THINK THERE'S CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT'S VERY PERTINENT THAT SHOULD BE SAID.
START OFF BY SAYING THEY ACTUALLY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THEY DO A GOOD JOB FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING OUR CONVENTION CUSTOMERS.
THE PROBLEM IS, AND THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR ME, IS THAT I BROUGHT AN ITEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY EVEN ABOUT THE ITEM.
IT'S THAT OUR CONVENTION CENTER IS EMPTY AT NIGHT AND ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND THERE ARE MANY NON-PROFITS THAT WOULD LOVE TO UTILIZE THAT SPACE FOR...
FOR THEIR ANNUAL CHARITY DINNER, FOR, AGAIN, ON THE WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS WHEN IT'S NOT BEING USED.
IF OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CONVENTION THAT'S GOING ON THAT'S UTILIZING THE SPACE, OF COURSE THAT TAKES PRIORITY.
ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR RESIDENTS COULD UTILIZE THE SPACE FOR WEDDINGS, AND THAT HAS BEEN TO A LIMITED EXTENT.
THE PROBLEM IS EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS, WE RUN INTO A WALL WITH THE EXTREMELY HIGH COST THAT SODEXO PUTS IN.
AND ACTUALLY, AFTER I FINISH SPEAKING, I'M GOING TO ASK NATALIA FROM THE MIAMI BUSINESS CLUB.
AS YOU RECALL, LAST MONTH WE AUTHORIZED BASICALLY A GALA THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT THEY'RE RUNNING INTO MAJOR, MAJOR ISSUES WITH SODEXO, AND YOU'LL HEAR IT DIRECTLY FROM THE MIAMI BUSINESS CLUB.
I'VE MET WITH SODEXO MULTIPLE TIMES.
ERIC HAS BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS WITH ME IN THAT.
I'VE ASKED FOR THEM TO COME UP WITH A KIND OF RATE.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IF SOMEONE, AGAIN, THIS IS SERVING OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING, WE WERE PROBABLY ALL THERE.
THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION, THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED BIKOR CHOLIM.
THEY DO AMAZING WORK, IT MEANS HELPING THE SICK.
THEY WORK OUT OF MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, THEY HELP FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE SICK, PROVIDING WHATEVER THEY NEED, KOSHER FOOD, HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN TO VISIT LOVED ONES WHO ARE SICK.
THEY DO A DINNER OF SIX, SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE.
THEY'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND EVERY YEAR THEY DO IT IN THE SHUL OF BAL HARBOR.
RIGHT? HERE IS A MAJOR ORGANIZATION FROM MIAMI BEACH, THAT'S MIAMI BEACH BASED, THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE COMING ARE FROM MIAMI BEACH, AND THEY CAN'T EVEN USE OUR CONVENTION CENTER BECAUSE THE FEES ARE TOO HIGH.
NOW, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE IN WEDDINGS, BUT IT'S A BATTLE EVERY TIME.
ERIC, YOU AND I HAVE LIVED THOSE BATTLES, SO IT'S LIKE I'VE GOT TO KEEP CALLING YOU AND SORT OF SAYING, HEY, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS, WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT.
THIS IS NOT A WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
AND BY THE WAY, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE BUSINESS, IF THEIR EXCUSE IS THIS IS NOT A MONEYMAKER FOR THEM, THEN JUST LET ANOTHER CATERER COME IN.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THE WAY THIS CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED, THEY HAVE FULL AUTHORITY OVER THAT CONVENTION CENTER FOR ANY MEALS.
AND HONESTLY, I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING THIS ITEM AND GET THROUGH WHEN THEY KNOW MY CONSISTENT FRUSTRATION.
THEY ASKED ME TO SPONSOR THIS ITEM, AND I TOLD THEM NO, BECAUSE I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED.
AND WHAT'S SAD IS THEY DO A GOOD JOB.
BUT THIS IS A DISSERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WHO WAS FIRST? COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AND COMMISSIONER CENTER.
IT ACTUALLY WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO SIMULTANEOUS, I WILL SAY.
I'VE HEARD THESE SIMILAR CONCERNS AND FRUSTRATIONS, MR. MAYOR, WHETHER IT BE FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, WHERE THEY'VE HAD TO THREAD A NEEDLE OF NOT EVEN BEING, AND THIS IS FOR THE LOWEST CHARITIES, FOR THE LOWEST INCOME CHILDREN ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT FOR...
THE FOOD PORTION, WANTING TO HAVE CHICKEN FINGERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE LOW COST, HAVING ISSUES WITH BEING ABLE TO DO SO.
TO THE OTHER END OF THE EXTREME WHERE WE HAVE INCREDIBLY HIGH PROFILE EVENTS AND THEY WANT AN ENHANCED KIND OF LUXURY OR VIP AREA THAT SODEXO ISN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE, PREVENTING THEM FROM COMING IN WITH OTHER TYPES OF OPERATORS THAT WOULD BE ABLE
[01:50:01]
TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF ON PAR WITH THEIR EVENT.SO I'M FINE TO KIND OF, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, HOLD THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE LEAD ON TRYING TO DISCUSS THIS? I DON'T THINK YOUR GOAL IS TO IMMEDIATELY PIVOT AWAY FROM SODEXO IF WE'RE ABLE TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE.
BUT I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THEM WORK WITH SOME OF THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE THEY'RE ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD CONVEYED TO ME OVER THE YEARS BY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE GAMUT.
YEAH, ALI, I'LL ACTUALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK SODEXO OVERALL DOES A GOOD JOB, SO I'M NOT ADVERSE.
ULTIMATELY, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM CONTINUING.
I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM CONTINUING UNDER THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE REALLY DOING A DISSERVICE TO OUR NONPROFITS, OUR CHARITIES, OUR RESIDENTS WHO JUST WANT TO UTILIZE A SPACE THAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING.
CONVENTION CENTER THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN IT AND OTHER THAN COMING TO A CONVENTION OUR RESIDENTS CAN'T BENEFIT IF IT WHY SHOULDN'T THEY? THEY WANT TO DO A WEDDING HERE THEY CAN'T THEY AND BUT THEY END UP AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY DON'T END UP DOING IT IN MIAMI BEACH THEY END UP ON A SUNNY ISLE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN WE LOSE OUT ON THAT AND WHEN THEY CAN HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SOMETHING OF A SERVICE THAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND I WANT TO YOU KNOW HIGHLIGHT STILL THE ACCENT IS I THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THE LARGE EVENTS THAT COME INTO OUR CONVENTION CENTER.
THE FOOD QUALITY IS GREAT, THE SERVICE IS GREAT, THE BARTENDERS ARE GREAT.
WHENEVER I GET INVITED TO AN EVENT AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, I ALWAYS WANT TO GO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT MEAL.
AND THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.
BACK IN THE DAY, WHERE THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD, AND YOU GO TO MANY CONVENTIONS AND TO MANY CONVENTION CENTERS, AND THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD IS USUALLY SUBPAR.
YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO EAT IT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE SERVICE.
THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH SODEXO, THEY REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTENDING.
AND IN FACT, I BELIEVE A NUMBER OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY LOCAL FROM MIAMI BEACH.
I'M SENSITIVE TO THE COMMENTS RAISED BY THE MAYOR.
THIS IS A FACILITY THAT WAS FUNDED USING THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, AND IT SHOULD HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS.
I'M OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS WHERE IF SODEXO IS WILLING TO HAVE AN OPT-OUT PROVISION FROM THE SMALLER EVENTS.
COMMUNITY FOCUSED EVENTS, IF THEY WANT TO HAVE AN OPT OUT PROVISION OR MAYBE THE SMALLER EVENTS, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S NOT PART OF THEIR CONTRACT.
MAYBE WE SEGREGATE THAT PART OUT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THEIR MONEYMAKER.
I WOULD IMAGINE THEIR MONEYMAKER, THEY WANT THE BIG CONVENTIONS, THE CONVENTIONS THAT OCCUPY THE ENTIRE FACILITY.
THE WHOLE REASON WHY WE INVESTED, WHAT WAS IT, $600 MILLION IN IMPROVING THE PROPERTY.
SO I AM SENSITIVE TO YOUR COMMENTS.
I DO THINK IF THERE IS AN AVENUE FOR IMPROVEMENT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS, FOR PEOPLE THAT DURING SLOW SEASON WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER IS NOT BEING OCCUPIED BY A LARGE CONVENTION AND SOMEONE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR WEDDING THERE, THAT...
EITHER FLEXIBILITY IN PRICING, BE BAKED INTO THE CONTRACT FOR LOCAL ORIGINATED ACTIVITIES, OR MAYBE JUST THE SMALLER EVENTS GET SEGREGATED OUT SO THAT SODEXO CAN KEEP ON DOING WHAT IT DOES GREAT, AND IT DOES REALLY WELL, AND DOES MASTERFULLY.
SO I'M SENSITIVE TO YOUR COMMENTS.
I ALSO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, STYLESAVES, WHICH DOES GREAT WORK.
GIVING OUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE THEIR EVENT AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE FOOD AT SODEXO.
AND SO THEY HAD FOOD PARTNERS.
I THINK THEY WANTED TO BRING IN, LIKE, AT ONE POINT THEY WANTED, I THINK, PIOLA OR SOMEONE WANTED TO DONATE FOOD FOR THEM.
BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT, THE VERY STRICT CONTRACT.
SO, MR. MAYOR, MAYBE THERE'S ROOM FOR FLEXIBILITY.
[01:55:01]
FOR FLEXIBILITY, I APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO AWAY WITH THIS CONTRACT.WE'RE AT A BETTER PLACE TODAY, I WILL TELL YOU, THAN WHAT WE WERE AT MANY YEARS AGO WITH PRIOR VENDORS.
BUT MAYBE WHAT YOU RAISED DOES OPEN UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REFORM TO HELP.
OUR COMMUNITY BE ABLE TO USE THE CENTER AND AFFORD NOT JUST TO USE IT ANYONE CAN USE THE CENTER TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO USE THE CENTER ESPECIALLY DURING THE SLOW SEASONS SO I'M OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION THANK YOU I'D ASK I'D LIKE TO ASK UM MIAMI BUSINESS CLUB NATALIA ON YOUR SKIV IS HERE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR APPROVING $33,000 FEE WAIVER LAST TIME, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH MIAMI BUSINESS CLUB.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE CHARITY GALA ON OCTOBER 10, 2026, IN A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET VISTA ROOM IN CONVENTION CENTER, BENEFITING MIAMI WATERKEEPER.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TO PARTNER WITH...
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE MIAMI BEACH, WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, IN ORDER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THIS LOCAL CAUSE TO KEEP OUR WATERS CLEAN.
THE ISSUE, WHEN WE SIGNED, WHEN WE AGREED FOR THIS EVENT, WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT ON TOP OF $30,000 MINIMUM SPENT WITH EXCLUSIVE CATERING, VENDOR, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MEET THIS THRESHOLD BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PRICES.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE ACTUAL COST, ONCE MENU PRICING, THE 24% SERVICE CHARGE AND 9% SALES TAX WERE ADDED.
AND I WILL ADD SOME NUMBERS TO THIS CONVERSATION TO MAKE IT MORE STRUCTURED.
SO I THINK MAYBE THAT WILL HELP.
AND I DO HAVE SUPPORTING ANALYSIS AND SOME PRINT SCREENS FROM THE MENU THAT I MAYBE COULD PASS TO THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT MY CALCULATIONS.
A $53 CHICKEN ENTREE, INCLUDING SALAD AND DESSERT, ENDS UP COSTING ABOUT $72 PER GUEST.
AFTER THE 24% SERVICE CHARGE AND 9% SALES TAX.
SIMILARLY, A $90 FILET MIGNON ENTREE INCREASES TO APPROXIMATELY $122 PER GUEST ONCE THOSE MANDATORY FEES ARE ADDED.
A BOTTLE OF LA MARCA PROSECCO THAT RETAILS FOR UNDER $20 COSTS NEARLY $68, AND A BOTTLE OF WHITE HEAVEN SAUVIGNON BLANC APPROACHES $88.
MEANWHILE, COMPATIBLE HIGH-END MIAMI RESTAURANTS CHARGE THE SAME OR LESS WHILE OPERATING FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTS WITH SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER OVERHEAD.
SODEXO IS CHARGING COMPATIBLE OR HIGHER PRICES.
AND THEN ADDS A 24% SURCHARGE AND 9% TAX ON TOP.
ANOTHER CONCERN IS THE SURCHARGE STRUCTURE.
SODEXO CHARGES AN ADDITIONAL 15% IF ORDERS ARE FINALIZED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EVENT AND 20% WITHIN 7 DAYS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY REQUIRE 100% PREPAYMENT 30 DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT.
FOR MOST GALAS, THE FINAL MONTH IS WHEN THE MAJORITY OF TICKET SALES HAPPEN AND ATTENDANCE NUMBERS BECOME CLEAR.
REQUIRING FULL PAYMENT BEFORE ORGANIZERS KNOW THEIR FINAL GUEST COUNT WHILE ALSO IMPOSING SIGNIFICANT SURCHARGES FOR ADJUSTMENTS CREATES UNNECESSARY FINANCIAL RISK AND MAKES PLANNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
FOR A CHARITY GALA, THIS STRUCTURE DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE CITY'S $33,000 VENUE WAIVER.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MIAMI CONVENTION CENTER IS WORLD-CLASS VENUE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT, WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRICING STRUCTURE IMPOSED THROUGH THE EXCLUSIVE CATERING AGREEMENT.
WITH AROUND 500 ATTENDEES, THESE COSTS ADD UP QUICKLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE MONEY THAT CAN GO TO CHARITY.
EVEN WITH THE LEAST EXPENSIVE CHICKEN DINNER AND JUST TWO TWO COCKTAILS PER GUEST, WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT OVER $54,000 IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE COSTS.
[02:00:03]
AT THE TABLES, WE ARE AT OVER $63,000.THAT'S NEARLY DOUBLE THE VALUE OF THE CITY'S $30,000 THROUGH $33,000 VENUE WAIVER AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES WHAT CAN ULTIMATELY BE DONATED TO MIAMI WATERKEEPER.
IN OUR OPINION, SODEXO IS NOT JUST EXPENSIVE, THE STRUCTURE MAKES IT UNREASONABLE FOR A CHARITY GALA.
WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE CATERING OPTIONS OR COMPETITIVE BIDDING, ORGANIZERS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THE PRICING STRUCTURE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT ALIGNS WITH THEIR BUDGET OR CHARITABLE MISSION.
THIS NOT ONLY CREATES CHALLENGES FOR OUR EVENT, BUT ALSO MAKES THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER LESS ACCESSIBLE FOR OTHER NON-PROFITS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL GROUPS SEEKING TO HOST EVENTS THERE.
I HAVE MY CALCULATIONS THAT YOU CAN SEE STRUCTURED WITH THE PRICES ADDED, 24%, 9% MARKET PRICE, AND I CHOSE SOME COMPATIBLE MIAMI RESTAURANT PRICES SO YOU COULD SEE HOW, IN OUR OPINION, UNREASONABLE PRICING IS FOR THE CHARITY GALA.
MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, DOUG CONNOR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR SODEXO LIVE.
AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND PUBLICLY, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO DO 501 3C AND CHARITY AT CONVENTION CENTER.
SO THAT'S OUR ONCE WE MOVE THIS FORWARD, THAT'S OUR POSITION.
DID YOU NOTIFY? LET ME GET YOU.
WE DID NOT BECAUSE I WASN'T AWARE THAT WE WERE.
YOU WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH MARIA? WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS.
LET'S NOT GO BACK AND FORTH HERE.
AFTER THIS MEETING, DANNY MEDINA AND YOU GET TOGETHER.
WE CAN SOLVE THAT ISSUE TODAY.
WELL, NO, YOU CAN'T BECAUSE THIS KEEPS COMING UP.
WE CAN SOLVE IT TODAY AND GOING FORWARD.
BELIEVE ME, YOU AND I HAVE MET MANY TIMES.
I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY.
I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I'M GOING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY, BUT WE'VE ALSO AGREED TO DO LOCAL RESIDENTS AT 20% OFF THE MENU PRICING AS WELL.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN WRITING, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO ALL OF YOU LATER ON TODAY.
WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOUR POSITION.
THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUILDING.
IT SHOULD FILL IN THE DARK SPACES.
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE CHARITY AND PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE 100% ON BOARD WITH THAT.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOU HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY, THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH.
AND THANKS FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND, MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MANNY AND HIS TEAM, THEY'RE GREAT.
BUT I DO, AGAIN, SINCE YOU'RE HERE, I DO AGREE WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EVEN CHARITY.
I GUESS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO PAY.
BUT THE COST, I GUESS, IS WHEN IT'S A SMALL NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY NONPROFIT, IT'S NOT THE SAME THAT AN ENTITY LIKE ART BASEL OR A NATIONAL TRADE SHOW.
VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH STYLE SAVES.
IN THE PAST, THEY'VE TRIED TO BRING IN FOOD DONATED.
BECAUSE A SMALL NONPROFIT, THEY CAN'T AFFORD.
THE FOOD THAT SODEXO HAS, WHY? WELL, BECAUSE SODEXO HAS REALLY GREAT FOOD, WHICH IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
AND SO IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME SORT OF FLEXIBILITY EVEN WITH THAT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THESE EVENTS, A SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION EVENT, YOU KNOW, AND TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S WILLING TO DONATE PIZZA FOR KIDS, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN HAVE SOME CONSIDERATION FOR THAT SO THAT IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD YOUR FOOD, THEN MAYBE THEY CAN.
AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WITH THAT PARTICULAR WIS FILES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE'VE ACTUALLY DONATED WATER, LABOR, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR US, OKAY? THANK YOU.
JUST A QUICK NOTE, THIS IS A REFERRAL TO FERC.
AND SO NONE OF THE, ALL THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE STILL TO BE NEGOTIATED.
AND SO ALL OF THE TOPICS OF NEGOTIATION STILL HAS TO GO BEFORE THE REFERRAL.
STEVE, CAN YOU LET ME HANDLE HOW TO RUN THE MEETING, PLEASE? NO, I JUST WANT TO...
[02:05:01]
I'M NOT CALLING THE ITEM FOR A VOTE.[C7 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, (I) APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, THE COMMUNITY AESTHETIC FEATURE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT") FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ART WITHIN AN FDOT RIGHT-OF-WAY ON 41ST STREET, WITH NO BOND REQUIREMENT, AS PART OF THE CITY'S 41ST STREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT; (II) APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, THE LANDSCAPE, HARDSCAPE, SIDEWALK, AND PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND FDOT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPE, HARDSCAPE, SIDEWALK, AND DECORATIVE PAVEMENT ALONG SR 112/41ST STREET, FROM SR 907/ALTON ROAD TO PINE TREE DRIVE; (III) AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO FINALIZE SAID AGREEMENTS; AND (IV) AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE FINAL AGREEMENTS WITH FDOT.]
[C7 C A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM, THE FOLLOWING UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW FIRE STATION NO. 1 AT 833 6TH STREET: 1) THE LUMP SUM RELOCATION AGREEMENT WITH FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY (FPL), IN THE AMOUNT OF $907,707.00, FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE FPL FACILITIES, SAID COSTS INCLUDING THE RELOCATION OF EXISTING DUCT BANK, ABANDONMENT OF EXISTING VAULT ROOM, AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY POWER DURING CONSTRUCTION; AND 2) THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR CUSTOM WORK AND ESTIMATE OF ACTUAL COST GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WITH AT&T, IN THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $470,011.32, FOR THE PREPARATION OF A DETAILED DESIGN AND THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF THE AT&T FACILITIES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FINALIZE SAID UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENTS; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE FINAL AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE RELOCATION WORK FOR EACH UTILITY, UTILIZING PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED FUNDING.]
VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ JUST HAS A CLERICAL...I HAD PULLED C7C AND C7A, AND I MADE A MISTAKE ON THOSE ITEM NUMBERS, SO I'D LIKE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THEM TO BE APPROVED ON CONSENT.
THE ITEM NUMBERS THAT I MEANT TO PULL WERE C7O AND C7Q, AND THE REASON WE'RE PULLING IS I SIMPLY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON EACH OF THOSE ITEMS. I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE...
CITY ATTORNEY, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO DO A MOTION TO APPROVE C7C AND C7A.
I MOVE TO APPROVE C7C AND C7A AS THEY WERE ON CONSENT AND RECONSIDER C7O AND C7Q FROM CONSENT SO THAT I CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THEM.
OKAY, SO LET'S DO FIRST THE APPROVAL, C7C AND C7A.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
ANYONE SECOND IT, PLEASE? SECOND.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
ON C7C AND C7A APPROVING IT, ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, C7C AND C7A IS APPROVED.
NOW, VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE ASKING TO RECONSIDER C7O AND C7Q, CORRECT? SO THAT I CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THEM, THANKS.
SO C7O AND C7Q, ANYONE SECOND PLEASE? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS TO RECONSIDER.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RECONSIDERATION, SAY AYE.
[R5 E URBAN CORE RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES PLAN - 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 EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS OF SECTION 163.3184(3), FLORIDA STATUTES, BY AMENDING THE "RESILIENT LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT," GOAL RLU 1, ENTITLED "LAND USE," OBJECTIVE RLU 1.1, ENTITLED "ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES," TO CONFORM TABLE RLU 1.1 WITH THE AMENDED FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) REGULATIONS FOR THE RESPECTIVE FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY; BY AMENDING POLICY RLU 1.1.10, ENTITLED "HIGH INTENSITY COMMERCIAL (CD-3)," TO PROVIDE FAR INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-TRANSIENT RESIDENTIAL USES FOR APPLICABLE PROPERTIES LOCATED ON WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD; BY AMENDING OBJECTIVE RLU 1.2, ENTITLED "LAND USE REGULATION," TO AMEND POLICY 1.2.8, ENTITLED "RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES," TO AMEND THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR OBTAINING THE FAR INCENTIVES SET FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, TRANSMITTAL AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
[R5 F URBAN CORE RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES PLAN – LDR AMENDMENT AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "OFF-STREET PARKING," ARTICLE II, ENTITLED "VEHICLE PARKING, BICYCLE PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS," SECTION 5.2.4 THEREOF, ENTITLED "VEHICLE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS," TO MODIFY THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING TIER 2; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED "ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS," ARTICLE I, ENTITLED "GENERAL TO ALL ZONING DISTRICTS," BY AMENDING SECTION 7.1.11 THEREOF, ENTITLED "RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES," TO ESTABLISH RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES SPECIFIC TO PROPERTIES BOUNDED BY DREXEL AVENUE AND WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD; BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.12 THEREOF, ENTITLED "CD-3 COMMERCIAL, HIGH INTENSITY DISTRICT," BY CREATING SUBSECTION 7.2.12.6, ENTITLED "URBAN CORE RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE AREA (CD-3)," TO CREATE A RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE AREA BOUNDED BY DREXEL AVENUE AND WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
THE ITEMS WILL BE RECONSIDERED WHEN THE MAYOR CALLS THEM.R5E, IN ORDER TO THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH YEAR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO THE EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS OF SECTION 163.3184 SUBSECTION 3 FLORIDA STATUTE.
BY AMENDING THE RESILIENT LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT GOAL RLU 1 ENTITLED LAND USE OBJECTIVE RLU 1.1 ENTITLED ESTABLISHMENTS OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES TO CONFORM TABLE RLU 1.1 WITH THE AMENDED FLOOR AREA RATIO FAR REGULATIONS FOR THE RESPECTIVE FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY.
BY AMENDING POLICY RLU 1.1.10 ENTITLED HIGH INTENSITY COMMERCIAL CD3 TO PROVIDE FAR INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-TRANSIENT.
RESIDENTIAL USES FOR APPLICABLE PROPERTIES LOCATED ON WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD.
AMENDING OBJECTIVE RLU 1.2, ENTITLED LAND USE REGULATIONS TO AMEND POLICY 1.2.8, ENTITLED RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES, TO AMEND THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR OBTAINING THE FAR INCENTIVES SET FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPEALERS OF ABILITY TO TRANSMIT ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THAT IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.
IS IN ORDER TO THE MAYOR CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE CHAPTER 5 ENTITLED OFF-STREET PARKING ARTICLE 2 ENTITLED VEHICLE PARKING, BICYCLE PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS SECTION 5.2.4.
THEREOF, ENTITLED VEHICLE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS TO MODIFY THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING, TIER 2, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 1, ENTITLED GENERAL TO ALL ZONING DISTRICTS, BY AMENDING SECTION 7.1.11.
THEREOF, ENTITLED RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES TO ESTABLISH RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVES SPECIFIC TO PROPERTIES BOUNDED BY DREXEL AVENUE AND WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD, BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.12.
THEREOF, ENTITLED CD3 COMMERCIAL HIGH INTENSITY DISTRICT.
I'M CREATING SECTION 7.2.12.6 IN THE TITLE OF URBAN CORE RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE AREA, CD3, TO CREATE A RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE AREA BOUNDED BY DREXEL AVENUE AND WASHINGTON AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO LINCOLN ROAD, AND PROVIDING FOR A CODIFICATION REPEALER OF SOME ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THAT IS ITEM R5F. THAT IS A FIRST READING.
PUBLIC HEARING, THAT ITEM REQUIRES SIX SEVENTHS VOTE.
SO WE'RE LISTENING TO R5E AND THIS IS A PRIVATE APPLICANT.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE APPLICANT, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY AND OUR ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO THEIR CURRENT PROPOSAL IS TO INCENTIVIZE NON-TRANSIENT RESIDENTIAL USE AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN FAR FROM A CURRENTLY ALLOWABLE 2.75.
TO A 3.25, SO THAT RESULTS IN A .5 ADDITIONAL FAR, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT CAN BE BUILT ON THE SITE.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING A HEIGHT INCREASE.
THE CURRENTLY ALLOWABLE HEIGHT IS 100 FEET, AND THEY ARE
[02:10:02]
PROPOSING A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WOULD EXCEED THAT BY 50 FEET, SO A MAXIMUM OF 150 FEET IS BEING REQUESTED.THEY ARE NOT REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN DENSITY.
SO 150 UNITS PER ACRE IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED, AND THEIR PROPOSED PROJECT DOES COMPLY WITH THAT.
JUST ONE QUICK UPDATE IS THAT THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AT THEIR MAY MEETING.
THAT APPROVAL, HOWEVER, IS CONTINGENT UPON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION MODIFICATIONS BEING APPROVED.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.
AND IS RECOMMENDING THE COMMISSION APPROVE AT FIRST READING AND SCHEDULE THE SECOND READING FOR SEPTEMBER.
JUST ONE QUICK POINT OF INFORMATION FOR ANYONE WHO'S WATCHING SINCE THIS INCLUDES AN FAR INCREASE REQUEST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL BE SCHEDULING AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEETING.
WE HAD OUR FIRST PUBLIC MEETING AFTER THE FIRST READING OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
SO BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO JOIN THE MEETING AND ISSUE ANY COMMENTS THEY MAY HAVE.
AND WITH THAT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT PUBLIC MEETING IS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT IT'S NOT A COMMISSION MEETING.
IT'S NOT A COMMISSION MEETING, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC AND IT'S TYPICALLY ON ZOOM.
SO I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE OVER THE SUMMER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVEL, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO.
TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHO ARE REMOTE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION IF IT COULD BE LOADED PLEASE.
MAYOR AND COMMISSION, NEESON KASDAN AND CECILIA TORRES TOLEDO OF ACKERMAN REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT FOR 20 LINCOLN ROAD DEVELOPMENT.
AND AMBASSADOR PAUL CEJAS WHO IS HERE TODAY ALONG WITH TRUDY CEJAS AS WELL.
LONG TIME MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS.
I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY TAKE YOU THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON IT AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF US.
BUT TO UNDERSCORE HOW THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THIS PART OF TOWN AT THIS TIME.
WE CALL THIS, THIS IS THE URBAN CORE LEGISLATION.
THIS IS TRULY THE HEART OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS.
THERE MAY BE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO DO.
BUT THIS WAS MIAMI BEACH'S DOWNTOWN.
IT WAS THE CENTER OF OFFICES, BUSINESSES, RETAIL, THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT WAS THE HEART OF THE CITY, PARTICULARLY THE INTERSECTION OF LINCOLN AND WASHINGTON AVENUE.
HOWEVER, WHAT IS MISSING IN THE HEART OF THE CITY IS RESIDENCES WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE.
THE CITY HAS TAKEN COGNIZANCE OF THIS FACT, AND YOU HAVE PUT IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES WHICH SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THIS AND SPECIFICALLY CALL FOR ENCOURAGING MIXED USE.
ENCOURAGING OVERLAY DISTRICTS, ENCOURAGING FAR INCENTIVES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS THE PLAN, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN YOU HAVE ADOPTED, AND IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE BECAUSE THIS IS THE MISSING ELEMENT IN THIS PART OF THE CITY.
I THINK YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY.
AMBASSADOR SEJAS OWNS THE ENTIRE BLOCK FROM LINCOLN ROAD TO 16TH, FROM DREXEL TO WASHINGTON AVENUE.
THIS WOULD BE A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE BLOCK, ALONG WITH THE PARKING GARAGE, TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU ALREADY THAT THIS IS MIAMI BEACH'S URBAN CORE.
IT REMAINS THAT TODAY, IN FACT, EVEN MORE SO, THE ACTIONS OF THIS CITY, WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED THERE, WITH THE NEW WORLD CENTER, WITH THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.
WITH THE RENEWED EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE LINCOLN ROAD, ONCE AGAIN THIS BECOMES THE BEATING HEART OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
AND THIS HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE WASHINGTON AVENUE BID, WHO I BELIEVE YOU WILL HEAR FROM, AS WELL AS BY THE LINCOLN ROAD BID.
I WOULD JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION THAT AMBASSADOR SEHAS HAS OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
HE INVESTED AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE NOT INVESTING IN SOUTH BEACH.
I SEE ONE OTHER PERSON, MEL SCHLESSER, ONE OF THE PIONEERS WHO WAS INVESTING AT THAT TIME.
HE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY GREAT STEWARD OF THIS IMPORTANT PROPERTY.
[02:15:02]
ONE OF THE LARGEST, THE 420 BUILDING ITSELF, THE OFFICE BUILDING, ONE OF THE LARGEST HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS, IF NOT THE LARGEST, IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.AND HE HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RESTORING IT.
FROM EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE VITRO-LIKE BANDING AROUND IT, BRINGING IN NEW TENANTS.
HE NOW HAS THE FLAGSHIP ZARA STORE THERE, TAKING CARE OF THE LOBBY AND THAT MAGNIFICENT MURAL HE HAS.
BUT TO HELP WASHINGTON AVENUE AND TO HELP LINCOLN ROAD, THE MISSING COMPONENT IS RESIDENTIAL, AND THAT IS WHAT AMBASSADOR SEHASS WANTS TO BRING.
SO WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR HEAR FROM AMBASSADOR SEHASS HIMSELF IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
ACTUALLY, SORRY, COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS? OH, NO, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
AND I WANT TO ASK OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR IF SHE COULD COME TO THE PODIUM.
SO THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE CD3 DISTRICT? CORRECT.
CURRENTLY, THE DENSITY THAT'S ALLOWED AT THE CD3 DISTRICT, WHAT IS THE CURRENT DENSITY ALLOWED IN THE CD3 DISTRICT? CURRENT DENSITY IS 150 UNITS PER ACRE.
THE CURRENT INTENSITY, WHICH IS THE FAR, IS 2.75 FOR THIS PROPERTY.
OKAY, SO THE INCREASE, I GUESS, IS JUST 0.5.
WHICH IS, I GUESS, VERY NOMINAL.
YEAH, OUR CALCULATIONS BASICALLY RESULT IN ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THE...
FOR THE PROPERTY AND REMEMBER THE PROPERTY ALSO INCLUDES THE GARAGE.
AND SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE UNITS, THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT ARE ALLOWED PER ACRE UNDER THE ZONING CODE RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT FAR DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE UNITS THAT ARE ALLOWED UNDER THE CODE? CORRECT.
THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS.
WHAT ARE THE BUILDINGS IN THE SURROUNDINGS? SO THIS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY CENTER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, UP UNTIL WHEN WE ADOPTED THE TCC REGULATIONS IN NORTH BEACH, THIS WAS THE HIGHEST INTENSITY ZONING IN TERMS OF FAR AND HEIGHT.
SO IT WAS MOST OF THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED SINCE.
THE LATE 1980S TO 1990S ARE MAXED OUT AT 100 FEET.
NOW, THEN THE 407 LINCOLN ROAD BUILDING, WHICH IS NOT FAR, IS, I BELIEVE, OVER 150 FEET.
SO THERE ARE TALLER BUILDINGS IN THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTING THE REQUESTED.
THE DECOPLAGE, HOW DOES THE ZONING BEING VERY REQUESTED HERE COMPARE TO THE DECOPLAGE? SO THE DECOPLAGE IS IN THE RM3 ZONING DISTRICT.
SO IT HAS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT, THE DECOPLAGE IS ACTUALLY A NON-CONFORMING BUILDING TO THEIR PARTICULAR ZONING.
SO THEY ARE MAXED OUT ON FAR AND HEIGHT.
WHAT'S THEIR CURRENT HEIGHT? I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT A 16-STORY BUILDING.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT HEIGHT FOR THE BUILDING BUT IT'S TALLER THAN 100 FEET IT'S TALLER THAN WHAT WOULD BE PERMITTED ON THAT SITE TODAY I MEAN I HAVE TO SAY THAT JUST BEING AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AREA WE HAVE A NEED FOR HOUSING IN OUR CITY YESTERDAY I MET WITH ONE OF OUR MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS AND AND THEY WERE EXPLAINING TO ME THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO RENT BULKS OF UNITS.
AND THE CLOSEST THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RENT BULKS OF UNIT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES WAS IN CORAL GABLES, ALL THE WAY AT THE LIFETIME BUILDING IN CORAL GABLES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING GREATLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING TODAY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AS IT RELATES TO WATER AND SEWER RATES.
I'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AS IT RELATES TO PARKING AND TOWING, BUT AFFORDABILITY IN HOUSING IS ONLY ACHIEVED BY SUPPLY.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK
[02:20:02]
WITH OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS IN IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS WHERE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE FACILITATING GROWTH SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PRESERVE THE OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY SO THAT THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF THE CORE OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE NOT ERODED.I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ALSO BECAUSE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT MENTIONED, THIS IS IN THE AREA OF OUR CITY THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY THANK YOU.
BEEN THE DOWNTOWN OF MIAMI BEACH.
YOU HAVE AN OFFICE BUILDING CLOSE BY.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN OFFICE BUILDING ON CITY-OWNED LAND.
I THINK IT'S LINCOLN TERRACE ON WASHINGTON.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS, I HEARD YESTERDAY IN A BRIEFING, THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL BUYER FOR THAT PROPERTY, A PROPERTY THAT TODAY, I BELIEVE, SITS MOSTLY EMPTY.
SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN BUILDINGS LIKE THOSE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT CITY HALL, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE FOUNTAIN BLUE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT MOUNT SINAI, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT LOWE'S, HAVE AN ABILITY TO LIVE IN OUR CITY.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE RENTS THAT THEY'RE GETTING IN FLAMINGO PARK, THE RENTS THAT THEY'RE GETTING THROUGHOUT OF OUR CITY, IT DOESN'T COMPETE WITH WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN BRICKELL, WITH WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN EDGEWATER, AND WITH WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN OTHER AREAS.
FOR THE SAME PRICE, THEY'RE GETTING MORE VALUE IN OTHER AREAS.
AND THAT IS CREATING A HOUSING CHALLENGE FOR US.
THESE UNITS, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE COMPOSITION OF THESE UNITS? THERE WILL BE A MIX OF UNITS.
THERE WILL BE STUDIOS, ONE BEDROOMS, TWO BEDROOMS. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE FINAL MIX HAS BEEN DECIDED.
IF YOU WANT, AMBASSADOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
I LIVE AT 3315 COLLINS AVENUE.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE OWNED THAT PROPERTY FOR MANY YEARS.
AS A MATTER OF RECORD, IT'S THE SECOND, WHEN IT WAS BUILT, THE SECOND AIR-CONDITIONED BUILDING BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES, ONLY SECOND TO ONE ON PARK AVENUE IN NEW YORK.
WE SPENT ACTUALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THAT WAS...
20 SOME YEARS AGO, CLOSE TO 30 YEARS AGO, TO RESTORE THE BUILDING AND SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE NOT PEOPLE, WE'RE PEOPLE THAT HOLD ASSETS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN FIRST IN OUR CITY BECAUSE IT'S WHERE WE LIVE.
WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ISSUES.
OF THE BASS, YOU SEE THE SYMPHONY, WE WERE CONTRIBUTORS AS WELL AS THE BASS.
SO WE WERE PROUD TO BE FROM MIAMI BEACH.
AND I BROUGHT MY WIFE BECAUSE IN TWO WEEKS IT WOULD BE OUR 44TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEING MARRIED.
SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, AND I ALWAYS BELIEVE.
SO SHE'S JUDGING ME ON THIS PRESENTATION.
I HOPE YOU HELP ME WITH MY MARRIAGE.
SO ANYWAY, I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST WE HAVE GOTTEN APPROVALS TO DO THINGS.
AND THE LAST ONE, FOR INSTANCE.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
ARCHITECTS HAVE MOVED A BUILDING INTO THE ALLEY, AND THE ALLEY IS NEEDED TO SERVICE SARAH, ALL OF THE OTHER TENANTS ON
[02:25:01]
LINCOLN ROAD, THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TRUCKS TO COME IN AND UNLOAD MERCHANDISE.SO WE MADE A MISTAKE AND WE MOVED THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT IS THERE, BLOCKING THE ALLEY.
SO THEN WE COULDN'T BUILD THAT.
AND THAT'S THE REASON, MR. MAYOR, WHY WE DIDN'T BUILD WHAT WAS APPROVED.
THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION BOARD APPROVED IT WITH A REPRESENTATION OF THE EXISTING HISTORICAL BUILDING THAT IS THERE AS PART OF THE NEW STRUCTURE OF THE NEW BUILDING.
SO THEY APPROVED IT, SUBJECT TO YOUR APPROVAL.
AND SO WE'RE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO CONSERVE SOME OF THIS, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING THAT BUILDING.
AND JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
AND SO, AMBASSADOR, YOU'RE PROPOSING THIS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE ONE OF EVERYONE'S CONCERNS, I BELIEVE, IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I'VE HEARD, THE MAJORITY OF NEW DEVELOPMENT IN MIAMI BEACH HAS BEEN, FOR THE MOST PART, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES, IT FEELS LIKE, LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS. AND THAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CONCERN.
THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED.
THAT OVER THE YEARS, AS NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED, IT HAS EITHER DISPLACED LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND THAT IT'S BEEN REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT AFFORDABLE TO THE AVERAGE MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT AND THAT IT'S MAINLY CONDOMINIUM UNITS THAT ARE BEING BUILT.
IN THIS CASE, THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETELY A RENTAL PROJECT.
NOT ONLY IS IT A RENTAL PROJECT WITH A COVENANT REQUIRING IT TO BE A RENTAL, NO SHORT-TERM RENTAL, NO.
AND ALSO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
DOES THAT COVENANT TRANSFER WITH THE LAND? DOES THAT RUN WITH THE LAND? IT RUNS WITH THE LAND.
SO A FUTURE BUYER COULDN'T BUY THIS PROPERTY AND TURN IT INTO A CONDOMINIUM BUILDING BECAUSE THE COVENANT REQUIRES THIS TO BE A RENTAL PROPERTY? NO, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE COVENANT, WHICH CAN ONLY BE RELEASED BY YOU BY A 6-7 VOTE.
AMENITIES WISE BECAUSE ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT SOMETIMES THE MORE AMENITIES THAT BUILDINGS OFFER THEN THE MARKET RATE GOES UP UH AND IT GOES FROM BEING ATTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE TO THE RENTAL MARKET AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU KNOW THE MORE AMENITIES THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT GETS UH WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN TERMS OF AMENITIES TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE PRICE POINT I'M SURE IT'LL HAVE THE AMENITIES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ATTRACT NEW TENANTS.
YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT SORT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A LUXURY BUILDING.
AND TO THAT POINT, I DO WANT TO MENTION THE PROPOSED BREAKDOWN OF UNITS TO YOUR QUESTION, 36 STUDIOS, 144 ONE-BEDROOMS. AND 32 BEDROOMS. THE STUDIOS WOULD BE IN THE 500 SQUARE FOOT, THE ONE BEDROOMS IN THE EIGHT TO 900 SQUARE FOOT, THE TWO BEDROOMS IN THE 1100 SQUARE FOOT RANGE.
SO THIS IS, THESE ARE UNITS DESIGNED FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
MR. CASSON, AT THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A, IT'S ZONED, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A 5 A.M.
YES, AND THAT, UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, ONCE IT PASSES.
OUR CITY NEEDS RENTAL HOUSING.
IT NEEDS ATTAINABLE RENTAL HOUSING.
WE DON'T NEED MORE LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS. FROM EVERYONE THAT WE HEAR, WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF THAT, AND IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR CITY'S DESIRE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THESE GRANDFATHERED 5 A.M.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO OUR CITY.
COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU SAID I'M A DEVELOPER AND I DEVELOP OTHER LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I DEVELOPED.
AND THE IDEA WAS TO SERVICE OUR RENT.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE EXPLICITLY FOR THE MARKET.
THAT WILL BE HELPFUL TO MARKET THE BUILDING, LIKE HAVING A GYM, FOR INSTANCE, INSIDE, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO PEOPLE'S HEALTH, AND IT HAS CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTED TO MINE.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS OR APARTMENTS.
WILL BE INCLUDED, BUT AT THE MARKET RATE THAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR.
SO IT WILL BE BASICALLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI BEACH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, WHICH IS NEEDED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE FELT THAT WE WOULD DO THIS.
I'M AN INVESTOR, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.
[02:30:01]
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS HAS PROVEN WHEN I BOUGHT 420.I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK YOU TO...
I'M GOING TO CALL UP DEBBIE AND NICK.
WHY NO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HERE? FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1250 WEST AVENUE, WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
WHY NONE HERE? SO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS A TOOL THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US WHEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A PUBLIC PROJECT INVOLVED, PUBLIC PROPERTY INVOLVED, IF THERE'S SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL WAS SUBMITTED AS A PRIVATE APPLICATION TO AMEND THE LDRS. THE PROJECT IS A PRIVATE PROJECT ITSELF.
THERE IS NOT A PUBLIC COMPONENT HERE.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BASED ON THAT.
ONE, IS THERE ANYTHING, AND YOU ALLUDED TO THIS BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION, AMBASSADOR AND MAYOR KASDAN.
YOU'RE MAYOR FOR LIFE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I'M DOING IT.
I JUST, IS THERE A, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN, WE'LL APPROVE SOMETHING HERE AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE AND HAVE SOME ASSURANCES AND PROBABLY CARVE IT INTO THE LEGISLATION IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME TIME LIMITATIONS EMBEDDED TO ASSURE THAT THE PROJECT, WE'RE GIVING SOMETHING OF VALUE.
WE SHOULD ASSURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING PEOPLE I DON'T I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE INTENT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THINGS HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE PROTECT OURSELVES.
THERE'S THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY A SUNSET PROVISION AS AS THE ORDINANCE IS DRAFTED, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD SUPPORT AND THAT WE COULD INCLUDE IF THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
OK, I'M HEARING GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THAT.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO.
YEAH, SO WE COULD, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR SECOND READING, WE COULD REQUIRE THAT APPLICATIONS BE FILED BY A CERTAIN DATE, THAT OTHERWISE THE INCENTIVES WILL SUNSET AND BE AUTOMATICALLY REPEALED.
IS THERE A PUBLIC BENEFIT IN THIS CASE? SO THE WAY THAT THIS ORDINANCE AND MANY OTHER INCENTIVES HAVE BEEN...
STRUCTURE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION HAS CONSIDERED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO SATISFY CERTAIN BENCHMARKS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INCENTIVES UM AND SO I MEAN THE LET ME I'M SORRY LET ME ASK IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
PUBLIC BENEFITS TO OUR CITY, OUR RESIDENTS, ARE THEY OFFERING SOME? LET ME ASK A BACKUP QUESTION.
WHAT'S THE ASSESSED VALUE? IF WE APPROVE THIS, WHAT IS THE ASSESSED VALUE, THE INCREASE ON THE PROPERTY BY DOING THIS? AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER TO THAT.
DO YOU HAVE THAT? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A DOLLAR FIGURE ON THE INCREASED FAR THAT'S BEING CONTEMPLATED.
SO, MAYOR, WHILE THE CODE AMENDMENT MAY HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, SINCE WE'RE NOT HERE ON A TRANSACTION THAT THE CITY IS A PARTY TO, THE COMMISSION SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AS WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S GOOD PLANNING POLICY TO ADOPT IT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMISSION CAN AMEND THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S REALLY MORE ON THE BASIS OF POLICY RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE COULD CONSIDER ON A TRANSACTION.
NO, I'M SEPARATING THE TWO, BUT TO ME, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE WHAT VALUE WE'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING BY MAKING THIS ZONING CHANGE.
MR. MAYOR, MAY I? WELL, LET ME HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ-ROZAN.
ONLY IF YOU'RE CLARIFYING THIS QUESTION.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO REQUIRE THAT WHOEVER BENEFITS FROM THE ADOPTED ORDINANCE TO ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY THE CITY OR BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE PUBLIC BENEFITS, NEITHER ARE PUBLIC BENEFITS ALLOWED TO BE NEGOTIATED THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE ITEM, BUT
[02:35:01]
IF THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM REQUIRES...FOR THERE TO BE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, COULD WE DO THAT TO REQUIRE TO AMEND THAT INTO THE ORDINANCE? THAT THE PROPERTY THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS NEEDS TO ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEFORE THEY CAN GET THEIR BUILDING PERMITS SO THAT THAT CAN BE NEGOTIATED BY THE CITY MANAGER IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST? GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE COMMISSION CAN'T CONTRACT ITS LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF...
CODE AMENDMENTS BASED ON THE RECEIPT OF CONSIDERATION FROM THE APPLICANT.
SO I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, I THINK IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT, I WOULD RECOMMEND DOING IT THAT WAY.
1250 WEST, THERE WAS A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THERE WAS CERTAIN, THE BAYWALK, THE BIKINI HOSPITAL, HOW DID ALL THAT COME ABOUT? THAT'S HOW THAT...
PROJECT WAS WAS WAS PROPOSED WAS YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PRIVATE COMPONENT I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHING TO GET THEM TO THEY DIDN'T JUST COME UP AND WAKE UP ONE DAY AND DO IT RIGHT BUT BECAUSE THERE WERE THERE WERE SO MANY PUBLIC FACILITIES I THINK INVOLVED IN THAT IN THAT PROJECT THE BAYWALK THE THE SITE OF THE BIKINI HOSTEL WHICH WILL BECOME A PARK I THINK THAT'S WHY THAT ONE WAS STRUCTURED DIFFERENTLY YES YEAH, THIS IS, NICK HAS GIVEN, I THINK, A VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHEN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE AND WHAT THEY'RE APPROPRIATE FOR.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, TO USE THE 1250 WEST.
THERE, THERE WAS A, WHAT WAS VIEWED AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET HAD TO BE BOUGHT AND CLOSED DOWN.
AS WELL AS OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE WHERE WE HAVE TO, AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, AS YOU KNOW, THE INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WAS MANY, MANY TIMES WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE AT A PROPERTY THAT IS MUCH, MUCH MORE VALUABLE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IS AND WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE THAT YOU ARE PLACING ON THE PROPERTY OWNER.
NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO DEVELOP THE CITY YOU WANT, AND THEREFORE YOU ENACT ZONING WHICH IMPLEMENTS THAT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
LET'S STICK TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE.
BUT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, IF I MAY, MAYOR.
WE HAVE A COVENANT THAT RESTRICTS.
IN OUR ABILITY TO HAVE ANYTHING BUT RENTAL APARTMENTS.
WE HAVE ALL THESE LIMITATIONS ON OUR PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MINIMUM THAT IS REALLY NECESSARY AFTER A LOT OF STUDY AND A LOT OF ANALYSIS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A BUILDING THAT WILL WORK.
IT CAN'T REALLY STAND MORE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.
SO I WOULD SAY, AS NICK EXPLAINED, THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS APPROPRIATE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, THE CODE ITSELF HAS ALL THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS, WHICH ARE LIMITATIONS ON THE PROPERTY, TO MAKE SURE IT DELIVERS.
THE PRODUCT THAT YOU THE CITY COMMISSION HAVE PUT OUT FOR IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THANK YOU BEFORE ONE MORE QUESTION I WHEN WE HAD WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS I RECALL THIS ISSUE COMING UP ABOUT THE ASSESSED VALUE OF ZONING CHANGES WE DID I DON'T I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE WE LANDED BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO DO ROUTINELY ON THESE PROJECTS HOW WOULD WE GET AN ASSESSED VALUE? IT'S OBVIOUSLY WORTH SOMETHING.
WHY DON'T WE KEEP JUST THE CITY STAFF ON THE FLOOR? WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP WHEN...
I BELIEVE WE DID THAT, MAYOR, FOR 1250, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE WERE IN A DIFFERENT POSTURE BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO CONSIDER THE VALUE OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.
CLARIFICATION THAT I'M WONDERING IF WE NEED TO TO CODIFY THIS IN LEGISLATION THAT WE SHOULD I MEAN WE'RE THESE THIS IS OF SIGNIFICANT MAYBE THIS PROJECT IS NOT AS LARGE AS OTHERS BUT WHEN WE APPROVE ZONING CHANGES IT HAS A VALUE AND WE WERE MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THAT VALUE IF I MADE THROUGH THE CHAIR I THINK IT WOULD BE OKAY TO REQUEST VALUATIONS BUT I JUST WANT TO CAUTION YOU THAT YOU CANNOT TAKE THAT AND SAY WE ARE GIVING ZONING CHANGES HAVING THIS VALUE AND
[02:40:02]
THEREFORE WE WISH TO EXTRACT VALUE BACK TO THE CITY THE ZONING DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BASED ON THE POLICY AND AS NICK YOU KNOW VERY APTLY POINTED OUT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS OCCUR WHEN YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER WHO APPROACHES US AND SAYS I WANT TO PROFFER THESE BENEFITS AS PART OF MY PROJECT AND THEN THOSE BENEFITS GET NEGOTIATED AND SOMETIMES THE BENEFITS END UP BEING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROFFERED BUT IT'S DIFFERENT THAN A SITUATION WHERE DEVELOPERS PROPOSING CHANGES AND THE COMMISSION SIMPLY NEEDS TO DECIDE IS THIS A GOOD POLICY, IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO PURSUE OR NOT.AND THE DECISION SHOULD BE BASED PURELY ON THAT.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, NICK.
IF THEY DECIDE AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
IF THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED TO BUILD ALL 500 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENTS, COULD THEY DO IT? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
SO THEY COULD IF THEY AVAILED THEMSELVES OF AN ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION, WHICH WOULD BE TO LIMIT THE AMI RENT TO NO MORE THAN 140%.
SO THOSE WOULD BE TRUE WORKFORCE HOUSING RENT RESTRICTED UNITS.
POTENTIALLY HAVE ALL UNITS AT 400 SQUARE FEET.
IF THEY ARE NOT, WHICH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DOES NOT RESTRICT AMI RENTALS, THE AVERAGE, THE MINIMUM UNIT SIZE WOULD BE 550 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS WHAT GETS ME CONCERNED WHEN I HEAR THAT...
I MEAN COULD THE AMBASSADOR SELL THE PROPERTY TO SOMEONE ELSE AND HE WOULD THEN INHERIT, HE OR SHE WOULD THEN INHERIT THE ZONING CHANGE? YES.
WHAT PROTECTIONS DO WE HAVE THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE? WE DON'T WANT MICRO UNITS IN OUR CITY.
SO, MAYOR, IF I CAN ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE VOTING ON LEGISLATION IS THAT'S A PLANNING ISSUE, RIGHT? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DIFFERENT...
BUT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL BEFORE US DOES NOT HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS, AND I'M SAYING THEY SHOULD.
THE COMMISSION COULD AMEND THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS MINIMUM...
UNIT SIZE, AVERAGE UNIT SIZE, IF YOU WANTED A PARTICULAR MIX OF UNITS.
THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU COULD INCLUDE.
AND IN WHAT DOCUMENT DOES THAT GET CODIFIED? IT WOULD BE IN THE CODE.
IT WOULD BE A STRICT REQUIREMENT, A LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION, THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS PROJECT.
AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S HOW WE'VE MEMORIALIZED THE OTHER THINGS, LIKE NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ANY EXISTING NON-CONFORMING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE TO SUNSET.
I MEAN, I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THROUGH THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN.
IS THIS ALL WRITTEN OUT IN THE MEMO? THOSE OTHER POINTS ARE IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
NO, THE ONE I'M MENTIONING NOW.
WAS IT HIGHLIGHTED THAT THIS IS NOT...
I'M SAYING THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLAGGED.
WE'RE RELYING ON YOU TO FLAG THESE UNCERTAINTIES.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL DOES NOT HAVE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE UNIT SIZE, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH THE APPLICANT AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AT SECOND READING.
I HAVE A FEW OTHERS I'M SORRY BEFORE THAT I HAVE TO TAKE.
MAY I JUST RESPOND FACTUALLY BECAUSE YOU RAISED AN ISSUE, AND I THINK WE COULD DISCUSS WITH STAFF.
AN AVERAGE UNIT SIZE AS WELL AS THE MINIMUM UNIT SIZE AS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE TO DEAL WITH THE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALL STUDIOS, AND WE CAN COME UP WITH AN AVERAGE UNIT SIZE THAT WILL ADDRESS YOUR POINT.
COMMISSIONER? MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT I HAVE TO DEVELOP.
I'M 83 YEARS OLD, AND I LIVE WITH A CANCER THAT, THANK GOD, IS IN REMISSION.
MY WIFE WILL BECOME THE TRUSTEE OF MY TRUST, SO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE COULD DEVELOP THAT OR WHETHER SHE WOULD SELL IT.
SO IF YOU LIMIT THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I HOPE THAT I LIVE ANOTHER 20 YEARS TO 120.
I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU GOT THE...
YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE HEALTHY, VIBRANT.
44 YEARS YOU'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE.
YOU SHOULD CELEBRATE AT LEAST ANOTHER 20, 30 MORE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST DOING WHAT ANY COMMISSION SHOULD DO TOGETHER HERE AND WHAT ANY LAWYER SHOULD BE DOING.
[02:45:01]
I APPRECIATE THAT.BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY UNKNOWNS.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T GO TO, I MEAN, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU DON'T GO TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN A DEAL BY A HANDSHAKE.
MAYBE THAT STILL HAPPENS, BUT GENERALLY THERE'S A CONTRACT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTRACT IS IRON TIGHT SO WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
YOU CAN GO AROUND THIS COMMUNITY, MR. MAYOR, WHERE I'VE DONE BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS, AND THE BIGGEST ASSET THAT I HAVE IS NOT 420.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
DAVID MARTIN, WHO IS A DEVELOPER HERE AND IS DOING A GREAT DEVELOPER, CAN TELL YOU THAT IN A HANDSHAKE I GAVE HIM, I SOLD HIM A PROPERTY, $2 MILLION LESS THAN ANOTHER OFFER JUST BECAUSE WE ARE SHAKING HANDS ON IT.
SO THAT OLD TIME SHAKING HANDS STILL EXISTS.
AND I SAID AGAIN, THE BIGGEST ASSET THAT I HAVE IS MY NAME.
FOR SURE, BUT AS WE SAID, THERE COULD BE VARIOUS REASONS THAT WE, IN A FEW YEARS, WILL BE DEALING WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
WHATEVER, EITHER WAY, THAT'S OUR JOB.
I BELIEVE CREATING A VIBRANT, WALKABLE, MIXED-USE DISTRICT IN THIS AREA IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CITY.
IT ADDS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
IT ADDS, EVEN FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, IT WILL THEN TAKE THE RENT PRESSURES OFF OF WHERE THEY DO LIVE, HELPING THE AFFORDABILITY IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY.
FULL-TIME RESIDENTS ARE WHAT WE NEED TO HELP REVIVE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT WILL TAKE CARS OFF THE ROAD, CREATE A WALKABLE DISTRICT, AND IT CLEANS UP UNDERPERFORMING, BLIGHTED AREAS.
I WANT SIDEWALK AND CORNER CAFES WATCHING THE WORLD CUP.
JUST LIKE IN PARIS AND BARCELONA, RATHER THAN VAPE SHOPS AND STRIP CLUBS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
I'M OKAY WITH IT BEING A BIT TALLER.
I DON'T THINK IT'S PLURAL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE LEGISLATOR PROHIBITED.
I'M OKAY AT BEING A BIT TALLER THAN I WOULD PREFER, GIVEN IT'S ON THE CORNER OF 16TH AND WASHINGTON.
AND I THINK THAT TRULY IS THE NEXUS OF THIS DOWNTOWN WALKABLE DISTRICT.
I DON'T LIKE ONE-OFF APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY ALL THE TIMING THAT WE'VE SPENT TALKING ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN USE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AS...
SOMEWHAT OF A TEMPLATE OR A MODEL FOR A TRUE COMPREHENSIVE, WALKABLE, LIVABLE PLACE THAT WILL BECOME OUR VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? PERHAPS A SIMILAR...
TYPE OF ZONING ON THE CADDY CORNER ACROSS AND THEN DOWN WASHINGTON AT A SHORTER HEIGHT WITH THE SAME RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS.
ONE, IF WE CAN TALK ON THE HEIGHT REAL QUICK, JUST ABOUT WHY YOU HAVE TO BE AT THAT, BECAUSE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEXT APPLICANT HAVING TO BE AT THAT BECAUSE HE JUST HAD TO ACQUIRED THE LANDS FOR A VERY SIGNIFICANT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I KNOW THE AMBASSADOR WHO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY AND YOUR COMMITMENT HAS A MUCH LOWER COST BASIS, IF ANY COST BASIS REALLY.
SO WHY WE HAVE TO BE AT THAT $150 AND NOT SOMEWHERE AROUND $125, $135.
MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ME, SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I NEED THIS NEEDLE THREADED HERE.
IS ENSURING THAT THIS GETS DONE.
AS I SAID, IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CATALYST, I BELIEVE, FOR OUR CITY.
THE AMBASSADOR SAID HE'S NOT A DEVELOPER.
IT DOES US AND OUR CITY AND A COMPREHENSIVE DISTRICT WE WANT TO BE SEEN IF WE GRANT THIS ZONING RIGHT, AND IT'S JUST AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT MARKETED FOR SALE, BECAUSE THEN THE NEXT APPLICANT COMES HERE AND SAYS, WELL, THIS COST ME $25 MILLION, AND I JUST CAN'T MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK, SO I NEED 175 OR 200 FEET OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
I AM HAPPY TO WORK ABOUT HOW THIS TAKES SHAPE IN SOME REGARD.
IN A WAY, I'D WANT TO SEE THE AMBASSADOR FIND A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, NOT TO SELL IT TO,
[02:50:01]
BUT A JV PARTNER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET DONE.COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, GOOD POINTS I'D LIKE TO MENTION OR RESPOND TO.
FIRST OF ALL, AMBASSADOR CEJAS WILL HAVE A FEE DEVELOPER WHO'S AN EXPERIENCED DEVELOPER TO DEVELOP IT.
I WOULD POINT OUT, AND THIS IS AN ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY, THAT HE IS A LONG-TERM PROPERTY.
HE OWNS RENTAL APARTMENT BUILDINGS ELSEWHERE, WHICH HE HAS OWNED FOR YEARS.
HE WOULD BE BUILDING TO INVEST LONG-TERM AND WILL BRING IN A FEE DEVELOPER AS A PARTNER.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO MENTION.
CAN WE CENTER? WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GET IN THE HEIGHT.
I WANT TO STICK ON THIS POINT BECAUSE IT'S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
CAN WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING? WHAT THE AMBASSADOR DOES AFTER THIS PROJECT IS DEVELOPED OR PERHAPS HIS WIFE OR THE TRUST, WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS.
AND I CAN'T HAVE A SALE HAPPEN BEFORE IT'S DEVELOPED BECAUSE THEN.
THAT JUST BRINGS A CASH AND ECONOMIC WINDFALL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND IT DOES NOTHING TO GET THE PROJECT CLOSER TO FRUITION.
SO IF THE AMBASSADOR IS ABLE TO FIND A FOR-FEE DEVELOPER AND COMMIT THAT THE PROPERTY WON'T BE SOLD UNTIL AFTER IT IS DEVELOPED, SIGN ME UP TODAY.
WELL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TWO THINGS HERE, WHICH I THINK THE AMBASSADOR IS WILLING TO DO.
NUMBER ONE, WE CAN LOOK AT IN BETWEEN WITH THE...
PLANNING DIRECTOR TACKETT, I GOT TO GET USED TO THAT, IT HAS A NICE SOUND.
A AVERAGE UNIT SIZE TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR'S CONCERN THAT THIS COULD BE ALL SMALL UNITS.
NUMBER TWO, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT AN OUTSIDE DATE IN TERMS OF, AS I THINK DEBBIE MENTIONED, IN TERMS OF OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PERMITS AND APPROVALS TO DO THAT.
ONE POINT I WOULD SAY, AND YOU, COMMISSIONER MAGNUSON, ARE VERY SAVVY ABOUT THE MARKETS HERE, IT'S VERY TOUGH TO BUILD RENTAL HOUSING IN SOUTH FLORIDA RIGHT NOW.
CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH.
AND IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION, HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME STUDYING AND ANALYZING SOMETHING THAT WOULD THREAD THE NEEDLE AND BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BE BUILT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET, GETTING THIS BUILT IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO I DON'T LOVE THE PRODUCT MIX, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO OPINE ON THAT, RIGHT? I'M GOING TO LET THE MARKET BE THE MARKET.
THE AMENITIES, I DON'T WANT TO BE HEAVY-HANDED ON THAT.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE MY BIGGEST CONCERN AND PRIORITY, AS THE AMBASSADOR MENTIONED, HE'S NOT A DEVELOPER, IS ENSURING THAT THIS GETS DEVELOPED.
AND HOW WE DO THAT MOST EFFICIENTLY IS IF THE AMBASSADOR IS ABLE TO COMMIT THAT HE OR HIS TRUST REMAINS THE OWNER OF THIS AND PAYS A FOR-PROFIT OR A FOR-FEE DEVELOPER UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF THAT IS NOT DONE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS ZONING INCREASE INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN IF THEY JUST TURN AROUND AND SELL THAT, THEN THE NEXT OWNER COMES BACK AND HE'S IN THE POSITION OF, WELL, I JUST PAID ALL THIS MONEY FOR THIS PROPERTY AND PERHAPS THIS DOESN'T GET DONE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT CONCERN THAN WHAT YOU WOULD HEAR 99% OF THE TIME.
I'M TRYING TO SAY I WANT THIS TO COME TO FRUITION.
YEAH, I MEAN, AMBASSADOR SAYLES DID DEVELOP THE GARAGE HIMSELF.
WE CAN'T PUT IN THE ORDINANCE.
REQUIRING A HIGHER-FEE DEVELOPER I THINK WHAT WE CAN DISCUSS TO ADDRESS YOUR POINT IS SOME TARGET DEADLINES OR DID THEIR STEEP THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO PUT IN A ZONING ORDINANCE, FRANKLY.
THE ZONING ORDINANCE DEALS WITH REGULATIONS, BUT THE REGULATIONS CAN BE SUCH AS TO INCENTIVIZE THAT IT HAPPEN IN A TIMELY FASHION.
HAPPEN UNDER THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP THAT IT IS, RIGHT? I WOULD LOOK INCREDIBLY UNFAVORABLE IF WE ESSENTIALLY PASS ZONING THAT INCREASES THE VALUE.
ONLY FOR THE PROPERTY TO BE TURNED AROUND AND SOLD, WHETHER IT BE NEXT WEEK OR IN TWO YEARS, BECAUSE I'M NOT GRANTING ZONING INCREASES TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
I AM WILLING TO GRANT VERY SIGNIFICANT ZONING INCREASES TO BRING THIS PRODUCT TO MARKET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS IS COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, THE PROPER ZONING FOR THIS SITE, CANDIDLY, REGARDLESS.
AND SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS DISCUSS WITH PLANNING STAFF OUTSIDE DATES.
WE'LL DISCUSS AVERAGE UNIT SIZES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT.
NOW, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS AMBASSADOR SEHASS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LONG-TERM HOLDER OF HIS ASSETS.
CONTRACTS, WE WOULD ALL OPERATE UNDER HANDSHAKE AGREEMENTS, AS THE AMBASSADOR DID, IF YOU'RE NOT PLANNING FOR CONTINGENCIES.
[02:55:01]
NO, BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON WHO HAS THE PROPERTY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF NOT BEING A FLIPPER BUT BEING A LONG-TERM HOLDER.AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION EVEN IF IT'S NOT FOR THE AMBASSADOR'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY.
BUT WE'LL WORK WITH PLANNING STAFF ON THOSE TWO ISSUES.
AND THEN THE OTHERS THAT I WOULD LIKE IN THERE, IF WE DO GRANT THIS.
LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE.
ARE YOU WILLING TO JUST EXTINGUISH THAT? YEAH, IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT USE.
NO, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED OR SOLD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT LICENSE WON'T BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PROPERTY OR SOLD.
WELL, IT CAN'T BE BECAUSE ONCE, IT WILL BE, IF THIS IS ADOPTED, THAT USE WILL NOT BE LEGAL.
SOMEONE ELSE COULDN'T GO IN THERE TO GET AN APPROVAL FOR THAT USE.
AND THEN I WOULD ALSO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU WOULD PRO-OFFER, IF WE PASS THIS, NEVER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A TALLAHASSEE-DRIVEN HOUSING LAW THAT WOULD SUPERSEDE THIS PROPERTY.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SITE THAT CAN USE LIVE LOCAL.
AMBASSADOR SEUSS IS TRYING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVES AND NOT IN A WAY THAT IS WOULD BE A LIVE LOCAL PROJECT WHICH HE COULD COME IN AND SEEK TO DO SO THIS IS REALLY WHAT I THINK EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AND ABSOLUTELY AND I WISH WE COULD HAVE THIS IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION THIS IS LIVE BETTER AS COMMISSION OF COURSE SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER AS WE ARE DOING THIS ONE-OFF REQUEST AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAN FORGOING THE ABILITY TO DO LIVE LOCAL ON THIS PROJECT? WELL, IT'S NOT AN AGREEMENT.
THIS IS ZONING, AND I CANNOT SAY STANDING HERE THAT WE WOULD FOREGO IT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO READINGS.
I COULD WITHDRAW THE PETITION RIGHT NOW AND GO TO THE STATE AND BUILD OVER 20 STORIES.
I'M COMING TO YOU BECAUSE I LIVE ON A BEACH.
AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOU.
BUT ALL I FIND IS OPPOSING AND PUTTING MORE AND MORE STATES.
I CAN GO TO THE STATE AND BYPASS YOU.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE TACT THAT WE WANT TO TAKE AT THIS.
I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU.
AND I APPRECIATED YOU SEVERAL TIMES.
BUT ALL OF THE DEMANDS THAT YOU'RE REQUIRING, I MEAN, WE'RE IN A FREE ENTERPRISE COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, IF I NEED TO SELL IT BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH OR WHATEVER, I'M NOT DOING THAT.
I BUILT A GARAGE, 500 CAR GARAGE.
I'M LETTING YOU KNOW, MR. AMBASSADOR, THAT'S NOT THE TAX THAT WE WANT TO TAKE RIGHT HERE.
OKAY? I AM SITTING HERE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR CITY, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO.
BY OUR RESIDENTS, ONE OF WHICH I BELIEVE YOU CURRENTLY ARE OR FORMERLY WERE, TO PROTECT OUR CITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW THAT I WAS SITTING IN A PLACE LIKE YOU MANY YEARS AGO.
YOU CAME INTO MY OFFICE ACTUALLY AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
IN 1980 I WAS ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND I SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS.
AND I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS TO BE IN YOUR PLACE AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
SO I DO APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
BUT YOU KNOW I SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI.
OTHER CITIES HOW THEY FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY.
I'M NOT A DEVELOPER, BUT I DID HIRE A FEE DEVELOPER TO DEVELOP THAT BEAUTIFUL GARAGE, WHICH IS THE NICEST, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN IT, IS I HAVE 59 CAMERAS TO SECURE TWO THINGS, SECURITY AND CLEANLINESS.
AND THAT GARAGE IS CLEANING THE STAIRWAYS.
CLEAN AS IT COULD BE, THEY'RE WASHED REGULARLY.
SO I TRY TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
AND THIS WILL BE DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
AND THAT'S WHY I HIRED AN IMPORTANT ARCHITECT TO SHOW THAT WE'RE PROUD OF OUR PROPERTY.
AND RESPECTFULLY, EVERY SINGLE
[03:00:06]
THING THAT I'VE BROUGHT UP HERE IS ACTUALLY TO HELP FACILITATE.THIS GETS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY, LAST COMMENT, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK, AFTER YOU MAKE THE COMMENT, AMBASSADOR, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AND NEESON TO PLEASE...
WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS MEETING MOVING.
WE CAN'T KEEP HAVING THIS DIALOGUE UNLESS THERE'S A QUESTION DIRECTED.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS, UNLIKE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS WHO SAID, I'M GOING TO DO A LIVE LOCAL, NOW LET'S SIT AND NEGOTIATE CITY, THE ONLY THING HE'S COME IN WITH IS THIS VERY REASONABLE, APPROPRIATE PLAN.
IN GOOD FAITH IN DEALING WITH THE CITY, NOT TRYING TO HOLD THE CITY OVER THE BARREL.
I PROMISE COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEO-SOLANAS, VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ, AND THEN COMMISSIONER BA.
DEBBIE, NICK, COULD YOU TWO ADDRESS THE GROUND FLOOR RETAIL? MY CONCERN IS THAT A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS HAVE GROUND FLOOR RETAIL THAT IS VERY, VERY LARGE AND JUST SITS EMPTY BECAUSE IT'S TOO LARGE AND NO ONE CAN RENT IT.
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EASILY BROKEN UP AND IS THAT ADDRESSED IN THE LEGISLATION? SO IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED.
THE PROJECT DOES REQUIRE THAT MICRO MOBILITY COMPONENT AND WE DO ANTICIPATE SOME OF THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO GET THE INCENTIVES BECAUSE WHILE THE ANOTHER THING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS DOING IS IT'S REMOVING THE PARKING REQUIREMENT, EVEN THOUGH BECAUSE THIS THIS PROJECT IS CONNECTED TO AN EXISTING GARAGE, THERE WILL BE PARKING AVAILABLE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
SO I THINK WE ENCOURAGE AS MANY ACTIVE USES AS POSSIBLE AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
THAT'S ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE, IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, A LOBBY FOR THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
SO THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE ACTIVATED.
AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL, WE ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL, BUT WHERE THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE DOES NOT HAVE A REQUIRED SQUARE FOOTAGE.
SO WHATEVER, WHEN THE PROJECT, IF THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD AND THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING FOR TENANTS, THEY WOULDN'T BE RESTRICTED IF THEY JUST WANTED SMALL RETAIL SPACES, WHICH IS KIND OF THE TREND WE'RE SEEING NOW.
SOME, YOU KNOW, EVEN AS SMALL AS JUST A FEW HUNDRED SQUARE FEET COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IF IT'S A COFFEE SHOP OR SOMETHING THAT'S ACTIVELY USED.
SO IS IT TYPICAL, THOUGH, TO PUT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE FOR SPACE TO BE SMALLER, RETAIL SPACE TO BE SMALLER? OR IS THAT COMPLETELY UP TO THE APPLICANT? CURRENTLY, AS DRAFTED, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE APPLICANT IN TERMS OF THEIR LEASING.
BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN SUCH A STRUGGLE WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THIS AREA, BUT REALLY CITYWIDE, WE WANT TO GIVE AS MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE TO A POTENTIAL RETAIL, A QUALITY RETAIL TENANT.
WE WOULDN'T WANT TO RESTRICT BASED ON THEIR SQUARE FOOTAGE NEEDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A STRUGGLE LATELY TO FIND GOOD QUALITY TENANTS IN THE CITY.
COMMISSIONER SWIN, JUST BRIEFLY ADDRESS THAT.
NEESON, I LITERALLY, WE CAN'T HAVE THIS BACK AND FORTH.
NO, THE COMMISSIONER, I THINK, ANSWERED IT.
I KNOW, AND DEBBIE ANSWERED IT.
BUT WITH ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION MISSING, THAT THIS IS ONLY 7,000 SQUARE FEET AT MAX ON THE ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR.
PARTICULAR BUILDING HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD SO I CAN'T HAVE A LARGE RETAIL ON THE GROUND.
THANK YOU VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SENT US A LONG LIST OF CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD, AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THIS PROJECT WAS GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING AGAIN, AND I DO ENCOURAGE A DISCUSSION WITH THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SO THAT ALL OF THEIR ITEMS ARE ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE EXCELLENT POINTS, SO I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE THEM.
I WILL BRING UP TWO ITEMS. WELL, FOR CONTEXT, THIS IS A PART OF THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWHELMING, TO SAY THE LEAST, FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING EYES AND FEET ON THE STREETS THERE WILL START TO TRANSFORM THAT.
I'VE GOT SOME ITEMS PENDING IN THE NEXT NUMBER OF MONTHS TO TRY TO DO THAT FROM A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE ROAD FROM YOU.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME FORWARD.
I SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A SECOND READING COMING UP, SO WE CAN TAKE THAT OFFLINE IN THE INTEREST OF FURTHERING THIS DAY'S AGENDA.
TWO THINGS I WANT TO BRING UP.
ONE IS THAT WHEN THE GOOD TIME HOTEL WAS BUILT, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A HOTEL, BUT THEY HAD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RETAIL SPACE THAT WAS NEVER EVEN FINISHED
[03:05:02]
WITH FLOORS AND WALLS.AND I DON'T WANT, WHETHER BIG RETAIL OR SMALL RETAIL OR SOME OTHER USE THAT IS PERMITTED.
I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT THERE SO WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS THERE WHEN THE BUILDING IS BUILT THAT IT DOESN'T STAY EMPTY.
I THINK THE DEVELOPERS IN THE GOOD TIME RAN OUT OF RESOURCES, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DIDN'T ATTRACT THE TENANTS THEY WERE HOPING.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THAT SO THAT IT IS EASY FOR MAYBE SMALLER STARTUP BUSINESSES TO MOVE INTO THE SPACE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T ONEROUS TO.
EVERYBODY SO CONVERSATION BETWEEN NOW AND FUTURE THE OTHER THING IS IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND IF I'M NOT CORRECT PLEASE PLEASE ADVISE BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THIS HAS A RESTRICTION ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL SIX MONTHS IN A DAY IS THAT RIGHT THAT'S CORRECT WOULD AND AGAIN WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TODAY BUT WOULD THERE BE WILLINGNESS TO EXTEND THAT TO A FULL YEAR INSTEAD OF SIX MONTHS IN A DAY SO THAT IF WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY MOVE HERE AND LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE, TO ME THAT MAKES IT MUCH MORE APPEALING.
AND SO I WILL LET YOU GUYS ALL DISCUSS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE THAT WRITTEN IN FOR THE SECOND READING.
AND I'M GOING TO ADD A THIRD POINT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AMBASSADOR SEHAS AND MRS. SEHAS, I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR PENDING ANNIVERSARY.
MY PARENTS JUST I KNOW YOU'RE FLINCHING, BUT MY PARENTS JUST HIT 63 YEARS LAST WEEK.
YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT COMPANY, AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE.
CURRENTLY, WHAT IS CD3? THIS IS THE ZONING AREA.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE DENSITY THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED IN THE CURRENT ZONING CODE.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL DENSITY, CORRECT.
SEPARATELY FROM THAT, AS IT RELATES TO THE ZONING CODE, TO UNIT SIZES.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE CODIFIED MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM UNIT SIZES FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT OR WE DO NOT? NO, WE DO NOT.
WE HAVE MINIMUM REQUIRED UNIT SIZE.
AN AVERAGE REQUIRED UNIT SIZE DOES EXIST.
HOWEVER, FOR PROJECTS THAT PROFFER NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THERE IS ALSO NO AVERAGE UNIT SIZE.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE THE MINIMUM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 550 SQUARE FEET.
AND SO AND SO I WOULD I WOULD UH I WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE UH WITHIN THE CD'S UH THREE ZONING DISTRICT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE AVERAGE UNIT SIZE SINCE SINCE WE ARE CONSIDERING THE AMENDMENT TO TO THIS ORDINANCE I HAVE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER MATEL SALINAS ONE OF MY GREATEST CONCERNS UH WITH WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT IT HAS INTRODUCED A HIGH AMOUNT OF NEW RETAIL SPACES AND THOSE RETAIL SPACES ARE SITTING EMPTY AND THEN IT CREATES COMPETITION WITH WITH WITH THE SURROUNDING RETAIL AND SO AND SO I WOULD WANT TO SEE WHAT IS WHAT GETS BAKED INTO THE ORDINANCE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING I KNOW THE CHALLENGE WITH RETAIL IS THAT A LOT OF OUR OLDER RETAIL DOES NOT MEET THE NEEDS THAT MERCHANTS NEED TODAY.
HOWEVER, IT'S THE NEW RETAIL, FOR THE MOST PART.
AND SO THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I SHARE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.
LASTLY, DOES THE ORDINANCE SPEAK TO SETBACKS? THERE IS A 20-FOOT REQUIRED SETBACK ABOVE, IS IT 50 FEET? ABOVE 50 FEET, IT REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL 20-FOOT SETBACK FOR THE TOWER PORTION.
PEDESTRIAN LEVEL WHAT IS THE CURRENT PEDESTRIAN LEVEL SETBACK THERE'S NO REQUIRED SETBACK THE HPV APPROVED PLANS SHOWED HOW MANY WHAT WAS YOUR SETBACK AT HPV AT THE GROUND LEVEL DO YOU KNOW YEAH THERE'S NO REQUIRED SETBACK IN THE CD3 FOR THE FOR THE GROUND LEVEL I SAW A MASSING STUDY THAT HAD HAD A SETBACK AT THE GROUND LEVEL SO I WOULD JUST PLEASE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO CREATE AN ISSUE WITH A HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD'S DETERMINATION.
A QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR OUR STAFF, HOW CAN A PROJECT, WE'RE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION.
SO WE ARE NOT HERE IN THE POSTURE OF REVIEWING A PROJECT.
HOW DOES A PROJECT GET APPROVED
[03:10:04]
BY A BOARD BEFORE? THE POLICY TO GUIDE THAT PROJECT IS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, BECAUSE IT TRULY NOW ECLIPSES OUR WINGS AND OUR ABILITY TO PROPERLY LEGISLATE HERE.IT DOES NOT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE THE COMMISSION COULD ALWAYS AMEND THIS ORDINANCE.
THE COMMISSION COULD DECIDE NOT TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AT ALL.
THE HPV APPROVAL IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S CONTINGENT ON THE REQUISITE AMENDMENTS BEING ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
YOU NOTHING CAN MOVE FORWARD UNLESS AND UNTIL THESE AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED.
AND IF THE COMMISSION REVISED THIS ORDINANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HPB TO CONFORM.
SO WHAT'S THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE STREET, IF I CAN ASK, IF I COULD RECOGNIZE THROUGH THE MAYOR PASSON, WHAT'S THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING UNDER THE APPROVED? THERE IS NO SETBACK AT THE STREET LEVEL, AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT.
ALL OF WASHINGTON AVENUE DOESN'T...
BUT, MR. MAYOR, THE BUILDING DOES NOT GO UP TO THE STREET.
IF I COULD FINISH MY QUESTION.
AT THE GROUND LEVEL, I AM CERTAIN THAT THE BUILDING DOES NOT GO UP TO WASHINGTON AVENUE.
SO, WHAT IS THE SEPARATION FROM THE CURB OF THE STREET? I'M THINKING OF PEDESTRIANISM.
UNDER UNDER THE THE APPROVED PLANS FROM THE STREET TO THE BUILDING IT IS UH WHATEVER THE REQUIRED SIDEWALK WIDTH IS THAT THE CITY HAS IS THE SIDEWALK WIDTH THAT WE WILL HAVE SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADJACENT PROPERTY HIS 420 BUILDING THERE'S A WIDE SIDEWALK THERE UH BECAUSE OF COURSE YES WE DO WANT TO HAVE PEDESTRIAN A GREAT PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT BUT THE PLAN FOR EXAMPLE ON 16TH STREET FRONTING 16TH STREET, I SEE THAT THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN LANDSCAPING AND THE BUILDING OF 14 FEET, 8 INCHES.
THAT'S IN THE MASTING STUDY THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH OUR AGENDA PACKET, UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG DOCUMENTS. COMMISSIONER.
OUR SETBACK FROM OUR PROPERTY LINE IS ZERO, BUT I BELIEVE LOOKING AT THIS SURVEY THAT FROM THE CENTER LINE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY UNTIL OUR PROPERTY LINE, SO WHERE THE SIDEWALK WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED, IT'S 25 FEET, I BELIEVE.
SO BETWEEN HOW MUCH AGAIN? I'M SORRY? BETWEEN HOW MUCH? BETWEEN THE CENTER LINE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ON 16TH STREET AND OUR PROPERTY LINE, THERE'S 25 FEET.
AND 16TH STREET MUST BE HOW WIDE, MR. MASTER? NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SEPARATION FROM THE STREET.
RIGHT, SO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, WHICH IS THE CITY'S PURVIEW TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO BE STREET, HOW MUCH IS MEDIAN, HOW MUCH IS SIDEWALK, IS ALL CURRENTLY LAID OUT FOR WASHINGTON AND 16TH STREET.
I WOULD GUESSTIMATE THAT WASHINGTON IS LARGER.
THEN 16TH STREET, I BELIEVE WASHINGTON IS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 80 FEET.
WASHINGTON, 16TH STREET IS PROBABLY A...
60 OR 70 FOOT RIGHT-OF-WAY BUT IN EITHER CASE THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY RIGHT THEIR PROPERTY LINE IS IS THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THE PRIVATE PROPERTY I UNDERSTAND THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT FOR THE PEDESTRIAN THAT IT'S NOT THEY DON'T WALK INTO THEY DON'T THEY DON'T KNOW THE CENTER LINE OF THE STREET AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE PROPERTY LINE AND AND SO WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE.
IS THAT IF ANY AMENDMENT SHOULD BE CONTEMPLATED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING TO PROVIDE FOR GOOD PEDESTRIANISM AND NOT JUST NARROW PEDESTRIANISM.
THERE'S AREAS WHERE YOU SEE WHERE YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT SEPARATION BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY PEDESTRIANS BUT A SAFE.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY IN A BUSY AREA LIKE WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WE WANT GOOD SIDEWALKS AS WELL.
SORRY? WE WANT GOOD SIDEWALKS AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST A, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A 20-FOOT BUFFER BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE LOOKING IN AN AREA
[03:15:01]
OF OUR CITY WHERE IT'S ANTICIPATED TO HAVE A TRANSIT CORRIDOR, THIS IS A MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDOR, WASHINGTON AVENUE.EVENTUALLY, IT'S IN A PLAN SOMEWHERE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE DEDICATED BUS LANES ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NATURE IN THIS PIVOTAL AREA PROVIDES...
THE PROPER SEPARATION FROM THE STREET.
WE'D APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH YOU ON THAT.
WE THINK, AS WE SAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIDEWALKS ON THE ENTIRE REMAINDER OF THE BLOCK, THEY'RE VERY WIDE SIDEWALKS ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, AND BY PLAN, THE USES COME TO THE STREET SO THAT THE STREET IS ACTIVATED.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
AND SO, BUT I'D LIKE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU HOW THAT WORKS.
AND HOW THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR SIDEWALKS ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO HANDLE, NOT ONLY TO HANDLE, BUT TO MAKE A GOOD PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT.
WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL BUILDING SETBACKS.
AND I APPRECIATE THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NEED THIS TYPE OF HOUSING.
THE CITY NEEDS RENTAL HOUSING.
WE DON'T NEED MORE CONDOMINIUMS AND WE DON'T NEED MORE LUXURY INVENTORY.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM IN FIRST READING.
I THINK THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.
I TAKE TO HEART A LOT OF THE CONCERNS RAISED THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING FROM OUR IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS AT THE FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
BUT I FEEL COMFORTABLE CONSIDERING A MOTION FOR THE FIRST READING.
FIRST READING OF THIS ITEM AND BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING TO TO INCORPORATE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BY ALL OF US AT THIS DAY IS TODAY OKAY BEFORE WE VOTE LET'S HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT WE HAVE SOME CALLERS IS THERE ANYONE IN THE ODD PERSON WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ANYONE THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IF SO PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM MAKE A LINE AND WE'LL CALL THE PEOPLE GO AHEAD, SIR.
I'M THE MANAGING PARTNER OF JAMAC DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ALSO OWN THE LINCOLN CENTER ON LINCOLN ROAD, EUCLID AVENUE.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG MEETING, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE VERY WORDY JUST TO TELL YOU THAT I, AS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT TO BRING PEOPLE TO LINCOLN ROAD.
IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH YOUR ORDINANCES, WHICH I ALSO SUPPORT.
SO PLEASE, I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
WHATEVER CAN BE DONE FOR MR. SAYERS AND HIS LONG-TERM MARRIAGE WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS AND ASK THE COMMISSION TO GO FORWARD WITH ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON LINCOLN ROAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MANAGER, AND STAFF.
ANNABELLE YOPIES, LINCOLN ROAD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD TO SHOW OUR UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT ON THE 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE NEWS TO YOU, THAT THE CITY IS FACING...
TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES AND THAT'S TRAFFIC AND HOUSING AND MARKET VALUE HOUSING.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR STORES AND OUR RESTAURANTS AND THE HOSPITALS DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE HERE AND THEY HAVE TO GO ACROSS TO BRICKELL, TO EDGEWATER TO FIND A REASONABLE HOUSING.
THAT IMPACTS OUR WORKFORCE TREMENDOUSLY.
THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR MARKET RATE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING BUT VERY LIMITED SUPPLIES.
FOR DECADES, OUR ZONING ON THE BEACH HAS LARGELY SUPPORTED HOTELS, LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS, AND TRANSIT USES.
IF WE WANT A MORE BALANCED AND SUSTAINABLE CITY, WE NEED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE THAN THE 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE, THE INTERSECTION OF LINCOLN ROAD AND WASHINGTON, THE HEART AND THE HUB OF MIAMI BEACH.
IT IS ALREADY SURROUNDED BY JOBS, RETAIL, RESTAURANT, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, PUBLIC SPACES, AND TRANSIT.
IN EVERY SUCCESSFUL CITY, DOWNTOWN IS WHERE HOUSING BELONGS BECAUSE IT CREATES WALKABILITY, SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND REDUCES DEPENDENCY ON CARS.
OUR MERCHANTS NEED MORE RESIDENTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE YEAR-ROUND, WHO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES EVERY DAY, AND WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY
[03:20:01]
OF THE DISTRICT.THIS PROJECT WILL APPROXIMATELY ADD 210 RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO THE URBAN CORE.
IT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED, APPROVED BY APPROPRIATE LAND USE BOARDS, AND SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
THE LINCOLN ROAD BID BELIEVES THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF HOUSING IN EXACTLY THE TYPE OF LOCATION THAT MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEMS RFE AND RF5.
MY NAME IS BEACH, RESIDENT AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT.
I WASN'T PREPARED TO SPEAK UPON THIS AND I THINK I MENTIONED LAST MONTH OR EARLIER THIS MONTH, MAYBE IT WAS PLANNING BOARD WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT WASHINGTON AVENUE BECOMING A BETTER MIXED USE AND ANY DEVELOPMENT OF APARTMENTS ALSO ADDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS ON THE MARKETPLACE.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A FORMER OFFICE LISTING BROKER AT 420 LINCOLN ROAD, 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE, I KIND OF FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BUILDING.
BRICKLE IS THE HOT SPOT FOR, BASICALLY FOR AMERICA ON OFFICES.
AND THANKS TO OUR MANAGEMENT, THEY LOVE, I HAVE A CREATIVE SIDE.
AND WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE SO COOL IS THAT THIS ART DECO BUILDING THAT THEY HAVE PRESERVED SO WELL COULD REALLY LEAN IN AND BE A SIGNATURE BUILDING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE BRICKELL.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE BRICKELL SPECIFICALLY.
WE'VE GOT A COOL, SEXY CHIC HERE AND THIS BUILDING AND THIS FAMILY SEEM TO BE PART OF THAT.
AND SO I JUST ADVOCATE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN.
AND I ENCOURAGE IT, AND IF IT COMES TO FEE DEVELOPMENT, I CAN SHIFT OVER FROM OFFICE BROKERAGE TO ONE OF MY OTHER AWESOME CLIENTS.
I'M TEXTING HIM, ASKING HIM IF HE'S READY TO GO.
HE'S BEEN BUILDING 35 YEARS, AND I KNOW YOU ARE SO WELL-NETWORKED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS GO THROUGH.
I'M SORRY, YOUR NAME? KEVIN KRUGER.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW GOLTANOV, 125 JEFFERSON AVENUE.
I DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF CORRIDOR-WIDE INCENTIVES THAT INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CLAIMS THAT WERE BEING USED TO SUPPORT THE REQUESTED INCREASE OF FAR.
THE APPLICANT HAS STATED THAT THE EXISTING 2.75 FAR DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO ACHIEVE THE FULL DENSITY PERMITTED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON THIS SITE WHICH IS 150 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 235 UNITS BASED UPON THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT SITE OF ABOUT 68 000 SQUARE FEET HOWEVER BECAUSE THE PARKING GARAGE IS EXCLUDING FROM FAR CALCULATIONS IT'S NOT CLEAR FROM THE PRESENTATION WHY THE FAR ALLOWED TODAY IS NOT SUFFICIENT SO TO CLARIFY THE RECORD COULD THE PLANNING DIRECTOR PLEASE WALK US THROUGH THE NUMBERS SUPPORTING THAT CLAIM.
SPECIFICALLY, HOW MANY UNITS CAN BE BUILT UNDER THE EXISTING 2.75 FAR, AND WHAT DESIGN OR CODE CONSTRAINTS PREVENT THE PROJECT FROM BEING FROM REACHING THE FULL ALLOWED UNIT CODE.
DAVID HERTZBERG, STERLING BUILDING.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
I THINK THE ADDITION OF MARKET RATE HOUSING IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING IN THE AREA.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MEL AND ANNABELLE SAID EARLIER.
OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CALLER IS JESSICA.
JESSICA, STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING MY CALL, JESSICA PITA OF 639 13TH STREET.
JUST A FEW SHORT BLOCKS FROM THIS PROPOSED BIG DEVELOPMENT IN THE HEART OF OUR AMAZING ART DECO HISTORIC DISTRICT.
TO CLARIFY, DURING MY LITTLE TWO MINUTES, I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF, NOT ON BEHALF OF FP&A.
HOWEVER, I AM A MEMBER, AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I'VE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC, ATTENDED VARIOUS MEETINGS, SPOKEN WITH RESIDENTS,
[03:25:01]
AND LET ME TELL YOU, JUST BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING DAY JOBS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT, OH, LET'S HELP PEOPLE LIVE HERE.THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING HERE AND THEY'RE AT WORK, MOST OF THEM RIGHT NOW, OKAY? I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CONCERN AND OPPOSITION REGARDING THIS DEMOLITION HEIGHT INCREASE PROPOSAL, FAR INCREASE PROPOSAL.
A COMMENT THAT PARTICULARLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S ON THE ADDITIONAL 0.5 FAR, WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.
LIKE? I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
I'M GOING TO START TALKING MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS HOW DIFFICULT THESE NUMBERS CAN BE TO VISUALIZE.
ON PAPER, 0.5 FAR SEEMS MODEST.
LOOK, IN REALITY, IT REPRESENTS A VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INTENSITY, MASS, OCCUPANCY, AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE IS OFTENTIMES A DISCONNECT IN HOW THESE NUMBERS APPEAR ON PAGE.
PAPER, MY FRIENDS, AND HOW THEY ARE EXPERIENCED ON THE GROUND.
I ALSO APPRECIATE, LET ME TAKE A QUICK BREATH, THE MAYOR'S FOCUS ON ECONOMIC VALUE, THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUE FOR OUR CITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROPOSED PROJECT.
THAT BEING SAID, I RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THIS COMMISSION TO ALSO CONSIDER WHAT CANNOT BE CAPTURED ON A TAX ROLL OR TO PAY OFF CITY BONDS, FOR EXAMPLE.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TROY WRIGHT.
TROY WRIGHT, WASHINGTON AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WASHINGTON AVENUE NEEDS ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY.
THAT STRENGTHENS THE CORE AND SUPPORTS THE CORRIDOR.
SO WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT IT IS NOT A MASSIVE TOWER.
IT IS A PROJECT THAT APPEARS TO BE SCALED APPROPRIATELY AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HELP CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE IN A POSITIVE WAY.
RESIDENTIAL BRINGS SOMETHING THAT VISITORS ALONE CANNOT PROVIDE, CONSISTENCY, ACTIVITY, SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THEY HELP CREATE THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS ENTREPRENEURS, PROFESSIONALS, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WE WANT TO LIVE, WORK, AND INVEST ON MIAMI BEACH.
SO, WASHINGTON AVENUE CANNOT THRIVE ON TOURISM ALONE.
A SUCCESSFUL CORRIDOR REQUIRES A HEALTHY BALANCE OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, HOSPITALITY, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RETAIL ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
A PROJECT LIKE THIS COULD HELP CREATE THE BALANCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT WASHINGTON AVENUE, THE HEARTBEAT OF MIAMI BEACH FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS MARK NEEDLE.
I AM PART OF FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT TODAY.
WE ALL WANT TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WISHFUL THINKING AND GOODWILL FOR CURRENT OWNERS ARE NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
A GREATLY ENHANCED CONDO, A BLOCK FROM LINCOLN ROAD AND A BLOCK FROM THE OCEAN, LOOKS AND QUACKS A LOT LIKE A LUXURY TOWER.
BUT DOWN THE ROAD, IT ONLY TAKES ONE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP.
AND ANOTHER SIX, SEVEN FOOT LIKE THIS ONE TO TURN THE COMPLETED STRUCTURE INTO LUXURY CONDOS IN ORDER TO, AT THAT POINT, IT WILL BE INCREASED THE TAX BASE.
15% OF THE BUILDING WILL BE PUBLICLY GRANTED BONUS, BUT THERE ARE TRULY NO GUARANTEES THAT IT WILL EVER, MUCH LESS PERMANENTLY, BE AFFORDABLE FOR LOCAL WORKERS, EVEN IF THE MASSING AND LIBERAL SETBACK CHANGES ARE MADE PERMANENT.
LIVE LOCAL ALLOWS ANOTHER HALF DOZEN FLOORS, IT'S TRUE, BUT AT LEAST IT REQUIRES 40% AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR DECADES.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FP&A CONCERNS ON THE TABLE.
THEY'VE HARDLY BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED AND INDEED THEY'VE BEEN IGNORED AT EACH STAGE.
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE COMMISSION ITEM, THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK HAS IDENTIFIED NOTHING BUT CONCERNS.
NO VALUATION HAS EVER BEEN DONE.
IT SHOWS HOW THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN FLAWED.
IT'S JUST A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN STAFF AND OWNERSHIP.
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE STRONGLY AGREE ON THE DANGER OF BEING RESOLD EVEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION, ADDING PRESSURE TO ALLOW CONDO SALES FOR LUXURY OWNERS.
COMMISSIONER SALINAS AGREE ON THE REQUIREMENT OF SMALL RETAIL SPACES.
COMMISSIONER BOTT AGREE ON FULL-YEAR LEASES BECAUSE EVEN 12-MONTH LEASES CAN STILL BECOME SHORT-TERM USES FOR THE MANY MILLIONAIRES LOOKING TO SPEND A FEW WEEKS OR
[03:30:01]
WEEKENDS IN MIAMI BEACH.AND THE SIX-MONTH LEASES INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SHORT-TERM VISITORS USING THESE APARTMENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SKEPTICISM, AND SO FAR WE'VE BEEN SHUT OUT.
HELLO, COMMISSIONERS, MR. MAYOR.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO ADDRESS YOU.
I AM MICHEL HAUSMAN, THE FOUNDER AND THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF MIAMI NEW DRAMA, BASED AT THE COLONY THEATER.
WE'RE ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
ON LINCOLN ROAD AND FOR THE PAST DECADE I LIVED AND BREATHED LINCOLN ROAD.
I'VE SEEN ITS BEAUTY, ITS HISTORY, BUT ALSO ITS PROBLEM AND ITS EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL.
LAST SUNDAY, BY THE WAY, I HAD MY LAST DRINK AT SEGAFREDO, THE RESTAURANT THAT FOR 26 YEARS LIVED INSIDE THE COLONY THEATER.
AND I THINK THE CLOSING IS A RESULT OF THE TREND ON LINCOLN ROAD.
AND IN ORDER FOR LINCOLN ROAD TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE PROJECT AT 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE.
LINCOLN ROAD NEEDS ITS RESIDENTS TO FULLY FLOURISH.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY ADMIRATION FOR AMBASSADOR PAUL CEJAS, HIS WIFE, TRUDY.
THEY'VE REALLY BEEN MODEL CITIZENS OF MIAMI BEACH, PROFOUNDLY COMMITTED TO THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
AND THEY ARE EXACTLY WHO WE WANT TO BE DEVELOPING THIS PROJECT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR BRINGING ENRIQUE NORTON AS THE ARCHITECT.
HE'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RESPECTED ARCHITECTS, AND IT RAISES THE BAR FOR MIAMI BEACH TO HAVE A PROJECT DESIGNED BY HIM.
IT'S A SHOW OF EXCELLENCE, AND I GIVE MY STRONG SUPPORT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF LINCOLN ROAD.
IT'S DANIEL SERRALDO CALLING AS A RESIDENT OF 730 10TH STREET IN FLAMINGO PARK.
FIRST, I HAVE A FORMAL OBJECTION ON THE RECORD THAT THIS ITEM, R5E, IS IMPROPERLY NOTICED AS BEING AT 925 P.M.
IT'S STILL THERE ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
I'VE GOT A SCREENSHOT IF ANYONE WANTS IT BEFORE IT GETS CHANGED, PROBABLY VERY QUICKLY.
SO LET'S PLEASE RE-NOTICE R5E PROPERLY SO THAT RESIDENTS...
AND NOT JUST REAL ESTATE FOLKS CAN BE HERE LISTENING.
SECOND, THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES FAR INCREASE TO GO TO VOTER REFERENDUM.
THERE WAS A STATE PREEMPTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR IF IT APPLIES.
BUT WHAT WE ALL KNOW IS THE INTENT OF THE VOTERS IS THAT MAJOR DECISIONS LIKE THIS SHOULD GO TO THEM.
THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING THIS COMMISSION WITH FOUR VOTES FROM SENDING THIS TO THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
LET'S GET THIS PROJECT BETTER.
LET'S MAKE SURE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT IT, NOT JUST THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES.
AND LET'S MAKE A PROJECT THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, THERE'S ALREADY A PROJECT APPROVED AT THE HPV YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR OF MDPL THAT CAME FORWARD AND IT ACTUALLY SAVED THE HOHHAUSER BUILDING ON THE SITE.
AND FINALLY, THE HPV DID VOTE IMPROPERLY BECAUSE THEY VOTED BEFORE YOU ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.
AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE A NEW MEMBER OF THE HPV WORKS AT A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES HERE THAT NEED BETTER VETTING AND NEED THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR MINER, FOR HOLDING THE LINE.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, R5F SAYS 926 AM.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS JOHAN VERMEER.
I LIVE AT 7441 WAYNE AVENUE AND I WORK NEAR...
SECTION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE ON LINCOLN ROAD.
I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AS SOMEONE WHO BOTH LIVES AND WORKS IN MIAMI BEACH.
I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFICULT THE COMMUTE HAS BECOME.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS AREA CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE SO THEY SPEND HOURS COMMUTING EVERY DAY WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE TRAFFIC CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCE.
ADDING HOUSING AT 1600 WASHINGTON AVENUE IS PRACTICAL SOLUTION IN A LOCATION WHERE IT BELONGS.
IT WILL HELP BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WORK, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND CREATE MORE ACTIVITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH THE DAY AND EVENING.
MORE RESIDENTS MEAN MORE PEOPLE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPS MAKE THIS AREA FEEL SAFER, LIVELIER, AND MORE WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE.
[03:35:19]
THANK YOU, SIR.THE NEXT CALLER IS LYLE STERN.
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER LYLE STERN, 690 LINCOLN ROAD.
SPEAKING IN MY CAPACITY AS A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER, AND NOT IN MY CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE LINCOLN ROAD BID, I THINK ANNABELLE DID A SPECTACULAR JOB FOR THE BID.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK AMBASSADOR CEJAS AND CHERIE FOR BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY FORWARD.
I'M INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
IT SIGNIFICANTLY ACTIVATES WHAT IS A DEAD CORNER.
IT PROVIDES NEEDED AND NECESSARY HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT SUBSTANTIALLY CLEANS UP A VERY IMPORTANT CORNER AND CORRIDOR.
IT ADDS SUBSTANTIALLY TO OUR TAX BASE.
IT LEADS, AND AS IMPORTANTLY, IT LEADS IN SIGNALS THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPER, AND PAUL AND TRUDY SEHAUS, GIVEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY OVER SO MANY DECADES.
AND PERHAPS AS IMPORTANT IS, THIS IS AN ACCRETIVE PLAY.
THIS SIGNALS THAT WASHINGTON AVENUE IS GOING THROUGH A REAL METAMORPHOSIS, A REAL REVITALIZATION.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR REASONABLE EXPEDIENCY IN BRINGING CAPITAL TO OUR CITY, NEW CAPITAL TO OUR CITY AND ADDING TO OUR STOCK.
OUR LAST CALLER IS MICHAEL KORMAS, COMRASS.
YES, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER AND MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MICHAEL COMRASS WITH OFFICES AT 1261 20TH STREET.
I MUST SAY I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER.
OF DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS AROUND LINCOLN ROAD.
I DEVELOPED THE LINCOLN PLACE OFFICE BUILDING AT 1601 WASHINGTON AVENUE ALMOST 24 YEARS AGO IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THAT CORNER IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
IT'S BEEN 24 YEARS AND IT'S ONLY BEEN WORSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.
SO I WOULD APPLAUD THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
SECONDARILY, LINCOLN ROAD IS A SINGLE-PURPOSE DISTRICT.
IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE AND THAT'S BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
MIXED USE IS WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO.
THE CLOSER WE CAN GET RESIDENTS TO LINCOLN ROAD PROPER, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE.
SO I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, AND I SUPPORT THE BERG PROJECT COMING UP IN CASE I CAN'T GET ON THE PHONE AT THAT TIME.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I THANK YOU TO ALL THE CALLERS.
WE'VE CERTAINLY LAID OUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES TO WORK ON.
IF THIS DOES PASS NOW BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, LET'S CALL A VOTE.
I HAVE A MOTION, BUT I'D LIKE IT.
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATEO, MONICA MATEO SALINAS.
ONE VOTE FOR BOTH ITEMS IS OKAY? YES.
IF SO, THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 6-7 VOTE.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS ABSENT.
SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH ITEMS IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2026.
OKAY, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO IN BETWEEN.
I THINK LET'S CALL TWO QUICK ITEMS, I HOPE, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE OUR BREAK.
[R5 AA AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE ENTITLED “MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE I, ENTITLED “IN GENERAL,” BY AMENDING SECTION 70-1.1 THEREOF, ENTITLED “HABITUAL MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATION OFFENDERS” TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE HABITUAL MUNICIPAL OFFENDER ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS A YES.IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, ENTITLED IN GENERAL BY AMENDING SECTION 70-1.1 THEREOF, ENTITLED HABITUAL MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATION OFFENDERS.
TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE HABITUAL MUNICIPAL OFFENDER ORDINANCE, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CONSERVABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE, THIS IS A SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU, AND COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEOS-HELENAS AND I ARE SPONSORING, ALONG WITH CO-SPONSORS COMMISSIONER BOTT, MAGAZINE, FERNANDEZ, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, COMMISSIONER MATEOS-HELENAS.
THIS ITEM REALLY FIRMS UP OUR HABITUAL MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, AND IT SHORTENS SOME TIMELINES,
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SO THAT WAY IT'S EASIER TO KEEP OUR HABITUAL MISDEMEANOR OFFENDERS OFF OUR STREETS.AND WITH THAT, I MOVE THE ITEM.
SPECIFICALLY, RIGHT NOW IT TAKES FOUR CONVICTIONS IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD TO BE LABELED A HABITUAL OFFENDER, WHICH CAN INCREASE PENALTIES.
THIS WOULD BE THREE OFFENSES WITHIN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
SO CERTAINLY WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS RECIDIVISTS.
WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB ABOUT IT, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SO GREAT TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
SO THE FOUR OFFENSES STILL APPLIES TO THE EXISTING OFFENSES.
THE SHORTER PERIOD APPLIES TO MOST.
TO SOME NEW OFFENSES THAT WERE ADDED, BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING SMOKING CANNABIS, URINATING OR DEFECATING IN PUBLIC, CONSUMPTION OR POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL IN PUBLIC, CONDUCTING BUSINESS ON STREETS, AND STAYING IN PARKS AFTER HOURS.
MAYOR REDEKOPAN, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
MAYOR REDEKOPAN, I HAVE A MOTION.
MAYOR REDEKOPAN, I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OR MONICA MATTEL SALINAS, SECONDED BY MAYOR MINER.
I SEE NO ONE ON ZOOM REQUESTING TO SPEAK, NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE GOING FORWARD WITH VOTING? I APOLOGIZE.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURES OUR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION TEAM GO FORWARD WITH THIS? THE MESSAGE WE ARE TRYING TO SEND IS...
WE ARE DONE WITH THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER TERRORIZING OUR CITY, TERRORIZING OUR CITY.
IT IS NOT THIS LARGE SWATH OF PROBLEM MAKERS WE HAVE.
IT IS A VERY CONCENTRATED NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO PROLONG SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO PASS.
BUT, CHIEF, IF I CAN JUST GRAB YOUR ATTENTION.
BESIDES, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF DOMESTIC OR TWO PEOPLE THAT KNOW EACH OTHER AND IT'S KIND OF A MOMENT OF CHANCE, IS IT A FAIR ASSUMPTION TO SAY EVEN OUR MOST VIOLENT AND SERIOUS CRIMES, THOSE ARE NOT FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS, PAINTING WITH A BROAD BRUSH? I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE EXCEPTION, BUT THE BROADER RULE.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHEN WE SEE CRIMES WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYWHERE, IT'S BUILT UP AND IT'S...
TYPICALLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LONG RECORD THAT HAVE JUST BEEN IN AND OUT OF THIS SYSTEM.
IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD AFTERNOON, WAYNE JONES, POLICE CHIEF.
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE ANECDOTALLY, AND I DON'T HAVE EMPIRICAL DATA WITH ME TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, BUT ANECDOTALLY IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT OFTENTIMES FOLKS WHO ENGAGE IN VARIOUS CRIMES INSIDE THE CITY ARE MULTIPLE OFFENDERS, SOMETIMES EVEN OFFENDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN MULTIPLE STATES.
TIME AFTER TIME, JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, IN THE ARRESTS WE'VE MADE OF FOLKS, YOU'LL FIND THEY HAVE, IN SOME CASES, DOZENS OF ARRESTS, DOZENS HERE IN OUR REGION, FLORIDA IN AND OF ITSELF, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL.
AND I'LL JUST WRAP IT UP AND GET BACK TO THE VOTE.
CLEAR CLARIFYING WITH OUR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION TEAM, I'D LIKE TO SPEND MORE TIME WORKING OR SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL.
YOU ARE RECEIVING A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM THE CITY.
WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, PROTECT OUR VISITORS, PROTECT OUR TOURISTS, PROTECT OUR CITY.
WE DON'T WANT THE THESE PLEA DEALS DOWN IF THAT'S HAPPENING JUST TO GET CASE WORK OFF OF THE PLATE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I DON'T KNOW THE MERITS OF IT, SO I WANTED TO.
DISCUSS WITH THAT MORE, BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT YOU ARE SEEING A CLEAR, UNIFIED MESSAGE ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO TAKE UP HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
I'M PUTTING THAT OUT THERE, LIKE I SAID, PERHAPS UNFAIRLY.
I DON'T HAVE DATA TO BACK THAT UP, JUST SEEING SOME PEOPLE IN THE KNOW, WHAT THEY COMMENT, THAT WHILE WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, HIGH RATES, A LOT OF IT IS JUST KIND OF PLEA BARGAINING DOWNWARDS.
DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW PUBLIC WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE VOTE I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE ARE DONE WITH THIS, AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MANAGING CASELOAD.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITY AT TIMES OFF OF OUR STREETS.
I MEAN, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE PROSECUTION TEAM NEXT WEEK.
SORT OF LET US KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING MORE WE CAN DO.
FOR EXAMPLE, EARLY ON, THIS IS WHEN WE WERE NOT, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ROBUST TEAM THAT WE HAVE NOW.
I PUT ON LEGISLATION BASICALLY REQUIRING.
OUR PROSECUTION, IF THE JUDGE DISMISSES IT, WE WOULD APPEAL.
AND THAT WORKED BECAUSE THEY TESTED US ONCE OR TWICE BUT ULTIMATELY REALIZED WE WERE SERIOUS.
WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THAT LEGISLATION, I WAS TOLD INTERNALLY, LIKE, IT'S A
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BALANCING ACT BECAUSE WE FACE THESE JUDGES ALL THE TIME.WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE UPSET AT OUR LAWYERS.
I SAID, PERFECT, I'LL PUT ON LEGISLATION THAT CAN BE UPSET AT ME AND THE REST OF OUR COMMISSION, RIGHT? WE'LL TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR HANDS.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE CERTAINLY WILLING, I THINK.
ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY WILLING, ALREADY WILLING AND ABLE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT.
AND WHETHER IT BE, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, THANKFULLY THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, BUT WHEN THAT BAIL REFORM WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED AND I HAD EXPOSED IT AND THEN I WORKED CLOSELY, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT.
A LOT OF YOU WEREN'T EVEN ON THE DAIS AT THE TIME WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING.
AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING BECAUSE SOME OF THESE, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THESE...
I ACTUALLY, THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ARRESTED, 87 PRIOR ARRESTS, 87 PRIOR ARRESTS.
I ACTUALLY PUBLICLY EXPOSED IT, PUT IT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA, OUTLINING EVERY DATE THIS MAN WAS ARRESTED AND WHAT HE, THE CRIME HE COMMITTED.
I GET A CALL ABOUT A WEEK LATER THAT HE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN.
I'M LIKE, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE? AND THEN HE WAS ACTUALLY DISMISSED BECAUSE THEY SAID HE ACTUALLY WAS ERRONEOUSLY ARRESTED.
IF A PERSON IS ERRONEOUSLY ARRESTED, BUT I CALLED THE STATE ATTORNEY MYSELF, THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND I SPEAK TO THEM A LOT, AND I'M LIKE, I DON'T EVEN CARE THAT HE WAS ERRONEOUSLY ARRESTED.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF TROUBLE.
BUT WHY WAS HE ON THE STREET IN THE FIRST PLACE? HE COMMITTED A SERIOUS CRIME IN OUR CITY.
87TH ARREST, AND HE WAS OUT ON OUR STREETS.
THE PROSECUTION TEAM ONLY HANDLES MISDEMEANORS.
THE STATE ATTORNEY HANDLES THE FELONIES.
BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK THAT GETS MADDENING.
BUT THIS IS GOOD LEGISLATION TO TRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT.
BUT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK MORE TO DO BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE, LIKE YOU SAY, TERRORIZING OUR CITY AND RECIDIVISTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON OUR STREETS.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS AS A YES.
[R5 O 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 2-18 ENTITLED “STOP THE PAUSE POLICY” TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM VOTING THRESHOLDS FOR THE CITY COMMISSION RELATING TO SPECIFIED PROJECTS AT ADVANCED STAGES OF COMPLETION HAVING AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST ABOVE A STATED THRESHOLD; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
YES.AND AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE REQUESTING TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE OR IN ZOOM.
I'LL ANNOUNCE THAT IN A MINUTE.
R5.0 IS AN ORDER TO THE MAYOR OF 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 2, ENTITLED CITY COMMISSION, BY AMENDING SECTION 2-18, ENTITLED STOP THE PAUSE POLICY, TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM VOTING THRESHOLDS FOR CITY COMMISSION RELATING TO SPECIFIED PROJECTS AT ADVANCED STAGES OF COMPLETION, HAVING AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST ABOVE A STATED THRESHOLD, AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALERS OF ABILITY QUALIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS AN ITEM I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON IT, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF OUR COMMITTEES.
BACK IN 2025, THIS CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED THE ORIGINAL STOP THE PAWS ORDINANCE, WHICH REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE TO IMPEDE, TO AMEND, TO CANCEL A CIP PROJECT COSTING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE WOULD SPEND STAFF RESOURCES, TIME, INVEST IN DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS, GETTING A PROJECT TO A POINT OF IT BEING SHOVEL READY.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE PULL THE PLUG ON THE PROJECT AND WE END UP LOSING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED INTO THOSE PROJECTS.
AT THE TIME, THE ORIGINAL STOP THE PAWS ORDINANCE LEGISLATION FOCUSED ON ISSUES LIKE STORMWATER SYSTEMS, WATER AND SEWER UPGRADES.
THE EXPANSION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY EXPANDS THE COVERAGE OF THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE VALUE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, AND IT INCREASES THE VOTING THRESHOLDS REQUIRED TO CANCEL OR PAUSE THOSE PROJECTS.
WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY COMMITTEE.
VICE MAYOR LAURA DOMINGUEZ FOR HAVING ENCOURAGED US TO GO AND MEET WITH THEM.
IT WAS HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE, AND THE PUBLIC IS NOW GOING TO BENEFIT OF A PROJECT KICKOFF MEETING IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CITY BRINGS IN A CONTRACTOR TO ENSURE NEIGHBORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH THAT CONTRACTOR AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE DESIGN AND RAISE ANY CONCERNS FROM THE START.
FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS HIRED, SO THAT
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AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, WE DON'T THEN RAISE THOSE ISSUES AND THEN YOU WASTE ALL OF THAT PRECIOUS TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR BY CANCELING THE PROJECT AT THE END.AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR GUIDING US THROUGH THIS IMPORTANT POLICY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND ALSO FOR BEING OPEN TO MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE.
NOT ONLY DID YOU GO ONCE, I THINK IT WAS THREE TIMES IN TOTAL.
SO YOU REALLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS ORDINANCE GOT EVERY INPUT THAT NEEDED TO.
I SEE NO ONE ON ZOOM AND NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER MATEL SALINAS IS A YES.
COMMISSIONER SCHWARTZ IS A YES.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR LUNCH BREAK.
WE DO OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF OUR CHARTER OFFICES.
THAT'S OUR CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, INSPECTOR GENERAL.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL BY THEIR SMILES OR FROWNS AFTERWARDS HOW IT WENT.
WE ARE GOING ON AIR IN 5, 4, 03, 2, 1.
OKAY, WELCOME BACK FOR OUR AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE COMMISSION MEETING.
AS I MENTIONED, AS WE TOOK A BREAK, WE WERE DOING THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF OUR CHARTERED OFFICERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, AND OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN JULY.
YOU CAN TRY TO DETERMINE FROM THEIR FACES HOW THEY FEEL, BUT IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION, ROBUST DISCUSSION ON MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD TO EVEN GREATER.
WHO'S HERE TO SPEAK? SO APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME.
CAN I ADJUST THIS A LITTLE BIT? OKAY.
UNTIL ABOUT 60 YEARS AGO, MIAMI BEACH WAS NOTORIOUS FOR BEING A SUNDOWN TOWN.
THAT ENDED BECAUSE THE JIM CROW TIMES WERE CHANGING.
BUT NOW, 60 YEARS LATER, MIAMI BEACH IS ONCE AGAIN A SUNDOWN TOWN, EXCEPT THE TERMS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE TODAY SUNDOWN IS 24-7.
AND THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN DOESN'T MATTER.
IF YOU'RE CAUGHT OUTDOORS TRYING TO DO WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO, NAMELY SLEEP, YOU GO TO JAIL.
I'VE DONE HOMELESS SOLIDARITY WORK FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
I'VE PUSHED BACK ON NUMEROUS HOMELESS CRIMINALIZATION LAWS, AND MY WORK HAS LED TO SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS AGAINST CITIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND BEYOND OVER UNCONSTITUTIONAL PANHANDLING BANS AND THE TRASHING OF HOMELESS PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.
IN ALL THAT TIME, I'VE NEVER SEEN A CITY ENFORCE A MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE WITH SUCH SADISTIC ZEAL AS MIAMI BEACH IS DOING WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF ITS CAMPING BAN.
AROUND 800 ARRESTS IN 2025, AS REPORTED BY AARON LEIBOVITZ IN THE MIAMI HERALD A FEW MONTHS AGO.
A SLOWER PACE, BUT STILL WELL OVER 100 ARRESTS IN 2026.
THOSE 800 ARRESTS COMPRISED NEARLY HALF OF ALL ARRESTS IN THE CITY LAST YEAR.
I'VE TAKEN THE ANALYSIS FURTHER.
THE COST OF INCARCERATING HOMELESS PEOPLE LAST YEAR, LOOKING AT ACTUAL DAYS IN JAIL FOR PEOPLE ARRESTED BY YOUR POLICE, WAS OVER 3 MILLION.
WE MIAMI-DADE TAXPAYERS FROM FLORIDA CITY TO MIAMI GARDENS PAY IT.
AND I'M QUITE CERTAIN WE DON'T WANT OUR MONEY SPENT OVER A POLICY THAT'S PURELY PUNITIVE AND DOES NOTHING TOWARDS ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
FOR THREE MILLION DOLLARS, WE COULD HAVE HOUSED WELL OVER THE ENTIRE HOMELESS POPULATION OF MIAMI BEACH FOR A FULL YEAR IN $2,000 A MONTH APARTMENTS.
THAT'S HOW WE NEED OUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT, NOT JAILING PEOPLE.
WHO ARE BARELY SURVIVING ON THESE VERY MEAN STREETS.
END THE REGIME OF INCARCERATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ZOOM.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK MYSELF AND THE REST OF OUR COMMISSION HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE.
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AND IT IS, BY THE WAY, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ON WITH THE POLICE.I DON'T TRY TO GET INVOLVED IN THERE, BUT I HAPPENED TO BE WITH THEM ONE TIME WHEN THEY DID HAVE TO MAKE AN ARREST.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, THE PERSON HAD A WARRANT OUT FOR THEM.
I CAN TELL YOU I GOT EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE RELISH DOING, BUT WE ALSO OFFER A LOT OF HELP.
WE SPEND, YOU MENTIONED NUMBERS ABOUT MONEY, BUT WE ALSO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP HOMELESS WITH SHELTER AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, EVEN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. BUT ULTIMATELY...
SLEEPING IN THE PUBLIC DOES IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS, IMPACTS OUR BUSINESSES, AND HOMELESS IS A CATCH-ALL TERM.
IT'S NOT A FAIR TERM, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY PART OF THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT, BUT IT GETS THROWN INTO THIS CATCH-ALL TERM.
BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK AS A CITY, WE'RE DOING QUITE WELL, AND WE, FOR THE VARIOUS REASONS, WITH THE HELP WE PROVIDE AND THE ENFORCEMENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A CHANGE HERE.
OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CALLER IS HELENA CRYSTAL.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
HI, MY NAME IS HELENA CRYSTAL.
AND I LIVE AT 770 WEST 50TH STREET IN MIAMI BEACH IN THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION R9AH AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE CITY COMMISSION, VICE MAYOR, ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ATTENTION, AND DILIGENCE THAT HAVE GONE INTO INVESTIGATING FLOODING AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN LAKEVIEW.
AS RESIDENTS, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IDENTIFY MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE WITH REOCCURRING FLOODING, THIS ISSUE IS NOT THEORETICAL.
IT AFFECTS OUR HOME, OUR SAFETY, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE OUR STREETS DURING MAJOR RAIN EVENTS.
SO I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION R9AH AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS FOR LAKEVIEW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT CALLER IS RONNIE EISENBERG.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CALL IN.
I'M CALLING IN REGARDS TO R9AE, THE DISCUSSION TO TAKE ACTION, UPDATE ON DYNAMIC SECURITY PERFORMANCE AT THE BISCAYNE POINT GUARDHOUSE.
I'M CALLING AS A RESIDENT, A FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS, A HUSBAND AND A WIFE THAT LIVES ON THE ISLAND SINCE 2012, AND I ALSO REPRESENT THE 327 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE BRINGING THIS UP TODAY.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH QUITE A RIGOR MORE SINCE THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE SECURITY COMPANY TOOK OVER THE CITYWIDE CONTRACT.
OUR COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND OUR SERVICE HAS DECLINED GREATLY FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE HAVE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES AND VOICEMAILS WITH LIVE PICTURES, LIVE VIDEO OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DYNAMIC SECURITIES GUARDS.
IN ALL DAY SHIFTS, IN ALL DAY PARTS, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN MONITORING THE INTERIOR CAMERAS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SECURITY OFFICERS.
AS RECENT AS TODAY, TWICE I WENT IN AND OUT OF THE GUARD, THE ISLAND, AND NEITHER TIME DID THE GUARDS EITHER BOTHER STANDING OR OPENING UP THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS, REALIZING IT'S VERY WARM, BUT THAT THEY JUST PUSH THE BUTTON AND ALLOW THE CARS TO COME IN.
30 MINUTES AGO, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY THEY TOOK OVER THE CONTRACT AND REPLACED FIVE OF OUR SECURITY OFFICERS THAT WE ACTUALLY TOOK PART IN TRAINING.
AND THEY WERE MAGNIFICENT WITH THE PRIOR SECURITY COMPANY, BUT THEY WERE THE FIRST FIVE TO GO.
AND THEY'VE BEEN REPLACED WITH DEFINITELY SUBSTANDARD, UNTRAINED GUARDS THAT HAVE TAKEN ALL THE DIFFERENT SHIFTS, INCLUDING THE ROVING SECURITY OFFICER WHO.
DOZENS OF REPORTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY PARK AND THEY DON'T MOVE AROUND.
THE PRIOR COMPANY, THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO LOG IN AND CHECK IN EVERY 15 MINUTES.
THEY KNEW WHERE THE CARS WERE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF GUIDELINES FOR THEIR ROVING VEHICLE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY.
THIS COMPANY IS VERY REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE, AND AS THE FRONT GUARD GATE THAT PROTECTS THESE HOMEOWNERS, WE SHOULD BE REACTIVE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BRINGING THIS TO THE AGENDA TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LISTENING.
NEXT CALLER IS SPENCER ROBERTS.
HI, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE
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OF HISTORY AND PASSING THE SHARK FISHING BAN, DESPITE THE STATE'S INTERVENTION.YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
THERE WAS SO MANY CITIES THAT HAD ALREADY PASSED.
THESE BANS, FWC HAD RESPECTED THIS LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR 18 YEARS AND SORT OF DECIDED TO CHANGE ITS MIND NOW, BUT WE'RE SEEING OTHER STATES LIKE HAWAII, NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, TAKING STEPS TO REIN IN THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL TREND OF HUNTING THESE ENDANGERED SPECIES FOR SELFIES, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND IT'S SPITE OF EVERYTHING AND ALL THE TURMOIL.
SORRY THAT IT'S BECOME SUCH A POLITICAL ISSUE.
I'M SURE YOU'VE RECEIVED ALL SORTS OF NASTY EMAILS AND COMMENTS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS.
NEXT CALLER HAS A SCREEN NAME OF ZOOM USER.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I AM A RESIDENT OF SOUTH OF FIFTH AND HAVE BEEN SO FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 5 IN REGARDS TO GRANTING A GRACE PERIOD OR ZONE EXTENDING FROM THE PERIMETER OF THE DOG PARK FOR UNLEASHED ANIMALS.
I MYSELF HAVE A DOG, HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, NOR HAVE I SEEN ANY OTHER.
ANIMAL ISSUES IN THE PARK ASIDE FROM A LITTLE ARGUMENT BETWEEN TWO DOGS.
AND I THINK THAT DOGS SOMETIMES HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET OUT.
TICKET OR FEE IS UNREASONABLE.
OUR LAST CALLER IS ELBA MACHADO.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND MY NAME IS ELBA MACHADO.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF VIDA AND ESTILO V&E HOSPITALITY GROUP AND WE ARE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM R5C WHICH IS THE ALTON CITY CENTER OVERLAY.
WE TRULY BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT STEP TO OUR THANK YOU.
CREATING HOUSING AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY WHERE WE ACTUALLY NEED IT VERY MUCH.
ADDING ABOUT 180 RESIDENTIAL UNITS WILL TREMENDOUSLY HELP REVITALIZING BESIDES A HISTORICAL AND VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED AREA STRETCH OF ALTON ROAD.
SPECIFICALLY FOR V&E, THIS ISSUE, IT'S VERY PRACTICAL.
IN PERSONAL, WE OPERATE MORE THAN 30 LOCATIONS, INCLUDING 16 IN SOUTH BEACH.
AND LIKE MANY HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES, WE ARE FACING SERIOUS STAFFING CHALLENGES BECAUSE SO MANY EMPLOYEES CANNOT AFFORD SIMPLY TO LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH.
SO THIS MATTER FOR TALENT RETENTION, ESPECIALLY FOR MANAGEMENT AND SKILLED HOSPITALITY WORKERS, WHO OFTEN WE HAVE TO SEE GOING TO OTHER MARKETS SUCH AS COCONUT GROVE AND BRICKELL.
SO DEFINITELY THIS WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF A YEAR-ROUND RESIDENCY, REDUCING COMMUTER TRAFFIC, AND ADDING LAYERS OF THINGS LIKE MICRO-MOBILITY.
SO WE CONSIDER THIS VERY SMART, AND WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
MATTHEW GOLTANOFF, 125 JEFFERSON AVENUE.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS RELATED TO THE STORMWATER PROJECT AND THE FUNDING CHALLENGES RELATED TO THAT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK DURING THAT.
SO I WANTED TO OFFER A SUGGESTION RIGHT NOW.
AT THE JUNE 5TH FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE WAS A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.
AND I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR OFFERED A PRETTY INTERESTING SUGGESTION OR IDEA TO CONSIDER, WHICH WAS THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE GROWN.
SUBSTANTIALLY IN COSTS AND SCOPE AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE SOUTH OF FIFTH STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT HAS BALLOONED FROM I THINK TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO IT WAS BUDGETED TO BE TWENTY MILLION AND NOW THERE'S A GAP OF LIKE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND HE SUGGESTED AND NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROJECT BUT IN GENERAL WHY NOT LOOK AT MAYBE NOT DOING ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES AND JUST SOME PUMP STATIONS YOU KNOW FILTER PUMP STATIONS THAT TAKE THE STORM WATER OUT.
AND MAYBE NOT RAISE ALL THE STREETS.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL INTERESTS TRYING TO PUSH THIS PROJECT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IN THE SOUTH OF FIFTH NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND SOME MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN EVENTS
[04:05:02]
IN THE SOUTH OF FIFTH, MAYBE PERHAPS IT'S NOT RAISING ALL THE STREETS DOWN THERE.MAYBE IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THE 80-20 RULE.
WE'LL GET 80% OF THE BENEFIT, AND WE'LL SAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND MAYBE JUST DO THE PUMP STATION PART TO IT.
PLANT THAT SEED IN YOUR MIND WHEN THAT DEBATE COMES UP TODAY.
OUR LAST VIRTUAL CALLER IS KEITH.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
YEAH, KEITH MARKS, CALLING FOR MYSELF, 50 SOUTH POINT DRIVE.
TO ADD ON TO THAT, YES, THERE WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION IN FERC IN WHICH THEY DID TALK ABOUT DOING JUST SOUTH POINT 1 AND 2, WEST, NORTH, PICKING CERTAIN ITEMS OUT.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED...
AND GOT CANCELED AND MOVED TO AH FROM AD WAS THE DISCUSSION OF TAKING THOSE CRITICAL PROJECTS AND DOING THEM WITH REVENUE BONDS AND THEN MOVING THE REST TO A GEO BOND, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT PASS.
AND THE GEO BOND METHODOLOGY IS FLAWED IN THAT IT'S AGAINST RAISING PROPERTY TAXES IN THE SAME TIME.
THE FLORIDA IS VOTING TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
YOU'VE GOT JUST A FEW MONTHS TO COMMUNICATE THIS G.O.
IT'S IT'S IT'S FOOL'S GOLD AND AT LEAST PASS REVENUE BONDS AGAINST STORMWATER FUND FOR THINGS LIKE THE FIRST PHASE OF FIRST STREET PROJECT.
JUST LIKE MATTHEW HAD MENTIONED.
IT'S THE FUNDING MECHANISM THAT'S FLAWED IN MR. SUAREZ'S AND ALEX'S PROPOSAL TO PUT IT ALL ON VOTERS WHEN THIS CAN BE VOTED ON BY THE COMMISSION.
[R7 AF A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE A BLOOD COMPONENTS SUPPLY AGREEMENT (AGREEMENT) WITH ONEBLOOD, INC., FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE MIAMI BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS TO CRITICALLY INJURED TRAUMA PATIENTS IN THE FIELD; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT, UPON FINALIZATION, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE A BUDGET AMENDMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000, TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT THIS NEW PROGRAM.]
THANK YOU.THAT CONCLUDES THE SUBJECT, MAYOR.
IS AUTHORIZE AGREEMENT WITH ONEBLOOD AND PROVIDE $20,000 IN FUNDING.
SO AT A RECENT MEETING THAT I HAD WITH CHIEF DIGNA AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HER TEAM, THEY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ONEBLOOD FOR HAVING LIFE SAFETY MEASURES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I'LL LET CHIEF DIGNA GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER.
SO I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ASK YOU ONE MORE TIME TO SUPPORT US ON ANOTHER INITIATIVE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE'LL BE THE FIRST IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND IT'S LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THAT IS PLACING WHOLE BLOOD ON OUR FRONTLINE RESCUE UNITS.
SO SINCE DECEMBER, WE'VE RAN 115 TRAUMA CALLS, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 10 OR 15 COULD HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED SOME WHOLE BLOOD.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHOLE BLOOD AND SALINE IS THAT SALINE DOESN'T TRANSFER OXYGEN TO YOUR CELLS, TO YOUR YOU KNOW MAIN ORGANS IN YOUR SYSTEM AND IT ALSO DOESN'T CLOT.
SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS EXTRAORDINARY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR OUR TRAUMA PATIENT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS COMMISSION DOESN'T WAIT TO SET THE STANDARD.
WE'LL BE THE FIRST IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
AGAIN, LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF ALL THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
AND MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR HAS SAID HIS GOAL IS TO MAKE MIAMI BEACH THE BEST CITY IN AMERICA, MS. DOMINGUEZ.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US LEAD THE EFFORT IN THIS INITIATIVE AND TO MR. DOPECO'S STAFF, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH US THE LAST SIX MONTHS GOING BACK AND FORTH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN IRONCLAD CONTRACT.
I ASK THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THE $20,000 IS GOING TO GET US 10 UNITS IN OUR RESCUE TRUCKS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO COST TO LIFE, BUT AT LEAST WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAVE SOMEONE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO WAIT TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL IN ORDER TO HAVE A TRANSFUSION ADMINISTERED.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON ANOTHER PROJECT WITH THE HOSPITAL THAT BEFORE THE BLOOD EXPIRES OR ANYTHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SWAP IT OFF SO AT LEAST IT DOESN'T EXPIRE.
[04:10:05]
I MOVE THE ITEM.IF ANYTHING, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR IS ALSO ONLINE IF YOU NEED A FEW WORDS.
[R5 M AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 10, ENTITLED “ANIMALS,” BY REPEALING SECTION 10-21, ENTITLED “SHORE-BASED SHARK FISHING PROHIBITED; DEFINITIONS; PENALTIES”; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED 6-0.
IT'S CALLED ONE OTHER QUICK ITEM, I BELIEVE R5M.
IS IN ORDER TO THE MAYOR CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF MAY BEACH FLORIDA MANY CHAPTER 10 ENTITLED ANIMALS BY REPEATING SECTION 1021 ENTITLED SHORE BASED SHARK FISHING PROHIBITED DEFINITIONS PENALTIES AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER SEVERAL ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE, THIS IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR.
I SEE NO ONE ON ZOOM AND NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.
THIS IS TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS ABSENT.
[R7 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, FOLLOWING FIRST READING, AS AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION 1.03(B)(1) OF THE CITY CHARTER AND SECTION 82-37 OF THE CITY CODE, A FIRST AMENDMENT (FIRST AMENDMENT) TO THE AGREEMENT OF LEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 1999 BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH (OWNER), AND RK RIVANI, LLC, (TENANT) RELATING TO THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1691 MICHIGAN AVENUE (PROPERTY), SAID FIRST AMENDMENT PROVIDING, IN PRINCIPAL PART, FOR (I) A LEASE TERM EXTENSION FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL TWENTY (20) YEAR OPTIONS FOR A TOTAL REMAINING TERM OF ONE HUNDRED SIX (106) YEARS; (II) AN INCREASE TO THE BASE RENT AND PERCENTAGE RENT; (III) MARKET RENT ADJUSTMENTS CAPPED AT TWENTY PERCENT AT LEASE YEAR FIFTY AND SEVENTY AND ANY SUBSEQUENT MARKET RENT ADJUSTMENTS TO BE CAPPED AT THIRTY-THREE PERCENT; (IV) THE CONSTRUCTION BY TENANT OF APPROXIMATELY 47,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ABOVE THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE PROPERTY HAVING AN APPROXIMATE VALUE OF $50 MILLION (EXPANSION IMPROVEMENTS); (V) A MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT OF ONE HUNDRED (100) FEET; (VI) THE ADJUSTMENT OF TOTAL REQUIRED PARKING FOR THIS GARAGE TO FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE (425) PARKING SPACES; AND (VII) THE PROVISION BY TENANT OF ADDITIONAL PUBLIC BENEFITS HAVING A VALUE OF ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,300,000); WAIVING THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS BY A FIVE-SEVENTHS (5/7TH) VOTE AS PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 1.03(B)(1)(IV) OF THE CITY CHARTER AND SECTION 82-39(A) OF THE CITY CODE; SUCH FIRST AMENDMENT BEING SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE VOTERS IN A CITY-WIDE REFERENDUM AND CONDITIONED ON TENANT’S OBTAINING A MASTER BUILDING PERMIT FOR THE EXPANSION IMPROVEMENTS BY OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2031 AND COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXPANSION IMPROVEMENTS BY OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2034.]
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE FOR JULY 22ND.
APPROVE AMENDMENT 1, RIVANI LLC LEASE, 1691 MICHIGAN AVENUE.
ITEM I'M EXCITED ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY, TRANSFORMING THIS AREA INTO A VIBRANT, WALKABLE, MIXED-USE DISTRICT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED US CHART A DIFFERENT PATH FORWARD.
AWAY FROM THE ANYTHING-GOES, NIGHTLIFE, AND PARTYING IMAGE THAT SO OFTEN WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH MIAMI BEACH IS ATTRACTING BUSINESSES HERE.
WE ARE BUILDING A REAL ECONOMY, AND SOMETIMES WHAT GETS LOST IN THAT IS NOT JUST THESE HIGH-LEVEL OFFICE BUILDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WHAT WAS FOR SO LONG MISSING IN MIAMI AS A REGION AND MIAMI BEACH IS OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? OPPORTUNITY.
WHEN I MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, I BELIEVED I COULD BE ANYTHING, RIGHT? THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
YOU CAN MAKE IT IN NEW YORK CITY, YOU CAN MAKE IT ANYWHERE.
THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI IN GENERAL.
FOR SO OFTEN, WE WERE A CITY IN A REGION WHERE THE HAVES COULD MOVE HERE AND HAVE A GREAT LIFE OR PEOPLE COULD MOVE HERE WITHOUT MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR UPWARD MOBILITY AND I'M PROUD OF OUR CITY COMMISSION FOR HELPING FURTHER THAT CHARGE AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, IT WAS ACTUALLY COMMISSIONER SAMWELLIAN THAT WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CHAMPIONS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OFFICE OVERLAY INCENTIVES THAT REALLY HELPED SET THAT PATH IN MOTION THAT I'M PROUD TO HELP CARRY THE TORCH ON WITH THIS.
FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND ITEM, WE HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS ON CITY LAND.
OZZIE, MAYBE I'LL KICK IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE SPECIFICS, BUT I'LL JUST TALK HIGH LEVEL.
FULL DISCLOSURE, THE APPLICANT HERE AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING A SINGLE ITEM OF ANY OF THE TERMS. THAT WAS ALL DONE BY CITY STAFF.
NOT ALLOWED ME TO ACT IMPARTIALLY OR FAIRLY FOR THIS.
SO THESE TERMS WERE ALL NEGOTIATED FROM CITY STAFF.
THIS ALLOWS OUR CITY FOR A CITY-OWNED ASSET TO RECEIVE A $50 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT HE'S ONLY ABLE TO MAKE IF HE HAS LONGER TIME ON HIS LEASE EXTENSION TO ESSENTIALLY MAKE THAT MONEY BACK.
BUT IT'S A CITY-OWNED ASSET THAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY INHERIT.
BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT? IS WHAT WE GET IN THE INTERIM, RIGHT? RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE THAT GIVES US A GROSS PERCENTAGE OF RENT THAT IS RECEIVED FROM THE BUILDING.
THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHEN HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WAS
[04:15:01]
ABOUT 30% OCCUPIED.RENTS WERE KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH A CLASS B TYPE PROPERTY.
HE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT AND NOW HE'S ALMOST FULLY OCCUPIED WITH RENTS THAT ARE MUCH HIGHER.
SO WE SIT AROUND AND SAY, WELL, WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THAT? WELL, WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE A PERCENTAGE OF RENT.
SO WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, THE CITY, IN THAT BUILDING PERFORMING WELL, WHICH BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT PERHAPS IN NOVEMBER WHEN HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.
IT BECOMES EVEN MORE CRITICAL THAT MIAMI BEACH AND OTHER CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN FLORIDA DIVERSIFY THEIR REVENUE STREAMS AND RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL AND INCREASING REVENUES FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT THIS PROJECT DOES.
OZZY, I'D REALLY LIKE YOU TO FOCUS, AFTER YOU DESCRIBE KIND OF THE OVERVIEW AND MACRO OF THE DEAL.
REALLY FOCUS ON THE LEASE REVENUES THAT WE'RE RECEIVING NOW AND WHAT THEY ARE PRO FORMA PROPOSED.
SO NOT ONLY IS THE PROPERTY OWNER MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN AN ASSET THAT WE'LL INHERENTLY GET, BUT WE ACTUALLY GET INCREASED VALUE RIGHT NOW EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR REVENUES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY USE THAT WILL BE NEEDED MORE THAN EVER IN NOVEMBER.
SO WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE.
AS I UNDERSTAND, IT'S BEEN MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION BACK AND FORTH.
BUT I'M VERY EXCITED BECAUSE, TO ME, THIS ISN'T JUST ONE ASSET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS REALLY MARKS THE NEW PAGE THAT WE'RE TURNING IN MIAMI BEACH.
OZZY DOMINGUEZ, DIVISION DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
AS COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE WAS SAYING, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY.
GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH AN EXISTING TENANT WHO IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS ASSET THAT IS ON A GROUND LEASE WITH THE CITY.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, A GROUND LEASE THAT RUNS THROUGH 2052 WITH TWO 20-YEAR EXTENSIONS.
THIS NEW AMENDMENT WILL PROVIDE FOR TWO ADDITIONAL 20-YEAR EXTENSIONS TO THE PROPERTY.
IT WILL ALSO RAISE THE GROSS REVENUE PERCENTAGE FROM 2.5% TO 3%, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO GENERATE MORE MONEY ESPECIALLY OR MORE REVENUES I SHOULD SAY ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR EXPANSION THEY ARE CURRENTLY PAYING 392 000 UM I'M SORRY THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE BASED THEY HAVE A BASE RENT STRUCTURE UH THAT INCREASES EVERY FIVE YEARS IN 2027 THROUGH 2027 THAT BASE RENT IS 392 000 AND IN 2028 WITH A MINIMUM PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF 12 PERCENT THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING TO $439,000.
HOWEVER, WITH THE NEW STRUCTURE, WE HAVE INCREASED THOSE MINIMUM RENTS FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
SO ONCE A TENANT RECEIVES THEIR TCO, IF IT'S BY JANUARY 1 OF 2033, THEIR MINIMUM RENTS WILL INCREASE TO $500,000 PLUS A 12% INCREASE.
OZZIE, DOES THAT OCCUR ONLY WHEN THEY...
EXERCISE THE TWO LEASE EXTENSIONS OR IS THAT RIGHT NOW? WELL, THAT'S WHEN PHASE TWO ACTUALLY GETS TCO'D OR CO'D.
SO THAT'S AN INCREASE THAT WE WILL GET OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS OF THE EXISTING LEASE THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T GET.
THAT'S AN INCREASE THAT WE'LL GET OVER THE NEXT, FOR THE LIFE OF THE LEASE COMPOUNDED BY THE FIVE-YEAR INTERVAL INCREASES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TO ESCALATE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF THE TCO IS NOT RECEIVED OR IS NOT ACHIEVED BY JANUARY, BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2033 AND DECEMBER 31, 2033, THEN THE MINIMUM RENTS ARE GOING TO INCREASE TO $515,000.
THE REASON THAT WE WORK THAT IN THERE IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP THE TENANT MOTIVATED TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.
AND IF THERE IS A DELAY AND CAUSES US ANY LOSS OF POTENTIAL.
GROSS REVENUE, PERCENTAGE GROSS REVENUE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AS WELL SO THE CITY IS NOT OUT AND THE TENANT REMAINS MOTIVATED.
THEY FEEL EXTREMELY POSITIVE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MEET EVERY BENCHMARK AND WE'VE SET SEVERAL BENCHMARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T FALL BEHIND, THAT THEY STAY MOTIVATED IN GETTING THE PROJECT NOT ONLY PERMITTED AND TCOED, BUT OPEN AND OPERATING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, BY 20...
THEIR BASEMENT ON RENTS WILL HAVE INCREASED TO $575,000 PLUS THE 12% ESCALATIONS THAT CORRESPOND FOR THOSE YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE TENANT HAS AGREED TO $1.3 MILLION
[04:20:02]
IN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR THE CITY.THERE'S $600,000 THAT WILL BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LINCOLN ROAD MASTER PLAN.
THERE'S $100,000 THAT WILL BE FOR...
FOR PROGRAMS FOR TIPSTERS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, $50,000 FOR MIAMI BEACH SISTER CITIES, $250,000 FOR GENERAL PROGRAMS. THERE'S $300,000 IN TOTAL FOR PARKING PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE 110 PARKING PASSES FOR THE CITY THAT OUR PARKING DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO USE AND CONVERT INTO PASSES FOR WORKFORCE EMPLOYEES OR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS AT MIAMI BEACH RATES INSTEAD OF PRIVATE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, WHICH IS 2% OF THEIR HARD CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
AND I KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPER WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTS.
I'M SORRY, THE TENANT WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTS.
MAYOR, COMMISSIONER MICHAEL LARKIN, REPRESENTING ROBERT RIVANI HERE.
I'M HERE WITH ROBERT AND NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ.
WE'RE PLEASED TO BE HERE SEEKING THIS LEASE AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, ROBERT TOOK OVER AN AGING CITY ASSET THAT WAS HARDLY LEASED.
HE BUMPED IT UP TO ALMOST 100%.
EVEN WHILE HE WAS UNDERGOING A PHASE ONE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT A GREAT SALESMAN HE IS AND HOW MUCH HE HAS ENERGIZED THE CITY ASSET.
NOW HE WANTS TO EMBARK UPON PHASE TWO, WHICH CONSISTS OF NEW OFFICE SQUARE FOOTAGE, A 6,000 SQUARE FOOT RESTAURANT, AND PADEL COURTS, ALL BE AN ATTACHED ADDITION THAT WILL BE MOSTLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING.
WHAT OZZIE HAD MENTIONED IS THAT THERE IS A SERIES OF PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO OFFER THE CITY.
IT'S BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
ONE OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS REQUIRES A $100,000 PAYMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION OF A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL USE IN THE PALMVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT REQUESTED THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO HALF THAT AMOUNT AND THEN ADD IN A NEW CATEGORY, WHICH WOULD BE THE CREATION OF A 17TH STREET MASTER PLAN THAT WOULD BE AT $50,000 WITH THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE RELIGIOUS USE BE AT $50,000.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CHANGE, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH OZZIE AND RICK TOPICO IN FORMALIZING THAT CHANGE AS WE COME BACK TO YOU ALL FOR SECOND READING ON JULY 22ND.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ON FIRST READING, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FERC FROM THE JUNE 5TH MEETING, AND SETTING THE SECOND READING FOR JULY 22ND, 2025.
THE PUBLIC BENEFITS, RESPECTFULLY, I THINK THEY'RE ALL GREAT.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR PASSION PROJECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE SOMETHING ELSE, IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE WILLING TO DO THAT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH A BUDGET CRISIS, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
AND WHAT PUT ME ONTO THIS WAS, I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE LAST NIGHT FROM A RESIDENT, AND HE SAYS, YOU SUPPORTING THIS RIVANI LEASE THING, PALMVIEW GOT LISTED AS A PUBLIC BENEFICIARY, BUT WE NEVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT, BUT I THINK THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PORTION SHOULD REALLY BE PUT TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NAMED PROJECT, WEST AVENUE 3. I THINK IT'S A $7 MILLION GAP.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE DEVELOPER PAY TOWARD THAT, WHICH IS GOING TO GREATLY ENHANCE HIS VALUE OF HIS PROPERTY, OR HIS LEASED PROPERTY, WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO A HELP WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE GREAT, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR PRIMARY JOB IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE'VE HAD GREAT, BIG, GREAT DISCUSSIONS AT THE BUDGET HEARING ON HOW TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
AND I THINK THAT THESE BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PROFFER SHOULD GO TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
ADD A POSSIBLE THREADING OF THAT NEEDLE WHILE KEEPING THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS, ACCORDING TO MY COLLEAGUES, ALONG WITH THAT.
PART OF THIS, WHAT OZZIE LAID OUT, WAS ESSENTIALLY IF WE AGREE
[04:25:01]
TO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY EACH YEAR, NOT 50 YEARS FROM NOW, BUT STARTING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF THE NEW LEASE.IS THAT CORRECT ABOUT HOW MUCH INCREASED MONEY WILL THE CITY GET ON THE GROSS LEASE PER YEAR? WELL, INITIALLY UPON TCO, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 OR $60,000, BUT THEN IT REALLY STARTS KICKING IN ONCE THE PROJECT OPENS AND OPERATES AND THE REVENUE STARTS COMING IN AND WE GET THAT EXTRA BUMP OF THE 3% ON THE NEW PROJECT THAT ORIGINALLY WAS NOT GENERATING ANY GROSS REVENUE FOR THE CITY AT ALL.
SO PERHAPS WHAT WE CAN DO THAT VARIANCE OF WHAT WE WILL RECEIVE PROSPECTIVELY VERSUS WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING NOW.
THAT COULD BE PUT TOWARDS THE PALMVIEW INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD ENABLE THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS.
TO STAY IN PLACE WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING VERY MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES THAT THE PALMVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD MAY NEED.
I MEAN, BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, WE CAN HAMMER THAT OUT, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE THAT IF WE HAVE A DEVELOPER OR A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT OR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO COME IN, BY THE WAY, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO A REFERENDUM, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS UNLESS YOU PUT ON, I THINK PUBLIC'S SMART ENOUGH TO SAY PUBLIC BENEFIT.
IT COULD BE, I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE REFERENDUM QUESTION.
BUT I THINK IF YOU SAY FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER SELL TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH.
I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A SHAME IF THIS GOES AND.
FORWARD AND IT DOESN'T GET PASSED AND NOTHING GETS FUNDED.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK.
WELL, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS AND THE PROJECT, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING, THIS PROJECT IS REALLY GOING TO TRANSFORM THAT AREA, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'VE HAD A HARD HAT TOUR AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, SO WHAT WAS THE TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE, $300,000? $1.3 MILLION.
$1.3 MILLION, AND IT WAS $250,000 FOR GENERAL, AND THEN IT BROKE IT DOWN INTO OTHER PIECES.
THERE'S $300,000 THAT IS REAL VALUE BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO THE PARKING PASSES AND PARKING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THAT HAS NO NO HARD MONETARY VALUE TO US, SO IN TOTAL IT'S REALLY A MILLION.
PLUS THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES CONTRIBUTION.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT IT BEING TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE USED FOR IT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER MANY YEARS, SO $1.3 MILLION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT.
WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE A DENT IN ANY OF IT.
SORRY TO PUT HIM ON THE SPOT, BUT JASON GREEN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO I'VE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE'RE IN A BUDGET CRISIS, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT WE ARE.
DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS AND TIGHTEN THE BELT FOR NEXT YEAR? ESPECIALLY IF THE PROPERTY TAX ITEM PASSES THROUGH THE VOTERS? SURE.
BUT ARE WE IN A BUDGET CRISIS TODAY? JASON GREEN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
AS SOMEONE WHO'S ALWAYS FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO SCRUTINIZE EVERY EXPENDITURE AND MAKE SURE IT'S BEING SPENT IN THE MOST PRUDENT WAY.
BUT AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, WE ARE IN A SITUATION BASED ON THE INCREASE, THE SMALLER THAN NEEDED INCREASE IN THE TAXABLE VALUES, THAT WHEN WE MEET IN JULY TO START GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, THAT WE WOULD AT A MINIMUM...
ABOUT $7 MILLION? YEAH, ABOUT $8 MILLION IN CUTS, AND THE COMMISSION HAS REQUESTED A ROLLBACK RATE BUDGET, OF WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE DELIVERING, WHICH WILL BE CLOSER TO A $15 TO $17 MILLION CUT.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS, AS WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT, IS RECURRING VERSUS ONE-TIME.
SO ON A RECURRING BASIS, WE LOOK AT RECURRING REVENUES THAT ARE COMING IN.
AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE WAS ALLUDING A LITTLE BIT TO THAT WITH THE LEASE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THESE WILL BE RECURRING REVENUES FOR THE NEXT 50, 100 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THE PROFFERS ARE MORE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ON ONE-TIME ITEM, WHICH IS I THINK GRABBING THAT PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE ON, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THIS ONE-TIME
[04:30:01]
MONEY AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO UTILIZE IT.THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
SO WITH THAT DISCUSSION AND GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS AND THEY'VE BEEN DISCUSSED AT COMMITTEE AND NOW AT COMMISSION, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE KEEPING IT AS IT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR MONTHS.
AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR HOW MY OTHER COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT IT.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ, WHAT'S YOUR REQUEST? I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ HAD AN IDEA.
LET'S HEAR WHAT THEIR SAY IS ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY PUT A VOTE ON THIS.
AND SO IF SOMEONE COULD PLEASE RESTATE FOR ME MY APOLOGIES.
I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RESTATE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR LINCOLN ROAD AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY.
I HAD AN IDEA FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFITS OF 1.3 OR REALLY LIKE 1 MILLION ASIDE FROM THE PARKING IS TO TAKE THAT BENEFITS AND PUT IT TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE A 7 MILLION DOLLAR WEST AVENUE PHASE 3 THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE DISCUSSING TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO FIND AND THREAD THE NEEDLE ON HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
WHATEVER COSTS WE CAN BRING DOWN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AT LEAST THE EMAILS THAT I'VE SEEN IS, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE DEVELOPERS PAY FOR IT? AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE COULD HAVE AT LEAST, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DENT, BUT A MILLION DOLLARS IS A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO I JUST, AND LOOK, AND I WANT TO PUT IT ASIDE, ALL THE PROJECTS HERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GREAT, BUT AS A CITY ELECTED OFFICIAL, I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COME FIRST AND FOREMOST.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE BUDGETARY CUTS TO NOT ONLY SATISFY WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO PASS THIS NOVEMBER, BUT ALSO FOR THE ROLLBACK RATE.
SO I'M JUST PRIORITIZING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND PAYING DOWN THAT PRICE TAG.
SO NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REQUEST IS, I'LL SAY THERE'S A NUMBER OF PUBLIC BENEFITS ON THIS ITEM.
FOR THINGS SPECIFICALLY, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 17TH STREET MASTER PLAN, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SEE 17TH STREET IMPROVED.
IT'S IN THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALL WANT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS THE CUBAN HEBREW CONGREGATION THERE THAT I HAVE HEARD FOR A LONG TIME FROM THE NEIGHBORS OF THAT AREA.
THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE IT'S AN AGING CONGREGATION AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE REVENUES TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY ITSELF.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO DIRECT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M GOING TO GIVE DEFERENCE TO THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM.
WHO IS THE CHAIR OF OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND HAS ALWAYS GUIDED US RESPONSIBLY ON THESE MATTERS.
PERHAPS A BETTER APPROACH COULD BE REINVESTING THE DOLLARS FROM THE LEASE INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT MIGHT BE A WAY IN WHICH THIS RENEGOTIATED AGREEMENT CAN HELP TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
BUT THERE ARE NEEDS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AROUND LINCOLN ROAD THAT THAT AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE NEEDS WITH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ON PROPERTIES FRONTING 17TH STREET.
AND THERE ARE NEEDS ENVISIONING WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF 17TH STREET GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
SO, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, I'M GOING TO GIVE DEFERENCE TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS ITEM.
AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT JUST WHAT WE WANT, IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO PASS IN NOVEMBER.
SO, I SUGGEST WE MOVE THIS ALONG TO SECOND READING.
[04:35:06]
I'LL ACTUALLY PUT IT ON THE SPONSOR TEAM TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT SURROUNDING AREA.I WANT YOU TO TALK TO PALM VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
WHAT DO THEY WANT? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS TO BE ALIGNED WITH WHAT THEY WANT.
I THINK WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS STARTING POINT.
I DON'T PICTURE US DEVIATING MATERIALLY, BUT IF THERE'S $100,000 THAT WE COULD SHIFT FROM SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS WANTED TO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE NEEDED, WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
THE DEAL TEAM SHOULD BE HAVING IT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I SUGGESTED AS WELL.
SO I'D LIKE TO WEAR YOUR HEADS AT THE INCREASE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
FOR THE INCREASE OF THE PRO FORMA PROSPECTIVE LEASE PAYMENTS THAT WE'LL GET.
PERHAPS WE CAN ESSENTIALLY DIRECT THEM TO SOME NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE DONE IN THAT AREA, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
YEAH, JUST ON THE GOOD APPROACH.
JUST FOR THE $600,000 FOR LINCOLN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND OR LINCOLN ART.
SO THAT COULD JUST, YOU KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION, I REMEMBER, LIKE A YEAR AGO WHERE WE'RE PAYING $100,000 OR $200,000 FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ONLY THERE FOR SIX MONTHS.
THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, A WASTE OF PUBLIC BENEFIT MONEY WHEN WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
SO BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, WE CAN GO OVER THAT.
THANK YOU, OZZIE, FOR THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DID.
AND THANK YOU, MR. RIVANI, FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY.
THAT RANG TRUE WHEN I HEARD, I BELIEVE IT WAS MR. LARKIN WHO MENTIONED, YOU TOOK OVER PROPERTIES THAT WERE LARGELY VACANT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU FILLED THEM WITH QUALITY, AND YOU'RE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR CITIES, AND WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.
TURCAL REQUESTING TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM.
THEY'RE NOT UNMUTING THEMSELVES.
EJ, CAN YOU PUT THE HAND DOWN JUST IN CASE? WE'VE LOST THE TWO CALLERS THERE.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE.
A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
ALL IN FAVOR OF R7A, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED 7-0.
SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 22ND.
[R5 C ALTON CITY CENTER 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 EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS OF SECTION 163.3184(3), FLORIDA STATUTES, BY AMENDING THE "RESILIENT LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT," GOAL RLU 1, ENTITLED "LAND USE," OBJECTIVE RLU 1.1, ENTITLED "ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES," TABLE RLU 1.1, TO MODIFY THE FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) AND DENSITY REGULATIONS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; BY AMENDING POLICY RLU 1.1.9, ENTITLED "MEDIUM INTENSITY COMMERCIAL (CD-2)," TO CREATE FAR AND DENSITY INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT OF DORMANT COMMERCIAL PARCELS INTO MIXED-USE PROJECTS ON PROPERTIES THAT MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND ARE LOCATED BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE OF ALTON ROAD AND THE EAST SIDE OF WEST AVENUE BETWEEN LINCOLN ROAD AND 17TH STEET; AND PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, TRANSMITTAL AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
[R5 D ALTON CITY CENTER OVERLAY – LDR AMENDMENTS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED "ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS," ARTICLE II, ENTITLED "DISTRICT REGULATIONS," SECTION 7.2.11. ENTITLED "CD-2 COMMERCIAL, MEDIUM INTENSITY DISTRICT," TO CREATE SECTION 7.2.11.11 THEREOF, ENTITLED "ALTON CITY CENTER OVERLAY (CD-2)," TO CREATE OVERLAY DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN PROPERTIES LOCATED BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE OF ALTON ROAD AND THE EAST SIDE OF WEST AVENUE BETWEEN LINCOLN ROAD AND 17TH STREET; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
YES, SIR.ITEM R5M, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS A YES.
I WAS IN SUSPENSE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DIDN'T HEAR THE ITEMS. R5C AND D.
R5C IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH YEAR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO THE EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS OF SECTION 163.3184 AND OF SECTION 3.
FLORIDA STATUTES BY AMENDING THE RESILIENT LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT GOAL RLU1, ENTITLED LAND USE SUBJECTIVE RLU1.1, ENTITLED ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES TABLE RLU1.1 TO MODIFY THE FLOOR AREA RATIO, FAR, AND DENSITY REGULATIONS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BY AMENDING POLICY RLU1.1.9, ENTITLED MEDIUM INTENSITY COMMERCIAL CD2 TO CREATE FAR AND DENSITY INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF DORMANT COMMERCIAL PARCELS INTO MIXED USE PROJECTS ON PROPERTIES THAT MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE LOCATED BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE OF ALTON ROAD AND THE EAST SIDE OF WEST AVENUE BETWEEN LINCOLN ROAD AND 17TH STREET AND PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPEALER, SERVABILITY, TRANSMITTAL, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM R5D IS AN ORDER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 2, ENTITLED DISTRICT REGULATIONS, SECTION 7.2.11.
ENTITLED CD2 COMMERCIAL MEDIUM INTENSITY DISTRICT TO CREATE SECTION 7.2.11.11.
THEREOF ENTITLED ALTON CITY CENTER OVERLAY CD2 TO CREATE OVERLAY DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN PROPERTIES LOCATED
[04:40:02]
BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE OF ALTON ROAD AND THE EAST SIDE OF WEST AVENUE.BETWEEN LINCOLN ROAD AND 17TH STREET ARE PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION REPEALERS OF ABILITY ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS A FIRST READING PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS ITEM REQUIRES 5-7'S VOTE.
OKAY, SO BEFORE WE START, SO WE'RE CALLING THIS ITEM, PRESUMABLY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FINISH THIS ITEM IN 14 MINUTES, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BECAUSE OF, I DO, WE DO HAVE TO CALL R7D AT 3 P.M.
BECAUSE IT WAS NOTICED BY THE CITY CLERK, R7D, NOT BEFORE 3, I COULDN'T CALL IT EARLIER, BUT WE DO HAVE TO GET TO THAT.
SO WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE A TIMEOUT AT 3, AND WE'LL GO BACK TO THIS TO DISCUSS R7D.
SO YOU'RE LITMUS LEAD FOR THE BRAZIL GAME.
I DON'T KNOW THE REASONS, BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S IMPERATIVE.
YES, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS A PRIVATE APPLICATION, SO I WILL BE BRIEF IN TERMS OF STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE APPLICATION WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER THIS MORNING AT 1600 WASHINGTON.
THIS IS A REQUEST BY A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER OF THE OLD EPICURE SITE TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN EXCHANGE FOR CERTAIN ZONING INCENTIVES.
THIS IS CURRENTLY LOCATED WITHIN THE CD2 ZONING DISTRICT.
THE ALLOWABLE FAR TODAY IS 2.0. THE REQUEST IS TO INCREASE THAT UP TO 3.5.
THERE IS ALSO A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT FROM A MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE 65 FEET TO 150 FEET.
AND ALL OF THIS WOULD BE PREDICATED UPON A VOLUNTARY PROFFER THAT THERE SHALL BE NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS PART OF THE PROJECT IN PERPETUITY.
THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION IS ALSO ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN DENSITY.
THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE DENSITY IS 100 UNITS PER ACRE.
THEY ARE ASKING FOR A 150 UNIT PER ACRE INCREASE.
STAFF IS GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSAL.
WE DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT'S ACTUALLY A CITY SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ FOR THE GREATER LINCOLN ROAD 17TH STREET AND THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BUT WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROJECT CONTAIN MORE FOCUS ON RESIDENTIAL UNITS AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED THE THE PROPERTY OWNER IS REQUESTING ONLY 50% OF THE NEW FAR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION TO BE USED FOR RESIDENTIAL STAFF BELIEVES THAT THAT SHOULD BE 80% SO THAT ALL OF THE THE USES ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR WOULD BE RESIDENTIAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ABOUT 20% WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IMPACTS OF THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGED INTERSECTION WE AND THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO AGREED TO INCREASE THE MICRO MOBILITY FACILITIES AS PART OF THE PROJECT AND IN THE AREA BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE REQUIRED PARKING PER PARKING DISTRICT NUMBER ONE OF THE SITE WHEN IT COMES TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND WOULD RECOMMEND THAT A MAXIMUM OF 50% OF THE REQUIRED PARKING PER PARKING DISTRICT 1 BE ALLOWED.
WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT ANY EXISTING SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE PROPERTY BE DISCONTINUED AS PART OF THIS RESIDENTIAL USE INCENTIVE.
THE EPICURE SITE CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
HOWEVER, THE PROPERTY ADJACENT WHERE TRADER JOE'S IS.
IS A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT CONTAINS A LEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
SO WE WOULD ASK THAT IF THAT PROPERTY IS ALSO GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS, THAT THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTAL USAGE BE DISCONTINUED.
BUT WITH THAT, THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NEESON.
[04:45:12]
OKAY, OKAY, BUT I ALSO NEED, I KNOW YOU CAN'T DO TWO THINGS AT ONE TIME, BUT I NEED MY PRESENTATION.OKAY, IT'S PRETTY GOOD THAT HE GOT THAT UP.
NEESON KASDAN AND CECILIA TORRES-TOLEDO OF ACKERMAN FOR THE APPLICANT, ALSO HERE AS WELL.
DAVID BERG, THE PRINCIPAL OF INFINITY COLLECTIVE, WHO IS THE DEVELOPER OF THIS SITE.
WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE PLANNING BOARD VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS WHAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU LAST NIGHT AND IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
SO I DON'T NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TELLING YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ON THE WEST END OF LINCOLN ROAD AND THAT AREA OF ALTERNATIVE VACANCIES AT THE STORES AND RETAIL BUSINESSES.
THAT IS AN INDISPUTABLE FACT, THOUGH, IS THAT AS THE POPULATION OF MIAMI BEACH HAS OVERALL DECLINED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND EVEN MORE SO IF YOU GO BACK 15, 20 YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC HAS GREATLY INCREASED.
AND WHAT THAT POINTS TO IS ONE OBVIOUS FACT THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL NOW BECOMING AWARE OF.
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK ON MIAMI BEACH DON'T LIVE ON MIAMI BEACH, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON MIAMI BEACH DON'T WORK ON MIAMI BEACH.
AND THAT RESULTS IN A COMMUTER SITUATION.
I DON'T THINK, FOR SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS, BUT IF YOU DO, IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE 1990S, IT WAS A BREEZE GOING ACROSS THE JULIA TUTTLE AND MACARTHUR CAUSEWAYS.
OH, THE MUSIC'S NOT PART OF MY PRESENTATION.
IT WAS A NICE EFFECT, I THINK, YES.
IT WAS A BREEZE GOING ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE CITY WAS LARGER IN POPULATION, THERE WAS NOT NEARLY AS MUCH COMMUTER TRAFFIC.
AND I SHOW YOU THIS PICTURE BECAUSE...
THIS IS WHAT WAS POPULAR AND CURRENT IN 1990S. DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLES, DIFFERENT ELECTRONICS, DIFFERENT COMPUTERS.
THAT'S BEFORE MIXED USE BECAME THE SOLUTION TO URBAN TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. SO WE NEED TO UPDATE THAT.
AND YOU HAVE ACTUALLY, THE CITY, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT.
BECAUSE YOU ALL PUT IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN.
I TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE MORNING.
SPECIFIC POLICIES TO ENCOURAGE MIXED USE.
THAT ZONING OVERLAY DISTRICTS UNDER POLICY 1.5.1, ALSO 2.1.1, INCLUDING MIXED USES, ADDITIONAL FLOOR AREA WHEN AT LEAST 25% IS RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEN AGAIN IN POLICY 2.1.4, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENCOURAGED IN ALL AREAS DESIGNATED AS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL.
BY CREATING DISTRICTS IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT.
SO YOU'VE RECOGNIZED IT, YOU'VE DISCUSSED IT, YOU'VE PUT IT IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND NOW YOU'RE AT THE POINT IN TIME WHERE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY AND THAT IS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED TO YOU TODAY WITH THE ALTON ROAD OVERLAY.
AND WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TODAY? YOU KNOW THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM OF COMMUTING.
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING MORE LOCALIZED.
AND WE SHOW YOU THIS MAP BECAUSE I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH COCONUT GROVE, DIFFERENT PARTS OF CARL GABLES AS WELL, IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND SHOP AND PLAY WITHIN A SMALL AREA SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMMUTE LONG DISTANCES.
THAT IS THE, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL TREND ACTUALLY IN LARGER CITIES AS WELL.
WE CALL THAT THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A VITAL AND VIABLE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THREE LEGS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LIVE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN WORK, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SHOP AND PLAY.
THAT IS WHAT IS LACKING AND WHAT THIS OVERLAY WILL HELP BRING TO THIS PART OF MIAMI BEACH.
AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT OF A MODEL ALREADY IN THE REVITALIZATION OF SUNSET HARBOR, WHICH...
GOING BACK, ALTON ROAD WAS ACTUALLY LARGELY A LOT OF WAREHOUSES AND AUTO REPAIR STORES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SORT OF KIND OF LOST ITS WAY.
AND THOSE BECAME OBSOLETE USES, NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN SUNSET HARBOR.
SUNSET HARBOR IS BECOMING THAT KIND OF THREE-LEGGED STOOL
[04:50:01]
MIXED COMMUNITY.IT HAS RESIDENTIAL, IT HAS RETAIL, AND NOW IT HAS OFFICE.
AND SO THAT'S THE WAY YOU REDUCE.
COMMUTING AND MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR CITIZENS OF MIAMI BEACH.
THIS OVERLAY HAS MANY BENEFITS, WHICH WE'RE HAPPY TO GO THROUGH WITH YOU.
I THINK WE'VE SHARED THEM WITH YOU BEFORE.
AND BROAD, BROAD SUPPORT FROM MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO YOU HAVE HEARD FROM AND SOME WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM AS WELL.
AND WHY DOES IT HAVE SUPPORT? ALSO, PARTICULARLY FROM EMPLOYERS.
BY ONE OF THE MANAGERS OF ONE OF THE BIG RESTAURANT AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS HERE.
THEIR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN LIVE ON MIAMI BEACH, PARTICULARLY THE MANAGERS AND MORE SENIOR STAFF, BECAUSE THEY AREN'T AVAILABLE.
AND SIMILARLY, OUR BIG EMPLOYERS, LIKE THE HOSPITAL, MOUNT SINAI, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THEIR BIG PROBLEMS IS ALMOST EVERYONE HAS TO COMMUTE TO WORK THERE.
SO THIS FILLS A NEED AND HAS BEEN ENDORSED BROADLY BY THE COMMUNITY.
NOW I'D JUST LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY DISCUSSING THE ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU.
THIS ITEM, OF COURSE, WENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD TWICE.
IT WENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD, THEN THEY HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH INPUT WAS RECEIVED FROM NEIGHBORS AND INTERESTED PARTIES, AND THEN IT WENT BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD.
THE PLANNING BOARD DRAFTED, SPECIFICALLY DRAFTED AN ORDINANCE AND APPROVED IT.
IT WAS NOT IN YOUR ORIGINAL PACKAGE IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU LAST NIGHT BUT THE PLANNING BOARD ORDINANCE REFLECTS OUR RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS AND THE DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE PARKING, ALTHOUGH ULTIMATELY THE AMOUNT WILL BE DETERMINED BY CONDITIONAL USE.
WE ALSO HAVE A RATIO WHERE WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 50% RESIDENTIAL.
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE A MIXED USE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME RETAIL, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE OFFICE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME RESIDENTIAL.
WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, THE REASON YOU HAVE A PLANNING BOARD IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT, AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU, AND THAT'S THE ORDINANCE WE REQUEST THAT YOU ADOPT.
DAVID IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ENGAGE IN ANY DISCUSSION.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR TIME.
WE THANK PLANNING DIRECTOR TACKETT. I'VE GOT TO GET USED TO SAYING THAT.
FOR OUR CONVERSATIONS AND NICK KALURGIS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND WITH THAT, WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
SO I'VE MET WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THIS PROJECT QUITE A FEW TIMES AND HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE SOAPY WEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
LINCOLN ROAD, THEY'RE ALL FULLY IN SUPPORT.
AND I HAD RECEIVED SOME CONCERNS FROM THE WEST AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I BELIEVE THOSE CONCERNS WERE FORWARDED TO YOU.
AND THEY WERE PRETTY WELL ADDRESSED.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FROM WABNA'S CONCERNS? WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONER.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS AND EMAILED YOU A CORRESPONDENCE THAT ADDRESSED POINT BY POINT.
THAT'S ADDRESSED POINT BY POINT FOR THEIR CONCERNS.
SO WE DISTRIBUTED A RESPONSE TO EVERY SINGLE ITEM THEY HAD.
SOME WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY INACCURATE STATEMENTS OF THEIR CONCERNS.
AND THEN AS NEESON SHOWED IN OUR PRESENTATION, I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST SET OF PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY PARTICULAR CONCERN YOU HAVE, BUT I THINK OUR CORRESPONDENTS HOPEFULLY ADDRESSED IT.
IN ONE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH MOUNT SINAI AND SOME OF THE BIG PROPERTIES ACROSS OUR CITY SO THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES CAN BE RESIDENTS AND INCLUDE SHUTTLES FROM, WHETHER IT BE MOUNT SINAI OR THE HOTELS, TO GET THEIR PEOPLE TO WORK.
SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.
WE HAVE A LETTER OF INTENT OUT TO MOUNT SINAI.
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED AND THE IDEA IS A BULK UNIT ALLOCATION TO THEM AT A DISCOUNT TO FAIR MARKET VALUE WITH SHUTTLE SERVICES.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING THAT TO THE ANY HOSPITALITY A MEMBER OF THINK HOSPITALITY HERE WHO HAS A FEW THOUSAND EMPLOYEES IS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL AND THAT SAME GOES TO THE LARGE EMPLOYEES THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO.
AND THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO HAVE PARKING, LOADING ZONE, DELIVERIES, EVERYTHING.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPONENTS OF
[04:55:01]
OUR PRIVATE APPLICATION THAT DIFFERS FROM THE LINCOLN ROAD LEGISLATION IS THAT WE...AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED ALREADY, SO APOLOGIES IF IT HAS.
YOU'RE ALLOWING THE CONTRACTOR THAT'S DOING THE WEST AVENUE PROJECT TO USE YOUR AREA FOR STAGING FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND CHANGE AT NO COST.
WE ACTUALLY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITH THE CITY, ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION.
AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH, WE'RE JUST LETTING THEM USE IT AS
[R7 D A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, FOLLOWING FIRST READING/PUBLIC HEARING, THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORD BOOK 34887, PAGE 3047 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION 2.11.1 OF THE MIAMI BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, AND SECTIONS 163.3220 – 163.3243, FLORIDA STATUTES, BETWEEN THE CITY AND 1250 WEST AVE OWNER LLC AND WEST AVE HOSPITALITY OWNER, LLC (COLLECTIVELY THE “DEVELOPER”), WHICH FIRST AMENDMENT AND RESTATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT MODIFIES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1250 WEST AVENUE (THE “DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY”) AND 1247 - 1255 WEST AVENUE AND 1234 13 STREET (THE “HOSTEL PROPERTY”) LOCATED IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING USES ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY: (1) A MAXIMUM OF 125 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, (2) GROUND FLOOR AND BASEMENT RETAIL/COMMERCIAL, AND (3) ACCESSORY USES; AS WELL AS (4) THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC PARK OR OTHER PUBLIC USE ON THE HOSTEL PROPERTY (THE “PROJECT”); AND MODIFIES DEADLINES FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC BENEFIT COMMITMENTS MADE BY THE DEVELOPER, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN BAYWALK SEGMENTS; AND CLARIFIES CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND TERMS TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT; AND FURTHER, SETTING THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL READING OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND RESTATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.]
OF WEEKS AGO, IN FACT, WITHOUT ANY AGREEMENT IN PLACE.SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY STAGING THERE NOW.
WE THINK IT'S A PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT BREAKING GROUND, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE THE SPACE.
OKAY, AS I MENTIONED, IF WE CAN TAKE A TIMEOUT.
THANK YOU FOR AND, RALPH, IF WE CAN CALL R7D.
R7D IS A PUBLIC HEARING, FIRST READING.
APPROVE FIRST AMENDMENT 1250 WEST AVENUE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SEE, IT SHOWS WE CAN MULTITASK HERE.
TODAY, WITH A RESTATED AND AMENDED AGREEMENT.
ESSENTIALLY THE AGREEMENTS OR THE AMENDMENT CONSISTS OF FIVE COMPONENTS.
NUMBER ONE, WE ARE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO OBTAIN THE EASEMENT AGREEMENTS FOR THE THREE BAY WALK LINKS.
THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION, ONLY THE TIME THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS TO ESTABLISH THE EASEMENT AGREEMENTS.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS TO CLARIFY THE ABILITY OF THE DEVELOPER TO CONSTRUCT THE BAY WALK BEHIND 1250 OVER WATER INSTEAD OF OVER LAND.
IT ALIGNS WITH THE PLANS FOR THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO TRANSITION TO THE PROPERTY OF THE NORTH OVER THEIR PROPERTY.
SO THIS ALLOWS THEM TO CONSTRUCT THAT PIECE OVER WATER.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO MODIFY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY.
TO ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE IN GROUND LEVEL RETAIL SPACE FROM 4,000 SQUARE FEET TO 17,000.
THIS IS TO ACCOMMODATE A FITNESS CENTER AND SOME OTHER AMENITIES THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING.
THE NEXT ITEM ALLOWS THEM TO OR TIES THE CITY'S FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT INTO THE SUBMITTAL OF A PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY.
ONCE YOU SUBMIT A PERMIT, ALL OF THE ACTIVE OR CURRENT.
REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTAL IS WHAT IS APPLIED TO THE PROJECT.
WE ARE JUST DOCUMENTING IN THE AGREEMENT THAT THAT IS THE CASE, THAT ONCE THEY SUBMIT FOR A PERMIT, THEY WILL BE TIED TO WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS ARE IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S SOME MINOR TECHNICAL CLEANUP WHERE THEY ARE REMOVING THE NAME OF A FORMER OWNER AND...
NO INCREASE IN FAR? NO INCREASE IN FAR.
THANK YOU, AND PERHAPS THIS IS TO THE APPLICANTS.
WHERE ARE WE? MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED AT 1250 WEST, WHO OBVIOUSLY ARE HAVING TO MOVE, GET THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE LIVING IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
WHERE ARE WE TODAY? WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THIS ASSISTANCE? YOU'RE THE MAYOR MICHAEL LARKIN.
I THINK YOU NEED TO USE THE HANDHELD MIC.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONER MICHAEL LARKIN, 200 SOUTH EAST KING BOULEVARD.
HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THERE ARE 107 TENANTS THAT QUALIFY AS BONA FIDE LESSEES.
TEN CHECKS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT VIA FEDEX.
SEVEN OF THE TEN HAVE BEEN DELIVERED.
YOU KNOW, WITH FEDEX, THEY KEEP ON TRYING AND TRYING.
THE NEXT BATCH OF CHECKS, THERE'S 35 TENANTS WHERE THE CHECKS WILL BE MAILED OUT BY JUNE 30TH.
AND THEN WE HAVE AT LEAST 62 TENANTS WHO HAVE NOT TOLD US WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE YET.
ONCE THEY DO, THEY'LL GET THEIR CHECK.
AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE 62
[05:00:01]
TENANTS? WE COULD SEND THEM LETTERS SAYING PLEASE.BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T TELL US WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME, THEN WE GIVE THE MONEY TO THE CITY AND THE CITY CAN ALLOCATE IT TO THEM.
BUT WE WOULD HOPE THAT WOULD BE BEFORE THEN.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THE TENANTS? IT'S HUGE.
AND IT'S BEING MAILED NOW BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN IT COINCIDES WITH THE TERMINATION OF THEIR LEASES? CORRECT.
WHEN THEY GIVE US LEASE TERMINATION AND THEY GIVE US WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE, WE CUT THE CHECK.
SO IT'S NOT GOING OUT NOW BECAUSE OF ANY OTHER ISSUES OF THAT.
NOW IS WHEN THEIR LEASES ARE BEING TERMINATED.
SO NOW AS THEY MOVE OUT, I GUESS THEY'RE MOVING OUT NOW.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
THERE'S NO HEIGHT INCREASES HERE.
THERE'S NO GROUND LEVEL NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THESE ARE JUST CHANGES OF DATES AND SIMPLE TERMS. ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE MR. SERALDO ON THE LINE.
YES, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS DANIEL SERRALDO, 730 10TH STREET.
I JUST WANTED EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC ALSO TO BE AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE LAWSUITS FILED THIS WEEK BY THE OWNER AGAINST TENANTS FOR EVICTIONS, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED, AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED AND IF THE CITY CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THESE TENANTS WHO ARE BEING EVICTED DUE TO A COMMISSION-APPROVED FAR INCREASE THAT DID NOT GO TO THE VOTERS.
ZOOM, AND I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.
I DID RECEIVE ONE EMAIL THAT WAS ACTUALLY THEY WERE EITHER WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING AT THE...
FIFA, CARLOS VIVAS CONCERT, AND THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO ME, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU, SO WHATEVER ASSISTANCE WE CAN GIVE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED 7-0.
SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JULY 22ND.
BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM OF R5C AND D.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ HAD MENTIONED THE PUBLIC BENEFITS AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE'S SOME INCLUDED IN THIS SO CAN YOU JUST REVIEW PUBLICLY WHAT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE TO THIS PROJECT? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE THE SLIDESHOW WE CAN ACTUALLY PULL IT UP BUT I THINK WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FROM A PUBLIC BENEFIT STANDPOINT IS THAT WE'RE DELIVERING I THINK PRETTY MUCH TO A T TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS IS THE INITIATIVE THAT THE CITY PUT FORTH AND THIS IS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND PROTOTYPE TO COMBAT LIVE LOCAL THROUGH FOLLOWING THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO I THINK IF THE CITY NEEDS HOUSING, THIS IS THE WAY TO DELIVER UPON IT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OR NOT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BUT AS IMPORTANT, WE ARE DOING MANY THINGS.
SO FIRST OFF, WE ARE WORKING WITH SOBE WEST INTO BEAUTIFYING THE ALLEY, THE ALTON COURT.
THEY HAVE PARKLETS ON TWO DIFFERENT STREETS WE'VE AGREED TO HELP BEAUTIFY AND LANDSCAPE AS WELL.
WE ARE OFFERING A COMMUNITY PADDLE COURT.
WE ARE PROVIDING PARKING TO RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVERNIGHT PARKING AT THE MIAMI BEACH PARKING RATES.
THE RETAIL PARKING AS WELL WILL NOT BE A CHARGE PARKING.
WHAT ELSE? WE ARE PROVIDING EV CHARGING, MICRO MOBILITY.
WE'RE CREATING A BREEZEWAY AND A WALKABLE PEDESTRIAN ALLEY FROM WEST AVENUE TO ALTON ROADS TO PROVIDE EASIER ACCESS TO THE ALTON ROAD CORRIDOR AND LINCOLN ROAD WEST.
[05:05:03]
WE ARE REDUCING TRAFFIC, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE PRIOR PROJECT WHICH WAS ALL OFFICE AND HAD LARGE 20,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE FLOOR PLATES WOULD HAVE INCREASED TRAFFIC SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN OUR PROJECT.WE ARE CREATING OVER 700 CONSTRUCTION JOBS DURING OUR PROJECT.
AND WE EXPECT OVER 350 PERMANENT JOBS IN OUR PROJECT THROUGH OUR USES.
OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD, WE'RE DELIVERING OVER $30 MILLION OF TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY.
WE HAVE A 4,500-SQUARE-FOOT BLUE ZONE HUB, WHICH IS GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON LONGEVITY, WELLNESS, COMMUNITY, AND REALLY HIT THE NINE FOUNDATIONS OF BLUE ZONES, WHICH I THINK WILL BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR OFFICE WORKERS, THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
AND REALLY LEAN INTO A HEALTHIER, LONGER-TERM, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN LIFESTYLE.
WHAT ELSE CAN I TELL YOU? WE'RE REVITALIZING THE RETAIL CORRIDOR WITH LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY AND BRINGING RESIDENTS TO THE AREA, ART AND PUBLIC PLACES AS WELL, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL COVENANT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S AT SIX DAYS, SIX YEARS IN A MONTH.
SIX MONTHS IN A DAY AND MY DESIRE IS TO ALWAYS GET TO CLOSER FULL YEAR-LONG RESIDENTS HERE.
CAN YOU BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING COME BACK TO US WITH AN ANALYSIS? I KNOW YOU'D SAID MAYBE NINE MONTHS.
MIGHT WORK GIVEN THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON IF YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FILLING UP YOUR UNITS, YOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITH PEOPLE FROM V&E AND ALL THAT STUFF VERSUS EMPLOYEES OF MOUNT SINAI OR JUST OPEN MARKET.
SO WHATEVER IT IS, I WANT IT TO BE LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS IN A DAY.
NINE MONTHS IS PERFECTLY FINE WITH US, MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
I THINK THAT THE REASON FOR NINE MONTHS IS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY IN, A, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS THAT MAY BE STAFFING UP OR STAFFING DOWN BASED ON SEASONALITY, BUT ALSO FOR US IT PROVIDES SOME FLEXIBILITY ON RENT ROLL MANAGEMENT.
SO WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS TO HAVE ALL THE LEASES OF THE BUILDING ROLL OVER AT THE SAME TIME.
SO YOU SOMETIMES WANT TO STAGGER LEASE ROLLOVER.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE HAVE A HEAVY ROLLOVER AND I'M THINKING OF A MONTH, APRIL OR MAY OR JUNE, YOU MAY OFFER A 15-MONTH LEASE OR A 16-MONTH LEASE OR AN 18-MONTH LEASE OR...
A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 12 MONTHS, MAYBE NINE MONTHS, SO THAT THE ROLLOVER CAN BE MANAGED ACROSS THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
SO IT'S NOT ANY INTENTION TO HAVE SHORT-TERM LEASES.
BUT I THINK NOT BEING TIED TO JUST 12 ALLOWS US SOME FLEXIBILITY ON THE ROLLOVER.
AND, AGAIN, I THINK NINE MONTHS IS A HAPPY MEDIUM, BUT IT'S MORE ART THAN SCIENCE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MANAGE THAT ROLLOVER RISK.
AND THAT WOULD APPLY TO THE PROPERTY THAT YOU'RE ATTACHED TO? WE'RE NOT ATTACHED TO, SO THERE'S THIS MISCONCEPTION, WE'RE NOT ATTACHED TO 17 WEST.
THE CONCEPT THERE IS TO DO A COVENANT IN LIEU FOR ZONING PURPOSES.
BUT THE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES ARE DIFFERENT.
TRANSPARENTLY, THERE'S SOME INVESTORS IN THAT DEAL THAT ARE IN OUR DEAL, BUT THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES.
THERE'S MANY INVESTORS IN THAT TRANSACTION THAT'S NOT IN OUR TRANSACTION.
SO WE'RE NOT ONE ENTITY BY ANY MEANS.
I THINK THAT LIKE WE'RE LOSING SIGHT A LITTLE BIT OF THE INTENT HERE.
WE'RE ALL, OUR PROJECT WILL NOT HAVE ANY SHORT-TERM OF THAT ALLOWANCE AT ALL.
WE'RE GONNA BE ALL YOU KNOW FULL YEAR PLUS TWO YEAR HOPEFULLY RENTALS.
WE'RE GONNA HOPEFULLY DELIVER 150 PLUS APARTMENT UNITS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT.
THEY ARE YOU KNOW 20 UNIT SOMETHING YOU KNOW PROJECT AND SO YOU KNOW IF I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THEY DO I CAN'T CONTROL THEIR LICENSE THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED IN THAT THEY'RE OPERATING THEIR BUSINESS.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT 20 UNITS OF SHORT TERM SHOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO DELIVER 150 UNITS PLUS OF LONG TERM.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BE CREATIVE IN FUNDING SOME OF OUR LARGER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT BUILDING HIGH-END LUXURY CONDOS.
BUT WE HAVE JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM YOU IS FLAMINGO PARK, WHICH IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE SOUTH BEACH COMMUNITY.
AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD THERE IS IN NEED OF...
RE-TURFING AND SO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF LOOKING AT A COMMUNITY BENEFIT GOING TO THAT AND SO BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND IF WE COULD HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT ABSOLUTELY I APPRECIATE IT.
MY ENTIRE LIFE IS IN THIS CORRIDOR.
[05:10:01]
I'M RAISING MY DAUGHTER ON 6TH AND WEST.MY OFFICE, FOR MY PRIVATE JOB, WE HAVE IT AT 17TH AND ALTON, LITERALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
CITY HALL HERE, SO MY ENTIRE LIFE IS THERE.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL, RIGHT? A CORRIDOR BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE, LINCOLN ROAD, ALTON ROAD, 17TH STREET, GOING DOWN INTO SUNSET HARBOR.
WHERE WE COULD CREATE SOMETHING VERY VIBRANT, SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, RIGHT? WE'RE AT A FORK IN THE ROAD BECAUSE ALL THAT EXCITEMENT.
I ALSO LOOK OUT MY WINDOW IN MY OFFICE AND I SEE AN ABANDONED DIALYSIS CENTER.
I SEE AS MANY DERELICT BUILDINGS AS THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, TEN TIMES MORE DERELICT BUILDINGS AS ANY TYPE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.
I'VE SHARED WITH YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED.
YOU KNOW, MY RESERVATIONS, THINGS I WISH I COULD HAVE, BUT I'M 90% HAPPY AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THE OTHER 10% GET IN THAT WAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'VE DONE TO SPEAK WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
I KNOW I'VE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF WAVNA.
THEY'RE PERSONALLY AN IMPORTANT GROUP TO ME.
I STARTED MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CITY WITH SOME OF THOSE FOLKS, I UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES.
I CAN'T SIMPLY IGNORE THEM, SO I ASK YOU NOT TO.
I KNOW YOU SENT THE LETTER IN RESPONSE.
SEE IF THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF COMPROMISE.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE OUTREACH YOU'VE DONE TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
I SEE MY FRIEND TOM HAWKINS SITTING THERE YESTERDAY.
I JUST NEEDED TO CLEAR MY MIND, SO I WENT TO A DIFFERENT GYM THAN I USUALLY GO TO IN THE MORNING.
FOUR SECONDS INTO THE GYM, TOM GOES, HEY, JOE, JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.
BUT THAT ONLY HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU ARE COMMUNITY-MINDED AND DO OUTREACH TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO MY COMMENTS THAT I GAVE HER.
16TH AND WASHINGTON ABOUT CREATING A VIBRANT MIXED USE THAT ALSO FOSTERS OR FACILITATES AFFORDABILITY, HELPING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
RIGHT NOW ON THAT WESTERN END OF LINCOLN ROAD, IT IS A DEAD ZONE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LAMENT SEGAFREDO LEAVING, AS DO I.
WHY IS IT? I WALK LINCOLN ROAD EVERY SINGLE MORNING.
UNTIL NOONTIME, YOU WON'T SEE A SOUL.
WHY? BECAUSE WHO TYPICALLY GOES IN A CORRIDOR LIKE THAT IN THE MORNING? NOT A DESTINATION SHOPPER THAT'S GOING THERE FOR H&M, BUT SOMEBODY THAT LIVES CLOSE BY BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE THERE, BECAUSE THEY LIVE THERE, RIGHT? AND THAT IS THAT TYPE OF CONSUMER THAT WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO HELP OUR LOCAL RETAIL.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CITY, EVERY SINGLE ONE, WILL SAY ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES IS REVITALIZING LINCOLN ROAD.
REVITALIZING OUR RETAIL CORRIDORS AND IT IS MY ADAMANT BELIEF IT'S BECAUSE OF LACK OF WALKABILITY AND LACK OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN THOSE AREAS.
THE OWNER ACTUALLY SAID WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESIDENTIAL CLASS THAT USED TO COME TO US FOR HAPPY HOURS.
WE SAY WHY DO WE HAVE ALL THESE LARGE BIG BOX STORES? WHY NOT BOOKS AND BOOKS? WELL WHO GOES TO BOOKS AND BOOKS? GUYS LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN SITTING OUT THERE IN THE IN THE AUDIENCE.
TO LIVE RIGHT THERE AND THAT'S THE FULL-TIME RESIDENTIAL POPULATION THAT WE'VE LOST, AND BY HAVING FULL-TIME RESIDENTS IN THIS CORRIDOR IS HOW I HOPE TO RESTORE IT. SO, I WISH YOU LUCK WITH THE PROJECT. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT, UM, WE SPENT MANY. FIRST OFF, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S REACHED OUT TO US THAT WE HAVE NOT ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS, NOT ONE, UM. WE SPENT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ONE OR TWO, TWO MEETINGS WITH WAVNA, UM, AND ALSO I'VE HAD FIVE, SIX, SEVEN HOURS OF CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR BOARD MEMBERS. SO, WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO CONVERSATION IF ANYONE CALLS US, OR THEY HAVE OUR CELL PHONE NUMBERS, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US ANYTIME. THEY DON'T WORRY, OFFICE, WE'RE ALWAYS AROUND. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION, I APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL ASK YOU TO GO STEP BEYOND THAT, AND I'LL REACH OUT TO THEM.
ABSOLUTELY, YEAH, AND THE OTHER THING I MENTIONED IS WE TAKE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICULAR HOUSING VERY SERIOUSLY. NOT, WHAT, WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE, FIRST OFF, THIS IS WHERE SOMEONE LIVES.
IT'S VERY SACRED, RIGHT? THIS IS WHERE THEIR FAMILY IS, THEIR CHILDREN ARE, THEIR PETS ARE.
IT'S A VERY SACRED RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.
FOR SAFETY REASONS, FOR COMMUNITY REASONS, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CREATION REASONS.
[05:15:01]
AND SO IT'S CRITICAL TO US TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.AND SO IT'S NOT A TALKING POINT.
IT'S A SACRED, CRITICAL BUSINESS POINT FOR US IN WHAT WE DO.
AND AGAIN, AS HAS BEEN WELL ARTICULATED, THE NEED FOR NON-LUXURY RENTAL HOUSING IN OUR CITY IS CRITICAL.
AND WE SEE THE DISPLACEMENT OF OUR LONGTIME RESIDENTS TO OTHER AREAS OF MIAMI AND THE MAINLAND WHERE THEY CAN GET INVENTORY LIKE THIS AT A PRICE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THE AFFORDABILITY HERE? BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS STAFF'S CONCERN WITH THE AMOUNT OF SPACE DEDICATED TO OFFICE AS OPPOSED TO RESIDENTIAL.
AND MY INCLINATION WOULD BE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER, THIS IS NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW RENTAL INVENTORY IN OUR CITY.
WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ACCOMMODATED? TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, THE COMMERCIAL COMPONENT OF THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO DELIVER THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE COST OF BUILDING RENTAL HOUSING NOW IS GENERALLY COST PROHIBITIVE, WHICH IS WHY MOST BUILDINGS ARE GOING CONDO PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
SO IF YOU KIND OF DO JUST QUICK MATH, THE RETAIL CORRIDORS AND THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS OF ALTON ROAD, SUNSET HARBOR, ETC.
CAN DELIVER, YOU KNOW, MAYBE $100 A FOOT OR $75 OR $80 A FOOT TRIPLE NET RENTS FOR THOSE SPACES.
WHEREAS IF YOU'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE HOUSING, IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO $60 A FOOT, YOU KNOW, GROSS, WHICH THEN YOU NET, YOU KNOW, $40 A FOOT.
SO THERE'S ABOUT A $40 TO $60 A FOOT SWING.
BY THE COMMERCIAL SPACE PER SQUARE FOOT THAN ON THE RESIDENTIAL.
SO BY HAVING THE COMMERCIAL SPACE, WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER THE RESIDENTIAL AT THE PRICE POINT.
IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM THAT WE COULD HAVE OVER 50%? YES, WE COULD MOVE A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE CANNOT GO TO THE 75% THAT THEY'RE ASKING.
I WOULD ASK YOU, PLEASE WORK ON THAT.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE AS MUCH AS WE CAN THE INVENTORY OF HOUSING.
YOU STARTED OFF THIS PROJECT, I THINK YOU WERE ASKING A HIGHER HEIGHT THAN WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE.
WHAT WERE YOU ASKING ORIGINALLY? WE INITIALLY WANTED TO REQUEST 200 FEET OF HEIGHT.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 16 OR 17 STORIES, OR MAYBE 18 STORIES, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION AT 185.
VERSUS THE 200 BASED ON SOME FEEDBACK WE HAD SOME EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH AND HIGHER FAR UM YEAH AS IT WAS 4.0 FAR AND 200 WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY STAFF THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO AGGRESSIVE WE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION AT 185 AND THEN THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND CITY STAFF AND THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY STAFF WAS 150 AND WE ACCEPTED THAT RECOMMENDATION SO WE HAVE HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THE SURROUNDING.
BUILDINGS IN THAT AREA AND THAT WEST AVENUE LINCOLN ROAD AREA.
WE THINK IT'S VERY MUCH IN CHARACTER SO 1111 LINCOLN IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN 150 BUT NOT BY MUCH AND ALL THE PROPERTIES BEHIND US ON BIT NOT ALL OF THEM BUT A GOOD AMOUNT OF PROPERTIES ON WEST AVENUE ARE 150 OR HIGHER YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A WE'VE ACTUALLY A PICTURE AND A PICTURE IF YOU WANT TO BRING IT UP AND I JUST WANT TO CHECK WITH OUR PLANNING STAFF ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH THE HEIGHT OF THIS OF THIS PROPERTY AS BEING PROPOSED? YES.
AND IT'S CONTEXTUAL, YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT IT'S CONTEXTUAL TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES? CORRECT.
AND NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS PROJECT WILL REQUIRE A DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AND PLANNING BOARD, A DUP FROM THE PLANNING BOARD AND DESIGN REVIEW.
WE HAVEN'T ENGAGED IN ANY PARTICULARS YET IN TERMS OF THE MASSING, THE PARTICULARS OF THE SITE PLAN OR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES.
WE LOOK FORWARD WITH THE TEAM AND SO AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ADD.
AND SO I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT, I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE SETBACKS.
WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE REQUIRE TODAY AS IT RELATES TO THE SETBACKS? SO THIS IS CD2, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY SETBACKS.
[05:20:02]
THE APPLICANT HAS PROFFERED, AND AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN 20 FEET ABOVE THE FIRST 75 FEET IN HEIGHT.NOW THERE IS A PRETTY LARGE SIDEWALK HERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PLANNING OF THE MASSING AND THE DESIGN, BUT THAT SETBACK WILL BE REQUIRED ABOVE 75 FEET AND HEIGHT OF 20 FEET SETBACK.
AND SO I GUESS ALL OF THAT WILL BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE DRB PROCESS THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF...
AND I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN RAISED NOW, I'M BLURRING APPLICATIONS, ON THE HOUSING, YEAR-ROUND HOUSING.
I WANT US, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO RENTAL HOUSING, BE MOVING AWAY FROM THESE SIX MONTHS AND A DAY.
I WANT US TO BE EMBRACING YEAR-ROUND HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ATTAINABLE MARKET RATE HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING.
THAT SHOULD BE YEAR-ROUND HOUSING TO ADDRESS THE DESPERATE AND SIGNIFICANT NEED THAT WE HAVE FOR IT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT IS BEING DONE IS, DOES THE ORDINANCE SPEAK, MR. ATTORNEY, TO THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE HOUSING? COMMISSIONER, THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT ANY RENTALS WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS AND ONE DAY, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR...
SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT WOULD BE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
I REALLY WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THIS ORDINANCE DICTATED YEAR-ROUND HOUSING.
I'VE MANAGED RENTALS, YOU KNOW, RENTALS, WE'VE MANAGED RENTALS LARGER THAN THIS UNIT COUNTS, AND YOU STAGGER YOUR LEASES.
YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR LEASES DON'T END AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO YOU'RE ABLE TO STAGGER THEM.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULD NEED TO GO LOWER THAN THE YEAR-LONG RENTALS IN THIS LEGISLATION IF THE INTENT IS INDEED TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS TRUE HOUSING TO SERVE THE WORKFORCE AT ATTAINABLE MARKET RATES.
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK YOU'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER BHATT WAS SAYING.
SO THE FIRST POINT ON SETBACKS, AS YOU KNOW, 68% OF OUR GROUND FLOOR IS SET BACK MORE THAN 10 FEET OFF OF THE WIDE SIDEWALK.
SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE GROUND FLOOR IS SET BACK.
I THINK WE'RE COMFORTABLE AT NINE MONTHS, FOR SURE, ON THE HOUSING.
AND THE REASON WHY IT'S NINE VERSUS 12, AGAIN, IS TO YOUR POINT ABOUT STAGGERING.
YOU CAN ALWAYS OFFER 15-MONTH, 16-MONTH, 17-MONTH LEASES.
BUT IF SOMEONE SAYS, I CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT, I CAN'T COMMIT TO THAT, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAGGER THE LEASES AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY ON THE SHORTER SIDE.
MY FRIEND, I CAN ASSURE YOU IN MIAMI BEACH, THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THAT YEAR-LONG.
AND BY THE WAY, I'D BE COMFORTABLE SAYING EVEN IF...
THE THING IS, I'M THE ONE THAT HAS TO BE COMFORTABLE.
THE COMMISSION IS THE ONE THAT HAS TO BE COMFORTABLE.
AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE COMMISSION IS GOING IN IS ENSURING THAT THIS ENDS UP BEING NO POSSIBILITY OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
NO POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE COMING IN SEASONALLY FOR THE LONG TERM RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH WHO ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF OUR CITY.
I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER IN YOUR OVERLAY PRIVATE APPLICATION TO INCORPORATE AND EMBRACE THE YEAR ROUND.
I HONESTLY DON'T HAVE A TON OF SENSITIVITY TO THIS BECAUSE THAT'S OUR INTENT.
I WOULD ASK, WOULD THE COMMISSION CONSIDER, AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE BUILDING, COULD BE 5%, HAVE AN ALLOWANCE OF NINE MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY ON TRYING TO MANAGE THE RENT ROLL.
95% OF THE BUILDING WILL BE 12 MONTHS OR MORE, BUT, AGAIN, YOU WANT SOME FLEXIBILITY.
I THINK WE CAN LEAVE THAT TO THE ATTORNEYS TO DRAFT IT.
I THINK OUR CURRENT ORDINANCES THAT SPEAK TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SO IT READS ALONG THE LINES OF THE GENERAL PRACTICE IS THAT THE BUILDING OPERATES AS AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AND A DAY, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
IT'S JUST THAT'S YOUR GENERAL BUSINESS PRACTICE.
[05:25:02]
AND I THINK I LEAVE THAT TO THE ATTORNEYS.I DON'T WANT TO SAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS.
I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THAT DOOR.
I WANT TO ESTABLISH THE PRECEDENT GOING FORWARD THAT THE HOUSING THAT WE APPROVE IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, ESPECIALLY HOUSING THAT IS RENTAL HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE, I DON'T SEE MY NURSES AT MOUNT SINAI OR THE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, LIVING HERE FOR ONLY NINE MONTHS.
THEY'RE LIVING HERE YEAR-ROUND AND THEY NEED.
HOUSING, NINE MONTHS, 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, NOT NINE MONTHS.
SO I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T EMBRACE THAT LANGUAGE.
PARKING, ARE YOU PROVIDING PARKING, MAKING ALLOCATIONS FOR PARKING ON SITE? SORRY, PREPARE PARKING.
YEAH, WE HAVE 367 SPACES, I BELIEVE.
EVERYONE WHO SPOKE, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING BOARD, FELT THAT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE.
JUST A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THAT PERCENTAGE LIKE A LEGAL THING THAT WE COULD PUT IN THE ORDINANCE? LIKE 95% HAVE TO BE MORE THAN 12 MONTHS LEASE? DISCUSS THAT BEFORE SECOND READING.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING THAT.
I THINK THAT, REMEMBER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE ENFORCED BY CODE COMPLIANCE.
SO IT REALLY SHOULD BE ONE TERM THAT APPLIES TO THE WHOLE PROPERTY.
SO YOU'RE SAYING STICKING TO, RATHER THAN SAYING A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE CAN BE...
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONTHS AND A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF MONTHS IT SHOULD BE YEAR-ROUND RIGHT IT NEEDS TO BE ONE TERM OKAY SO IT'S SO LET'S ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A POTENTIAL UNIFICATION OF OF SITES HERE THAT MIGHT BE AND IT WORKS IN THE FUTURE OKAY AND THAT POTENTIAL UNIFICATION INVOLVES PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY HAS SHORT TERM RENTALS ON IT THAT YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH IS A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT YEARS AGO THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO UNIFY THOSE PROPERTIES.
I'M SURE THAT WHOEVER OWNS THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THE UNIFICATION.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INCENTIVE THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR CITY.
AS IT RELATES TO FAR AND HOUSING, IT YIELDS THE ELIMINATION, THE SUNSET OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON LANGUAGE THAT ACHIEVES THAT.
OUR VOTERS HAVE A NUMBER OF TIMES OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED IN THE BALLOT BOXES FAR INCENTIVES THAT DO AWAY WITH SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF WE WOULD BE SENDING, IF WE STILL HAD THE AUTHORITY OF SENDING THIS TO THE VOTERS, SOMETHING THAT THOSE WHO WE REPRESENT WOULD EXPECT TO BE INCLUDED THERE.
SO I STRONGLY URGE US THAT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, IF THAT SITE IS PART OF THE UNIFIED SITE AND WITHIN THE OVERLAY, THAT WE TRANSITION THEM OUT OF.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL SHOULD THAT UNIFICATION OCCUR? WE CAN DEFINITELY DISCUSS IT.
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE USE OF A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY.
OUR LEGISLATION STATES THAT OUR NEW ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT, ANY NEW UNITS, ANYTHING WE DO ON OUR SITE WILL ABIDE BY THAT.
YOU KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE 12 MONTHS, IT'S 12 MONTHS.
AGAIN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW I THINK WE SHOULDN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER 150 PLUS UNITS AND THAT'S A 20 SOMETHING UNIT BUILDING.
SO I JUST WOULDN'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE HOUSING FOR THE CITY OVER AN EXISTING GRANDFATHERED USE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO CONTROL.
WOULD IT BE, COULD THE CITY COMMISSIONER REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE UNIFICATION? SO THIS ORDINANCE COULD BE REVISED SO THAT THE ADJACENT PROPERTY COULD ONLY BE INCLUDED IF IT TRANSITIONED TO LONG-TERM.
I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T REPRESENT THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY, BUT...
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD DO IN THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT IS, I THINK, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING.
I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THIS.
BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE CHAMPIONED OVER TIME, OVER MY TERM OF SERVICE, THE ELIMINATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE MENTIONED EARLIER
[05:30:01]
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.HE WAS THE FATHER, ACTUALLY, OF THESE INCENTIVES.
FAR INCENTIVES TO DO AWAY WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE HAVE AN EXISTING SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS THAT SHOULD BE FOR FULL-TIME RESIDENTS IN A CORRIDOR WHERE, AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, IT'S SUFFERING.
WHY IS IT SUFFERING? BECAUSE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.
AND SO I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS AREA, SINCE WE'RE GIVING YOU SOMETHING THAT IS THAT IS VERY MUCH OF VALUE AND OF VALUE AS WELL AS THE HOUSING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THERE IS A GREAT PARKING DEFICIT.
THERE IS A GREAT PARKING DEFICIT IN THIS PART OF OUR CITY THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DESPERATELY NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER HOURS, AFTER WORK HOURS.
WHAT DOES THIS CONTEMPLATE TO ADDRESS THE PARKING CHALLENGES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? THIS PROVIDES THAT THE UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL PARKING.
OUTSIDE OF COMMERCIAL HOURS, OPERATIONS SHOULD BE MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THE RESIDENTS AT THEN CURRENT MIAMI BEACH PUBLIC PARKING RATES.
SO THIS IS A PARTIAL SOLUTION TO SOME OF THE SHORTAGE THAT THEY HAVE IN THAT AREA.
THEY WILL BE, THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.
HAVE YOU MET WITH OUR PARKING DEPARTMENT? OR PERHAPS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND MEETING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT JUST AVAILABLE AT THE RATES.
BUT PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PARKING IS NOT USED, THAT UNDERUTILIZED PARKING, MAYBE FOR THE ZONE OF THE AREA THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDING PARKING.
WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS THAT.
I HAVE NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE REQUESTED TO SPEAK.
MR. SERRALDO IS REQUESTING TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM.
YES, THANK YOU, DANIEL SERRALDO, 730 10TH STREET.
I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS THE SECOND FAR INCREASE TODAY THAT, IN MY OPINION AND IN THE CITY CHARTER, SHOULD GO TO THE VOTERS.
THERE'S NOTHING PRECLUDING THE COMMISSIONERS BY ASKING FOR A STRAW BALLOT QUESTION FOR THIS.
AND THE WASHINGTON AVENUE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD THAT I FEEL THAT THIS SORT OF NEGOTIATING VIA HANDSHAKE AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO TO PROPERLY PLAN THE CITY THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD SIR STATE YOUR NAME ADDRESS I HAVE TWO MINUTES.
HI GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE TIM CARR SOBEY WEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AGAIN JUST WANTED TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE TIPPING POINT I REALLY FEEL FOR REACTIVATION OF THIS CORRIDOR THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
ALSO, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH DAVID BERG OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HERE.
HE'S BEEN VERY FORTHRIGHT, MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
IN THE LARGE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD, THERE WAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THIS.
HE ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION SOME OF THE OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WE NEGOTIATED WAS SPACE.
FOR HIS COMMUNITY ROOM TO USE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHICH WOULD BE A NICE BENEFIT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS.
BUT ALSO THE SURFACE PARKING LOT FOR THE POST OFFICE THAT HE'D ACTUALLY ENHANCED THE LANDSCAPING FOR THAT AREA AS WELL.
SO THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS THAT HE'S DOING NOW FOR THE COMMUNITY BESIDES WHAT HE LISTED EARLIER.
SO WE ASK THAT YOU REALLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
I'M THE CEO OF THINK HOSPITALITY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO I AM OR WHAT THINK IS, WE HAVE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 02,000 EMPLOYEES IN MIAMI BEACH, AROUND 25 TO 30 HOTELS IN MIAMI BEACH THAT WE MANAGE AND OPERATE.
ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR OUR MID-LEVEL AND HIGHER-LEVEL STAFF IS A REAL ISSUE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.
WE'RE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF ANY...
ATTAINABLE HOUSING THAT'S BEING USED FOR THOSE REASONS.
AND I THINK IN ORDER FOR OUR CITY TO KIND OF COMPETE AND HAVE A BETTER QUALITY EXPERIENCE OVERALL, HAVING PEOPLE LIVE HERE IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR US AND ANY PROJECT THAT SUPPORTS THAT IS A REAL SOLUTION.
SO I DON'T WANNA UNDERSCORE IT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS THING THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE COVID AS IT RELATES TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THIS CITY AND THE QUALITY OF OUR CITY NEEDS TO GROW.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THE STAFF.
AND AGAIN, PART OF THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE PARKING IMPACT THAT GETS, OR THE TRAFFIC IMPACT.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY PART OF IT.
[05:35:01]
RATHER, YOU KNOW, GRAB A SCOOTER OR A MOPED AND NOT TRAVEL AN HOUR AND A HALF AND PAY FOR THE CAR AND THE GAS TO WHEREVER THEY LIVE AND LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH.SO PROJECTS LIKE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED AND WE NEED MORE OF.
ANNABELLE YOVIES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE LINCOLN ROAD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
OF COURSE, EVERYONE HAS ECHOED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE REALIZATION FOR LINCOLN ROAD, AND THAT IS THE COMMUNITY BUILDING YEAR-ROUND.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE OFFICE COMPONENT OF THIS MULTI-USE DEVELOPMENT.
HAVING OFFICE WORKERS THERE DURING THE DAY IS ALSO QUITE IMPORTANT, SO WE CAN GET THAT DAY TRAFFIC THAT FEEDS INTO OUR CAFES AND RESTAURANTS THAT ARE THERE.
SO WE DO NEED TRAFFIC FOR THE LUNCHTIME BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE ON LINCOLN ROAD BUT OVERALL THESE THINGS IS A GREAT BOOKINGS FOR LINCOLN ROAD RICK ON THE EAST AND THIS ONE ON THE REALLY WILL SET LINK THE ROAD AND THIS DISTRICT APART FOR GROWTH.
THANK YOU I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS AND DAVID HERTZBERG, THE STERLING BUILDING AND PROJECT.
I THINK THAT THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT SPECIFICALLY IS PARAMOUNT FULLY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MATTHEW GOLTANOFF, 125 JEFFERSON AVENUE.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF COMPREHENSIVE QUARTER-BASED APPROACHES THAT PROVIDE MORE HOUSING FOR EVERYDAY RESIDENTS AND THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
ITEMS R5H AND I, A COMMISSION-SPONSORED ITEM THAT ALSO CONTAINS THIS PROPERTY.
THE MAYOR SHOULD CALL THESE ITEMS TOO.
I AGREE WITH NEESON, IN FACT WE AGREE ON A LOT.
WE AGREE THAT BAY LINK IS VITAL TO REDUCING TRAFFIC AND WE AGREE THAT BY NOT SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF TRANSIT THE CITY IS MERELY REARRANGING THE CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC.
THE INCREASE IN FAR AND HEIGHT PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ WAS TIED TO LESS PARKING AND WAS MEANT TO BUILD HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ALREADY CHOOSE SOUTH BEACH, THE CAR-FREE AND THE CAR-LIGHT.
IN FACT, 75% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH BEACH, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS, HAVE ZERO OR ONE CAR.
AND THAT'S THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE WITH THIS PRIVATE APPLICATION.
IT WANTS ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE LINCOLN ROAD WEST OVERLAY WITHOUT REDUCING THE PARKING.
SO I'LL REITERATE WHAT THE PLANNING DIRECTOR SAID EARLIER.
OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES, IF PROVIDED, SHALL NOT EXCEED 50% OF THE NUMBER REQUIRED UNDER PARKING TIER 1.
THIS PRIVATE APPLICATION WANTS 100%.
CALL THE BROADER CORRIDOR-BASED OVERLAY ITEMS R5H AND I.
THAT'S THE APPROACH IT ACTUALLY DELIVERS ON THE GOAL OF REDUCING TRAFFIC AND INCREASING HOUSING, TOO.
ANYONE? NO? THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO MR. ROBERTS ON ZOOM.
I APPRECIATE MR. BERG'S APPROACH TO SELLING HIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE OUTCOME IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR MIAMI BEACH.
AND IF YOU DID PUT A STRAW POLL OUT THERE, I AM CONFIDENT.
THAT WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION THAT'S FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT IT WOULD BE VOTED DOWN.
AND THE REASON STRICTLY IS THAT ALTON ROAD CANNOT SUPPORT 150 FOOT DEVELOPMENT.
IT WILL ACTUALLY ADD TREMENDOUS TRAFFIC TO A VERY HIGH TRAFFICKED.
ROAD BETWEEN THE TWO BRIDGES THAT'S BACKED UP DAILY AND WILL ADD MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC TO OUR ISLAND.
IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SPECIAL PLACE AND IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY MEMORY AND IT WASN'T IT WASN'T BRICKELL.
MY MEMORY IS A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE LIVED IN IN HOMES THAT HAD SORT OF TOWERS ON THE OUTSIDE AND LOWER DENSITY ON THE INSIDE.
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS FILLING IN THE DENSITY ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND.
AND ALTON ROAD, IF THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT, IT WILL BE 150 FEET ACROSS ALL OF ALTON ROAD, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
[05:40:01]
AND I'M DEAD SET AGAINST THAT.THE WORST OUTCOME POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT LOST, OKAY LOST SALES ALONG LINCOLN ROAD WE COULD JUST LOOK AT THE DEVELOPERS OR THE OWNERS THAT LEFT PROPERTY VACANT.
QUALITY SPACE AT LEAST IT SEEMED TO APPEAR THAT IT'S INTENTIONAL CALLER IS NANCY DUKE.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE TODAY.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF DAVID BERG'S PROJECT.
ANY BUILDING IN THAT AREA THAT ISN'T GOING TO INCLUDE PARKING IS GOING TO NEED INCREASED FAR.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S PUT THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED INCREASED FAR.
PARKING IS BADLY NEEDED AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
ALSO, DAVID COULD DO A LIVE LOCAL PROJECT THERE.
HE'S TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S THOUGHTFUL AND HE REALLY SEEMS TO WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S TO BE APPLAUDED AND I THINK THE CITY SHOULD WORK WITH HIM.
AND ALSO A BUILDING THAT IS TARGETED TOWARD WORKFORCE HOUSING IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S WHAT WE SAY WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER PLUS.
SO ALL IN ALL, I AM FOR THE PROJECT AND I SUPPORT IT.
AND I'M SPEAKING ACTUALLY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, BUT ALSO I'M A MEMBER OF SOBEY WEST'S BOARD.
OUR FINAL CALLER IS MICHAEL COMRAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
MICHAEL COMRAS WITH OFFICES AT 1261 20TH STREET.
PROPERTY OWNER ON LINCOLN ROAD.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MIXED USE TO LINCOLN ROAD IS EVERYTHING IS WHAT WE NEED.
BRINGING IN THE RESIDENTS, BRINGING IN MORE OFFICERS IS KEY TO LINCOLN ROAD'S SUCCESS.
THE COMMISSIONER SPOKE THIS MORNING ABOUT IT BEING SUPER QUIET IN THE MORNINGS.
I THINK HAVING RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO WALK THEIR DOG, GO GET A CUP OF COFFEE, HAVE SOME BREAKFAST, DO MORNING MEETINGS IS CRITICAL TO MAKING LINCOLN ROAD.
REALLY SUCCESSFUL, NOT JUST IN THE AFTERNOONS, BUT IN THE EVENINGS AND IN THE MORNINGS AS WELL.
SO I FULLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A GREAT PROJECT ON OUR HANDS.
I THINK THE ONE THIS MORNING WAS GREAT AS WELL.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
OKAY, THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CALLED IN OR SPOKE IN PERSON.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS WOULD BE ON THE PLANNING BOARD VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKAGE. SO THIS IS THE VERSION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION, UH, BY SUPPLEMENTAL. I BELIEVE IT WAS YESTERDAY, RALPH.
BUT IS IT D OR C? I'M SORRY, JUST FOR ME, FOR FOR BOTH, FOR THE LDR AMENDMENT, FOR THE LDR, AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES? SO, THIS ONE INCLUDES THE PLANNING BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION ON SETTING A MAXIMUM UNIT SIZE AT 1,700 SQUARE FEET. IT INCLUDES THE PROVISION REQUIRING THAT THE PROJECT BE LIMITED TO RENTALS. IT REQUIRES THAT ANY SURPLUS OR UNDERUTILIZED PARKING ON THE SITE BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT MIAMI BEACH PARKING GARAGE RATES.
WHEN WAS THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING? I BELIEVE THIS WENT TO PLANNING BOARD IN JUNE, IN MAY, IN MAY.
AND WHEN WAS THE SUPPLEMENTAL PUT OUT? THE SUPPLEMENTAL WAS PUT OUT EITHER MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
WHY? I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY, BUT I THINK WE HAD PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED THE VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT STAFF PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING BOARD, AND THEN WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE APPLICANT AND ASKED TO INCLUDE A REVISED VERSION INCLUDING THE PLANNING BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PLANNING BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE USUALLY SUMMARIZED IN YOUR COMMISSION MEMOS, AND THAT'S THE CASE HERE, BUT THE APPLICANT SUGGESTED THAT WE INCLUDE THE...
BUT HERE IT WAS SPECIFICALLY WHEREAS SOMETIMES THE PLANNING BOARD WILL PASS A STAFF-RECOMMENDED ORDINANCE AND THEN A SEPARATE PACKAGE OF RECOMMENDATIONS, HERE VERY SPECIFICALLY THE PLANNING BOARD AMENDED THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE AND THERE'S A PLANNING BOARD VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE, AND NICK HAS GONE OVER THE CHANGES, WHICH WE MENTIONED.
[05:45:02]
IS THERE A CHANGE THAT STATES...THAT THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF RENTAL UNITS IS FOR 10 YEARS.
IT'S LIKE A COVENANT FOR 10 YEARS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORK OR YOUR PLANS AFTER THE 10 YEARS? IS IT JUST KIND OF TO TEST TO SEE IF YOU GET THE ROI? NO PLANS.
WE JUST FELT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BUILDING A RENTAL PROJECT, BUT YOU CAN'T FORECAST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG-TERM FORECAST.
I THINK ANYONE WHO'S FORECASTING MORE THAN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FINGER IN THE WIND.
SO AFTER THE 10 YEARS, YOU WANT THE OPTION TO? YEAH, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MARKET IS AT THAT POINT, WHERE THE WORLD IS AT THAT POINT.
BUT WOULD YOU TURN IT TO HOTEL OR SHORT-TERM RENTALS? NO, NO, SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS OUTLAWED AS A COVENANT FOREVER.
SO THEN WHY HAVE A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS? BECAUSE MAYBE THERE'S A FOR-SALE PRODUCT, MAYBE THERE'S COMMERCIAL, MAYBE THE PARKING IS OBSOLETE, AND THAT BECOMES A DIFFERENT USE.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN 10 YEARS.
I THINK COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS YOU'RE THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING.
WELL, I MEAN, IT'S EITHER A RENTAL BUILDING, AND IF AT SOME POINT THERE HAS TO BE AN AMENDMENT IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT'S EITHER A RENTAL BUILDING, BECAUSE TO ME 10 YEARS GO BY VERY QUICKLY.
AND OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD, I HAVE ONLY SEEN THE NEED AND DEMAND FOR RENTAL HOUSING IN OUR CITY INCREASE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOULD JUST BE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT THAT THIS IS A RENTAL BILL, PERIOD.
AND IF THERE'S A CHANGE TO THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEN IT COMES TO THE COMMISSION, AND AN AMENDMENT CAN BE CONTEMPLATED AT THAT TIME.
BUT I WANT THAT SURETY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A COVENANT.
AS TO THE TERM OF THE RENTAL HOUSING, I WOULD WANT A MINIMUM OF 30 YEARS.
TO ME, A MINIMUM OF 30 YEARS, WELL, THAT'S AT LEAST A GUARANTEE FOR THAT GIVES ME A SURETY THAT WE HAVE RENTAL INVENTORY FOR A SUBSTANTIVE AMOUNT OF TIME.
MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS I CAN GIVE YOU OUR UNIT BREAKDOWN.
IT'S A TOP OF MY HEAD, ROUGHLY ABOUT 20% JUNIOR ONE BEDROOMS, ABOUT 35% ONE BEDROOMS, 35% TWO BEDROOMS, AND THEN I THINK IT'S LIKE 7% OR 8%, MAYBE IT'S LIKE MORE THAN 22% STUDIOS, 70% THREE BEDROOMS. SO WE PUT A PROVISION IN THE COVENANT THAT SAYS THE MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE WILL BE 550 SQUARE FEET.
THE MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE WILL BE, I THINK IT'S LIKE 1,700 SQUARE FEET.
WE'RE NOT BUILDING A BUILDING FOR A SALE CONDO.
IT'S DEFINITELY A DESIGNED RENTAL BUILDING.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A CONDO BUILDING, YOU WOULD BUILD 50 UNITS AND MAYBE 2,000 SQUARE FEET OR 03,000 SQUARE FEET.
MY POINT IS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE WE I CAN'T FORECAST 30 YEARS IN ADVANCE.
WELL, WE CAN'T FORECAST ANYTHING.
AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HAVE ENOUGH DURATION TO COMMIT TO BUILDING A RENTAL BUILDING, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DESIGNING, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR.
AND I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO HAVE PROVISIONS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS IS CODES CHANGE, DEMANDS CHANGE, USES CHANGE, LIFE CHANGES.
I MEAN, YOU SAW THE PICTURE IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE 1990S. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.
BUT IN THE 1990S ALSO WAS WHEN WE SAW THE MASS CONVERSION OF APARTMENT RENTALS INTO CONDOMINIUMS IN THIS CITY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE 1990S. LET'S START FROM THE 1990S. IN THE 1990S, MIAMI BEACH, ALL OF OUR FOUR-PLEX BUILDINGS, SIX-PLEX BUILDINGS.
12-PLEX BUILDINGS IN FLAMINGO PARK AND SO MANY AREAS OF OUR CITY, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY WEREN'T IN THE STRUCTURE OF OWNERSHIP THAT THEY ARE IN.
TODAY, THEY WERE MAINLY APARTMENT BUILDINGS, AND THEY WERE BEING SOLD AT $20,000 A UNIT AT THAT TIME.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE 90S, THAT WE LEARN FROM THEM, AND THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT RENTAL HOUSING ENDS UP BEING CONVERTED INTO LUCRATIVE DEVELOPMENTS, TAKING, DISPLACING, DISPLACING.
RENTERS FROM OUR CITY AND IF THAT DOES HAPPEN AND IF THERE IS A MARKET SHIFT IN THAT DIRECTION THAT THEN IT COME BACK TO OUR CITY BUT WHAT HAPPENS USUALLY IS THAT THE RENTERS END UP AND YOU KNOW AT THE LOSING END IF DECIDE IF THE MARKET CHANGES AND YOU DECIDE TO CONVERT THIS TEN YEARS
[05:50:02]
FROM NOW INTO CONDOMINIUM WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE RENTERS WHO'S GOING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAKING SURE THAT THEY COULD THANK YOU.RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LAND IN OUR CITY AND THOSE PROTECTIONS DIDN'T EXIST IN OUR CITY BACK IN IN THE 90S WHEN WE SAW THIS WHEN WE SAW THIS HAPPEN SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT COMMISSIONER MATTEO- SALINAS CAUGHT THAT PROVISION IN IN THE IN IN IN THE LANGUAGE UM BECAUSE WE IF WE ARE BUILDING RENTAL HOUSING IN OUR CITY IT'S NOT JUST FOR TODAY IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT INHERIT THIS FROM US, HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS TYPE OF HOUSING.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS MY CONCERN, THAT A SUPPLEMENTAL ON A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM COMES OUT TWO DAYS BEFORE A MEETING.
IT REALLY DOESN'T PUT US IN A GOOD POSITION AS A CITY.
I MEAN, HOW WE PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE AND THEN TWO DAYS BEFORE A MEETING, I GUARANTEE MOST PEOPLE HAVE...
NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT IF THEY WANT TO READ IT.
AND I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, BUT I MEAN THE VERSION WAS CREATED A MONTH OR MORE AGO AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T WIND UP, I GUESS, GETTING INTO YOUR PACKAGE UNTIL YESTERDAY.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS, THERE ARE ONLY THESE FEW HANDS.
I KNOW, BUT THAT'S PART OF, YOU'VE GOT TO WORK WITH THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO US CORRECTLY.
WELL, WE DID SUBMIT THE PLANNING BOARD VERSION OVER A MONTH AGO.
TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WE CAN DISCUSS A LONGER TERM OF 10 YEARS.
I THINK WHEN YOU START GOING TO 20 YEARS, IT'S JUST TOO FAR OUT.
BUT THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT MOVE TOWARDS RENTAL HOUSING AND THAT'S WHERE THE DEMAND IS AND HOMEOWNERSHIP HAS BEEN, THERE'S A LACK OF SUPPLY, THERE'S INTEREST RATES, THERE'S ELEMENTS OF THAT THAT IMPACT THE MIDDLE CLASS WORKING CITIZEN.
BUT TO SAY THAT 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE WHERE THE RESIDENTS OF MIAMI BEACH WANT, WHERE THEY WANT ATTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP VERSUS RENTAL, I THINK IS, WE DON'T STILL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, WHICH IS WHAT THE FLEXIBILITY IS THERE FOR.
WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.
WE HAVEN'T DONE A SINGLE CONDO PROJECT OUR ENTIRE CAREERS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR PORTFOLIO AND OUR HISTORY TO CONFIRM THAT.
BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO FORECAST WHERE THE WORLD IS AND WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS AND WHERE HOMEOWNERSHIP IS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE THAN 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THE ITEM.
AND I CAN TAKE ONE VOTE FOR BOTH ITEMS, RIGHT? YES.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLANNING BOARD VERSION OF A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MONICA MATTEO-SALINAS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BHATT.
SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH.
BOTH WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH.
THE PLANNING BOARD VERSION WAS ADOPTED.
BY THE WAY, IF THIS WAS SECOND READING BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE, I
[R9 O DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION – ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST (RFLI) OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7605 COLLINS AVENUE FOR RECREATIONAL AND PUBLIC USE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.]
WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORTED IT.IN TERMS OF PROCEDURALLY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.
NO, I KNOW, BUT I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
R9O IS DISCUSS ACTION RFLI FOR 7605 COLLINS AVENUE.
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ AND COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.
I DON'T KNOW IF ALEX OR MYSELF WANT TO TAKE THIS.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR A LONG TIME, AND THANK GOD TO MY AIDES WHO GIVE ME GOOD NOTES TO REMIND ME OF WHERE WE WERE AT ON THIS.
BECAUSE OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TRANSFORM THIS PROPERTY INTO A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY HUB, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING
[05:55:02]
WITH RESIDENTS FROM NORTH BEACH, AS CLOSE AS RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPERTY, WHO HAVE ALL EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE TO TRANSFORM THIS HOUSE INTO A MARINE LIFE CENTER OR MUSEUM.TO ACHIEVE THIS, DIFFERENT AVENUES HAVE BEEN PURSUED, BUT IDEALLY A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CARRYING THE BURDEN OF THIS PROPERTY, THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS ABLE TO COME TO TAKE THE COMMUNITY DESIRES OF THEIR BEING. THIS MARINE LIFE CENTER AND MUSEUM COME TO REALITY WHERE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REINVESTING INTO THAT.
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY, BUT I BELIEVE THE RIGHT PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM WAS TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL OF AN RFLI, TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE THE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE THIS SPACE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY. WE HAVE THE ASSET.
WE CAN MAKE THE ASSET AVAILABLE TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT COULD COME IN AND POTENTIALLY ACTIVATE IT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO OUTLAY MORE DOLLARS.
WE HAVE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND ENTIRE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS THAT WERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
THE QEC, FOR A MARINE SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER, FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA.
AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS IN NORTH BEACH, AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT START.
AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO HONOR OUR MARINE LIFE HABITAT.
WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT THROUGH OUR INITIATIVES ON THE COMMISSION.
SO I'D LOVE TO MOVE THIS ALONG AND GET SOME INPUT AND SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE TO DO, WHAT INTEREST WE CAN HAVE FOR THE PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T, AGAIN, COST THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
SO PERHAPS WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO ASK THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO PUT TOGETHER AN RFLI.
TO SEE WHAT INTEREST THERE COULD BE FOR THIS TYPE OF USE I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD WANT THE RFLI THE DRAFT RFLI TO COME BACK TO COMMISSION SO WE CAN REVIEW IT BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS IS MR. MANAGER OR WHAT TYPE OF DIRECTION YOU WOULD NEED FROM US SO TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE PREPARING SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOU WOULD EITHER DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT AND ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC AND BRING BACK THE RESPONSES OR TO DRAFT AND BRING BACK TO COMMISSION.
SO I WOULD NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT BEFORE IT GOES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
BETWEEN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF INTEREST ON MAKING THIS A MARINE SCIENCE CENTER.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE PROMISED RESIDENTS.
AND CAN WE START THERE AND ASK FOR...
INTEREST IN GROUPS THAT COULD PARTICIPATE FOR THAT CENTER? SURE.
IS THERE, I MEAN, WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE THE DRAFT RFLA COME BACK TO? MAYBE EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
MAYBE WE CAN GO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL THERE.
SO, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS SIMILAR TO AN RFP OR AN RFQ WHERE WE'RE BASICALLY DRAFTING A DOCUMENT THAT IS GOING TO REQUEST SOLICITATIONS OR PROPOSALS FROM OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO POTENTIALLY TAKE OVER THIS PROPERTY AND MANAGE IT AS A MARINE LEARNING CENTER. AND IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION WANTS US TO DRAFT AND CIRCULATE, OR DRAFT AND BRING BACK FOR APPROVAL BEFORE WE CIRCULATE.
I WOULD PREFER TO DRAFT IT, BRING IT BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE NEIGHBORS OF THE AREA. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN IDEA THAT ANY OF US CAME UP WITH. MAYBE YOU, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, MAY HAVE HAD AN ELEMENT OF IDEAS WITH THIS, BUT IN MY CASE, RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS WHO WERE OF THAT IMMEDIATE AREA WERE COMING TO US, ASKING US FOR THIS,
[06:00:03]
AND IT'S WHY THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEM, SHARE WITH THEM A DRAFT OF THE RFLI BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT THERE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I THINK WE OWE THEM THAT COURTESY.CHRISTY BALA, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. JUST TO CLARIFY, THE RFLI IS AN INFORMAL PROCESS WHERE WE GAUGE INTEREST FROM THE VENDOR COMMUNITY OR PROSPECTIVE PROPOSERS THAT CAN POSSIBLY LATER SUBMIT TO A FUTURE FORMAL SOLICITATION. SO THIS IS AN INFORMAL PROCESS WHERE WE'RE JUST GAUGING INTEREST. WE WON'T BE CONTRACTING ANYONE PURSUANT TO THIS PROCESS, AND WE COULD EVENTUALLY, IN THE PAST, I KNOW WE HAVE BROUGHT BACK.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? IT CAN BE OUT FOR JUST 30 DAYS OR SO. IT'S REALLY JUST TO GAUGE INTEREST.
IF WE NEED TO PUT IT OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, WE CAN.
COULD WE DRAFT THIS AND BRING IT BACK TO NEXT MONTH? WE ABSOLUTELY CAN IF IT'S THE WILL OF GOD.
YEAH, LISTEN, IT'S JUST THE BUILDING SITTING THERE, RIGHT? WE PURCHASED IT, AND IT'S KIND OF GOING TO WASTE.
SO, I MEAN, LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON IT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DRAFT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DRAFT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY OF THE NEIGHBORS, THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BUY-IN FROM THEM.
AND VERY IMPORTANT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR IN WHATEVER RFLI WE PUT OUT THERE TO GAUGE THE INTEREST, IS THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE FULLY SELF-FUNDED, FULLY SELF- FUNDED MARINE FACILITY WHERE THE CITY IS PROVIDING A SPACE BUT THAT YOU KNOW NOT TO COME TO US SEEKING THE DOLLARS THE INVESTMENTS OR THE OR THE OPERATIONAL FUNDS FOR FOR THIS FACILITY WE'RE MAKING A A AN OCEANFRONT PREMIUM PIECE OF REAL ESTATE AVAILABLE THE MOST DESIRABLE CITY IN IN THE WORLD WHO OUT THERE IS WILLING TO COME IN AND SELF-FUND UH AN OPERATION FOR A MARINE SCIENCE CENTER MADAM VICE MAYOR, AND I'LL DEFER TO THE SPONSORS, BUT JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE FOR CONSIDERATION.
DO WE CAST THE NET SLIGHTLY WIDER, GIVEN THIS IS RECEIVING INFORMAL INTEREST, AND MAYBE HAVE IT JUST A BIT WIDER WHERE IT'S EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY-RELATED, KID-FOCUSED, IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, AS OPPOSED TO REALLY KIND OF...
TYING INTO A VERY NICHE AND NARROW CATEGORY OF MARINE.
I GET TO TIE IN WITH BEING ON THE WATER THERE, AND IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO, I WILL BACK AND SUPPORT YOU, BUT I THINK IF WE'RE JUST DOING THIS TO GAUGE INTEREST, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T LAND ON MARINE OPERATORS, BUT I DO THINK IT COULD BE WISE TO JUST CAST A SLIGHTLY BROADER NET. COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS.
I'D LIKE TO, I AGREE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
I THINK WE SHOULD BROADEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT, AND MAYBE WE JUST OPEN IT UP TO ANY NONPROFIT, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CITY TO SEE, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH BEACH, WHAT NONPROFITS ARE INTERESTED IN EITHER COMING TO OUR CITY OR ARE ALREADY HERE THAT NEED OFFICE SPACE.
I KNOW THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, THERE'S AN ITEM ON HERE FOR THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION TO USE THAT SPACE TEMPORARILY.
THEY WOULD BE MAYBE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU YOU KNOW, WE'RE LISTENING TO OUR WHOLE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE WE CAST A BROAD NET JUST TO SEE WHAT THE INTEREST IS.
SO I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THERE SHARING THE SPACE.
IF I MAY, THROUGH THE VICE MAYOR OR THE MAYOR.
WELL, BACK, I WAS TALKING TO THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE REASON WHY THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA.
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE PRIOR PROPERTY OWNER OF THIS SITE CAME TO THE CITY SEEKING TO COMMERCIALIZE THE SITE.
AND THEN WHEN THAT STARTED, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF...
OTHER DISCUSSIONS OF OTHER POTENTIAL USES FOR THIS PROPERTY.
AND THERE WAS ALARMING CONCERN, ALARMING OPPOSITION FROM THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS.
FROM WHAT I GATHER, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE NEIGHBORS
[06:05:01]
IN THE AREA FEEL BEST, FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THE MARINE LIFE SCIENCE CENTER.THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF TOURISTS OR CULTURAL DESTINATIONS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN IN NORTH BEACH, AND THIS COULD BE ONE SUCH INVESTMENT THAT CAN HELP IMPROVE THAT AREA.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE OUT OF RESPECT TO THOSE RESIDENTS OR THOSE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THIS AREA TO KEEP IT AT THIS.
IF THE RESPONSES ARE UNDERWHELMING.
AND THEY'RE NOT WHAT WE EXPECT.
I'M SURE WE CAN GO BACK AND DO A SEPARATE EXPLORATION.
BUT I WOULD RATHER STAY TRUE TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED OF US.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE GAUNTLET WITH DISCUSSING WITH RESIDENTS THERE.
NOW TO GO BACK AND SAY, OH, WE'RE GOING TO RESTART THINGS, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD LOOK OR GOOD PRECEDENT.
RESPECTFULLY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE AND MATTEO-SALINAS, I'D LIKE TO KEEP THIS A MARINE SCIENCE CENTER.
IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE IT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF COLLINS AND WHAT A BETTER PERFECT PLACE THAN TO HAVE IT THERE WHERE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN CAN LEARN ABOUT MARINE SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR MIAMI BEACH.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, DRAFT RFLI, COME BACK
[R7 AE A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE A SIX (6) MONTH REVOCABLE LICENSE OR TEMPORARY USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, INC., FOR THE TEMPORARY USE OF THE GROUND-FLOOR SPACE LOCATED AT 7605 COLLINS AVENUE, AT A NOMINAL LICENSE FEE OF ONE DOLLAR ($1.00); AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE LICENSE OR TEMPORARY USE AGREEMENT IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.]
TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN JULY.ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED, 7-0.
AS WAS REFERENCED, THERE'S A SOMEWHAT RELATED ITEM REGARDING THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
R7AE IS LICENSED TEMPORARY USE AGREEMENT WITH RHYTHM FOUNDATION DOING BUSINESS AS A BAND SHELL, 7605 COLLINS AVENUE.
SO, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM.
CAN I TAKE IT OFF? TAKE IT AWAY, ERIC.
THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION WAS LEASING SPACE FROM THE OCEAN TERRACE DEVELOPMENT.
FOR A NOMINAL FEE IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE IN A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, MEANING OCEAN TERRACE.
OCEAN TERRACE HAS GIVEN THEM NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND THAT THEY NEED THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION TO BE OUT OF THAT SPACE BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY TO BRIDGE A TEMPORARY...
HOME FOR THEM WHILE FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SOFT LANDING AND SINCE 7605 IS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED AND IS DETERIORATING, NOT BEING OCCUPIED.
WE THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO KNOW COST TO THE CITY, PICK UP THE COST OF THE AIR CONDITIONING AND ANY UTILITIES ON THE SITE.
KEEP THE FACILITY IN A BETTER CONDITION AND ALSO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO CALL HOME FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WHILE THEY FIND A PERMANENT LOCATION.
OZZY, ANYTHING THAT I'VE GOT? MR. MANAGER, THE WAY THAT THE MEMO IS WRITTEN, THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UTILITIES.
DO WE WANT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE? YES.
THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE, AND WE WILL ENTER INTO, I BELIEVE, A USE AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL DRAFT THROUGH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
[R2 A A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2026-119-WG FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE BYRON CARLYLE CULTURAL CENTER WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH STANTEC ARCHITECTURE INC., AS THE TOP-RANKED PROPOSER; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH STANTEC ARCHITECTURE INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BROOKS SCARPA HUBER ARCHITECTS, INC., AS THE SECOND-RANKED PROPOSER; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH BROOKS SCARPA HUBER ARCHITECTS, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH JOSEPH B. KALLER & ASSOCIATES, LLC DBA KALLER ARCHITECTURE, AS THE THIRD-RANKED PROPOSER; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION. (PARKS, FACILITIES, FLEET, AND BEACHES)]
CALL THE VOTE.I HAVE A MOTION ON R7AE BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ. AS AMENDED, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE AMENDMENT, THE UTILITIES, 7-0, IT'S APPROVED 7-0, R-7-8.
R-2-A. R-2-A IS AWARD RFQ 2026-119 WG BYRON CARLISLE CULTURAL CENTER WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING, R-2-A, THE
[06:10:01]
NORTH BEACH AFTERNOON.WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, IF I MAY. CHRISTY BALA, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. IF YOU ALL RECALL, AT THE MAY 20TH COMMISSION MEETING, YOU REQUESTED FOR THE PROPOSERS TO COME BACK AND DO A QUICK PRESENTATION ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS. THEY'RE ALL PREPARED TO DO SO, AND THEY ARE EACH AVAILABLE AND PRESENT TO PROVIDE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
I'VE ASKED THEM TO PREPARE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR PRESENTATIONS, IF IT'S OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ALLOW, NOT ALLOW, BUT YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO ASK THEM ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE RELATIVE TO THEIR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
WITH THAT, DID WE AGREE FIVE MINUTES EACH? YES, WE TOLD THEM FIVE MINUTES EACH, AND WE ALSO ASKED THEM TO BE PREPARED FOR LESS TIME IF NEEDED, BUT THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO KEEP IT AT FIVE MINUTES.
SO WITH THAT, THE FIRST RANKED PROPOSER WAS DAN TECH. I BELIEVE THEY MIGHT BE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE, OH, YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON.
I'M GOING TO PUT BOARDS BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE LIMITED WITH TIME, AND IT'LL BE MUCH EASIER FOR YOU GUYS TO SEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE, AND ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS ARTURO VASQUEZ. I AM A RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 2010, I LIVED AT 74 IN BYRON, SO I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS AMAZING NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AN ANCHOR THAT CAN UNIFY THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EXPAND ON THE RESOURCES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED TO BRING SUCH A FACILITY.
THE COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR IS CALLED STANTEC. STANTEC HAS BEEN HERE FOR CLOSE TO 25 YEARS. I REALIZED THAT THE PAPERWORK THAT YOU SAW, COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS, SAYS THAT WE HAVE A LICENSE OR WE HAVE IN DENVER, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE STANTEC ACQUIRED US WHEN MY PARTNERS AND I CREATED THE FIRM ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO. AND THAT MEANS THAT STANTEC ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOU EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN LOCAL FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE. WE ARE IN MIAMI, AND I MOVED HERE IN 2010 BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE A RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH AND CELEBRATE THE GREAT DIVERSITY AND ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE CITY THAT I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF.
THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING AN ADAPTIVE REUSE CONDITION TO A BUILDING THAT IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'VE ASSEMBLED A TEAM BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IN ORDER TO BRING YOU THE EXPERTS THAT CAN GIVE YOU NOT ONLY THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.I DESIGNED THE GALE HOTEL, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, AND I'M HAPPY THAT SANTORINI IS MOVING THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE AN INSTITUTION LIKE THAT.
AND I RUN AROUND THE TRACK AT FLAMINGO PARK, SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SAVE THAT.
SORRY? YOU KNOW ALL THE BUZZERS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS BECAUSE I FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE.
I SEE MAYOR MEINER AT THE BETSY ON SUNDAYS CELEBRATING MUSIC.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE PAPERWORK DIDN'T REFLECT THAT WE'RE LOCAL, SIMPLY BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE ACQUIRED, IT MOVES THE LEGALITY OF BEING ABLE TO BRING OTHER EXPERTS.
ON THESE BOARDS YOU SEE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCALITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BUILDING TO EXPAND AND BECOME A CULTURAL ANCHOR THAT NOT ONLY IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE BUILDING POSSIBLE, I KNOW COMMISSIONER SUAREZ IS VERY KEEN ON THE HOUSING COMPONENT AND HOW THE HOUSING COMPONENT CAN OFFSET THE OPERATIONAL COST.
WE HAVE SPECIALISTS THAT KNOW ABOUT...
BOTH COMMISSIONER BHATT AND WELL, HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
MY EXPERIENCE IN ADAPTIVE REUSE AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE LOCALLY WITH SPECIALISTS THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER? IT DEPENDS.
IT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF PARKING.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST EXAMPLE OF BEAUTIFUL HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE THAT ARE NOT GOING
[06:15:01]
TO BE PRICED OUT.WHEN I LIVED AT BYRON, I HAD TO MOVE OVER TO EUCLID BECAUSE I CAN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE, AND THINGS GET EXPENSIVE.
SO OUR TEAM NOT ONLY HAS PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO KNOW THE DISTRICT AND KNOW THE AREA VERY WELL, HAVE EXPERIENCED THE REVOLUTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MIAMI BEACH.
MY FIRST PROJECT WHEN I MOVED HERE WAS THE THE THEATER, THE JACK GLEASON THEATER, THEN THE GALE, AND THEN THE BERKELEY SHORE.
SO I KNOW HOW TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS WHERE YOU NEED A REAL LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF ADAPTIVE REUSE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WITH ME IS GUSTAVO, WHO IS THE GUY THAT SIGNS ALL THE DOCUMENTS, AND HE'S BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ME, 30 YEARS.
HE IS AN EXPERT AT RESILIENCY, ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE BUILDING, WHAT PARTS WE CAN PRESERVE, AND WHAT PARTS NEED NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING IN A BUILDING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AND THAT YOU WANT TO BE PROUD OF.
WITH US IS ALSO A FIRM, AN INTERNATIONAL FIRM CALLED MBRBDV.
THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE LOCALLY, AND THEY ARE EXPERTS AT CREATING ICONIC IMAGERY SO THE BUILDING THAT WE HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU ON NOT ONLY IS GOING TO CELEBRATE THE PAST BUT ALSO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE WITH EXPERTS THAT ARE BOTH INTERNATIONAL IN QUALITY BECAUSE WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY WANTED TO BE PROUD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
AND I REALIZE COMMISSIONER BHAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT FOR A LONG TIME.
WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE.
AND FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE THE RIGHT TEAM TO GIVE YOU NOT ONLY A LENS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PAST, BUT ALSO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO A FUTURE.
AND I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING MY FAVORITE QUOTE IN MY ENTIRE CAREER FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL.
FIRST, WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, AND THEN THEY SHAPE US.
AND THAT'S REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE AS AN ARCHITECT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS AND WHAT I CAN DELIVER TO YOU.
WITH STANTEC, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE.
YES, THAT PROJECT THERE IS THE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IN WYNWOOD. RIGHT BEFORE WYNWOOD BECAME WHAT IT IS NOW, WE DID ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS, ESTRADA.
ALL OF OUR WORK IS ALWAYS INVOLVED WITH AN ART COMPONENT, EVEN IF IT'S RESIDENTIAL.
THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCEPT OF ART NECESSARY FOR THAT.
THE OTHER PROJECTS ARE WITH OUR EXPERTS FROM NEW YORK WHO ARE EXPERTS IN PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS.
HE'S BEEN WORKING AS A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SPECIALIST FOR 40 YEARS.
AND HE WILL BE INVOLVED ON THAT ASPECT OF THE WORK WHILE I COVER WITH GUSTAVO THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE EXPRESSION OF THE BUILDING.
WITH THE LARGER CONTEXT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS THAT HAVE FARED VERY WELL DURING THE INTERVIEW PHASE.
THE SELECTION COMMITTEE LIKED THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY BRING IN HOUSING AND THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT ON THIS PROJECT THAT I THINK WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU GUYS TO SORT OF ANALYZE.
SO THAT WE BRING YOU NOT ONLY THE HOUSING, BUT A VERY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT ACHIEVES ALL THE USES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
DOWN HERE, WE DID A COLLAGE, SIMPLY BECAUSE I KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT COLLAGE EXPRESSES OUR CONCEPT OF BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND CREATING NOT ONLY A BUILDING THAT CAN BE FUNCTIONAL, IT CAN BE EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO ALLOWING THAT BUILDING TO BECOME PART OF THE LARGER MILIEU OF THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A BANDSHELL, CONNECTIONS TO THE PARK, FOR FAMILY AND PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BUILDING, BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THIS BUILDING IS.
I HOPE I ANSWERED ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.
IF WE HAVE MORE, WE'LL KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
GUSTAVO, ARE YOU A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT TOO? ARE YOU A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT? CLOSE BY.
[06:20:02]
CLOSE BY.OUR PROJECT MANAGER, ELVIRA, IS WITH HER FAMILY TRAVELING.
SHE'S ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME WHEN SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT CP3S.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YOU GUYS ON DOING SOME WORK.
SO WE'RE JUST REALLY CONTINUING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? WHAT'S YOUR IDEA? WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT? WHAT WOULD BE YOUR VISION? HOW DO YOU BRING THAT TO LIFE? FIRST OF ALL, THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO WORK AS A MODERN FACILITY THAT CREATES A MIXTURE OF USES, ALL OF WHICH ARE UNIQUE.
YOU'LL WANT SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF USES, BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND OPEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE NOT ONLY TO WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE BUILDING, YOU BUT ALSO TO THE BANDSHELL, TO THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET, AND NOT JUST BE INUNDATED WITH DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CENTER THAT WILL BECOME AN ANCHOR FOR THE ARTS, FOR THE WHOLE CITY, NOT ONLY FOR MIAMI BEACH, BUT ALSO FOR MIAMI.
IN FACT, THAT DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO BUILDING LIKE THIS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.
NOT IN MIAMI, NOT IN MIAMI BEACH.
THE VISION IS FOR A BUILDING THAT CAN GO BEYOND ITSELF AND BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT IS BEYOND NORTH BEACH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION FOR OUR CITY.
EXCUSE ME? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION FOR OUR CITY.
I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
GO AHEAD AND CALL UP THE NEXT, THE SECOND RANKED, WHICH WAS BROOKS SCARPA-HUBER ARCHITECTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M ANGIE BROOKS, MANAGING PRINCIPAL OF BROOKS SCARPA HUBER.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FLORIDA, AND MY TWO PARTNERS GREW UP IN MIAMI.
WE ARE A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED, WOMAN-OWNED FIRM FOUNDED 35 YEARS AGO WITH OFFICES IN FORT LAUDERDALE, MIAMI, AND LOS ANGELES.
AND WE'VE COMPLETED CULTURAL ARTS PROJECTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF HOUSING, INCLUDING TWO APARTMENTS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON TWO CULTURAL ARTS PROJECTS, ONE WITH VIRTUALLY THE SAME PROGRAM AS THE BYRON CARLISLE.
PERFORMANCE SPACE, CULTURAL SPACE.
WHERE IS THAT ONE, I'M SORRY? THIS ONE IS IN CULVER CITY, THE CITY OF CULVER CITY.
WORKFORCE HOUSING OVER RETAIL.
OUR TEAM REALLY KNOWS NORTH BEACH, AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO JEFF, MY PARTNER, FOR A SHORT PRESENTATION.
AND WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN.
SO IT'S GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
WE BELIEVE OUR TEAM IS THE MOST QUALIFIED FOR THE BYRON CARLISLE.
WE KNOW NORTH BEACH, WE KNOW CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES, WE KNOW HOUSING, AND WE KNOW PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW THEY WORK.
I WILL LEAD AND BE THE PROJECT ARCHITECT ON THIS, AND I AM HERE LOCAL, AND ALSO BORN AND RAISED IN MIAMI.
SO I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 46 YEARS.
TOGETHER, OUR TEAM BRINGS THE EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO MOVE THE BYRON CARLISLE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE ARE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE TOGETHER AND WE ARE PREPARED TO DO IT AGAIN.
WE ARE NOT LEARNING NORTH BEACH.
WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE OF THE BYRON CARLISLE, OUR TEAM HAS JUST COMPLETED THE LARGEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, VISTA BREEZE, AND WE'VE PERMITTED THE HERON AND BOTH ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HERE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
WE HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE ORGANIZATIONS HELPING SHAPE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY, AND WE HAVE A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITY STAFF.
WE BELIEVE THAT ARCHITECTURE SHOULD BE OF A PLACE, AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.
NORTH BEACH DESERVES A PROJECT THAT BELONGS HERE AND COULD NOT EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE.
MANY OF US ALSO HAVE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE BYRON CARLISLE.
MIKE O'HARE'S ACTUALLY PERFORMED IN THE SPACE WHEN IT WAS O CINEMA.
I ACTUALLY WATCHED EMPIRE STRIKES BACK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
SO LIKE MANY RESIDENTS, WE CARRY MEMORIES OF THIS PLACE.
[06:25:02]
THE BYRON CARLISLE HAS BEEN A PART OF NORTH BEACH'S STORY FOR GENERATIONS, AND IT DESERVES A FUTURE WORTHY OF THE RESIDENTS AND OF THAT HISTORY.SO THAT'S WHERE OUR EXPERIENCE BECOMES PARTICULARLY RELEVANT.
THE HOLLYWOOD ART AND CULTURE CENTER DEMONSTRATES OUR EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMING HISTORIC STRUCTURES INTO VIBRANT CULTURAL DESTINATIONS.
LIKE THE BYRON CARLISLE, THIS REQUIRED BALANCING PRESERVATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND LONG-TERM OPERATIONS.
CULTURAL BUILDINGS SUCCEED ONLY WHEN THEY BECOME COMMUNITY ASSETS.
THIS DEBRIS DEMONSTRATES OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI BEACH AND IN NORTH BEACH.
IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES OUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, NAVIGATING APPROVALS, ADAPTING TO FLOODING AND FUTURE HEAT, AND STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH HOUSING.
AND SO THIS MAY BE THE CLOSEST PRECEDENT TO THE BYRON CARLISLE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
AND SO THIS IS BEING DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, AS CLOSE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THIS AS ANY OTHER PROJECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THIS IS THE CULVER THEATER.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROGRAM AND SCALE.
AND THAT COMBINES AN HISTORIC THEATER, CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMMING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, RETAIL ACTIVATION, AND A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP DELIVERY ALL WITHIN A SINGLE PROJECT.
IT ADDRESSES MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, PRESERVING CULTURE, CREATING HOUSING, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY IDENTITY.
WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO BALANCE THOSE PRIORITIES SUCCESSFULLY.
SO THE BYRON CARLISLE REQUIRES CULTURAL ARTS EXPERTISE, HOUSING EXPERTISE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPERIENCE, FINANCING, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION.
OUR TEAM HAS DELIVERED PROJECTS LIKE THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE AND WE HAVE ASSEMBLED THE TEAM NECESSARY TO DELIVER IT AGAIN HERE FOR THE BYRON CARLISLE.
BROOKS SCARPA HUBER WILL PROVIDE DESIGN LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE AS WELL AS PRESERVATION.
ROBERTO AT C-STUDIO AND STAGES WILL BRING ARTS PROGRAMMING, OPERATIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH A DEEP MIAMI BEACH RELATIONSHIP.
DONAHUE PEOPLES BRINGS DEVELOPMENT, FINANCING, AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BRINGS HOUSING DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND OUR TEAM UNDERSTANDS THE MIAMI BEACH PROCESS, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY CONSENSUS.
OUR COMMITMENT IS TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT SOLUTION TOGETHER.
SO WE ARE THE MOST QUALIFIED TEAM.
WE KNOW HOW PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WORK.
AND WE UNDERSTAND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE ALREADY HERE.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PROCESS.
AND WE WILL REMAIN IN THIS COMMUNITY LONG AFTER THIS PROJECT IS BUILT.
WE ARE READY TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.
AND WE WOULD BE HONORED TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS PROJECT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE BYRON CARLISLE.
FOR ANYBODY ON YOUR TEAM, WHETHER YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON OR SOMEBODY ELSE, SAME QUESTION I ASKED BEFORE, WHAT IS YOUR VISION? HELP ME VISUALIZE IN MY HEAD WHAT I WOULD SEE THERE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS, BYRON CARLISLE, LIKE I SAID, HAS A MEMORY.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE PRESERVE THOSE MEMORIES WITHIN THE BYRON CARLISLE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR VISTA BREEZE PROJECT, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE THING WE'RE ALWAYS ACCUSED OF, IS WE NEVER REPEAT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND ARE STEEPED IN THE PLACES THAT WE'RE WORKING.
COMMISSIONER, LIKE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT I WOULD ALWAYS SAY IS IT IS IDIOSYNCRATIC.
VISTA BREEZE WAS IN A HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICT.
IT'S IN A PLACE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND FLOODING.
WE HAD TO MANAGE AND UNDERSTAND WORKING WITH THAT, GOING THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD, GOING THROUGH THE DESIGN REVIEWS, GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE PROCESSES, AS WELL AS GOING AHEAD AND WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER TO SAVE THEM 90% ON INSURANCE COSTS TO MAKE THIS A RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING.
IT JUST RECEIVED LEED CERTIFICATION, OR LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION.
AND SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE IDENTIFIED SOLUTION.
WE'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THE PLACE, THE HISTORY, THE ARCHITECTURE, AND THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF THOSE ARE VARYING, AND WE WOULD IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE ELEMENTS WOULD BE.
SO WE DON'T COME IN WITH A PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHAT IT WANTS TO LOOK LIKE.
WE THINK ABOUT IT IN THE PLACE, IN THE CONTEXT THAT IT'S IN.
ARE YOU BASED IN FLORIDA OR CALIFORNIA? I'M IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND MIAMI.
AND SO ANGIE IS IN LOS ANGELES.
[06:30:01]
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT LAW? YEAH, SURE.THE COMPANY WAS INCORPORATED IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE'RE ABOUT 25 PEOPLE.
WE HAVE AN OFFICE HERE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR NINE YEARS.
TEN YEARS GOES BY REAL QUICK AS THE COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, AND PART OF THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT IS BECAUSE I'M FROM FLORIDA.
WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN FLORIDA, AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH JEFF TO OPEN AN OFFICE HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS BORN AND RAISED, LIKE I SAID, IN MIAMI AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI. CAME OVER HERE DURING, AND WE WOULD ALWAYS PAINT.
I WAS A VISUAL, IN THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM ON THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE STEEPED IN THIS PLACE.
I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I'VE WORKED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
YEAH, I'M JUST CONFUSED HOW DON IS INVOLVED IN THIS.
LIKE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING THIS.
IN FACT, COMMISSIONER, I THINK...
AND I REMEMBER A FERC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO OUR OTHER PROJECT, THE BARCLAY.
AND YOU BROUGHT ME BACK UP TO THIS LECTERN.
AND YOU ASKED ME IF I WOULD COME IN AND HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE BYRON CAR LAB.
I BROUGHT TOGETHER THE ARCHITECTURE TEAM THAT WE USE AT THE BARCLAY.
WE DO, OR THAT PRODUCE THE MOST WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE CITY AND DONE IT IN AN INCREDIBLE WAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT'S STEEPED IN THE CULTURAL ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN FACT, BROUGHT THE TEAM THAT LED THE ADRIAN ARTS CENTER TO COME IN AND ENSURE THAT WE DELIVER BEST-IN-CLASS PRODUCT.
MY HOPE IS THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A COMPELLING PROPOSAL THAT ALLOWS US TO...
ARE YOU AN ACTING CONSULTANT? FOR THE FIRM? HOW DO YOU...
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT'S YOUR ROLE? TO ASSIST IN STRUCTURING THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CAPITAL STACK IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE CITY'S ECONOMIC EXPOSURE AND DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING WITHOUT COMING BACK HERE AND ASKING FOR MONEY.
AND ENSURING A VISION THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FROM BEGINNING TO END.
PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU PLAY IN ON THIS DESIGN? THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
ARE YOU BROUGHT ON AS A CONSULTANT? I THINK THAT THE DESIGN AND THE FINANCING ACTUALLY INTIMATELY INTERPLAY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
CERTAINLY WE CAN DESIGN SOMETHING THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE GUGGENHEIM, BUT THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE AFFORD IT? THAT'S DOUBLY TRUE.
WITH RESPECT TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
BROOKS AND SCARPA DOES AN AMAZING JOB DEVELOPING WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT IS AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL BUT, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY ALSO FINANCEABLE.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO RUN THE NUMBERS.
SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE THE INTIMATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCING SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW THESE SORTS OF HOUSING TO GET DEVELOPED.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER AS A TEAM, WE'RE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS.
I DON'T THINK I'D BE A CONSULTANT AS MUCH AS I'D BE A FINANCIAL ENGINEER.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY WERE ASKED TO PARTNER WITH A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FIRM, AND THAT, I BELIEVE, IS THE ROLE OF THEIR FIRM WITHIN THEIR TEAM.
ALL THE TEAMS WERE ASKED TO HAVE A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FIRM FOR THE WORKFORCE HOUSING COMPONENT.
CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM'S RELEVANT EXPERTISE AND LOCAL ROOTS? I CAN ACTUALLY ASK SOME OF THEM TO COME UP AND JUST GIVE, ROBERTO, YOU WANT TO JUST GIVE A SENTENCE OR TWO ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN THE PROJECT? SURE.
MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, I'M ROBERTO ESPERO.
I WAS THE LEAD ARCHITECT AT THE ARCH CENTER AND BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY IN PREDOMINANTLY CULTURAL PROJECTS.
I STARTED WORKING WITH THE SAVE THE BYRON, OCTOBER 2020.
WORKED THROUGH FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SEARS BUILDING AND HOW MUCH DO WE KEEP OR NOT AT THE IRISH CENTER AND THE SENSITIVITY INVOLVED. AND THEN THROUGH WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE BYRON, I WAS PART OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BYRON AND WORKED WITH THEM TO DEFINE THE PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SWEET SPOT IS FOR WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. AND THEN DONAHUE AND I WORKED ON A PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDING INCLUDED THE HOUSING, SO I, I WOULD BE AN ARM AND A PLUG-IN TO, UH, AND A COLLABORATOR WITH THE BROOKS AND SCARPA AND HUBER, UH, TEAM.
[06:35:03]
O'HARA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, 200 ALTON ROAD. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S ROLE IS ON THE HOUSING COMPONENT, TO MAKE SURE THE HOUSING WORKS.TOO MANY TIMES YOU'VE SEEN PROJECTS COME TO THE CITY THAT ARE BRILLIANTLY DESIGNED AND DON'T WORK. SO THAT'S THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S ROLE WITH DONAHUE PEOPLES, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRODUCT WORKS, IT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, AND CAN REALISTICALLY MOVE AHEAD.
SOME INTERESTING TIDBITS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS THE DEVELOPER THAT BROUGHT BROOKS AND SCARPA TO MIAMI BEACH. WE FOCUS HEAVY ON DESIGN, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROJECTS STAND OUT AND FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE LOOKED FOR FIRMS NATIONWIDE AND WE CAME TO BROOKS AND SCARPA, AND THEY HAVE DELIVERED BRILLIANT DESIGNS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, VISTA BREEZE AND THE HERON. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH DONNIE AND THE TEAM ALSO WITH THE, LIKE JEFF SAID.
I PERFORMED THREE TIMES AT BYRON CARLISLE, PROBABLY THE ONLY TEAM MEMBER ACROSS ALL OF THE APPLICANTS THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE STAGE, BE BACKSTAGE, PERFORM IN IT, AND, AND I KNOW IT INTIMATELY. AND ONE THING THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT IS, 20 YEARS AGO, WASN'T IN GOOD SHAPE. IT WASN'T UP TO THE STANDARD OF WHAT MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE OFFERING AS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION. SO I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A TEAM THAT CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING SOMETHING THAT MIAMI BEACH WILL BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU.
YOU SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS GENTLEMAN HERE.
BARRY MILLER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WITH SAPHINA MILLER DESIGN STUDIO. LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, WE LOVE THIS CITY. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT.
GENERATIONALLY, I GUESS MY TIDBIT IS THAT I WORK WITH THIS GENTLEMAN'S FATHER FOR THE ROYAL PALM HOTEL PROJECT. YOU GO WAY BACK REMEMBERING THAT. THE CITY DIDN'T GIVE MANDELA THE KEY, AND MR. PEEBLES, SR., CAME IN TO SAVE THE HOTEL. SO WE WERE THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FOR THAT PROJECT, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO MAYBE WORK WITH HIS SON AGAIN. AND, OF COURSE, THE BROOKS AND SCARPER TEAM.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS HERE LOCALLY.
CRANDON PARK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SMALL 1,000-ACRE PARKS, THE CUT.
WE ASSEMBLE A TEAM THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE HAVE A FORM OF RELATIONSHIPS WORKING WITH EACH ONE OF THESE TEAM MEMBERS.
AND THAT WAS WHAT WE WANTED TO BRING, THAT VISION TO THE BYRON CAR LAW, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL IT'S GOING TO BE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND AS A CULTURAL ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE JUST IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT OCCUPIED NOW OR AT LEAST THE CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED ON THE LAST ONE BUT IT'S 119 UNITS THAT BEYOND 115.
I THINK YOU BUILT OVER THE LAST IT ALSO TO BUILD ON OUT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S COMMENT FROM SHOVELING THE GROUND WHICH HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE JUST ELECTED TO YOU KNOW COMPLETION WAS PRETTY QUICK AND IT'S CONTEXTUALLY APPROPRIATE IN MIAMI BEACH AND FRESH AND WITH ARCHITECTURAL ROOTS BEING CLEAR.
YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU THINK THROUGH THE MIRROR THAT IT'S A BUILDING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE ERA OF MIAMI MODERN ARCHITECTURE.
BUT WITH ALL THE MODERN STANDARDS.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENT WE COULD RECEIVE BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR.
AND THEN, TOO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, WE DIDN'T WANT JUST A BANAL STUCCO BUILDING, TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE IT'S PLAYING LIBERACE AS YOU'RE WALKING AROUND.
COMMISSIONER BHATT IS GOING TO LOVE THAT, I'M SURE. THE GLITTER.
IF YOU WANT THOSE SPLINTERS, JUST GLITTER.
WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO THE THIRD AND LAST RANKED FIRM, COLLAR ARCHITECTURE.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS JOSEPH KALER OF KALER ARCHITECTURE, AND WE ARE THE WORKFORCE HOUSING EXPERTS.
WE ARE A LOCAL SOUTH FLORIDA ARCHITECTURAL FIRM PRACTICING FOR 45 YEARS.
[06:40:02]
DURING MY EARLY YEARS ON SOUTH BEACH AND ATTENDED MY ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IN MIAMI BEACH.HAVING A LOCAL PRESENCE IN SOUTH...
FLORIDA GIVES OUR FIRM AN EXTENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL ZONING, STATE CODES, AND FEMA FLOOD REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE AN UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE IN AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING AND HAVE COMPLETED MORE THAN 5,000 WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
OUR KAHLER AND DIAMOND SCHMIDT TEAM WILL BRING GLOBAL, HIGH-DESIGN STANDARDS AND INTEGRATE A PROJECT CONTAINING BOTH WORKFORCE HOUSING AND AN UNPARALLELED COMMUNITY PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX THAT WILL STRENGTHEN NORTH BEACH AS A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND ARTS CENTER HUB.
YOUR PROJECT'S SUCCESS IS BUILT ON KEY FIVE PILLARS.
ONE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, FINANCIAL VIABILITY, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND CULTURAL CENTER INTEGRATION, AND OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURE.
OUR KAHLER-DIAMOND-SCHMIDT TEAM HAVE YOU COVERED WITH THESE FIVE KEY PILLARS.
CALLING UP MATTHEW LAYLA OF DIAMOND-SCHMIDT WITH UNPARALLELED PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
WE ALSO HAD A SHORT POWERPOINT.
SO THOSE ARE THE FIVE KEY PILLARS, WE THINK, AND THE PROJECT WILL NOT SUCCEED IF ANY ONE OF THEM...
WE ARE THE PERFORMING ARTS AND DESIGN SPECIALISTS ON THE TEAM.
WE'VE BUILT OVER 60 VENUES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE'VE RECEIVED OVER 400 NATIONAL AND GLOBAL AWARDS, AND WE'VE BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP 10 OF PERFORMING ARTS ARCHITECTS GLOBALLY.
SO WE RECENTLY COMPLETED DAVID GEFFEN HALL IN LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY.
BUT WE ALSO BUILD AT ALL SCALES.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BUILDING FOR...
THE COMPUTER'S ON YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE.
SAY AGAIN? THE COMPUTER'S ON YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE FOR THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO YEAH, THERE ARE SOME OF OUR...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE AS I WAS SAYING WE BUILD AT ALL SCALES SO THE BUILDING ON THE UPPER LEFT AND LEFT MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN IS A PROJECT THAT IS EXACTLY THIS PROGRAM THAT WAS COMPLETED IN TORONTO CANADA IT'S QUITE AN UNUSUAL MIX PROGRAMMATIC MIX TO MIX HOUSING AND THEATER BUT IT SHOULD BE APPLAUDED AS IN THIS CASE AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF INTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO GET THE MIX JUST RIGHT, THE MIX OF THEATRE, EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, OUTREACH AND HOUSING, IT MADE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WHERE WAS THAT? IN TORONTO, CANADA.
THE BUILDING ON THE BOTTOM MIDDLE WITH THE BLUE BACKGROUND IS IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS AND IT'S A PPP PROJECT THAT WAS ALSO BUILT FOLLOWING YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
TOGETHER WITH THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH THE LUBBOCK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WITH LOCAL DANCE GROUPS, BALLET FOLKLORICO, BALLET LUBBOCK, ETC.
SO, ON THAT, I WANT TO SAY THAT TO BRING LIFE BACK TO THE BYRON CARLISLE, THE FIRST TWO STEPS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES, AND THEY ARE THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND THE MODELING TO MAKE SURE THIS...
AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DIANA AND ERIC, AND DIANA WILL SPEAK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT.
I AM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER THAT WILL BE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, HOPEFULLY.
WE ARE A LOCAL MEDIA RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FIRM.
I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED AT THE BEACH FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS IN SEVERAL PROJECTS.
I WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS OFFICE ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'M CURRENTLY LEADING ALL PI EFFORTS FOR THE FIRE FLOW PACKAGES, THE FIRST STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, AND WE ALSO DID THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
ERIC LIPP WITH LAMBERT ADVISORY, PRINCIPAL WITH LAMBERT ADVISORY.
WE'RE AN ECONOMIC AND REAL ESTATE CONSULTING FIRM BASED HERE IN MIAMI.
I'M ACTUALLY A FORMER NORTH BEACH RESIDENT.
[06:45:01]
AND OUR PRACTICE HAS A SPECIALTY IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURING.WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IN THE PAST, INCLUDING THE NORTH BEACH TOWN CENTER, OCEAN TERRACE, THE MIXED-USE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, AND OTHER PROJECTS.
IN THIS BRIEF TIME, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE CITY'S...
GOALS AND FOCUS FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOCUSING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO ANY REDEVELOPMENT AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE AND IT OBVIOUSLY IS PART OF THIS BYRON-CARLEL, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMMING.
THE SECOND ITEM IS OBVIOUSLY THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REALLY SEEKING TO MAKE PROJECTS FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ON THIS TEAM.
I THINK IT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES, THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALONG WITH SOME COMMUNITY-BASED AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY CAN BE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, GIVEN WHERE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT COSTS ARE TODAY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ANY TEAM HAS A FINANCIAL ANALYST LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE AS PART OF THE TEAM.
NAMELY, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF ALTERNATE PROGRAMMING, PERHAPS, OR DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS THAT WOULD LEVERAGE AS MUCH PRIVATE SECTOR REVENUE-GENERATING RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S INCLUDING SOME MARKET RATE OR SOME ELEMENT OF COMMERCIAL RETAIL, TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL FINANCING THAT CAN HELP.
YOU KNOW MAKE THIS FINANCIALLY VIABLE AND NOT ONLY TO ATTRACT A PRIVATE, YOU KNOW A DEVELOPER PARTNER IF THAT'S HOW YOU CHOOSE BUT ALSO MAKE THIS A CREATIVE TO THE CITY SO THAT'S OUR ROLE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THAT IN TERMS OF ITS GUIDANCE. SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO COMMISSIONER BHATT QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU SAID YOU WORKED IN NORTH BEACH TOWN CENTER.
WHAT PROJECTS? INITIALLY STRUCTURING THE HELPING OUT WITH MARK I BUT WE DID THE ECONOMIC AND FISCAL ANALYSIS INITIALLY BEFORE THE RFP OR ANY DOCUMENTATION WENT OUT INTO DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE WERE KIND OF INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING THE FEASIBILITY AND FISCAL BENEFITS.
WHICH OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS? OR FOR THE NORTH BEACH MASTER PLAN WITH DOVER COAL? IT WAS SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH BEACH TOWN CENTER PROJECT AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.
LAMBERT DID THE WORK FOR THE CITY AS PART OF THE TCC DISCUSSIONS IN...
THE BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOWN CENTERS BUT NOT FOR ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT FOR THE MODELING OF WHAT TOWN CENTER ZONING COULD BE YES THEY WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OKAY BEFORE AFTER PLAN NO BE WHAT'S THAT BEFORE OR AFTER PLAN NO BE I BELIEVE IT WAS AFTER PLAN NO BE BUT PLAN NO BE MY UNDERSTANDING IS WAS THE INITIAL PLAN THAT WAS DONE IN 2014 AND THEN THE TCC ZONING DISTRICT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2016-2017.
AND WE WERE INVOLVED IN- AND NOBODY WAS LATER THAN THAT, I THOUGHT.
WITH DOVER COAL? THAT WAS LATER THAN 2014.
OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
WE WERE INVOLVED IN, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 2020.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD- WAS IT 400 PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY OR 400 AWARDS? HOW MANY PROJECTS DID YOU...
WE HAVE MANY MORE THAN 60 PROJECTS.
WE HAVE 60 PERFORMING ARTS VENUES WITH THE STEP.
WELL, DAVID GEFFEN HALL AT LINCOLN CENTER IS THE RENOVATION OF THE OLD AVERY FISHER HALL, SO IT'S WHERE THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC PLAYS.
WE DID THE AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE THEATRE, THE HARMON-CARDIN CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WE DID SYMPHONY HALL IN DETROIT.
YOU DID THE WHOLE ARCHITECTURE? YES.
WE'RE WORKING NOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
WE'RE WORKING AT THE DOMINION UNIVERSITY.
WE'VE GOT A LONG PORTFOLIO OF THEATRES.
AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH FISHER-DAX ASSOCIATES, WITH BOB CAMPBELL.
WHO DID THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE BYRON CARLISLE AS PART OF THE RFP THAT WENT OUT? I SHOULD, WOULD THE MAYOR ASK, AND I'LL START WITH YOU GUYS, HAVE YOU EVER BUILT ANYTHING LIKE THIS? WELL, AS I SAID, I MEAN, WHAT I LIKE THIS, DO YOU MEAN THE FULL PROGRAM OF A THEATER AND HOUSING?
[06:50:02]
THE ANSWER IS YES, WE HAVE BUILT IT.IT'S IN REGENT PARK IN TORONTO.
AND THE REASON I SAY WE'VE ONLY BUILT ONE OUT OF THE 60 IS BECAUSE IT'S QUITE AN UNCOMMON MIX TO MIX HOUSING TOGETHER WITH A THEATRE PROJECT.
BUT PERHAPS I WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH.
IT DOES RELY ON A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT AND IT DOES RELY ON A LOT OF FINANCIAL MODELING TO GET THE BALANCE RIGHT.
LET ME SAY ACTUALLY, WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT AND A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS, YOU CAN'T COMPROMISE.
YOU MUST TAKE THE TIME TO CREATE CONSENSUS.
NOBODY SHOULD LEAVE THE TABLE FEELING LIKE THEIR NEEDS WON'T BE MET.
AND THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
SO WE THINK OUR TEAM IS TOOLED TO HELP THE CITY MEET THAT GOAL.
YEAH, BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, WHERE YOU HAVE A HOUSING COMPONENT SUBSIDIZING OR PAYING FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS COMPONENT OR THE OFFSET FOR IT.
AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TORONTO? IT DID.
I'D BE STRETCHING A LITTLE BIT TO SAY THAT THE FINANCIAL...
THE OPERATING MODEL IS BASED ON INCOME, BUT THE CO-DEVELOPMENT MODEL IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
AND SORRY TO BRING THE OTHER APPLICANTS UP, HAS ANY OF YOU EVER BUILT SOMETHING LIKE THIS? IF YOU CAN NAME A PROJECT.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, WHICH IS PERMIT READY.
WE ALSO DID THE CAM RALEIGH MUSEUM, WHICH IS IN OUR PACKAGE, THE CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.
AND IT WAS DESIGNED WITH HOUSING ON TOP, AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO THE HOUSING ON TOP.
THEY DID THE CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM WITHOUT THE HOUSING PIECE.
THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATER IS GOING TO HAVE THE HOUSING ADJACENT TO IT.
IT IS A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY OF CULVER CITY TO THE DEVELOPER.
THE CITY IS GIVING THE DEVELOPER THE LAND TO DEVELOP THE HOUSING AND IT IS A MARKET RATE AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND WE HAVE CULTURAL ART SPACES ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE THEATER THAT IS GOING TO BE OPERATED BY THE CENTER THEATER GROUP.
AND THEY'RE THE OPERATOR ALSO OF THE AMUNDSEN AND THE MARK TAPER FORUM.
AND THAT IS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT'S VERY CHALLENGING AND IT'S A VERY...
INTERESTING PROJECT BUT WHAT WE DID WAS SEPARATE THE HOUSING SPATIALLY FROM THE THEATER AND I THINK YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL AND WE HAVE A RETAIL ON THE GROUND FLOOR BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK AND RATE THE HOUSING A VISION COULD BE MORE INTEGRATED SO THAT THE HOUSING IS INTEGRAL TO THE DESIGN OF THE CULTURAL CENTER.
BECAUSE THE KEY IS HOW THE CULTURAL CENTER HAS DIFFERENT USES AND HOW THE HOUSING IS GOING TO SUPPORT THAT.
THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER THAT WE PRESENTED AND THE POLSON THAT ARE IN OUR PROPOSAL, BOTH HAVE HOUSING IN THEM.
THE POLSON IS A LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER IS VERY CLOSE.
AND THE REASON IT'S CLOSE IS NOT BECAUSE IT'S A BUILDING THAT INTEGRATES HOUSING, BECAUSE IT'S A BUILDING AND A CULTURAL INSTITUTION THAT EXPANDS BEYOND THE BUILDING COMPONENT SO THAT IT INTEGRATES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
YOU NEED A BUILDING THAT HAS BOTH HOUSING AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT USES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY COEXIST, BUT IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH SIDES AND COME UP WITH A MUCH MORE CLEVER SOLUTION THAN SEPARATING THE HOUSING, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE PARKING AND THE BYRON.
IF YOU HIRE US, WE'LL SHOW YOU.
NEITHER OF WHOM ARE HERE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK.
THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ALL THREE GROUPS.
I MEAN, CLEARLY EVERYBODY HERE IS QUALIFIED, SO NOBODY'S DISPUTING THAT, OBVIOUSLY.
I HEARD SOMEBODY MENTION, LET ME REPHRASE, I HAVE A CONCERN THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE RE-LITIGATED.
WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT WITH A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHAT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER IS GOING TO BE.
NONE OF US HERE ARE ARCHITECTS, SO WE DON'T PRESUME TO KNOW HOW THAT WILL FIT WITH THE HOUSING, WITH THE SPACE, WITH ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS.
HOWEVER, I GET VERY CONCERNED WHEN I HEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND REIMAGINE WHAT
[06:55:01]
THIS VENUE IS GOING TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY.WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 2018 IN VARIOUS FORMS. AND WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE EVEN COMMISSIONER SUAREZ AND I AGREE ON WHAT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS WILL BE.
AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY FEELS VERY GOOD ABOUT WHAT THIS FACILITY WILL OFFER.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW TO GET THERE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TURNING IT OVER TO THE HIGHLY PAID EXPERTS BECAUSE NONE OF US HERE ARE THOSE.
BUT SO WHEN I HEAR, AND WE CLEARLY MUST HAVE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED ON THIS, BECAUSE IT IS, AS EVERYBODY HERE HAS MENTIONED, IT IS A VERY EMOTIONAL PROJECT, DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS THAT MIGHT COME IN AS SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING.
SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING FOR A MILLISECOND THAT THE COMMUNITY IS NOT ENGAGED.
THAT IS NEVER MY INTENT, GOING BACK TO MY ACTIVIST ROOTS.
IT IS CONCERNING, THOUGH, TO HEAR ABOUT REIMAGINING WHAT THE FUNCTIONALITY IS GOING TO BE, AND SO I'D LIKE EACH OF THE GROUPS TO ADDRESS THAT.
COMMENT A LITTLE BIT PLEASE WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANY FUNCTIONALITY NEEDS TO BE REIMAGINED AND WE AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE COMMUNITY ASPECT IS A KEY ASPECT WE HAVE SPECIALISTS ON OUR IN OUR OFFICE THAT ARE STORYTELLERS AND IT IS THE WAY THAT WE PRESENT THE METHODOLOGY OF COMING TO CONSENSUS ON ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU A BUILDING THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS, BUT ALSO THE CODES ARE VERY DIFFERENT NOW THAN THEY WERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THE BUILDING THAT ISN'T JUST GOING TO BE A RENOVATION.
IT'S PROBABLY MORE OF AN ADAPTIVE REUSE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FUNCTIONALITY, BUT ALSO LOOKING BACK AT WHAT TOUCHES THE HEART OF PEOPLE, WHICH IS WHERE YOU'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS COMMUNITY CONSENSUS WITH THE VISION THAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH YOU.
I'LL JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, I THINK WE ARE OPEN TO ADAPTIVE REUSE, TO BUILDING NEW, TO ANY COMBINATION THEREOF.
SO I DON'T WANT ONE VERSION OR ANOTHER TO DICTATE BEFORE THERE'S BEEN EVEN THE MEREST CONCEPT OF DESIGN WORK FOR ANY OF THE GROUPS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT ABOUT DESIGN WORK.
THIS WAS ABOUT GETTING THREE VERY QUALIFIED OUT OF A VERY ROBUST LIST OF, I THINK, PEOPLE RATHER SO I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT DESIGN HERE I KNOW YOU KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF BECAUSE WE'RE ALL CURIOUS AND EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT BUT SO I JUST AGAIN WANT TO KEEP US FOCUSED ON THE FUNCTIONALITY AND THE PROCESS I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT I COMPLETELY AGREE IT'S NOT ABOUT REIMAGINING THE SPACE BUT ALSO BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED FROM AN EARLY STAGES AND KIND OF EMPHASIZE ON THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT.
BUT WHILE HEARING THEM, YOU KNOW, HEARING THEIR VOICES AND MAKING THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE BEING A PART OF IT BECAUSE IT'S THEIR USES, IT'S THEIR SPACE.
SO JUST BRINGING THEM IN AND BUILDING JUST THAT ADDITIONAL CONSENSUS FROM ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST, JUST KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THAT TRACK GOING.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR TOO ABOUT OUR TEAM THAT WE ASSEMBLED BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING WE CAN HIT THE GROUND DAY ONE RUNNING BECAUSE WE HAVE ROBERTO FROM C-STUDIO THAT'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CRITICALLY UNDERSTAND AS A FIRM, THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAP INTO DAY ONE BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IS A REIMAGINING, A REVISIONING.
WE WANT TO BUILD ON WHAT'S ALREADY THERE AND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE ASSEMBLED THIS TEAM WITH DONAHUE, WITH ROBERTO, WITH OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE'RE HERE, WE'VE DONE IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE AND CONTINUE TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY LONG AFTER THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED.
AND WE WANT TO SEE IT SUCCESSFUL, NO MATTER WHO YOU SELECT.
I MENTIONED SAVE THE BYRON AND THE FRIENDS OF THE BYRON.
THE FRIENDS OF THE BYRON WAS A GROUP THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER.
IT WAS RHYTHM FOUNDATION, YOUNG MUSICIANS UNITE.
MIAMI NEW DRAMA, DANCE NOW, AND THE WHOLE MISSION WAS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEEDED.
THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO WITH DAVID SEXTON.
WE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION OR A SERIES OF ALTERNATIVES.
SO WE LOOKED AT THE STANDALONE THEATER WITH THE HOUSING ACROSS THE STREET.
WE LOOKED AT THE STANDALONE THEATER WITH THE HOUSING ON TOP.
WE LOOKED AT THE STANDALONE THEATER.
WITH HOUSING ON TOP AND ON THE ADJACENT SITE ALL OF THEM HAVE IMPLICATIONS BUILDING ON TOP OF A PERFORMING ARTS
[07:00:01]
CENTER WHO STICK ISOLATION STRUCTURE THAT HAS TO MOVE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED MORE EXPENSIVE BUT THEY ALL WORK DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE AND WHAT THE PROJECT GOES FORWARD SO IT WAS OUR PRESENTATION DAVID SEXTON IN MIND TO THE COMMISSION THAT APPROVED PULLED THE GEO BOND AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BUYER.ANYTHING TO ADD ERIC? I THINK YOU'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE'S A REASON WHY THESE THREE FIRMS WERE TIED FOR NUMBER ONE AFTER THE ORIGINAL EVALUATION.
WE'VE GOT VERY QUALIFIED, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE GROUPS.
EACH BRINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT I THINK YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS NO MATTER WHO YOU DECIDE TO GO WITH.
OUR EVALUATION COMMITTEE BROKE THE TIE.
THEY CAME BACK WITH STANTEC 01, BROOKS-GARPA 2, AND CALLER 3.
WHO WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE? THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION.
THE COMMITTEE WAS, I BELIEVE, SEVEN PEOPLE.
THERE WERE TWO RESIDENTS, JOHN STEWART AND RONNIE EISENBERG, AND THERE WERE FIVE DEPARTMENT HEAD OR PROGRAM DIRECTOR STAFF MEMBERS.
AND HOW DID YOU PICK THOSE TWO RESIDENTS? PEOPLE THAT I FELT KNEW THE NEIGHBORHOOD VERY WELL AND PEOPLE WHO I ALSO...
VALUE THEIR OPINION AND I THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COMMITTEE.
THEY WERE MY CHOICE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE CAME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF STANTEC ONE BROOKS SCARPA TO CAL OR THREE WAS THERE A SCORE OR JUST ONE TWO THREE? SO IT'S BASED ON AN AGGREGATE ORDINAL SCORE AMONG THE SEVEN PEOPLE.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT RANKED.
BROOKS SCARPA WON, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT RANKED STANTEC ONE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT RANKED CALLER ONE, BUT WHEN YOU ADDED UP ALL OF THE SCORES, THE ORDINAL SCORE WAS STANTEC WITH A 12, BROOKS SCARPA WITH A 13, AND I BELIEVE CALLER FINISHED WITH A 17.
LOWER LIKE GOLF BEING THE BETTER.
DO WE KNOW HOW THE RESIDENTS RANKED THE THREE FINALISTS? SO I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.
IT'S IN THE BOOK, BUT I DO REMEMBER JON STEWART AND RON BOTH HAD BROOKS SCARPA NUMBER ONE.
COMMISSIONER HAS AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION AND BECAUSE THIS IS AN ICONA SILENCE I COULDN'T APPROACH THESE PEOPLE AND ASK THEM WHY DID YOU VOTE THIS, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS.
SO I ASKED IT IN MY AGENDA REVIEW AND THE MANAGER, I'LL JUST REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID, THE TWO RESIDENTS BOTH OF WHOM LIVE IN NORTH BEACH RANKED BROOKE SCARPEA, HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? THAT ONE IS NUMBER ONE.
I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT THE MANAGER SAID.
AND THEN THE STANTON, I BELIEVE, SANTEC TWO AND CALLER THREE.
AND I'VE CALCULATED ALL THIS OUT BECAUSE I WAS VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THIS TOO.
BUT, YEAH, BOTH THE RESIDENTS RANKED BROOKS SCARPA AS ONE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE APPLICANTS BECAUSE I THINK OUR CITY IS SO FORTUNATE.
TO HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL, PROFESSIONAL, TALENTED TEAMS COMPETING TO WORK ON THIS INCREDIBLE CULTURAL ASSET THAT WE HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL POSTURE WE'RE IN.
ARE WE ALLOWED TO VOICE OUR OPINION, MR. ATTORNEY, AND PREFERENCES? YES, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ENOUGH.
I'M GOING TO BE THEN VERY CLEAR WHERE I STAND ON THIS.
I'VE SEEN THE WORK OF BRUCE SCARPA, VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE
[07:05:04]
WORK PRODUCT THAT THEY'VE GIVEN NORTH BEACH, WITH THE IDENTITY OF NORTH BEACH AND THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT.I ALSO FEEL THAT IT'S GREAT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS TEAM, IT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN ALREADY IN THE PAST, CITY ASSETS PARTNER WITH ENTITIES TO DELIVER HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
AND THEN IT ENDS UP BEING A STRUGGLE.
AND TO HAVE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHO THAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE ON THIS TEAM, TO ME IS GREAT.
MR. ESTRADA, THAT I GUESS YOU WORKED WITH SESSOR PELLEY'S TEAM.
ESPEJO, I'M SORRY, MR. ESPEJO.
AS HE WORKED WITH CESAR PELLI'S TEAM WITH THE ADRIAN ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WANT THAT CALIBER OF EXPERTISE TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND SO MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM THAT HAVE CONNECTIONS TO MIAMI BEACH, SCAVINO MILLER, THAT HAS DONE TRULY ICONIC.
WORK FOR OUR CITY, YOU ALL ARE INCREDIBLE PARTNERS.
AND SO I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT I SAW FROM BROOKS SCARPA.
AND THAT'S NOT A DISCREDIT TO ANY OF THE OTHER TEAMS. BUT I THINK SOMETHING SO SENSITIVE AS THIS PROJECT.
THAT IS SO BELOVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
YOU REALLY WANT A PARTNER THAT IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO KNOW HOW TO DELIVER A PRODUCT THAT REFLECTS THE IDENTITY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WILL HELP GUARANTEE THAT THE HOUSING, TRULY HOUSING THAT WORKS FOR THE END USER AND ITS AFFORDABILITY.
SO JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD, I...
I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WITH BROOKS SCARPA.
IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING THINGS ALONG, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME FOR COMING HERE.
IT'S BEEN A LONGER PROCESS THAN ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR, SO I RESPECT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT.
AND I THINK IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE VALIDITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THIS PROJECT THAT WE HAD SO MANY, NOT ONLY THE 12 WHO WERE FINALISTS OR, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE QUALIFIED, BUT THERE WERE COUNTLESS MORE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT.
SO HOWEVER THIS DECISION GOES.
PLEASE TAKE SOME PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE IN THIS ROOM AND THAT THERE'S SO MUCH INTEREST AMONG MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFF AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY ON GETTING THIS EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT WE'VE GIVEN EXTRA DUE DELIBERATION TO THIS PROCESS.
I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENTS.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS REALLY TALENTED AND REALLY QUALIFIED.
HAVING BEEN A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION SINCE I WAS A BABY ACTIVIST.
AND FIRST MOVED TO NORTH BEACH AND HAVING ATTENDED SCREENINGS AT THE THEATER AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND SEEING, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DEEPLY MEANINGFUL THIS PROJECT IS TO NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS, WHETHER THEY ARE NEW OR RECENT, I GUESS, OR GREW UP IN NORTH BEACH.
IS TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME WHO WHO HAVE THE CHOPS WHO UNDERSTAND THE CITY AND HOW IT WORKS WHO UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF NORTH BEACH YOU KNOW THE THE ANALOGY IS WHEN STEPHEN ROSS CAME IN TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING THE DEAUVILLE SITE AND JUST REALLY DID NOT CARE ONE WIT ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE TWO OTHER GROUPS ARE THAT AT ALL THAT'S IT'S NOT A GREAT ANALOGY BUT WHEN SOMEBODY CAME IN AND DID LISTEN AND DID PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, THAT'S WHEN A PROJECT GOT APPROVED FINALLY.
SO WITH GREAT RESPECT FOR THE TALENT AND BUSINESS SAVVY AND ACUMEN AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED, I'M ALSO GOING TO SUPPORT BROOKS GARBER.
I'LL PROLONG IT BY JUST SAYING HOW LUCKY ARE WE WHEN THE SECOND TEAM WAS GOING.
AND YOU'RE SAYING WHERE YOUR OFFICES ARE.
HE SAID LOS ANGELES, AND I GOT TO DAYDREAMING.
HE SAID LOS ANGELES, THEN MIAMI.
I GO, WOW, HOW COOL DOES THAT SOUND, DESIGNING ARCHITECTURE IN MIAMI? I GO, WAIT, WE LIVE HERE, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS THAT ARE BASED HERE.
[07:10:01]
AND THERE'S DAYS THAT THAT'S JUST LOST ON ME, AND WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND APPRECIATE JUST HOW AMAZING THAT IS.YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD VISITING HERE, AND THEY ALL...
WE'LL LEAVE WITH THAT SAME IMPRESSION.
THAT BEING SAID, I REALLY LOVE EVERY SINGLE GROUP THAT PRESENTED.
LIKE I SAID, YOU WORE YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE, YOUR CARE AND PASSION ABOUT MIAMI BEACH, YOUR PROJECTS AT UBIC, TEXAS TECH, RIGHT? WORLD CLASS.
FAIR OR NOT FAIR, I CAN SEE IN PERSON THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY'VE DONE UP CLOSE, AND THAT'S WHAT SKEWED IT FOR ME.
I TIP MY HAT TO BROOKS AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION.
I'LL LIVEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL VOTE THE WAY I ALWAYS WANT TO VOTE, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO LOVE TO SEE UNIFORMITY HERE.
BUT I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO GO WITH CENTAC.
PARTLY BECAUSE UNLESS I HAVE A REASON NOT TO GO WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH SOMETIMES THEY DO, AND I DON'T ALWAYS SUPPORT.
IN THIS CASE, I DON'T, AND IT'S REALLY TIGHT.
I'LL TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO WRONG.
I ACTUALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE DECIDE HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE A WINNER.
I LIKED SOME OF THE PRODUCTS YOU SHOWED, SOME OF THE NEW YORK.
THINGS IN CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE FIRST CLASS.
SO I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I WANT US TO BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE SITTING HERE THINKING, WELL, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THEM, BUT NOBODY'S SAYING IT.
SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, I KIND OF LIKE THE LAST.
I MEAN, AND IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS TO WORK.
AND GOD FORBID WE GET INTO SOMETHING WHERE IT CAN'T WORK AND WE HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION, HAVE YOU MADE SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THIS OR LIKE THIS? AND THEY SAID, YEAH.
BROOKS GARBAUGH HAS DONE ALMOST SOMETHING.
I KNOW THEY PULLED THE PERMIT BACK, BUT TO ME, THAT'S A MARKER FOR SUCCESS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T RANK THEM, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY WERE RANKED THREE.
BUT LOOK, ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO GO WITH THE WILL OF THE BODY.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS DIFFICULT.
WITH, YOU KNOW, SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO OVERRULE THE PROCUREMENT SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE CITY MANAGER.
AND I DON'T KNOW, DOES THIS SET UP ANY SORT OF CHALLENGE TO US IN THE FUTURE? WELL, ANYBODY COULD ALWAYS CHALLENGE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A DECISION BY THE COMMISSION, ABSENT FRAUD OR SOME OTHER NEFARIOUS...
PURPOSE WOULD IN ANY WAY BE CHALLENGEABLE.
RIGHT, SO LOOK, I THINK THEY'RE ALL VERY QUALIFIED.
I JUST FOUND THAT SORT OF, I WAS MOST IMPRESSED BY THAT BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE WORK DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE WANNA DO.
BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE REST OF- JUST, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER MATTEO-SALINAS, BUT A QUESTION.
WHEN WE VOTE, IS IT JUST WHOEVER HAS THE MOST VOTES OR DOES SOMEONE NEED FOUR? LET'S SAY IT WAS THREE, TWO, AND TWO.
I THINK IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY PICK WHOEVER HAS THE MOST VOTES.
I HEAR THE MANAGER SAYING WE NEED FOUR.
I THINK AT SOME POINT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESOLUTION SELECTING A FIRM.
I THINK THERE CAN BE ITERATIVE VOTES.
MAYBE WE DO THE WAY THAT WE DO SOME OF THE VOTING ON APPOINTMENTS WHERE YOU ALL VOTE, AND IF THERE'S NOT A CLEAR WINNER, THEN WE DO ANOTHER VOTE.
I THINK WE'LL COME TOGETHER IN A CONSENSUS.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW LEGALLY WHAT WE'RE, BECAUSE THREE, TWO, AND TWO, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'LL DROP THE LAST ONE BECAUSE THEN IT'S A TIE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THE WORD THINK WHERE SOMEBODY SHOULD SAY I KNOW.
COMMISSIONER MATTEO- SALINAS. OH, GOOD.
COMMISSIONER MATTEO- SALINAS. SO THANK YOU ALL, ALL THREE OF YOUR GROUPS THAT'S BEEN HERE TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OF YOU, I'VE NEVER MET ANY OF YOU AGAIN, CONE OF SILENCE.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT
[07:15:03]
TO THIS PROJECT TO ME IS YES, THE CULTURAL CENTER, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
AND I CHAIR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE HERE WITH THE CITY AND I'VE...
I HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT RIGHT.
AND SO HAVING MR. O'HARA WORKING WITH THE BROOKS-GARPERA TEAM IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO HOW QUALIFIED YOU GUYS ARE BECAUSE YOU DO GREAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY AND I LIKE THAT CONSISTENCY.
AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE IN SOUTH BEACH, YOU'RE IN NORTH BEACH, YOU OPENED A NEW BUILDING, YOU'RE VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY YOU OPERATE ALL OF THE BUILDINGS.
HOW MANY RESIDENTS DO YOU DEAL WITH, MIKE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM REAL QUICK? GOOD AFTERNOON.
SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS OVER 600 PHYSICAL HOUSING UNITS AND WE SERVE ALMOST 6,000 FAMILIES COUNTYWIDE.
AND SO FOR ME, YOU AND WHAT YOU DO WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE CHECK MARK THAT I NEEDED TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THIS.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT.
I'VE SEEN IT DONE WRONG, AND IT'S NOT PRETTY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY SUPPORT WOULD GO.
NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK? WANT TO TAKE THE VOTE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON BROOKS.
OH, WAIT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? YEAH, WELL, DISCUSS WITH THE CLERK, AND WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE, AND IF...
IF WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR FOUR VOTES, WE WILL ELIMINATE THE LOWEST VOTE GETTER AND THEN TAKE A SECOND VOTE.
ARE WE SAYING YES TO A SPECIFIC FIRM OR ARE WE SAYING A NAME OF A FIRM? YOU'RE SAYING THE NAME OF A SPECIFIC FIRM.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON BROOKS SCARPA.
NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT RICK IS SAYING.
RICK IS SAYING WE SAY THE NAME OF THE FIRM.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE ARE FOUR, BUT I MEAN, WE COULD, LET'S JUST DO A VOICEOVER.
SO WE'RE NAMING THE NAME OF THE FIRM THAT WE ARE.
SO YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
BROOKS SCARPA AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT I SAID STANTEC. I'M GOING TO SAY FIVE.
JUST TO, BECAUSE THIS IS CCNA, WE NEED TO, SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY IF STANTEC WOULD BE SECOND, BECAUSE WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE WITH BROOKS-SCARPA, THEN SO-AND-SO, AND THEN SO-AND-SO.
SO I GUESS THE SECOND VOTE IS FOR WHO IS YOUR SECOND RANKED.
SO I'M GOING TO GO REVERSE ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
THE LAST COMPANY THAT PRESENTED, YOU ALL HAVE DELIVERED THE COMBINATION OF PERFORMANCE ART CENTER WITH HOUSING.
AND THE FIRST COMPANY THAT FIRST, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE? HAVE YOU DELIVERED? YOU'VE DELIVERED TWO.
SO COMMISSIONER SUAREZ RANKED TWO.
MR. MATEO SALINAS? I'M SORRY, WHICH COMPANY IS WHICH? STANTEC AND...
[07:20:01]
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.STANTEC HAS A MAJORITY VOTES FOR RANK NUMBER.
SO WE NEED AN AFTER THE FACT RESULT, CHRISSY.
IF I COULD JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR THE DELIBERATION AND YOU ALL GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW OUR EVALUATION COMMITTEES WORK, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, BUT HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY IT TASTES GOOD.
ERIC, CAN YOU JUST TALK REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS, HOW QUICKLY WE CAN MOVE TO REACHING AGREEMENTS, AND WHAT THE TIME HORIZON LOOKS LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD? SO WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TOP-RANKED FIRM.
WE'RE GOING TO START THAT TOMORROW.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET TO A CONTRACT WITH THAT DESIGN FIRM, BUT WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO GET THAT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT'S THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK? SIXTY DAYS? A LITTLE BIT MORE, I WOULD SAY.
THE FIRST PROCESS OR THE FIRST STEP IS FOR THEM TO PREPARE A FULL PROPOSAL.
THAT USUALLY TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
WE NEGOTIATE THAT PROPOSAL, AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO BRING IT BACK TO COMMISSION FOR ADOPTION.
SO IT WILL TAKE US A GOOD FOUR MONTHS, FIVE MONTHS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER.
I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION IS WORDED TO PROVIDE THE CITY MANAGER AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE.
DO WE NEED TO BRING I DON'T THINK IT SAYS TO BRING IT BACK, RIGHT? YOU'LL AMEND THE RESUME.
NORMALLY THE AUTHORITY IS GIVEN TO THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T.
WELL, WOULD THE COMMISSION WANT TO SEE THE CONTRACT BEFORE IT IS AWARDED, OR DO YOU WANT TO AUTHORIZE THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE ONCE SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE OCCURRED? I THINK WE SHOULD SEE IT.
[C4 S REFERRAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE TERMINATION OF THE CITY’S RED-LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM.]
[R9 AI DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE ELIMINATION OF RED-LIGHT CAMERA CITATIONS AND NOTICES OF VIOLATION ISSUED FOR RIGHT TURNS ON RED.]
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER.IN SOME INSTANCES YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
LET'S CALL TOGETHER TWO ITEMS, C4S AND R9AI.
C4S IS REFERRAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, POSSIBLE TERMINATION OF THE CITY'S RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM.
IT WAS SEPARATED BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
AND R9AI IS DISCUSS, TAKE ACTION, ELIMINATE RED LIGHT CAMERA CITATIONS AND NOTICES FOR RIGHT ON RED.
C4S IS AN ITEM THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ BROUGHT AND TOGETHER R9AI COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ AND I ARE BRINGING.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR R9AI ON TODAY'S AGENDA AS WELL.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF...
THE RED LIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY.
MY CHALLENGE WITH THE RED LIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM IS THAT I AM GETTING AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE GETTING TICKETS WHEN THEY'RE TURNING ON RED.
AND THEY SHOW YOU THE CITATIONS, AND CLEARLY THE CAR IS STOPPED.
YOU SEE THE LIGHTS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS.
THEY'RE SHINING RED AND THEY'RE STILL GETTING THESE TICKETS.
ORIGINALLY, I HAD PLACED AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO SUSPEND OR TO FIND A WAY TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT.
AND THEN IN SPEAKING WITH OUR POLICE AND SPEAKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I THINK MANY OF US HAVE RECEIVED THESE COMPLAINTS.
YEAH, I'VE BECOME AWARE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE RIGHT-HAND TURN VIOLATIONS WITHOUT HAVING NECESSARILY TO SUSPEND THE CONTRACT.
[07:25:03]
AND SO IF THERE IS THAT AVENUE, MR. MAYOR, MR. ATTORNEY, TO SUSPEND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT-HAND TURNS ON THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS, I THINK I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO END.TO ENTERTAIN THEM, BUT I'LL DEFER TO YOU, MR. MAYOR.
NO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
SO IRONICALLY, I WAS WORKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF, WAYNE JONES, AND THEN YOU PUT YOUR ITEM ON, AND ULTIMATELY THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS WE HAD, SO THAT'S WHY IT GOT ON LATE, BECAUSE WE WERE STILL DOING SOME LEGAL RESEARCH.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS, CHIEF.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS, BUT I THINK, A, IT COULD BE AN ISSUE TERMINATING IT.
ALSO, I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH IT, BECAUSE WHEN THAT LIGHT HITS RED AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT, I DON'T HAVE SUCH SYMPATHY IF SOMEONE'S GETTING A TICKET, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LOVE THE OVERALL SCHEME.
BUT A RED LIGHT, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE NOT FULLY STOPPING, BUT THEY COULD BE GOING REALLY SLOW.
I DO HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TAKEN THOSE INTERSECTIONS, AND SO FAR, THANKFULLY, I'VE NOT GOTTEN THAT TICKET.
BUT I'M SYMPATHETIC TO IT, THAT IT MAY BE UNJUST TO ISSUE THOSE PRETTY HEFTY FINES ON PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO A VIRTUAL STOP.
THEY'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT'S DANGEROUS IN ANY WAY.
BUT WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS? SURE.
BRINGING THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
AS YOU KNOW, RED LIGHT CAMERAS WERE IMPLEMENTED, PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT IT REDUCED CRASHES WITHIN INTERSECTION AND THUS SAVED LIVES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A THRESHOLD THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
AND BY THE WAY, PEOPLE ARE NOT STOPPING.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT VIDEO TO SUPPORT EVERY INFRACTION THAT'S BEEN REFUTED.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN MOST CASES, MAKING RIGHT TURNS, IS WHAT IS CALLED A CALIFORNIA ROLL.
THEY SLOW CONSIDERABLY AND THEN THE TURN.
RIGHT NOW I THINK THE THRESHOLD IS ABOUT SEVEN MILES PER HOUR.
WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT RAISING THAT THRESHOLD.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE CAMERA ACTIVATES IF THEY GO SEVEN MILES.
OR MORE THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION, WE CAN RAISE THAT THRESHOLD, SO IT'S 50 MILES AN HOUR.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? THAT WAS SO, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK I HEARD YOU, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
YEAH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS IS THERE'S A THRESHOLD THAT'S SET, THAT'S PRESET.
IF SOMEONE SLOWS, BUT NOT STOP, THEY SLOW DOWN TO SEVERAL MILES AN HOUR OR MORE, AND THEY GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.
SEVERAL OR SEVEN? SEVEN, SEVEN.
I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE FOGGED UP TODAY.
THEY SLOW DOWN TO SEVEN MILES PER HOUR OR MORE.
THEY SLOW DOWN TO AT LEAST SEVEN MILES PER HOUR.
THAT CAMERA IS ACTIVATED, PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN OF THEM, AND THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY RAN THAT LIGHT.
THE CAR TURNS ON A RED LIGHT, ON A RED, AND IS GOING FOUR MILES AN HOUR? SEVEN.
I KNOW, BUT I'M SAYING IF THEY GO FOUR, THEY DO NOT GET A TICKET? CORRECT.
HOW IS IT GAUGED, THE SPEED? THE CAMERA HAS, I SUPPOSE, IS SMART ENOUGH TO TELL HOW FAR TO...
HOW FAST THE CAR IS GOING AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
BUT YOU HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
I MEAN, THE IDEA IS NOT TO ROLL THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
YOU HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WHICH IS HAPPENING IN MOST CASES.
WELL, IN EVERY CASE, PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.
A VIRTUAL STOP IS NOT A STOP, MR. MAYOR.
I JUST HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY COMPLAINTS.
AND I THINK PEOPLE, IN THEIR MIND, THEY'RE STOPPING.
I THINK IT'S WHAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED AS A, WHAT'S IT CALLED? A CALIFORNIA ROLL.
OR WHAT IS IT CALLED? A ROLLING STOP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I DON'T TRUST THAT RAISING THE THRESHOLD.
IS GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T GENERALLY TRUST THE TECHNOLOGY.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT I SEE LIVING RIGHT IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT CAMERA IS THAT WHILE THE INTENT OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS IS TO AVOID ACCIDENTS, WHAT I SEE HAPPEN IS THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER SLAMS THE BRAKES.
AND THE PERSON BEHIND THEM, REAR-END THEM.
SO NOW YOU'RE AVOIDING, AGAIN, THE T-BONE ACCIDENTS ARE DANGEROUS, AND WE ARE AVOIDING THEM, BUT WE'RE NOT AVOIDING
[07:30:01]
ACCIDENTS IN OUR CITY.YOU'RE STILL, I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.
NOT WITHSTANDING THAT, I DO UNDERSTAND THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSE.
I WOULD RATHER SEE A COMPLETE SUSPENSION ON THE RIGHT-HAND TURNS.
ON THE RED BECAUSE THEN THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WAS THE CAMERA CALIBRATED WHO'S CHECKING WHETHER WHETHER THE PERSON WAS GOING SEVEN MILES AN HOUR OR EIGHT OR TEN I THINK THE REAL CONCERN IS IF THE PERSON IS RUNNING THE RED LIGHT AND AND THAT CAN CONTINUE TO HAPPEN WITHOUT HAVING THE ENFORCEMENT ON ON THE RIGHT SO TO BE CLEAR, SO WE'RE KEEPING STRAIGHT THROUGH, YOU STILL GET THE TICKETS, JUST NOT ON THE RIGHT TURN.
I THINK THERE'S ONLY TWO INTERSECTIONS, THAT'S BEEN THE MAJOR PROBLEM THAT I KNOW OF.
ONE IN PARTICULAR, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S SORT OF...
WHICH ONE? CHASE AND ALTON'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC.
DO YOU HAVE A CONFLICT THERE THAT YOU LIVE RIGHT ON THAT COIN? NO, ACTUALLY, HE HAS NOT, BUT HE LIVES RIGHT THERE.
I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT.
SERIOUSLY, DO I HAVE A CONFLICT? NO, I'M KIDDING.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE.
BY THE WAY, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS, BUT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE GOTTEN MORE, I THINK, COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE BOARD FROM RED LIGHT CAMERAS THAN PROBABLY THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
IN FACT, JUST SITTING HERE TODAY, I GOT ANOTHER ONE A COUPLE OF YOU COPIED ON.
IT JUST SEEMED TO BE UNUSUAL, HONESTLY.
BUT CHASE AND ALTON SEEM TO BE THE MOST PROBLEMATIC I'VE SEEN.
THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE MOST COMPLAINTS FROM.
BUT I'VE BEEN MISSED THROUGH THE MAYOR.
I'VE BEEN GETTING COMPLAINTS AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ SAYS DADE BOULEVARD AND 17TH.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THOSE, BUT I'VE RECEIVED ALSO ON WASHINGTON AVENUE AND 17TH STREET.
AND ONE OF MY CONCERNS WITH THIS, WITH THE PROGRAM IN GENERAL, IS THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST DRIVERS.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST AWARE DRIVERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE HITTING THEM WITH A CITATION THAT GOES UP TO 180-SOMETHING.
I THINK IT'S 180, ABOUT 180 SOMETHING.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE, WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM, ADDRESSING PARKING ISSUES AND TOWING ISSUES AND A NUMBER OF ISSUES TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT I THINK UNFAIRLY TARGETS, SPECIFICALLY ELDERLY PEOPLE.
AND SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO SUSPEND THE RIGHT-HAND TURNS ON RED.
AND IF THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND THERE'S AN ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THAT ASPECT OF IT BETTER IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN ALWAYS RECONSIDER IT.
BUT FOR NOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S WORKING PROPERLY.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS.
COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT? NO, IT'S A RULE OF COMMISSION TO SUSPEND IT.
THERE IS ONE INTERSECTION WHERE THERE'S NO TURN AT ALL IN RED.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE PROBABLY KEEP THAT ONE IN PLACE.
WELL, IF THERE'S NO TURN, I THINK, YES.
I WANT TO SAY FROM WEST TO NORTHBOUND, GETTING THE INTERSECTION GOING WESTBOUND FROM LENOX, COMES ON 17TH STREET, PASSING LENOX.
WELL, WHERE A RIGHT IS PERMITTED.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO HERE? WELL, I MEAN, THIS WILL, COMMISSIONER, WE'RE HAPPY TO APPLY THAT.
LOOK, THERE WAS A WORLD THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
COPS ENFORCED PEOPLE NOT STOPPING PROPERLY.
OR IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK, I'LL WAIT FOR HER.
YEAH, COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS.
I JUST, I, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I LOVE YOU, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM, AND I WAS NOT GOING TO VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS.
BUT YOU DO RAISE SOME GOOD CONCERNS, WHICH IS, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY? THAT IS A CONCERN.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE GETTING MORE, IT'S NOT THAT A BUNCH MORE PEOPLE ARE BLOWING THROUGH THE LIGHT.
I MEAN, MAYBE, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THAT THE CAMERA IS GLITCHING.
AND SO HOW DO WE TEST THAT? AND SO NOW I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
OVERALL, AGAIN, I'M JUST, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE CAMERAS.
[07:35:02]
WHAT IF A SQUIRREL ATE THROUGH SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES AND NOW IT'S PICKING UP EVERYBODY? I DON'T KNOW.HOW DO WE TEST THESE CAMERAS AND THE TECHNOLOGY? SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE TESTING PROCESS WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, EVERY VIOLATION, EVERY VIOLATION THAT'S ISSUED.
IS REVIEWED BY A POLICE OFFICER PRIOR TO BEING ISSUED, RIGHT? CAMERA CATCHES IT, ALERT IS GIVEN TO THE POLICE OFFICER.
HE OR SHE REVIEWS THAT PRIOR TO A VIOLATION BEING MAILED OUT TO THE OWNER OF THAT VEHICLE.
SO THEY WATCH THE CAMERA AND THEY WATCH EACH CAR THAT GOES THROUGH AND THEY TIME IT AND THEY...
AT EVERY SINGLE INTERSECTION WHERE WE HAVE THESE CAMERAS.
EVERY CITATION THAT'S ISSUED IS REVIEWED BY A POLICE OFFICER BEFORE BEING ISSUED.
I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ELIMINATING THIS COMPLETELY.
I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD IF THAT'S A CONCERN.
I HAVE BEEN HIT BY CARS MULTIPLE TIMES.
I DON'T RECOMMEND IT AND WE HAVE INCREASINGLY BAD DRIVERS AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVERS AND OTHER CARS, OTHER VEHICLES, OTHER PEDESTRIANS, MICRO-MOBILITY USERS, ETC.
I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT EITHER.
SO BEFORE WE ELIMINATE IT ENTIRELY, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY A SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM OF INCREASING THE THRESHOLD GOING THROUGH WHATEVER THE TESTING MECHANISM IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S WORKING PROPERLY AND THEN INCREASING THE THRESHOLD SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU KNOW MAYBE MOSTLY RESPONSIBLE ARE NOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE BLOWING THROUGH AND TAKING AGGRESSIVE TURNS ON RIGHT ARE CAUGHT BECAUSE I SEE IT ALL THE TIME PEOPLE DRIVING LIKE ABSOLUTE MANIACS AND I THINK THIS IS A DETERRENT AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TAKING THE SAFEGUARDS OFF.
I UNDERSTAND AND I SHARE MY COLLEAGUE'S CONCERN WITH YOU DON'T WANT TO CATCH EVERYBODY IN THE SWEEP NECESSARILY, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVE ARE DOING ALL OF US NO SERVICES.
AND SO I WOULD BE INCLINED TO DO A TEST WITH AN ELEVATED THRESHOLD OF WHATEVER YOU GUYS RECOMMEND, WHETHER IT'S 10 OR 15 OR 8 OR WHATEVER MILES.
GET TO A GOOD BALANCE OF JUDICIOUS SAFETY.
I'M JUST PULLING UP SOME ARTICLES HERE, AND THIS WAS BACK IN MARCH.
JUDGE RULES RED LIGHT CAMERA LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
I JUST ASKED RICK ABOUT IT, AND JUST THE SYNOPSIS OF IT IS, IF OUR JUDGE RULED THE RED LIGHT CITATION, CAMERA CITATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE FLORIDA'S...
PROCESS EFFECTIVELY PRESUMES THE REGISTERED OWNER WAS THE DRIVER AND THEN FORCES THE OWNER TO PROVE OTHERWISE SHIFTING THE BURDEN AWAY FROM THE GOVERNMENT THE JUDGE FOUND THAT THE VIOLATED DUE PROCESS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE TICKET STILL CARRIES PENALTY AND A FINE FINDING OF WRONGDOING SO IF IT IS NOT THE PERSON OR THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IS IT ON THE ONEROUS OF THE VEHICLE TO SAY IT WASN'T ME, IT WAS...
THIS PERSON SO THAT THEY DON'T GET THE TICKET YES SIR THAT'S ACTUALLY LIKE RATTING OUT THEIR LOVED ONE OR THEIR FRIEND UM UNFORTUNATELY ANSWERS YES SIR THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE IT TO COURT LIKE ANY OTHER TRADITIONAL CITATION IT'LL BE ISSUED YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO DO IT AFTER BEING CITED UM AND THEY CAN GO TO COURT SAY THE HONOR WAS NOT DRIVING THE COURT TIME LOOK I'VE GOT PAPERWORK TO SHOW WAS AT WORK MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE TIME YEAH SEE I MEAN TO ME, THAT'S A BIG FAULT IN THE SYSTEM, RIGHT? YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S DRIVING THE CAR.
AND ONCE YOU GET AN ISSUE OF CITATION, IT'S REALLY ON THE BURDEN OF THE CAR OWNER, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USING THE CAR, TO PROVE THAT IT WASN'T THEM, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND MUCH LONGER ANYWAYS.
CONSIDERING WHAT THIS FINDING WAS, BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK IT DOES WHAT PEOPLE WANT IT TO DO, WHICH IS BETTER BEHAVIOR.
FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER BOTT MENTIONED, CHIEF, AND ALSO MAJOR GARCIA, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT THE SPEED, THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS PROPERLY MEASURING THE SPEED? I'LL LET MAJOR GARCIA SPEAK TO THAT, BUT FAIRLY CONFIDENT.
BECAUSE IF IT IS, I WOULD BE INCLINED IF WE RAISED THE THRESHOLD.
I MEAN, IF SOMEBODY'S GOING 15, 18 MILES AN HOUR,
[07:40:07]
WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO STOP THEM? THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.WE CAN CERTAINLY RAISE THE THRESHOLD.
THAT MAY ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING WHERE PEOPLE JUST AREN'T SLOWING DOWN ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING, PARTICULARLY AT CHASE AND ALTON, FOLKS SLOW THE INTERSECTION.
THEY REALIZE NO OTHER CARS ARE COMING, SO THEY JUST SORT OF CRUISE THROUGH, NOT THINKING.
THAT TO BE CAPTURED ON THIS CAMERA INSIDE IT.
WHERE IS THE, JUST CURIOUS, WHERE IS THE SPEED TAKEN? IS IT TAKEN ON THE CURVE, OR IS IT TAKEN JUST BEFORE THE STOP? YOU KNOW, ON THIS COMMISSION, I WISH I KNEW THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID SEVEN, THAT ACTUALLY REALLY SURPRISES ME.
HOW OFTEN, WHAT'S THAT MACHINE THAT YOU GUYS USE TO, ON SPEED TRAPS, TO TRACK THE SPEED? LASER.
I WOULD IMAGINE YOU MUST CALIBRATE THOSE LASERS, OR THEY DON'T NEED TO BE CALIBRATED? YES, THOSE ARE CALIBRATED.
HOW OFTEN ARE THEY CALIBRATED? EVERY YEAR.
ANNUALLY? HOW OFTEN ARE THE CAMERAS CALIBRATED? WE DON'T DO THAT.
THAT'S DONE BY THE COMPANY WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH.
CALIBRATION OF THOSE CAMERAS? AND COULD IT BE THAT INSTEAD OF CAPTURING PEOPLE FOR NOT FULLY STOPPING AT THE RED LIGHT BEFORE TURNING RIGHT THAT THEY'RE TICKETING BECAUSE THE CAMERA MIGHT REGISTER IT AS, OH THE CAR IS RUNNING THE RED LIGHT BECAUSE SOMETIMES AN INTERSECTION OF THE ANGLE IS PRETTY WIDE IT'S A BIG INTERSECTION AND YOU KNOW MIGHT THAT BE A SITUATION.
I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMPANY ABOUT.
BUT, LIKE, AGAIN, EVERY VIOLATION OF WHAT YOU ISSUED IS VERIFIED BY A POLICE OFFICER.
I JUST HAVE A FEELING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNING, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING SEVEN MILES AN HOUR.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY HESITATION IS IN INCREASING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THE SITUATION.
MY SUSPICION MIGHT BE FLAWED TECHNOLOGY OR THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THE RED LIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY MOTION AS IS TO TERMINATE THE ENFORCEMENT.
ON THE RIGHT HAND TURNS IF WE LEGALLY HAVE THAT ABILITY.
AND I THINK ALSO EVEN AT 17 AND ALTON, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN HAVING TO STOP AT ANY OTHER INTERSECTION.
AT 17TH AND WASHINGTON, YOU HAVE TO STOP BEFORE YOU TURN RIGHT.
AT 17 AND ALTON, YOU JUST CAN'T TURN RIGHT.
I THINK IN EITHER SCENARIO THEY SHOULD ALL BE TREATED THE SAME.
I DON'T LIKE RED CAMERAS IN GENERAL.
I THINK THEIR PURPOSE IS TO GENERATE REVENUES FOR MUNICIPALITIES.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS PROGRAM WHEN IT WAS CREATED BY THE STATE.
MOST CERTAINLY IT WAS NOT THE INTENT OF OUR CITY.
I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DRIVING THE CAR MAY BE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S IT'S NOT THE INDIVIDUAL NECESSARILY WHO'S GETTING TICKETED AND AND AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT EITHER AND SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS SO I I FEEL I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WITH EMOTION I I WAS ORIGINALLY AT SUSPEND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM AND I AM I'M STEPPING BACK FROM THAT MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING, LET'S JUST SUSPEND UNIFORMLY ACROSS THE CITY, THE RED LIGHT CAMERA, RIGHT HAND TURN LANE ENFORCEMENT.
OKAY, BUT WE MAKE AN EXCEPTION WHERE YOU MENTIONED THAT ALTON AND 17TH, A RIGHT TURN IS PROHIBITED.
I'M COMFORTABLE THERE KEEPING THE RED LIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN.
I'M COMFORTABLE LEAVING IT FOR THAT ONE.
IT'S LIKE GOING THROUGH A RED LIGHT.
TO ME, AN INFRACTION IS AN INFRACTION.
I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE CONSTITUTIONALITY LONG-TERM OF THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.
IF YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT KEEPING THAT ONE INTERSECTION THERE.
[07:45:01]
MR. MAYOR.THAT'S FINE, BUT I THINK THERE'S A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE HERE AS WELL.
WELL, THERE I DO HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN.
THAT'S A MAJOR INTERSECTION, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY THE RIGHT TURN IS PROHIBITED ON RED.
WHAT HAS ACTUALLY COME TO THE CITY? I CAN GET THAT BREAKDOWN FOR YOU, BUT IT'S A SHARING WITH THE COMPANY WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH.
I MEAN, WELL, JUST BECAUSE WITH THAT LINE OF LOGIC, MR. MAYOR, WE WOULD HAVE A RED LIGHT CAMERA EVERYWHERE THEN.
NO, I DON'T LIKE THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
WELL, AT THE RIGHT ON RED, YOU KNOW, ON 17TH AND ALTON.
AND WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS THERE IS THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE, I GUESS, FORCED TO MOVE AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
I CERTAINLY DON'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING REVENUE FOR A PRIVATE BUSINESS.
WHERE IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING AND IT DOESN'T KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAFFIC CITATION.
SO IT MAKES, OBVIOUSLY, A DIFFERENCE IF THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER THERE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO APPLY IT TO THE REST OF THE CITY.
IF YOU'RE SAYING IT'S FOR ONE INTERSECTION, IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL INTERSECTIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT THAT.
YEAH, SO WE HAVE TWO WHO DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF THE RED LIGHT TICKETS FOR ALTERNATE 17TH. I JUST THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT'S ILLEGAL.
WHAT DO YOU SAY? SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE SPEEDS AT WHICH THE CAMERAS GET TRIGGERED.
FINE TO EITHER INCREASE THE SPEEDS OR GET RID OF THE RIGHT-HAND TURN.
I WANT TO KEEP THE STRAIGHT THROUGH RED LIGHT CAMERA AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE GETTING INTO DEBATES ON SINGLE INTERSECTIONS.
I'M THE BLACK SHEEP HERE WHERE I'M JUST NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
I DON'T, I THINK THAT WHAT THIS CITY IS DANGEROUS A LOT OF TIMES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND WE'VE SEEN IT ALL OVER AND PEOPLE JUST NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND CHILL OUT AND JUST STOP.
AND SO EVERYONE HAS CONVINCING ARGUMENTS, BUT I'M JUST NOT SUPPORTIVE.
YEAH, SPECIFICALLY THAT RIGHT TURN LANE ON 17TH AND ALTON.
I'M NOT FINE WITH LEAVING THAT ONE AS IS.
I'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ON THAT ONE AS WELL FOR THE SAME REASON THAT COMMISSIONER SUAREZ MENTIONED.
SINCE YOU CAN MAKE A RIGHT TURN EVERYWHERE ELSE, THEY STOPPED SEEING THE SIGN FOR THAT ONE.
BUT I'M WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK AND WE START SEEING AN UPTICK IN FENDER BENDERS, WE CAN MOVE BACK.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE FENDER BENDER.
PEDESTRIAN BENDER THEY DON'T BEND SO WELL YOU'RE MAKING THIS TOUGH FOR ME COMMISSIONER WE'RE CO-PRIME ON THIS BUT I I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT INTERSECTION THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE UM MR MAYOR CHIEF SIR DO WE HAVE ANY RECENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS BICYCLISTS AT THIS THIS INTERSECTION.
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, NOT RECENT.
I'D HAVE TO GET SOME RESEARCH DONE.
I'M SORRY, SIR? ISN'T THERE A BICYCLIST OR IS THAT A BLOCK AWAY ON DADE? I THINK THE BETTER QUESTION IS TO ASK TRANSPORTATION WHY THAT EVEN EXISTS.
YOU CAN'T MAKE A RIGHT ON RIGHT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHY.
MY FATALITY FOR THAT INTERSECTION IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T TURN RIGHT.
WHAT'S SAVING PEOPLE THERE BECAUSE IT'S IN PLACE? ARE YOU WILLING TO BEND ON THIS ONE, COMMISSIONER? HOW ABOUT FOR THREE MONTHS? HOW ABOUT FOR THREE MONTHS? YOU KNOW THIS ONE TOO, JOSE.
WHY IS THERE PROHIBITION ON RIGHT-ON-RIGHT? JOSE GONZALEZ, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO, FDOT EVALUATED THAT INTERSECTION.
THEY DID LOOK AT CRASH DATA, AND THEY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION SITE DISTANCE, PEDESTRIAN VOLUMES, AND WHATNOT.
[07:50:01]
TO RESTRICT THE RIGHT TURN ON REDS FROM WESTBOUND 17TH TO NORTHBOUND ALTON ROAD FOR THOSE REASONS.THAT RESTRICTION, THAT PROHIBITION HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THERE AREN'T A LOT OF ACCIDENTS, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE DO FOLLOW THE RULES AND STOP, THEN THAT'S THE SAFEST CONDITION FOR PEDESTRIANS.
YEAH, I MEAN, LIKE 17TH IS ONE OF THE WORST INTERSECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE YOU CAN'T MAKE A RIGHT ON RED WHEN YOU WANT TO LEAVE.
IT'S JUST YOU CAN MAKE A RIGHT ON RED EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY.
AND THERE'S OTHER FOUR INTERSECTIONS.
THROUGH THE MAYOR? COMMISSIONER BOTT.
I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE INTERSECTIONS IN CITIES THAT HAVE TERRIBLE SIGHT LINES.
I MEAN, WE'RE WORKING WITH FDOT ACTUALLY TO PUT A NO RIGHT ON RED SIGN UP AT THE CORNER OF BAY DRIVE AND 71ST GOING EAST BECAUSE THE STREET CURVES AROUND AND SO PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE GOING 40 MILES AN HOUR IF YOU'RE LUCKY IT'S ONLY 40 MILES AN HOUR AND YOU KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE IS A RIGHT ON RED ALLOWED IS CRAZY SO IT DEPENDS ON ON THE SIGHT LINES AMONG OTHER THINGS AND LOOK I THINK AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE AND IF IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO COMMISSIONER MONICA MATEOS-SELENE EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS' POINT OF JUST CHILL OUT, I THINK IS A GOOD RULE FOR ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE ANY FASTER IF YOU'RE IN AN AMBULANCE OR GETTING A TRAFFIC TICKET.
SO, YOU KNOW, I REITERATE THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR A REASON AND THEY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.
BE OUR NEW SLOGAN, CHILL OUT, MR. MAYOR.
MR. FERNANDEZ, YOU GOING TO BRING IT HOME? I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THIS.
CERTAINLY NO ONE WANTS TO SEE A FATALITY IN THIS INTERSECTION.
I KNOW WE USUALLY HAVE THE COPS WHO ARE MANNING THIS INTERSECTION, BUT OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I'M GOING TO YIELD TO YOUR WISDOM AS THE LAW AND ORDER MAYOR OF THE CITY AND UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A HIGHLY PEDESTRIAN AREA.
IT MIGHT IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO CONSIDER MAKING THAT AMENDMENT.
SO I'LL MOVE THE SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT HAND.
UNREAD ENFORCEMENTS OF THE CAMERAS CITYWIDE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT INTERSECTION WHERE 17TH AND ALTON WHERE IT'S ALREADY PROHIBITED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A RIGHT ON RED.
I APPRECIATE THAT THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAID THAT I FELT STRONGLY ABOUT IT I IT ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO BE VERY NERVOUS SITTING HERE.
WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND CALL THE VOTE.
I HAVE A MOTION ON BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
I HAVE A NO BY COMMISSIONER MATTEL SALINAS.
I HAVE A MOTION TO TERMINATE RED LIGHT CAMERA CITATIONS RIGHT ON TURN CITYWIDE EXCEPT FOR 17TH AND ALTON.
AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, ARE YOU WITHDRAWING C4S? YES. I THINK THIS ADDRESSES THE...
SO THE ITEM IS APPROVED 5-2, NO COMMISSIONER BOTT, NO COMMISSIONER MATTEL-SOLINAS.
COMMISSIONER MEYERS, JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARITY, THIS IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THIS EFFECTIVE? IMMEDIATELY, YESTERDAY.
[C2 D REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) 2026-362-ND FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF AN ARTISANAL & CRAFTS MARKET AND A FARMERS MARKET ON LINCOLN ROAD. (CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE)]
AND WE WILL NEED IT AFTER THE FACT RESULT.WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS COVER A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT QUICKLY SO WE CAN...
GET THEM ON REFERRALS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, AND THEN WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE STORMWATER FEES.
YES, SO C2D, C2D, ISSUE RFP 2026, 362ND, MANAGEMENT OF ARTISANAL CRAFT MARKETS, FARMER'S MARKET ON LINCOLN ROAD, C2D.
WAS SEPARATED BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
[C7 D A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 6, 2026 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONVERT 19TH STREET PARKING NEAR THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL TO A 3-HOUR MAXIMUM AND TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING SOLUTIONS.]
I PULLED THIS TO MAKE THIS A REFERRAL TO NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THE ITEM THERE.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOTT TO REFER C2D TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
[07:55:01]
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE REFERRAL IS APPROVED 7-0.
C7D IS NOT PROCEED WITH 19TH STREET PARKING PROJECT ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION.
C7D WAS SEPARATED BY, WHO SEPARATED THAT ONE? I GOT IT, COMMISSIONER MATTESOLINI.
SO I ACTUALLY PULLED THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR IT.
I WANT TO REFER IT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER WITH THIS.
I THINK THIS IS FOR THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM THAT JUST OPENED.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND IT NEEDS MORE PARKING, AS DOES THE BOTANICAL GARDEN.
AND I HAVE A COUPLE IDEAS FOR THE SOLUTION, AND I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER AT THE COMMITTEE WITH MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL JUST MOVE THE ITEM.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUSY, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
I'LL PUT IT ON RECORD JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTEND ALWAYS COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I'M VERY MUCH AGAINST REMOVING ANY TYPE OF GREEN SPACE OR TREES DOWN THERE IN FAVOR OF JUST MORE CONCRETE.
SO JUST VERY HIGH LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT GOES TO THE COMMITTEE.
EVEN WHEN IT COMES BACK HERE, THAT'LL BE MY VOTE.
YOU'LL PLAY THAT TAPE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.
DAVID, I HEARD THERE'S A COST REDUCTION.
TO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE EXPLORED JUST REALLY QUICKLY YEAH THERE IS AN OPTION TO THAT WE WERE EXPLORING IT IT DOES PRESUME TO CHANGE THE LAYOUT IN A WAY THAT THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED THAT THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE BUT WE DID GET SOME REASSURANCES THAT THE COUNTY MAY CONSIDER IT SO AWESOME WELL I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER AT COMMITTEE SO WHICH COMMITTEE LOOK SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE I THINK IT ALSO HAS QUALITY OF LIFE IMPLICATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLICATIONS.
THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH PARKING IN GENERAL, WITH THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WITH NEIGHBORING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND RESIDENTS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF PARKING IN THE AREA.
SO I GET THAT THERE'S A FINANCIAL IMPLICATION I MIGHT HAVE TO STOP WITH FINANCE AGAIN.
AND I ALSO KNOW OF A PRIVATE FUNDER.
I'VE HEARD NORMAN BRAYMAN WANTS TO CHIP IN A LITTLE BIT HERE.
I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE'S A...
YOU'RE SAYING IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE REFER TO FINANCE? LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN, YEAH.
THEN AGAIN, IT JUST GOES BACK TO COMMISSION AND THEN...
WE COULD DO A DUAL REFERRAL AND THEN...
COULD WE MAKE A MOTION TO SEND IT TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN THE OUTCOME OF NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE THAT REFERRED TO FERC? I WOULD LIKE THE WAY WE DO LDR AMENDMENTS THAT WE FIRST SENT IT TO LUSC, DOING A DUAL REFERRAL BEFORE IT STOPS AT THE PLANNING BOARD.
MR. ATTORNEY? MR. ATTORNEY? REFERRAL.
PUBLIC SAFETY REFERRAL, AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WELL, YOU COULD DO A DUAL REFERRAL AND THEN HAVE THE CHAIR OF FINANCE NOT HEAR IT UNLESS IT'S NEEDED.
[C7 O A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF A PLUMBED BIRD BATH WATER FEATURE AT BELLE ISLE PARK, AND TO FORMALLY ACCEPT ASSOCIATED PRIVATE DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.]
RIGHT.I WOULD GO FIRST TO PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT THERE IS A FISCAL IMPACT, A CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS.
THEN IT GOES TO FERC BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO COMMISSION.
YOU OKAY WITH THAT, CHAIR? MAGAZINE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MATTEL-SELENA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ TO DULY REFER TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND FERC.
ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE REFERRAL IS APPROVED 7-0.
C7O IS ACCEPT RECOMMENDATION TO INSTALL PLUM BIRDBATH WATER FEATURE ON BELLE ISLE PARK.
IT WAS SEPARATED BY COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.
I SEPARATED THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S STILL ON THE AGENDA TO BE HEARD AT NEIGHBORHOODS TO GIVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BIRA, A CHANCE TO OPINE.
I KNOW THAT AT FERC MEETING, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ AND THE RESIDENT THAT WANTS HIS BIRDBATH ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
THERE'S STILL OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF CLEANING AND WHAT ABOUT THE RODENTS AND WHEN IT BREAKS WHO'S GOING TO MAINTAIN IT AND PAY FOR IT.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR IT TO BE HEARD.
SO DEFER THE ITEM OR IT'S ALREADY ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO BE HONEST I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHY IT WAS ON THE AGENDA.
I THOUGHT WE WERE WAITING ON NEIGHBORHOODS.
[C7 Q A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 6, 2026, MEETING, TO AMEND THE CITY’S TROLLEY ADVERTISING AGREEMENT WITH OUTFRONT MEDIA TO ALLOW FULL VEHICLE WRAP ADVERTISING ON CITY TROLLEYS.]
YEAH, YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION.[08:00:01]
BECAUSE THEN WHATEVER COMES OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WILL GET HEARD.I THINK IT SHOULD JUST BE DIRECTION TO NOT BRING THIS.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA.
C7Q IS AMEND TROLLEY ADVERTISEMENT AGREEMENT WITH OUT FRONT MEDIA.
ALLOW FULL WRAP ADS ON CITY TROLLEYS.
SO THE REASON I PULLED THAT IS BECAUSE THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND MBU BOTH OPINED, SO I JUST WANTED TO LET THOSE VOICES BE HEARD THAT THEY PREFERRED NOT ON THE WINDOWS FOR SAFETY REASONS SO THAT PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE CAN SEE IN WHO'S IN THERE FOR MBPD.
AND I THINK THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE'S LTC TO US CAME OUT ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, AND MBU WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST DAY OR SO.
YEAH, I MEAN, TO BE HONEST, IT REALLY ISN'T MY IDEA, BUT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER MATIAS SALINAS, BOTH ARE IDEAS, I GUESS, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD ITEM.
WE'RE GOING TO BE A DEFICIT IN THE TRANSPORTATION FUND.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE TRYING TO CLOSE A GAP, YES.
BY HOW MUCH? WELL, IT DEPENDS.
RIGHT NOW, WE THINK WE CAN CLOSE THE GAP THAT WE HAVE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
HOW MUCH IS THE GAP? WELL, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU LISTENING, WE FUND THE TROLLEYS 100% THROUGH TAXES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT ON THE CITY BUDGET.
IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO GET THE SPANK FOR YOUR BUCK ON THESE TROLLEYS, THE DADE COUNTY PUBLIC BUSES.
OTHER CITIES HAVE IT FULLY WRAPPED.
SO I DON'T SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS HERE.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, WHEN YOU WRAP A BUS ON THE WINDOWS, IT'S PERFORATED SO YOU CAN SEE IN AND OUT.
MAYBE NOT FROM OUTSIDE IN, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? SO YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PERFORATION RATIOS THAT ADVERTISING WRAPS CAN HAVE.
WE REACHED OUT TO OUTFRONT MEDIA, WHO'S OUR ADVERTISING COMPANY, AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE WRAPPING THAT THEY USE IS A 50-50 PERFORATION.
WHICH IS ACTUALLY IT MAXIMIZES VISIBILITY WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR ADVERTISING.
SO THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LESS THAN 50% IN THE MARKET THAT'S WIDELY USED FOR ADVERTISING WRAPS.
LET ME ASK YOU, HOW MUCH MORE VALUE DO WE GET IN SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS FOR THIS BY HAVING A FULL WRAP? BY HAVING A FULL WRAP? AND ARE WE BOUND TO OUTFRONT MEDIA AS THE SOLE PROVIDER FOR ADVERTISING? OUTFRONT MEDIA IS OUR CURRENT ADVERTISING COMPANY.
WE ARE LOOKING TO, AND IT'S A TOPIC OF AN ITEM AT COMMITTEE AT FERC, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO ISSUE A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOR NEW SERVICES, BUT OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT IS WITH OUTFRONT.
AND SO AT THE LAST FERC MEETING, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH OUTFRONT TO INCLUDE FULLY WRAPPING THE EXTERIOR OF THE TROLLEYS.
CURRENTLY, WE'VE NEVER WRAPPED THE FULL EXTERIOR OF OUR TROLLEYS.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT ONLY ALLOWS FOR WRAPPING BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEELS AND THE REAR WHEELS, AS WELL AS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
SO ACCORDING TO OUTFRONT, BY OPENING UP THE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, IT WOULD INCREASE REVENUES.
BY HOW MUCH? I DON'T THINK THAT THEY GAVE US AN EXACT AMOUNT, BUT FOR THE FERC DISCUSSION,
[08:05:04]
WE'LL TRY TO HAVE THAT NUMBER.COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, TO ME, TO SUPPORT THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF, HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE WE'RE HAVING.
TO ME, FOR A MINIMAL AMOUNT, TO ME, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
I THINK THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT WHERE YOU CAN SEE IN AND OUT.
AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CREATIVE WAYS YOU CAN DO IT TO WHERE THE WINDOWS AREN'T COVERED.
IT CAN BE COVERED WITH A LIGHTER SHADE AND, YOU KNOW, SO FORTH.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN VOTE ON THIS TODAY AND TRY IT OUT, AND THEN THE MINUTE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, WE CHANGE IT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.
I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL REALLY BE A PROBLEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE RUNNING THAT RISK, BUT I JUST IT HAPPENS ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD WHERE TROLLEYS HAVE THESE WRAPS AND DESIGNS, AND IT WORKS.
SO LET'S TRY IT, AND LET'S TRY TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE HERE.
JOSE, THE VEHICLES FOR THE TROLLEYS THAT WE ENDED UP PROCURING, DO THEY HAVE THE TRADITIONAL DESIGN? WHAT WAS THE DESIGN THAT WE ENDED UP? IT IS THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A CLASSIC AMERICAN TROLLEY DESIGN.
OKAY, AND THAT CAME AT A PREMIUM TO OUR CITY, DID IT NOT? THEY WERE A HIGHER COST.
ON AN ESTIMATE, HOW MUCH OF A HIGHER COST? WHAT'S THIS AESTHETIC ADD-ON TO THE TROLLEY FEATURE? COMMISSIONER, I APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS AN INCREMENTAL COST, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT NUMBER WITH ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THIS ITEM.
I KNOW THE MERITS OF THE ADVERTISING, ESPECIALLY TODAY.
GIVEN ALL THE CHANGES TO OUR REVENUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING.
FROM THE PASSENGER PERSPECTIVE, I ALSO VALUE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY.
BUT IF WE'VE MADE A FISCAL INVESTMENT, AN INVESTMENT, A COMMITMENT TO PROCURING A SPECIFIC TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT HAS SPECIFIC AESTHETICS, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET NOW FROM WRAPPING THAT? ARE WE GOING TO AT LEAST BREAK EVEN? BECAUSE THEN WHY ARE WE EVEN MAKING THE INVESTMENTS IN A MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING VEHICLE? AND I DO KNOW THAT THAT RETROFITTED VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT CHEAP.
IT WAS A SIGNIFICANTLY PRICIER OPTION.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE DATA ON THE POTENTIAL REVENUE THAT WE WOULD GET.
FROM WRAPPING AND ALSO WHAT WAS THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TRADITIONAL AMERICAN TROLLEY DESIGN.
I WAS GOING TO SECOND THE MOTION AS WELL.
IN FACT, I WAS GOING TO ALSO SUGGEST A DEFERRAL, ONE, TO GET THE QUANTITATIVE NUMBERS, BUT THEN ALSO TO SPEAK TO MBU AND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, BOTH GROUPS THAT I HOLD IN HIGH ESTEEM.
IT CAUSED ME TO SIT UP WHEN I SAW THAT THEY BOTH OPINED AGAINST.
HOWEVER, IF I WAS SITTING IN A VACUUM, I WOULD HAVE OPINED AGAINST IT AS WELL.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF, WELL, THIS SOMEWHAT ALLOWED US TO ADD SERVICE LEVELS, RIGHT? WE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE TROLLEYS, OR AT LEAST DID NOT CUT THEM.
THE FUNDING DEFICITS THAT WE'RE FACING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I'M HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO BOTH THOSE GROUPS AND EXPLAIN THE TOTALITY.
CONTEXT SURROUNDING IT PERHAPS THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE PERHAPS NOT EXCUSE THE PUN AND YOU KNOW BUT EITHER WAY WE'LL GET THE
[C7 AG A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE A PUBLIC CITY OF MIAMI BEACH EMPLOYEE SALARY PORTAL TO INCLUDE A FIVE-YEAR SALARY HISTORY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.]
QUANTITATIVE NUMBERS BACK AND OPINE FULLY NEXT MONTH LET'S CALL THE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO THE FIRST C7Q TO JULY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MADE THE MOTION MAYOR MINER SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR OF THE DEFERRAL PLEASE SAY AYE AYE ANYONE OPPOSED C7Q IS DEFERRED TO JULY 22ND C7AG.C7AG HAS CREATED A PUBLIC MB EMPLOYEE SALARY PORTAL.
C7AG WAS SEPARATED BY COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR EVERYONE'S SALARY IS PUBLIC RECORD.
[08:10:01]
I GET IT.BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS JUST A HURTFUL, NOT INTENDED TO BE, I DON'T THINK THE SPONSOR INTENDS THIS TO BE HURTFUL AT ALL.
BUT I DO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO BULLY OUR EMPLOYEES ONLINE BY SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, I CALLED CODE AND SERGEANT OR, YOU KNOW, CODE OFFICER SO-AND-SO RESPONDED AND I LOOK THIS GUY UP AND HE MAKES X AMOUNT AND HE IS OVERPAID.
AND I DON'T WANT OUR STAFF TO BE FURTHER BULLIED BY HOW MUCH THEY MAKE.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY MIND JUMPED, SO I DON'T SUPPORT THIS.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, IT'S YOUR ITEM.
I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND THERE IS A LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD ADHERE TO.
THE CITY OF MIAMI IS DOING IT.
AS LONG AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH MORE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.
SURE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SOMEONE NOT LIKE A PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE BUT THAT'S THE RIGHT TO LOOK UP THEIR SALARY AND LOOK IT ON AN EASY TO VIEW WEBSITE SO JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE MAY NOT LIKE SOME OTHER OTHER PERSON DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT PRIVY TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.
YEAH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
WE'VE ADDED A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO PUBLIC.
SOME OF THEM I BROUGHT, WHETHER IT BE CUPS OR AUDITS AND CONTRACTS.
I DO HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER MATEUS SALINAS.
I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS, AND IT'S A WEIGHING FACTOR.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT ULTIMATELY TRANSPARENCY TO ME IS GOING TO WENT OUT AND SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
I GUESS IF I COULD ASK FRANK, UNKNOWINGLY I HAD A VERY SIMILAR ITEM ON THAT EVEN EXPANDED THAT WHERE I BELIEVE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE.
SO I HAD A SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR ITEM THAT IS ESTABLISHING A PORTAL TO TRACK EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT IS SPENT IN OUR CITY, INCLUDING DOLLARS FROM US, RIGHT? ARE WE ABLE TO DO THOSE IN UNISON? IS THE SALARY ONE, IS WHAT I'M PROPOSING GOING TO TAKE MUCH LONGER? AND PERHAPS WE...
DO THE SALARY ONE, WHICH IS PRETTY SIMPLE, RIGHT? IT'S JUST LINKING.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE THAT DONE IN TWO HOURS.
AND YOU'RE SAYING NO, BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY LAUGHING BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, ACTUALLY, 10 MINUTES.
SO BOTH OF THEM ARE OBVIOUSLY TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE.
THEY BOTH PULL INFORMATION FROM OUR HR AND FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, SO THEY'RE DOABLE.
TO YOUR DIRECT QUESTION ABOUT WHICH ONE IS MORE LABOR-INTENSIVE, THE FISCAL ONE IS MORE, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE COMPLEXITY IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAN THERE IS IN JUST PULLING STRAIGHT SALARY INFORMATION.
SO WE WOULD PROBABLY TIER THEM IN THAT ORDER, SALARY FIRST AND THEN THE FINANCIAL ONE, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF EFFORT.
I GUESS WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT, FRANK, IS WE WOULDN'T NEED BOTH IF WE COULD DO THE BROADER FISCAL ONE IN, I DON'T KNOW, CALL IT A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IF THIS IS A LONGER-TERM ENDEAVOR.
THEN I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP COMMISSIONER SUAREZ'S ITEM WHILE WE'RE SPENDING TIME PREPARING THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE ONE.
IS THAT I THINK MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FRANK WAS YOU CAN GET THIS DONE RELATIVELY SOON, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE SEPARATE.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE MIXED IN WITH A BIG SORT OF PORTAL.
I THINK IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH ANY MIAMI BEACH EMPLOYEE IS MAKING, YOU GO TO A SPECIFIC PAGE AND IT'S THERE.
SO AS FAR AS SCOPE AND EFFORT, THEY'RE RELATED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO VERY SEPARATE.
ONE IS OBVIOUSLY A MUCH EASIER DELIVERABLE, THE SALARY ONE, THAN THE FINANCIAL ONE.
SO IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE OF ME TO GIVE YOU A TIME FOR THE FINANCIAL ONE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOVERY ON OUR SIDE TO FIGURE THAT PART OUT.
BUT JUST OFF THE TOP, BASED ON WHAT WAS IN THE IN THE ITEMS, IT SEEMS THAT THE SALARY...
SO THROUGH THE MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FRANK HAS SEEN THE ADDENDUM THAT INCLUDED THE FIVE-YEAR LOOK-BACK.
FIVE-YEAR LOOK-BACK ON? THE SALARIES.
I ACTUALLY THINK THERE'S SOME POSITIVES TO IT BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN MISINFORMATION ON THIS RECENTLY, WHICH I THINK IF WE HAD A PUBLIC PORTAL, IT WOULD HAVE
[08:15:02]
MADE IT VERY OBVIOUS IT WAS MISINFORMATION.IT'S NOT OURS, BUT YOU JUST GO TO GOVSALARIES.COM.
I MEAN, YOU COULD LITERALLY PULL THAT FROM THE PORTAL IN FIVE MINUTES.
YEAH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS ACTUALLY ACCURATE, THE GOVSALARIES.COM.
WHY DON'T WE DO A TEST WITH FRANK RIGHT NOW? IF I MAY, THE GOVSALARY ONE IS PART OF A PROCESS THEY FOLLOW.
IT DOESN'T FEED FROM US AUTOMATICALLY.
I THINK IT'S A YEAR OR TWO BEHIND.
I THINK THE INTENT, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, COMMISSIONER, IS TO HAVE THAT BE MORE UPDATED.
AND ALSO A MORE TRUSTWORTHY SITE LIKE MIAMIBEACH.GOV, FL.GOV.
SO I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A .COM WHEN WE SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT THE SIMPLICITY OF BUILDING.
IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE BY JOB DESCRIPTION OR BY EMPLOYEE NAME? BECAUSE I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT EMPLOYEE NAME.
I THINK THAT IS GETTING CLOSE TO DOXING, AND I FEAR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SALARY FOR PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION.
BUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FOR YEARS, THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN ENCOURAGED SO THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE BETTER LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE.
SO THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO EITHER WAY THAT WE GO.
BUT I AM VERY LEERY OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, OFFICER JOE SMITH MAKES X NUMBER OF BECAUSE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN JOE SMITH BECOMES...
A NAMED INDIVIDUAL AND CAN BECOME THE TARGET OF HARASSMENT AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, BECOMES A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
SO SALARY DISCLOSURES, NOT AN ISSUE ATTACHING THEM TO INDIVIDUAL NAMES.
TO ME, THAT'S THAT'S A CONCERN.
AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT IN A MORE TRANSPARENT AND TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE.
PREVIOUSLY, THESE PORTALS EXIST IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HAS HAD IT FOR A WHILE.
THE CITY OF MIAMI HAS IT, AND OTHERS HAVE IT.
I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF EMPLOYEE MORALE, AND THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, THAT THEY FEEL THAT I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT THIS IS A TARGET ON THEM.
I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF...
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, MR. MANAGER.
RIGHT NOW, I UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AROUND TO...
SCOOP UP OUR EMPLOYEES? I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST TALENTED WORKFORCE IN THE COUNTY AND SO YES THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR PEOPLE.
AND USUALLY WHEN THEY APPROACH OUR EMPLOYEES THEY'RE COMING IN BASED ON I MEAN HOW WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE OFFERING THEM THAT'S THAT THE SCOOPING THEM UP? IS IT BENEFITS? IS IT A BETTER SALARY? IS IT A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE? WHAT IS IT WHAT IS YIELD? ALL OF THE ABOVE.
OKAY, SO HERE WE WOULD BE PUBLICIZING TO OUR, IN THIS CASE, COMPETITOR, WHAT WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO COME IN AND SCOOP UP OUR TALENTS.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I DON'T NEED TO FACILITATE IT, THOUGH.
MAKE A RECORDS REQUEST OR LOOK UP OLD DATA, WHICH IS WHAT'S AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE IS OLD DATA.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE WEBSITES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE LATEST DATA, AND IT'S USUALLY A LITTLE BIT BACKLOGGED.
I GET CONCERNED THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO THROW FUEL TO THE FIRE THAT WE HAVE OF PEOPLE BEING OFFERED.
BETTER, MORE COMPETITIVE SALARIES BY NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS OF TALENT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO FACILITATE THAT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RENDER SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS IN MIAMI BEACH.
SO, COMMISSIONER, RESPECTFULLY, IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO POACH ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO OUR GOV SITE, THEY CAN GO TO THE DOT COM SITE AND GET THAT INFORMATION WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLAR SALARY.
BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST TRANSPARENCY.
OKAY, I JUST WANT, IT'S VERY, IT'S REALLY ODD TO ME THAT I'M GETTING A LOT
[08:20:01]
OF PUSHBACK ON THIS WHEN THIS DATA IS ALREADY READILY AVAILABLE ON MANY DIFFERENT WEBSITES.END I FOR ONE WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE OUR DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AND HOW MUCH MONEY A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL IS MAKING.
AND I WOULD RATHER HAVE OUR GOVERNMENT WEBSITE, OUR CITY OFFICIAL SITE, COLLECT AND PRESENT THAT DATA THAN OTHER SITES, WHICH MAY BE.
WRONG AND MAY GIVE INCORRECT INFORMATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF AT A LOSS OF WORDS HERE WHERE I JUST WANT TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT WE SPEND.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN HAVING A PORTAL OF EXACTLY WHERE OUR DOLLARS GO TO FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS, BUT WE WANT TO SOMEHOW NOT...
GIVE INFORMATION ON WHAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE AND WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.
SO IF I MADE THROUGH THE CHAIR, BECAUSE THIS MIGHT PROVIDE FOR SOME CALM.
THE STATE ADOPTED A STATUTE EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WILL REQUIRE EFFECTIVE JANUARY ONE OF NEXT YEAR THAT THE CITY PUBLISH ON A QUARTERLY BASIS SALARY INFORMATION FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE.
SO WE'RE JUST GETTING AHEAD BY.
IN THAT CASE, I SECOND THE MOTION.
AS I MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER, I AM SUPPORTIVE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, LIKE A PUBLIC COMPANY THAT HAS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS WITH THE SEC, THEY DON'T PUBLISH THEIR EMPLOYEES' SALARIES, THOUGH, RIGHT? AS FAR AS YOU KNOW? THEY DON'T.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT.
MR. MAYOR, WHAT WAS YOUR POINT AGAIN? I'M SORRY, I MISSED IT.
I WAS JUST, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM, BUT I WAS JUST, I WAS MAKING THE COMPARISON TO A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT'S A PUBLIC COMPANY THAT HAS STRINGENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, BUT YET THEIR EMPLOYEE SALARIES, OTHER THAN THE CEO AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF OTHER HIGHS, ARE NOT KNOWN.
IT'S ACTUALLY, RIGHT? WHAT'S THAT WEBSITE? I'LL ASK.
SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU HAVE THESE PUBLIC COMPANIES, BUT YET YOU HAVE NO INSIGHT.
BUT WE'RE TAXPAYERS' MONIES, AND WE'RE GOVERNMENT, AND ANY TRANSPARENCY, AND AS RICK JUST MENTIONED, IT'S GOING TO BECOME PUBLIC.
ANYWAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION BEFORE I VOTE, BECAUSE THIS IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, COMMISSIONER SOROS IS GETTING AHEAD OF THE PREEMPTION, BUT WE ARE PREEMPTED.
FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING UNFAIR FROM AT THE END OF THE DAY THE STATE WAS GOING TO FORCE US TO DO THIS TO DO THIS ANYWAYS IS I BELIEVE IS PUTTING A TARGET ON THEM THERE'S ALREADY TRANSPARENCY ANYONE THAT WANTS THIS INFORMATION IS ALREADY AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT THERE ARE RECORDS THAT THEY CAN REQUEST AND AND IT'S AND IT'S MADE AVAILABLE AND I THINK IT MAKES US A LESS COMPETITIVE AN EMPLOYER, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COME IN AND TAKE TALENT FROM OUR CITY, AND IT'S NOW GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SCOOP UP OUR EMPLOYEES.
YEAH, AND I SEE THAT, AND MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I JUST, TO ME, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, THE COUNTY OR OTHER CITIES, THEY'RE PRETTY SOPHISTICATED.
I THINK THEY EITHER HAVE THE INFORMATION OR THEY CAN READILY GET IT.
AND THEN IF SOMEBODY'S BEING NEFARIOUS ABOUT IT.
ABOUT THE SALARIES? IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD.
NO, THEY'RE IN THE MINORITY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT ANYWAY.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO GET, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE A PUBLIC RECORD.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ ON C7AG.
I HAVE ONE NO FROM COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE STORMWATER FUNDING ITEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO END THIS MEETING AT 7 TODAY.
WE CAN BE VERY POINTED AND DIRECT, OR AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE A HALF-HOUR DISCUSSION AND
[R7 AH A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ORIGINAL GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND CONCEPT PRESENTED AT THE JUNE 5, 2026 MEETING OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, IN ORDER TO FUND UNFUNDED NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, CRITICAL WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AND RELATED RESILIENCY PROJECTS THROUGH A VOTER-APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND; FURTHER, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY PROJECT LIST, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, DEBT SERVICE PROJECTIONS, BALLOT LANGUAGE, AND IMPLEMENTING DOCUMENTS FOR CITY COMMISSION CONSIDERATION; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING THAT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-34276, WHICH ESTABLISHED A MORATORIUM ON WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER RATE INCREASES, REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.]
[R9 AH DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE'S (FERC) RECOMMENDATION, AT ITS JUNE 5, 2026 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE A MODEL FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO FUND STORMWATER CAPITAL PROGRAM THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AS PRESENTED, AND TO FUND THE WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL PROGRAM AS PRESENTED VIA UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENTS; FURTHER, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COMMISSION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: A UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENT MODEL TO FUND THE FIRST STREET PHASES 1 & 2 AND WEST AVENUE PHASE 3 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND A UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENT MODEL TO FUND FIRST STREET PHASES 1 & 2 AND WEST AVENUE PHASE 3 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND ANY OTHER PUBLIC WORKS-DETERMINED CRITICAL PROJECT.]
WE'LL CONTINUE IT.AT LEAST, NO, BUT I'LL BE OPTIMISTIC,
[08:25:02]
BUT LET'S TRY TO GET THROUGH AS MUCH AS WE CAN.WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. MAYOR, CAN WE JUST TAKE A VOTE NOW ON WHAT OPTION WE LIKE? AND LET'S JUST MAYBE TAKE A STRAW BALLOT VOTE OF WHERE YOU'RE AT, AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW.
WELL, LET ME OFFICIALLY CALL THE ITEM SO THE CLERK CAN.
OKAY, R7AH IS AUTHORIZED GEOBOND FOR STORMWATER RETAINED MORATORIUM ON WATER AND SEWER RATES, AND R9AH IS A DISCUSSED GEOBOND STORMWATER CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL.
HAPPY TO PUT MY COURSE ON THE TABLE, MR. MAYOR.
I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH...
FUNDING STORMWATER WASTEWATER PROJECTS THROUGH A GEO BOND LEAVE IT COULD ADD POTENTIAL STRESS TO OUR OVERALL SYSTEM OR GENERAL FUND CITY ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNCERTAINTY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IF AND WHEN THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM PASSES BOND MARKETS WILL HAVE GREAT UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW TO VIEW FLORIDA MUNICIPAL DEBT.
THAT BEING SAID, IF IT'S THE WILL OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT THAT'S THE ROUTE THEY WANT TO GO, I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND PLANNED FOR YEARS UP HERE.
I'VE SAT AT PEOPLE'S KITCHEN TABLES AND PLANNED THESE OUT.
ONE FOR WEST AVENUE PHASE THREE, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PHASE TWO RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'RE SET TO BEGIN PHASE THREE IN SEVERAL MONTHS, I BELIEVE.
CORRECT, JOHN, FEEL FREE TO JUMP UP AND JASON JUMP UP AND CORRECT ME IF I SAY ANYTHING WRONG.
AND THEN ON FIRST STREET, WHERE WE'VE BEEN PLANNING THAT FOR YEARS.
AND FOR BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS, THEY'RE VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE GRANTS AND FUNDING.
THAT WE WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING.
SO WHERE I'M AT WITH BOTH OF THOSE, EVEN IF WE WOULD GET BACK A BROADER COLLECTION OF $800 MILLION OF GEO BONDS, OR, YEAH, THE VOTERS SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THOSE, WE'D STILL...
BE FORCED TO GO FORWARD, NOT FORCED, BUT I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANY SCENARIO WHERE WE WOULDN'T THEN GO FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS.
SO WHY NOT JUST DO THAT NOW, RIGHT? GET THAT UNCERTAINTY OUT OF THE WAY.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING NUMBERS HERE, COLLECTIVELY, IF WE JUST PASS THOSE TWO PROJECTS, I RESPECT THAT WE PUT A MORATORIUM IN PLACE AND IT DID ITS JOB, RIGHT? IT'S ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE FOR WHAT, A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF UNOFFICIALLY? I MEAN, WE JUST PASSED IT, BUT WE HAVEN'T, WE'VE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THE RATE DECISION FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
FOR THAT, OUR ADMINISTRATION WAS PROPOSING $800 MILLION OF BORROWING.
THIS WOULD BE PERHAPS, IF WE JUST DID THOSE TWO PROJECTS, $125 TO $175.
IT WOULD EQUATE TO IN THE YEARS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
$3, $4 PER MONTH PER HOUSEHOLD, THAT IS MANAGEABLE TO ME.
AND WE NEED TO DO THOSE PROJECTS NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PLANNING THEM, WE'VE SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON BOTH OF THEM, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE AT STAKE IF WE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD.
SO I GUESS DESPITE WHAT I, MY BETTER...
PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS OF HOW YOU FUND THESE PROJECTS.
I WILL GO ALONG WITH THE WILL OF THE BODY IF THEY WANT TO PUT THIS OUT TO A GEO BOND VOTE OF OUR ELECTORATE BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE CARVE OUT THOSE TWO SPECIFIC PROJECTS ISSUE THOSE STORMWATER WASTEWATER REVENUE BONDS SO THEY CAN GO FORWARD IMMEDIATELY AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
WITH WHAT YOU MENTIONED, ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK? CALL THE VOTE.
SO COMMISSIONER MAGNUSON, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GO FORWARD WITH A GEO BOND?
[08:30:01]
PUT IT TO VOTE.SO I'LL TELL YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ERIC, MR. MANAGER.
WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE? I MEAN, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE BETWEEN PROBABLY 50 AND 80 YEARS.
AND SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS IN HOW WE CAN DO THIS.
WE CAN DO THIS WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND THAT COVERS ALL THE PROJECTS, IS THAT CORRECT? SO, THERE'S, YES, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO COME UP WITH FUNDING.
BUT I HAVE, SO, THE GEO BOND COVERS ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD ON THE TABLE THAT HAD TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE THAT WE HAD IN THE PIPELINE? SO, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION, WE CAN DO A GEO BOND FOR ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, YES.
THAT'S THE APPROXIMATELY $800 MILLION.
AND SO IF WE DO THE GEO BOND, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AND MEDIAN THAT A HOME WOULD BE PAYING IF WE DO A GEO BOND, MR. CFO? IF I MAY, THERE SEEMS TO BE TWO KIND OF COALESCED OPTIONS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE.
ONE IS THE ONE OPTION WHICH IS TO FUND THE ENTIRE EIGHT-YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM THROUGH A GEOBOMB PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE BORROWING ABOUT $784 MILLION IN DEBT THROUGH GENERAL OBLIGATION, STORMWATER $337 MILLION, $446 MILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER, AND THE REST OF THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT A BILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM.
WOULD BE ABOUT WOULD BE I'M SORRY I NEED TO THINK THE ANSWER SPACE I'M GONNA GET LOST IN ALL THE NUMBERS SO SO SO THE GEO BOND WOULD COME OUT TO HOW MUCH FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLDS IF WE CAN BRING UP THE PRESENTATION THERE IT IS OKAY ALL THE GUYS FOR ALL THE GUYS RIGHT I GOT SO IF YOU WAIT LET ME WALK WALK THROUGH BECAUSE THERE WERE THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS.
ONE WAS FUNDING BOTH WATER AND SEWER AND STORMWATER THROUGH GEO, AND THE OTHER OPTION THAT CAME OUT OF FERC WAS STORMWATER GEO.
SO IT SEEMED BOTH OPTIONS WERE STORMWATER GEO, $337 MILLION OF STORMWATER GEO.
AND REALLY IT SEEMS LIKE THE TWO DIFFERENCES THAT ARE PROBABLY BEING DISCUSSED IS WATER AND SEWER UTILITY.
IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE THROUGH UTILITY RATE, OR IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE THROUGH GEO BONDS? I THINK THAT'S THE TWO DUELING KIND OF CONCEPTS.
JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS TO BE GO BOND FUNDED, NOT SOME SEWER...
ONE IS THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT FERC, WHICH WAS THE FULL BOTH WATER AND SEWER AND STORMWATER AS GO.
AND THEN THE ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF FERC MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS, WHICH WAS TO DO STORMWATER AS A GO.
BUT TO DO THE WATER AND SEWER THROUGH THE UTILITY RATE.
CAN I GET AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, PLEASE? WHEN WE PLACE EVERYTHING IN A GEOBOND, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE IMPACT ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF OUR CITY? OKAY, HERE WE GO.
THIS IS THE FERC PRESENTED ANNUAL GEO BOND DEBT SERVICE.
SO WHAT THIS WOULD SHOW IS, AND THIS IS A LITTLE UPDATED FROM THE FERC PRESENTATION, BECAUSE WE GOT NEW UPDATED DATA FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISERS.
SO HOW WE WOULD STRUCTURE THAT IS DOING A DECLARATION INTENT TO ISSUE.
IT SEEMS WHEN WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AS MAX DEBT SERVICE, WHICH WE PROJECT WILL BE IN 2035, A MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY VALUE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY VALUED AT $1,000.
WE WOULD PROJECT THAT THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $210 TO THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, ABOUT $616 TO THE AVERAGE HOMESTEADED PROPERTY.
AND WHEN WE SEPARATE STORMWATER AND ONLY DO A STORMWATER GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND HANDLE WATER AND SEWER THROUGH A RATE INCREASE, WHAT...
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ANNUALIZED WHEN YOU COMBINE BOTH TO OUR RESIDENTS? I'LL HANDLE STORMWATER AND LET JOHN HERE DEAL WITH IT.
I WOULD LOVE IF THE NUMBER COULD JUST BE COMBINED.
[08:35:02]
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD JUST BE THE ANNUALIZED IMPACT TO OUR RESIDENTS.ALL RIGHT, SO THIS ONE IS TRYING TO COMPARE THE TWO.
IT'S THE STORMWATER AND THE WATER AND SEWER TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS CONSIDERED OPTION ONE, WHICH IS THE GEOBON STORMWATER UTILITY RATE ON WATER AND SEWER.
SO IT WOULD BE FOR THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED, THIS WOULD BE A SINGLE FAMILY.
THESE ARE ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IF YOU'RE ASKING CONDO, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A MAJORITY UNIT, THAT'S AROUND 70% OF THAT VALUE.
SO FOR A MEDIAN HOMESTEAD, IT WOULD BE AROUND $725.
AND THEN FOR THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS INCLUDING HOMESTEAD AND NON-HOMESTEAD.
IT'S THE LAST COLUMN YOU SEE HERE, THE 2035.
SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE VALUES THERE.
IN 2035, WE'RE USING 2035 BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE MAX AMOUNT ON THE GEOBOND DEBT SERVICE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ADD WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE ON TOP OF THAT? YOU ASKED FOR THIS TO BE INCLUDED.
I HAVE THE SEPARATE PIECES IF YOU WANTED TO SEE THE SEPARATE PIECES.
AND THEN THERE WAS A THIRD OPTION? THERE WERE TWO OTHER OPTIONS THAT CAME OUT OF FERC, WHICH WAS UTILITY RATE INCREASES FOR JUST WEST AVENUE AND FIRST STREET.
AND THEN THERE WAS A THIRD OPTION THAT WAS THOSE TWO PROJECTS PLUS ANY CRITICAL NEED PROJECTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS FELT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE CALLED IT THE PUBLIC WORKS SUPER SLIM DOWN OPTION.
AND SO THEN WITH THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, WHICH ON THE MEDIAN HOME WOULD BE $210 AS OPPOSED TO...
THE OTHER OPTION, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT $500 MORE, WE STILL GET THE COMPLETION OF ALL THE PROJECTS.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I LIKE THIS BECAUSE I SEE THIS IS A GENERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TO OUR CITY.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TODAY ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS IMPROVEMENT, BUT SO WILL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIVING IN OUR CITY 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE LIVING HERE 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE OWNING THE MAJOR RESORT DESTINATIONS 40 YEARS FROM NOW, AND THEY GET TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, BUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENJOYING IN THE FUTURE.
THE BURDEN OF THAT COST DOESN'T FALL ON THE RESIDENTS.
AND THE PROPERTY TAXPAYER TODAY THAT IS FACING A NUMBER OF OTHER BURDENS.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN SPREAD THIS OUT OVER, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT IS IT, 30 YEARS? SO YOU REPAY THIS OBLIGATION? YES, WHETHER A GEO OR A REVENUE BOND, IT WOULD BE A 30-YEAR TERM EITHER WAY.
SO BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE BURDEN OF IT IS LOWER NOW AND THAT PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE...
PAY THEIR SHARE IN THESE GENERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES? AND THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
ALSO, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, DO THEY PAY A LARGER, ARE THEY A LARGER PERCENTAGE THAN RESIDENTIAL ON THE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PAYMENTS? I BELIEVE WE HAVE MORE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
I THINK WE ARE 21% IN HOMESTEADED AND 50% IN RESIDENTIAL.
I WANT TO SAY 50 SOMETHING ON THE OTHER RESIDENTIAL.
SO I THINK WE ARE PRIMARILY...
BUT HOMESTEAD, AND OUR HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL...
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT 21% OF OUR PROPERTY.
A LITTLE OVER 20% OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE CONSIDERED HOMESTEADED.
AND OUR COMMERCIAL? I'LL SAY 20 OR 30%.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT...
SO 50%, SORRY, COMMISSIONER, 50% YOU'RE SAYING IS NON-HOMESTEADED, WHICH INCLUDES RENTERS.
IF OVER 50% IS TOTAL RESIDENTIAL.
YEAH, COMMERCIAL IS LESS THAN 50%.
IF WE HAVE A WAY TO GET ALL THE PROJECTS FUNDED AT A LOWER COST TO OUR RESIDENTS TODAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE MY PREFERENCE.
IF THE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS WERE DIFFERENT, IF INSURANCE RATES WERE DIFFERENT, IF INFLATION WOULD BE DIFFERENT, IF WAGES WOULD BE TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE.
I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING A DIFFERENT MODEL, BUT TODAY OUR RESIDENTS ARE DEALING WITH FINANCIAL SITUATIONS THAT ARE VERY UNIQUE.
AND SO MY PREFERENCE IS GOING TO BE TO GET IT DONE THROUGH THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
MR. MAYOR, CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? LET ME GO TO COMMISSIONER MATTEL, SALINAS, AND THEN COMMISSIONER MAGUS.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS
[08:40:04]
ON THE TABLE, OR MAYBE WE HAVE THREE.BUT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS...
ONE IS TO BIFURCATE STORMWATER AND HAVE A GEOBOND FOR STORMWATER ONLY.
RIGHT? BUT IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY RAISE THE WATER AND SEWER RATES.
CORRECT? WE WOULD NEED TO RAISE WATER AND SEWER RATES TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE PROJECTS, AND WE HAVE THAT SHOWN IN THE SLIDE WHAT THAT INCREASE WOULD BE.
SO THAT WOULD NOT GO TO THE GEOBOND, THOUGH.
THAT WOULD NOT GO TO THE VOTERS.
THAT WOULD JUST BE DONE, AND THEN IT WOULD SPLIT, AND THEN THE GEOBOND.
WOULD BE FOR STORMWATER FLOODING.
OKAY, AND THEN THE SECOND OPTION IS THAT THE GO BOND WRAPS ALL OF THAT INTO ONE THAT THE VOTERS VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER, AND IT'S A MUCH LARGER NUMBER.
CORRECT, AND TO THAT POINT, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND DEBT ESTIMATE WOULD BE ABOUT $784, $785 MILLION FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND THE REASON IT'S A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF DEBT BEING ISSUED FROM LET'S CALL IT THE BIFURCATED VERSION WHERE WE'RE USING WOULD THEORETICALLY USE UTILITY RATE INCREASES TO FUND THE WATER AND SEWER PORTION IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HOW IT'S STRUCTURED, THE FINANCIAL MODEL.
IT DOES MORE OF A PAY GO, BECAUSE REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THE BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE GETS PAID BASICALLY THROUGH SURPLUS CASH THAT THE FUND GENERATES SURPLUS.
SO WE WOULD END UP BORROWING $646 MILLION.
SO WE'D HAVE TO BORROW ABOUT $140 MILLION LESS USING THE HYBRID MODEL.
AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO TELL ME THE WATER AND SEWER, IF WE INCREASE THOSE RATES, WHAT IS THAT MONTHLY COST PER MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD? CAN YOU JUST TELL ME THAT NUMBER TOO? SO THIS IS THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S MUCH LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED, WHICH WAS ABOUT $15 A MONTH.
SO WE'RE HOVERING AROUND $7 TO $8 A MONTH.
PROBABLY AVERAGING ABOUT $7 A MONTH THROUGHOUT THE RATE INCREASE PERIOD.
THIS IS BASED ON, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT THIS IS BASED ON 5,000 GALLONS, CORRECT? YES, THIS IS BASED ON 5,000.
WHICH IS ROUGHLY HOW? EVERY LTC THAT COMES FROM THE CITY IS BASED ON HOW MANY GALLONS? IT HAS BEEN 7,000 IN THE PAST.
HOWEVER, THE PRESENTATION FOR THIS STARTED AT 5,000, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMBERS FOR 07,000.
BUT WHEN REFERENCES HAVE BEEN MADE, THEY ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE $15 A MONTH.
WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE 05,000.
WELL, WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WAIT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW MEDIAN USAGE.
WE HAVE VERY, VERY LARGE HOUSES WITH LARGE METERS, AND THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF CONDOMINIUMS, AND WE HAVE SMALLER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
SO THE AVERAGE USAGE MIGHT BE HIGHER, BUT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD HERE.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD, THAT'S GOING TO SKEW CLOSER TO THE 5,000 RATHER THAN THE AVERAGE.
SO THE 5,000 IS HOW MANY SQUARE FEET, ROUGHLY? IT JUST DEPENDS ON USAGE.
I THINK IN TALKING TO JOHN WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY A SMALLER HOME, A BUNGALOW HOME, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY IT MIGHT BE A 03,000-GALLON USAGE HOUSE, BUT YOU'RE GETTING SKEWED UP TO 7,000 BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE 20,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK WHY THEY DECIDED TO USE 5,000, WHICH IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO A MEDIAN, PROBABLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN A MEDIAN.
OKAY, AND IT'LL BE AN ADDITIONAL $7 A MONTH.
RIGHT, AND THAT'S ABOUT, I THINK, A 60% DECREASE FROM THE ORIGINAL $15 AND CHANGE, I THINK, PER MONTH.
AND THEN IF THE GEO BOND PASSES.
THEN IT WILL GO UP TO, IT'LL GO FROM $7 A MONTH TO? THE $7 A MONTH THAT WOULD BE ON THE WATER SEWER SIDE, YOU WOULD HAVE A GEO BOND THAT WOULD MAX OUT AT AROUND $90 FOR THE MEDIAN AND $265 FOR THE AVERAGE.
SO TELL ME THAT NUMBER AGAIN, I'M SORRY, 90 ANNUALLY? ABOUT $90 FOR THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY AND THE AVERAGE HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, $265 IS OUR ESTIMATE.
THAT'S IN 2035, WHICH WOULD BE WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING TO BE MAXED OUT.
DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD START TO GO DOWN.
SO THEN I DON'T KNOW WHO'S LISTENING TO ME, BUT THIS IS THE OPTION THAT I WOULD GO FOR IS TO BIFURCATE THEM.
AND MY CONCERN IS IF WE WRAP IT ALL UP INTO ONE BIG GEO BOND, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO PASS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LARGER NUMBER.
AND AREN'T WE GOING TO SAVE HOW MUCH AGAIN FROM...
BECAUSE IF WE DO THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY RATES, WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL MODEL.
FROM A LONG-TERM CONSERVATIVE BASIS BECAUSE IT WOULD GENERATE REVENUES TO DO PAY GO, AS IT WERE, AND THEN GENERATE MORE AS THE YEARS GO ON TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DEBT FURTHER ON AS YOU PAY OFF DEBT.
SO IT'S BETTER FOR THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FUND, OF THAT UTILITY FUND.
BUT WE SAVE HOW MUCH IF WE BUY THE INCOME? THE DIFFERENCE IS AROUND $140 MILLION LESS IN TOTAL DEBT WOULD HAVE TO BE ISSUED THROUGH THIS HYBRID MODEL.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LEANING TOWARDS.
JASON, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION HERE.
RIGHT? LET'S JUST GO THROUGH A HYPOTHETICAL.
WE BORROW $1,000, AND LET'S SAY THERE'S 100 PAYERS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, RIGHT?
[08:45:03]
SO WE'LL KEEP IT VERY SIMPLE.WE BORROW $1,000, AND THERE'S 100 PAYERS.
IF THIS PROPERTY TAX REFORM PASSES IN NOVEMBER, YOU'RE REMOVING 25 OF THOSE PAYERS FROM THE SYSTEM, RIGHT? SO WE STILL HAVE TO REPAY.
SO THAT WOULD BE, IT'S SPLIT AMONGST 100 PAYERS, RIGHT? $10 EACH.
IF THIS PROPERTY TAX REFORM PASSES IN NOVEMBER, WE STILL HAVE TO REPAY THAT SAME $1,000.
BUT NOW THERE'S A MUCH SMALLER PIE OF PAYERS.
YOU TAKE OUT ALL THE HOMESTEADED PAYERS.
FROM THAT PIE AND GUESS WHO THAT'S LEFT ON IT'S EASY TO SIT THERE AND POO POO OH COMMERCIAL GUYS WOW THE FOUNTAIN BLUE HAS TO PAY MORE BUT YOU JUST SAID A NUMBER 50 PERCENT OF THAT ARE RESIDENTIAL NON-HOMESTEADED RENTERS THIS WILL CRUSH THEM CRUSH THEM TELL ME HOW I'M TELL ME IF I'M WRONG AND TELL ME HOW I'M WRONG I BELIEVE EARLY CALCULATIONS ARE THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD LOSE ABOUT...
YEAH, BUT LOSE ABOUT, I THINK IT'S, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT IT, A LITTLE OVER 10% OF TOTAL PROPERTIES PERHAPS COULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE NOT PAYING NO TAXES, IF THE FULL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DOES HAPPEN TO PASS.
BUT YES, IN GENERAL, THE CONCEPT IS YOU'D HAVE A SMALLER POOL.
YOU'D STILL HAVE THE DEBT SERVICE, IN THE EXAMPLE, IS $22 MILLION, LET'S SAY.
DO THE THOUSAND, RIGHT? YEAH, SO YOU'D HAVE NINE PEOPLE PAYING THAT INSTEAD OF TEN PEOPLE PAYING IT.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME ONLY 10% OF OUR TOTAL PAYERS' PROPERTIES ARE HOMESTEADED? I BELIEVE IT'S TOTAL PROPERTIES, YES.
IF I CAN JUST SEE FOR A SECOND, BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS YOU HAD CIRCULATED, IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, EVEN IF THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY HIT THAT, WE'RE TALKING $25 MILLION, WHICH IS ON A BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET.
TALKING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE ONE I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND UH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND A 10 MILLION DOLLAR TOTAL IMPACT OF THAT THE OTHER PART YOU MIGHT BE THINKING THAT WAS CLOSER TO THAT 15 MILLION YEAH WAS THE UH IMPACT OF THE NON-HOMES THAT THE PROPERTY IS MOVING FROM A 10 CAP TO A 5 CAP AND THE LIMIT IT WOULD LIMIT OUR GROWTH GOING FORWARD BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK AS COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE STATED IF I HAVE DEBT SERVICE OF X, I AM PAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DEBT SERVICE, AND IT WOULD JUST BE A HIGHER MILLAGE FOR THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY PAYING TAXES.
LET'S SPEAK IN ENGLISH, OKAY? I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SPEAK IN ENGLISH, OKAY? IF WE BORROW THROUGH A GEOBOND X AMOUNT, AND THIS PASSES IN NOVEMBER, IT'S A SMALLER CHUNK OF A PIE THAT IS PAYING.
YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE 10, 15% OF THAT TOTAL PIE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMESTEAD AND PROPERTY TAXPAYERS.
THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE PAYING FOR ANY OF THIS, OKAY? BECAUSE GEOBOND IS PAID OUT OF AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES.
THEY WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM THAT.
SO THEN THAT X AMOUNT STILL NEEDS TO BE REPAID.
SO THE REMAINING PEOPLE ARE LEFT HOLDING.
IF YOU HAVE A HOME THAT HAS A TAXABLE VALUE OF $250,000 AND YOU HAVE AN EXEMPTION OF $250,000, YOU WILL BE AT ZERO AND YOU WILL PAY, YOU WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS GO BOND, YOU WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY MUNICIPAL TAXES, YOU WOULDN'T PAY FOR ANY SERVICES THE CITY PROVIDES, BUT YOU WOULD RECEIVE ALL THE BENEFIT.
I'M SORRY, THE COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE'S ANSWER.
SO THAT RESIDENTIAL IS THE REST BASICALLY.
SO THEY SAID THE NON-HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL IS THE BIGGEST PIECE.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE LEFT HOLDING THE BACK.
SO THE NON-RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE THERE.
YEAH, THE HOMESTEADED IS, THEY SAID IS 20% AND THEN COMMERCIALS IS 20%.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THE POOREST HOMEOWNERS.
ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PUT INTO THE GEOBOND, BUT THE ONES WITH THE MOST WEALTH WILL HAVE TO.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SPEAKING THEORETICALLY IF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT HAPPENS TO PASS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE AT A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
I'M LIVING IN THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE TODAY, WHICH IS A $50,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH IS A $315,000-ISH MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY VALUE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THOSE CALCULATIONS ARE MADE.
IT'S NOT THE WEALTHIEST HOMEOWNERS BECAUSE THE PLAN IS EVENTUALLY TO EXEMPT THEM.
[08:50:02]
SCALE.SO THE HOMESTEAD OF PEOPLE WILL BE EXEMPT.
IT WILL BE THE RENTERS THAT ESSENTIALLY THIS FALLS ON THE SHOULDERS OF.
COMMISSIONER BOTHA AND COMMISSIONER SUAREZ.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT TALLAHASSEE PROPOSES IN YEARS GOING FORWARD NOR WHAT THE STATE VOTERS ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS YEAR'S PROPOSAL.
SO OPTION ONE AS I UNDERSTAND IT SPLITS THE BURDEN.
PART OF THE WORK THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE CITY WILL COME THROUGH UTILITY RATES BASED ON UTILITY RATE INCREASES BASED ON HOW MUCH YOU USE.
SO IF YOU A RENTER IN A BUILDING AND YOU'RE YOU KNOW ONE OR TWO PEOPLE AND YOU DON'T WATER A YARD AND YOU DON'T HAVE A POOL YOUR USAGE WILL BE LESS IS THAT AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY THAT IS CORRECT OKAY AND IF YOU HAVE A MANSION AND YOU KNOW BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND A BEAUTIFUL POOL AND MULTIPLE BATHROOMS AND A LARGE FAMILY YOU'LL BE PAYING MORE IN THOSE INCREASES BECAUSE YOU'RE USING MORE SO IT IS IT IS BASED ON IT'S BASED PROPORTIONALLY ON WHAT YOU USE WHICH SEEMS I'M NOT A GENIUS BUT THAT SEEMS EQUITABLE TO ME IF YOU USE LESS YOU HAVE A SMALLER HOME YOU'RE A RENTER.
YOU WILL BE PAYING LESS OF THIS AND IF YOU HAVE A BIGGER HOME, AND YOU ARE USING WATER YOU PAY MORE OF IT, AND THEN IF I'M ALSO UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY WE BUY FOR KATE I'M LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE.
I JUST WANTED TO BE INTELLECTUALLY HONEST WITH YOUR ARGUMENT.
I'M ASKING THE TWO EXPERTS IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY SO I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THEY'RE NOT BEING INTELLECTUALLY HONEST WITH THEIR ARGUMENTS? NO.
THE DISTINCTION YOU'RE MAKING IS THAT PEOPLE WITH SMALLER HOMES ARE GOING TO USE LESS, SO IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEM MORE.
THEY'RE IN A SMALLER HOME FOR A REASON BECAUSE...
OKAY, BUT IF YOU ARE IN A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT...
LET HER FINISH THE LINE, AND THEN YOU'LL SPEAK.
IF YOU ARE IN A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT, HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH? TO BE PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER USAGE AS A FOUR-BEDROOM HOME.
DOES IT HAPPEN? MAYBE IT HAPPENS.
I'D LIKE TO BE INTELLECTUALLY HONEST ON THIS.
MAY I RESPOND? NO, YOU'RE NOT THE EXPERT ON THIS.
IT COULD BE ASSUMED THAT THE FEWER FIXTURES THAT ARE IN A HOME, THE LESS WATER WOULD BE USED.
AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO SHARE THIS BURDEN ACROSS...
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WHO USES WATER AND WHO HAS THE BENEFIT OF OUR TOILETS FLUSHING ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT BACKING UP INTO ANYBODY'S LIVING ROOM.
SO THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS COME OUT OF FERC THAT WE WERE ALL PRETTY UNITED ON, AS I LAST RECALL, WAS TO BIFURCATE THIS.
SO SOME OF THE BURDEN IS SHARED THROUGH A GEO BOND AND THE MORE PRESSING POTENTIALLY, I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PRIORITIES BUT THE MORE PRESSING ISSUE IS SHARED AMONG ALL OF US WHO LIVE AND WORK AND OWN BUSINESSES IN THE CITY BASED ON OUR RESPECTIVE WATER USE.
AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY WITHOUT BEING INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST? THAT IS CORRECT.
JASON? OKAY, SO THAT'S OPTION ONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND UNKNOWN, AND IT MAKES MANAGING A CITY VERY COMPLICATED, BECAUSE WE HAVE KICKED THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR DECADES AS A CITY.
IT'S BEEN HOW MANY YEARS SINCE THERE WAS EVEN A UTILITY RATE INCREASE? ACTUALLY, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER WAS I THINK THE LAST UTILITY RATE INCREASE THAT WAS PASSED WAS A FIVE-YEAR RATE INCREASE THAT WAS PASSED IN 2019, BUT IT ENDED UP BEING LOWER THAN INFLATION YEAH, IF I COULD ADD ON TO THAT THAT WAS A IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE RATE INCREASES THAT WERE PUT IN THERE, IF WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT, IS THAT GOING BACK TO 2020, BECAUSE THE COMMISSION PUT IN ARTIFICIALLY SPECIFIC AND LOW UTILITY RATE INCREASES, I BELIEVE IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 10.1% LOSS TO INFLATION.
SO WE'RE 10% BEHIND THE HOLE ON INFLATION JUST BASED ON THE EXISTING.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATE INCREASES THAT WERE BEING PROPOSED, WHICH WAS IN THE SIX AND A HALF-ISH RANGE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN IT FALLS TO THE CPI.
JUST TO GET BACK THAT 10% THAT WE LOST THERE, IT WOULD TAKE THREE YEARS
[08:55:01]
OF THE RATE INCREASES THERE.AND IF YOU'RE JUST WORKING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE AT A 3% CPI ANYWAY, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 4.2%.
WE'RE PERHAPS TRANSITORY, WHICH IS A STATEMENT FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO FROM THE FED.
AND WE'RE BACK TO MORE OF A STANDARD 2% TO 3%.
BUT STILL, THAT'S ONLY A FEW PERCENT HIGHER.
THAN WHAT INFLATION HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD ONLY HELP MAKE UP THE 10% THAT WE'VE LOST OUT.
SO WE ARE, ALL OF US HERE, MINDFULLY TRYING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE, THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES NOT OF ANY OF OUR MAKING, EITHER HISTORICALLY OR PROSPECTIVELY, EITHER LOCALLY OR AT THE STATE LEVEL, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSULATE US FROM CATASTROPHIC FAILURES.
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING, PLEASE JUMP IN IF I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT YOU PROPOSE AS OPTION ONE KIND OF SHARES THE RISK AMONG EVERYBODY AS EQUITABLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT PART OF IT IS BASED ON USE AND PART OF IT IS BASED ON YOUR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FORWARD WITH THE MOST PRESSING ITEMS BEFORE THE COSTS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE.
WE CAN KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING UNTIL THE VOTERS VOTE ON THIS, ON PART OF THIS IN NOVEMBER, AND WE'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MANEUVER A LITTLE BIT GOING FORWARD.
BUT IT GIVES US THE OPTION TO START NOW, SHARED, AS, AGAIN, EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION HAS WORKED VERY HARD, STARTING AT PRETTY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS, TO GET TO AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION.
AND THAT'S WHAT OPTION ONE IS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY, THEN I WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO SUPPORT OPTION ONE.
I JUST WANT TO GET THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT.
FOR A FULL GEOBOND FUNDING FOR ALL THE PROJECTS, THAT OPTION, WHAT DOES IT COME OUT TO THE MEDIAN HOME-CENTERED OWNER FOR MIAMI BEACH? FOR THE HOMESTEAD MEDIAN WOULD BE, AND THAT'S A $317,000 PROPERTY AS OF THIS YEAR, BUT IN 2035 WE ESTIMATE ABOUT $210 CHARGE.
MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL, WHICH WOULD BE ALL PROPERTIES, WOULD BE ABOUT $300,000.
$8 THE AVERAGE WOULD BE SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN TWENTY EIGHT AND SO FOR EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS SO IT WOULD BE THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHT DOLLARS PER YEAR YES YES THE MEDIAN BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY'S MEDIAN AND AVERAGE PROPERTIES AND AS YOU'VE SEEN ALWAYS GOT THIS LIGHT BACK UP THANK YOU SO AGAIN JUST FOR THE GEO BOND FUND FOR ALL THE PROJECTS FIRST STREET WEST AVE CRITICALLY NEED THE ONES THAT WE, YES.
WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE TO THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY BY 2035 PER YEAR? THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $310.
NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION TO FUND IT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN OPTION HERE, BUT IF WE WERE TO FUND IT SOLELY THROUGH...
YOU WITH ME? YOU CAN TURN OFF THE PRESENTATION.
SO THE OPTION TO FULLY FUND THROUGH A COMBINED, A HYBRID MODEL OF GEOBOND AND WATER RATE INCREASES, WHAT WOULD THAT BE TO THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY? FOR THE MEDIAN...
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, HOMESTEADED 726, AND THEN ABOUT 70% OF THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE WHAT A CONDO WOULD BE.
WELL, MORE THAN DOUBLE FOR THE MEDIAN, AND THEN ALMOST DOUBLE FOR CONDO.
IS THAT CORRECT? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU STATE THAT QUESTION AGAIN? BASICALLY DOUBLE.
FROM WHICH VALUE? FROM THE OPTION OF A FULLY GEOBOND AND THEN ALSO THAT'S 308 ON A MEDIAN IF WE DO IT THROUGH A HYBRID WITH GEOBOND AND A STORM WATER INCREASE IT'S 726 CORRECT YES SIR AND IF IT WAS THE OTHER OPTION IS A FULL...
LET'S JUST, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, WHAT IF IT WAS ALL
[09:00:02]
SEWER AND UTILITY INCREASES? OH, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE.SO THE CONDO WOULD BE PROBABLY CLOSER TO $510.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT WAS 70%.
IT'S ABOUT 70%. SO IT'S NOT 500, IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO 800.
YOU GUYS ARE VERY UNPREPARED FOR THIS.
WELL, I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST BASIC OPTIONS AND I'M ASKING BASIC QUESTIONS OF WHAT THE MEDIAN IS.
AND I'M NOT GETTING A STRAIGHT ANSWER, IT SEEMS. OKAY, I JUST WANT TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
OKAY, SO THE OPTION THAT I'M PROPOSING AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS PROPOSING FOR A FULL GEO BOND WOULD COST A MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY $308 A YEAR IN TOTAL BY 2035? THAT IS CORRECT, YEAH.
OPTION TWO WOULD BE GEO BOND, SOME GEO BOND AND SOME UTILITY RATE INCREASE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
STORMWATER WOULD BE GO AND WATER AND SEWER AS UTILITY RATE.
THAT COMES OUT TO $726, CORRECT? SOMEBODY'S GOING TO REALLY HAVE TO HELP EXPLAIN TO ME HOW HAVING A HYBRID, YOU BORROW THE SAME EXACT AMOUNT, YOU DON'T.
BECAUSE OF THE CASH FLOW OF THE MODEL.
AS I WAS STATING, THAT THE GO YOU WOULD END UP BORROWING ADDITIONAL MONEY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ADDITIONAL UTILITY RATE INCREASES.
THE MODEL THROWS OFF ADDITIONAL CASH.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE COVERAGE.
SO THE MODEL, AS YOU INCREASE THOSE REVENUES IN THE UTILITY, NOT ONLY ARE YOU PAYING FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, BECAUSE IT'S BUILT IN, YOU'RE REQUIRED THROUGH YOUR REVENUE BAR AND COVENANTS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CASH FLOW.
AND THAT ADDITIONAL CASH FLOW, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROFIT AT THE END OF THE DAY FROM GOVERNMENT, IT'S UTILIZED TO HELP FUND THAT CAPITAL PROGRAM.
SO MORE OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH PAYGO.
WE'RE BORROWING $140 MILLION LESS IF WE BUY IT FOR FREE.
THE HYBRID MODEL WOULD BE $140 MILLION LESS IN TOTAL DEBT BEING ISSUED.
AND THE REASON WHY YOU'RE SEEING MORE...
WE ARE NOT TALKING APPLES TO APPLES HERE.
AND I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN EVERY NEWSLETTER TOMORROW.
I'M SICK OF GOVERNING BY SENDING OUT EMAILS AND WHAT HEADLINES ARE GOING TO BE.
OKAY? EXPLAIN TO ME PHILOSOPHICALLY...
HOW IF YOU BORROW THE SAME AMOUNT IN A GEOBOND VERSUS YOU BORROW 90% IN A GEOBOND AND 10% IN A REVENUE BOND, HOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THE SAME PERSON IS GOING TO PAY DOUBLE? ONE THING IS WE'RE NOT BORROWING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK AS COMMISSIONER SUAREZ SAID, IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIAN.
AND THAT'S WHY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING BY THE MEDIAN VALUE OF A PROPERTY.
VERSUS THE UTILITY, WHICH IS MORE OF A FLAT SERVICE.
SO YOU ARE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
AND THIS IS GOING TO WIND UP IN AN EMAIL, OKAY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GOVERN NOW.
AND IT'S GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, BY A GEOBOND, YOU, JOE, TAXPAYER, ARE GOING TO PAY $308.
BUT IF WE DO THIS MODEL WHERE 90% IS BORROWED BY A GEOBOND, BUT THESE TWO CRITICAL PROJECTS ARE BORROWED IN A UTILITY BOND, JOE TAXPAYER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING $750, AND THAT IS PHILOSOPHICALLY WRONG.
AGAIN, I THINK AS COMMISSIONER SUAREZ POINTED OUT, IT'S SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE MEASURE IN WHICH YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE VALUE THERE.
A MEDIAN HOME VALUE IS VERY LOW, WHERE ON A UTILITY...
TELL ME, PICK WHOEVER IT IS, PICK JOE TAXPAYER, WHAT HE PAYS UNDER STRAIGHT GEOBOND MODEL, AND BORROWING 90% FROM A GEOBOND, AND THESE...
TWO SIMPLE, THESE TWO PROJECTS IN A REVENUE BOND, THAT SAME EXACT PERSON, WHAT DOES HE PAY? ARE YOU GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL ME THAT SAME PERSON WILL PAY DOUBLE? TO BE HONEST, COMMISSIONER, IT DEPENDS ON THE VALUE OF THE PERSON'S HOME AND WHAT THAT PERSON'S USAGE IS.
WE'D HAVE TO CALCULATE THAT INDIVIDUAL PIECE.
BUT YES, IN THE SENSE THAT ON THE ISSUE WITH A GO BOND.
IF YOU HAVE A HOME, REMEMBER $300,000 VALUE IS OUR MEDIAN, BUT IT'S NOT VERY HIGH AT THE END OF THE DAY.
IF YOU HAVE A $3 MILLION HOME, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY 10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT, WHERE YOUR WATER AND SEWER IS GOING TO BE IN THE SAME REALM AS IT WAS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE TAKING ONE SPECIFIC POINT, WHICH IS A LOW PROPERTY VALUE.
AND IF I MAY CONTINUE WITH MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND TO ADDRESS MAGAZINE'S POINT, IS
[09:05:01]
THE MEDIAN IS YOU HAVE ALL THE PROPERTIES ON THE DOCKET, RIGHT, ON OUR APPRAISAL WEBSITE, RIGHT? CORRECT.MEDIAN IS JUST RIGHT DAB IN THE MIDDLE.
AND 300 AND WHAT? WHAT'S THE MEDIAN? WE WERE ESTIMATING 315,000 WAS THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY.
YEAH, SO THAT MEANS LESS THAN HALF OF ALL THE PROPERTIES IN MIAMI BEACH ARE LESS THAN $315,000.
THOSE ARE, I WOULD SAY, THE MOST CHALLENGED AS FAR AS AFFORDABILITY.
AND MY PROPOSAL IS MORE COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME.
ON YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION, WHERE IT IS A RAISE ON EVERYONE AT THE SAME AMOUNT.
BUT ISN'T IT BASED ON USAGE? IT'S BASED ON USAGE.
BUT THEY'RE PAYING THE SAME RATE.
I MEAN, WELL, THE RATE WOULD BE INCREASED ON THEIR USAGE.
SO IF THEY WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ONE LESS SHOWER A DAY TO MAKE UP FOR THE...
CONDOS HAVE POOLS AND SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPING.
I MEAN, THE USAGE IS MUCH MORE.
AND WHATEVER THE RATE IS NOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PAYING.
SO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A WATER CONSUMPTION RATE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S ON THEIR BILL.
SO WHAT IS THE RATE RIGHT NOW? THE RATE IS FOR WATER AND UTILITY, JOHN? THE RATE PER 1,000 GALLONS? SURE.
HOW DO WE NOT KNOW THIS? I MEAN, THEY'RE THE EXISTING.
YOU CAN USE IT AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THAT'S YOUR EXAMPLE.
YEAH, AND WE'VE GOT THE EXAMPLE.
CURRENT RATE FOR 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH IS $138 A MONTH.
AND SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER BY 2035, IT GOES UP TO MUCH MORE THAN...
AND WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR RATE INCREASE IS IT IS REGRESSIVE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES, SENIORS, THEY CANNOT PAY INTO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME.
SO AS OPPOSED TO IF YOU'RE DOING IT MORE COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY, AS YOU HAVE SEEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, ON AVERAGE, OR NOT ON AVERAGE, THE MEDIAN HOMEOWNER OF MIAMI BEACH PAY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST, MY PLAN IS THE CHEAPEST OVERALL, AND IT'S GOING TO, IT'LL SATISFY ALL THE PROJECTS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO BIFURCATE ONE PROJECT OVER ANOTHER.
NOW LISTEN, THEY MAY NOT PASS.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A, I WAS AT A SOUTH OF FIFTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND SOMEONE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PUPPIES AND KITTENS IN IT AND THAT'S WHAT VOTERS VOTE FOR.
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT.
I THINK MIAMI BEACH VOTERS ARE VERY SMART.
THEY UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES MORE SO THAN MOST CITIES IN THE COUNTY AND WILL RECOGNIZE THAT.
THIS IS A MORE EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE WAY TO FUND OUR PROJECTS.
I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, YOU JUST SAID THAT YOURS IS THE CHEAPEST OVERALL? TO THE MEDIAN.
AND THAT'S IF WE DO THE WHOLE GEO BOND TOGETHER? CORRECT.
YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY, I JUST HAVE TO CHALLENGE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BORROW LESS MONEY, $140 MILLION LESS, IF WE BIFURCATE THEM.
I'LL HAVE JASON EXPLAIN WHY IT'S LESS.
I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BORROWING LESS, YOU'RE STILL TAXING MORE PEOPLE.
BUT LESS MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE BORROWING.
BUT THEY'RE STILL PAYING THROUGH ANOTHER TAX, WHICH IS THE WATER AND SEWER BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING.
BUT THEY'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE BORROWING LESS.
WHEN YOU MEAN BORROWING, YOU MEAN BORROWING FOR A GEOBOND OR BORROWING FOR A WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE? BORROWING FOR THE GEOBOND.
SO IF YOU BORROW FOR BECAUSE WE'RE BIFURCATING THEM.
AND I'LL HAVE STAFF CONFIRM THIS, BUT IF THEY BORROW FOR ALL THE PROJECTS FOR A GEOBOND, IT COMES OUT TO, ON THE MEDIAN AVERAGE, I'M SORRY, NOT AVERAGE,
[09:10:01]
MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, $308.SO THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY RATE WOULD INCREASE $7 A MONTH.
AND THEN THERE'S THE GEOBOND COMPONENT FOR THE STORMWATER PORTION.
THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED WOULD BE AROUND $210 FOR THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED PROPERTY.
A MONTH? YEAH, AND THAT'S REALLY, I THINK, THE MAIN ISSUE THERE IS THE VIEWPOINT THAT YOU'RE TAKING.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HAVING IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE YOU LOOK AT GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, PROPERTY TAXES, THROUGH A MEDIAN OR AN AVERAGE PROPERTY, LET'S SAY, WHERE WATER RATES ARE GOING TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON USAGE AND SUCH.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING THAT.
DIFFERENCE THERE AT THE END YOU WOULD BE BORROWING MORE MONEY THROUGH THE GENERAL OBLIGATION SO YOU WOULD HAVE MORE OF A DEBT SERVICE BUT IT'S HOW YOU'RE SLICING UP THAT PIECE OF THE PIE AT THE END OF THE DAY IS IT GOING ACROSS ALL YOU RATE USERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON THEIR USAGE AMOUNT YES WHEREAS ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION IT'S BASED ON THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME JASON WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF THE WAY I JUST WANT TO FINISH UP REAL QUICK I'M SORRY SO BUT ESSENTIALLY THE THE METHOD THAT WOULD BE BIFURCATING THE WATER SEWER INCREASE PLUS THE GEO BOND FOR THE STORMWATER RATES THAT THE VOTERS GET TO DECIDE ON NOVEMBER WOULD COST PROVIDED THAT THE GEO BOND PASSES $25 A MONTH, ROUGHLY $7 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER.
AND THIS IS FOR THE MEDIAN AVERAGE HOME AGAIN, BASED ON USAGE, BUT $7 A MONTH FOR WATER SEWER.
I'M SORRY FOR JUST THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
NO, FOR BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER.
BIFURCATED YEAH THE BIFURCATED SEVEN DOLLARS A MONTH FOR JUST THE WATER SEWER INCREASE AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 17 DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS IF THE GEO BOND PASSES SO THEN IT'S I THINK YOU'RE JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IN 27 IT'LL BE SEVEN DOLLARS AND EIGHT CENTS PER PER MONTH UH MORE ON THE WATER AND SEWER AND THEN TO PAY THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BUT ON THE STORM WATER UH IT WOULD BE NOTHING IN THE BEGINNING BUT 2035 WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MAX DEBT SERVICE YOU IT WOULD BE $133 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
SO CALL IT $11 A MONTH, LET'S SAY, FOR THE STORMWATER.
OKAY, $18 A MONTH IF WE BIFURCATE THEM AND THEN HAVE THE GEOBOND GO TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.
RIGHT, AND $27 WOULD BE $7 MORE.
IT WOULD ALSO RAISE WATER SEWER RATES.
YEAH, AND AS IT'S IN YOUR PACKET THERE, THERE WOULD BE A RATE INCREASE EACH YEAR, BUT THERE WOULD BE A RATE INCREASE WITH CPI EITHER WAY.
AND AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT VIEWPOINT.
IT'S ABOUT PROPERTY VALUE, SPLITTING IT, OR THE UTILITIES.
SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND FOR OPTION ONE.
THE CITY RECOMMENDS OPTION ONE.
CAN YOU GIVE A QUICK PLUG WHY? WELL, FOR THE HEALTH OF THE UTILITY FUND.
SO AT THE END OF THIS, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN.
SO THERE WILL BE FUTURE PROJECTS NEEDED.
THIS IS A 10-YEAR CIP PLAN TO GET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF.
SO THE UTILITY FUND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNDERFUNDED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WE STILL NEED TO BUILD UP THE UTILITY FUND TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FUTURE DEBT ISSUANCES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
AND OPTION ONE WOULD DO THAT ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE.
JASON, DO YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, I THINK JUST, AGAIN, TO THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ON THE WATER AND SEWER IS VERY IMPORTANT INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE THIS IS A PROGRAM, THINGS ARE AGING ALL THE TIME.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO A SLUG OF MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT A GEOBOND IS, WHEN THAT MONEY IS OUT IN THOSE PROJECTS, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE PROJECTS.
SO THEORETICALLY, WE WOULD BE IN THE SAME BUCKET SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW HAVING THE SAME EXACT DISCUSSION.
BUT WITH OPTION ONE, THAT WHOLE PAGE THAT YOU SHOWED OF PROJECTS THAT NEED TO GET DONE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
AND THE WATER AND SEWER WILL BE SET UP, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUTURE FOR A LONGER TERM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD FUND, MY UNDERSTANDING, IS NOT ONLY A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT NIPS, AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF FUTURE NIPS IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT DOES FUND, I THINK, A MAJORITY OR ALMOST ALL OF THE CRITICAL NEEDS, WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER THAT ARE IDENTIFIED.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION THEN.
SO, YES, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE RECOMMENDING OPTION ONE.
OH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS NEXT.
WE HAVE A VERY WELL-ORGANIZED PRESENTATION, BY THE WAY, THAT, YOU KNOW, GOES THROUGH EVERYTHING.
RICK, WHEN WOULD THIS NEED TO BE VOTED TO SEND TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER? YOU NEED TO WE WOULD NEED A VALID QUESTION AT THE NEXT MEETING.
[09:15:02]
I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO VOTE ON THIS NOW.THERE'S TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AMBIGUITY WOULD WE BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT IN JULY AND IF IT IS YES SEND IT TO THE GEO? TO THE VOTERS WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT YOU DIRECT US TO DRAFT TO ALTERNATE GEOBOND QUESTIONS ONE WHICH WOULD BE FOR THE FULL SHEBANG AND ONE FOR OPTION ONE WHICH IS JUST FOR STORMWATER SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT THOSE AND YOU COULD APPROVE THEM BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED YOUR APPROVAL OF THE BALLOT QUESTION IN JULY FOR THIS TO MAKE THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS YOUR CALL MR. MAYOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMMISSION MEETING IS THE BEST PATH I KNOW TRYING TO GET AN IMPROMPTU MEETING ANYTIME DURING SUMMER IS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.
I MEAN, THIS IS CONSEQUENTIAL STUFF, RIGHT? AND NONE OF THESE ARE MY MEASURES, RIGHT? NONE OF THESE ARE SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT.
I'M NOT LIKE TEAM REVENUE BOND OR TEAM GEO BOND.
I WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS, FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, RIGHT? FOR OUR CITY.
IF I HAVE TO COME COME IN NEXT MONTH AND SAY, GUYS, GALS, I'VE HAD EVERYTHING WRONG.
I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE'LL BE GETTING IT RIGHT FOR OUR CITY.
AND IT'S TOO CONSEQUENTIAL TO VOTE ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T CARE WHICH PATH WE GO.
I'M NOT TEAM ONE BOND OR THE OTHER.
I AM TEAM GET THIS RIGHT, AND I THINK MORE TIME NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON THIS.
IF I HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT ARE CONVINCED THAT, YOU KNOW, EITHER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THEY KNOW THIS STONE COLD.
THIS IS A VERY CONSEQUENTIAL ITEM, PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MORE IMPORTANT ONES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, SO I WILL SUPPORT YOU ON THAT.
AND, MR. MAYOR, IF WE DO HAVE THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION TO DEFER IT, DO WE HAVE AN IMPROMPTU MEETING SOMETIME BEFORE OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING IN JULY? JUST BASED ON THIS? I CAN'T DO THAT.
IF THAT, I MEAN, WE COULD HANDLE IT AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, OR IF IT'S THE WILL OF EVERYONE TO HAVE A SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING, I'M NOT ADVERSE TO IT.
MAY I JUST THROW ANOTHER CURVEBALL? THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE FIVE VOTES TO OVERTURN THE MORATORIUM.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE, YOU WOULD NEED AT LEAST FIVE VOTES FOR A WATER RATE INCREASE.
SOMEBODY FROM THE PREVAILING SIDE, JOE OR THE MAYOR, OR ALEX OR DAVID, SORRY, COMMISSIONERS, EVERYBODY, WHATEVER.
CHOOSE THIS TO MAKE A MOTION TO RESCIND SINCE YOU'RE ON THE PREVAILING SIDE, RESCIND THE MORATORIUM SO WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE THIS FORWARD IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.
I THINK THAT THE GOAL OF THE MORATORIUM VOTE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.
THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS DESIRED TO HAVE BEEN HAD.
AND THAT WAS THE LAST MEETING OF THE MORATORIUM? YES, THAT WAS THE LAST MEETING.
JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE, I'M GOING TO BE A NO ON THAT.
I THINK, BY THE WAY, I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH ANALYSIS HERE TODAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE MOST EQUITABLE OPTION.
I MEAN, YOU HEAR IT FROM JASON GREEN HIMSELF.
AN OPTION WHERE IT'S FULLY GEOBOND IS $308 TO THE MEDIAN PROPERTY OWNER.
OPTION TWO, WHICH IS A MIX, $726.
OPTION THREE, WHICH IS ONLY WATER AND SEWER, IS $1,121.
I DON'T, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST MATH.
AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IF WE DON'T FUND THIS IMMEDIATELY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUT ON GRANT FUNDING, THAT'S JUST INCORRECT.
RIGHT, JOHN? I MEAN, WE HAVE ENOUGH.
TIME TO KEEP AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY GRANT FUNDING.
SO, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE THE OPTION OF A FULLY GEO BOND.
WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE VOTERS AND WE WILL ALL BE IN UNISON ON THIS.
EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THE MEDIAN PROPERTY, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE, THIS IS THE CHEAPEST AMOUNT FOR THEM.
WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING? WE'RE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.
BUT THE ONE THING WE'RE NOT FACTORING IN IS IF IT DOESN'T PASS.
THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE TABLE.
WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AND THERE'S ALSO THE ASPECT THAT THE STATE HAS THE
[09:20:01]
PROPERTY TAX ITEM THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, AND THEN WE'RE PUTTING UP LITERALLY THE OPPOSITE ITEM ON THE BALLOT.LISTEN, AGAIN, I HAVE FAITH IN THE MIAMI BEACH VOTER TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT THING.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CONCERN, AND THIS IS THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY TO DO THAT.
ERIC, WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS THROUGH ENTERPRISE OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS REVENUE BONDS? WE ABSOLUTELY CAN.
AND THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION OF...
YEAH, BUT THE INCREASES WERE QUITE SIGNIFICANT.
SO THE OTHER WAY THAT YOU COULD APPROACH IT AND THE WAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ONCE BEFORE WAS YOU CAN SCALE BACK OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
THEN HAVE IT BE A LOWER DOLLAR FIGURE FOR THE TOTAL CAPITAL NEED BUT THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS ON THE PROJECT SIDE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THEM NOT DOING THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPACT PROPERTY VALUES IN OUR CITY I THINK DOING STORMWATER PROJECTS DOING WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS MORE DESIRABLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH FLOODING OR WE'VE SEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM US IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WHERE THEY HAVEN'T MAINTAINED THEIR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT AFFECTS THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.
AND SO AND SO WHILE WHILE A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS BASED ON USER FEES AND HOW MUCH INDIVIDUALS CONSUME.
I SEE THIS AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY, AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY THAT ALSO INVESTS IN THE VALUES AND THE HOMES OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE I SEE DOING THIS THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND THAT IS PAID BASED ON THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY MAKES TO ME PERFECT SENSE.
IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT THAT IT ENDS UP BEING THE MORE AFFORDABLE AVENUE TODAY FOR OUR FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSIONER MATEL SALINAS IS IS EXPLAINING AS TO AS TO THROUGH THROUGH THE OTHER OPTION YOU YOU END UP BORROWING LESS BUT ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS WHEN YOU COMBINE THE NUMBERS THE RESIDENTS END UP PAYING MORE AND SO FOR ME, I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
I SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN PROPERTY VALUES AND THE DESIRABILITY OF REAL ESTATE AND THE TIDE THAT THAT HAS TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
SO I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS.
JASON, COMMISSIONER SUAREZ JUST REELED OFF THREE DIFFERENT NUMBERS, AND COULD YOU JUST GO THROUGH THOSE FOR ME SO I CAN UNDERSTAND? IT WENT BY.
I'M BETTER READING THINGS THAN JUST HEARING.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT HIGH LEVEL AND SUMMARY.
ON THE FULL GO BOND MODEL, WE WOULD BE BORROWING $784 MILLION APPROXIMATELY.
FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, WHICH IS TODAY THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL IS AROUND $350,000.
IN 2035, IT WOULD BE AROUND $310 PER YEAR.
NO, SHE STILL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE ANNUALIZED.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR COST WOULD BE FOR THAT PROPERTY YOU HAVEN'T SAID THAT WELL I APOLOGIZE I APOLOGIZE IT WOULD BE SO THE FOR THE MEDIAN UH YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE MEDIAN VALUE IN 2035.
SO THE NUMBERS ARE 308 726 1121 WHAT ARE THOSE THREE SCENARIOS I'M SORRY 308 726 01,121.
WHAT WERE THOSE NUMBERS CORRELATED TO? TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR REFERENCE POINT IS FOR THAT.
THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ANNUALIZED BY YEAR 2035.
WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST? WHO CAME UP WITH USING THE MEDIAN? I MEAN, IT WAS JUST A VALUE THAT WAS LOOKING AT MEDIAN VERSUS AVERAGE,
[09:25:01]
AND WE HAVE THEM BOTH LISTED IN THERE.WHAT ABOUT THE MEAN? WE DO HAVE THE AVERAGE NUMBER.
THAT'S WHAT WE PROVIDE, THE MEDIAN AND THE AVERAGE.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT FOR THE MEAN? FOR THE AVERAGE? I'D HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
SHORTCOMINGS OF JUST USING A MEDIAN RIGHT WELL IT'S I MEAN THE 50 50 VALUE I THOUGHT BETWEEN MEDIAN AND AVERAGE I THOUGHT THAT WAS BECAUSE YOU COULD PICK ANY VALUE OF A HOME A MILLION DOLLAR HOME A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR HOME A TEN MILLION DOLLAR HOME SO CAN I JUMP IN HERE FOR JUST TWO SECONDS BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD VALUE AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIAN WATER CONSUMPTION THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME YOU KNOW, THERE ARE HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES OUT THERE THAT MAY BE 10,000 SQUARE FEET THAT ARE ONLY VALUED AT $200,000 BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HOMESTEADED FOR 40 YEARS.
THOSE HOUSES PROBABLY USE 15,000 GALLONS A MONTH IN WATER.
I WOULD STILL LIKE JASON TO ANSWER COMMISSIONER BOTT'S QUESTION.
SO THE 308 WAS THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED, SORRY, MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR THE FULL GEOBON.
THAT WAS THE 308 IN THE YEAR 2035.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE ESTIMATED THAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, ANNUALIZED.
THE HYBRID MODEL BETWEEN A GEOBOND AND A WATER RATE UTILITY.
THAT WOULD BE THE MEDIAN HOMESTEADED.
THE MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE $7.60.
BUT THE $7.26 IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, MEDIAN HOMESTEADED FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, ASSUMING A 70% REDUCTION BECAUSE IF IT WAS A CONDO.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIAN HOME VALUE PLUS A MEDIAN USAGE.
OF WATER FOR A 12-MONTH CYCLE IF WE INCREASE THE RATES BY X. CORRECT.
FOR OPTION ONE? FOR OPTION ONE IN THE YEAR 2035 COMBINES THE STORMWATER GEOBOND, WHICH IS AROUND $90 FOR THE YEAR, PLUS THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES CUMULATIVELY THROUGH THE YEARS.
WHY DID THE CITY RECOMMEND OPTION ONE OVER DOING A FULL GEOBOND? I THINK, AS I THINK JOHN WAS EXPECTING.
EXPLAINING ABOUT ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE, WE REALLY FEEL THAT FOR THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE UTILITY FUND, INCREASING THOSE RATES IS THE WAY TO GO OVER THE LONG TERM.
IT'S THE HEALTH OF THE FUND, NOT THE HEALTH OF THE USER, THE TAXPAYER.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? SO IT'S GOING TO BE MORE HEALTHY FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LESS EXPENSIVE FOR THE TAX.
FUNDAMENTALLY, I'M SORRY, THAT IS NOT IT, OKAY? WHY THESE ARE FUNDED THROUGH UTILITY ENTERPRISE FUNDS IS SO IT DOESN'T PUT THE RISK OF THE ENTIRE CITY UNDER STRAIN.
THEY'RE BIFURCATED FOR A REASON, RIGHT? SO PUTTING IN A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, IT PUTS EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER AD VALOREM AT RISK.
IF IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND, THEY CAN GO BUST, OKAY? AND THEY HAVE.
WHEN YOU PUT THIS STRAIN AND DEBT AND LEVERAGE ON A GENERAL FUND, THAT ACTUALLY, THAT IS WHAT PUTS THE PEOPLE AT RISK.
THAT IS JUST FUNDAMENTAL MUNICIPAL FINANCE.
SOMEBODY IS PAYING MORE, RIGHT? AND NOBODY, IT'S NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN $10 MILLION HOMES AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO FANTASIZE ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? WE ARE GETTING THIS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG BY TWISTING WORDS LIKE MEAN, MEDIAN, AND EMOTE, OKAY? IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THE MEDIAN TAXPAYER IS PAYING THREE TIMES MORE UNDER A REVENUE BOND? THEY WOULD NEVER BE ISSUED, EVER, RIGHT? THAT IS JUST NOT HOW MATH WORKS.
THEN SOMEBODY HAS TO BE LEFT PAYING THREE TIMES MORE.
[09:30:03]
THE HIGHER-VALUE HOMES, BECAUSE THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES HERE, THE MEDIAN IS MUCH LOWER, BUT THERE ARE VERY HIGH-VALUE HOMES IN REAL ESTATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE FROM THE OPTION ONE BIFURCATED, THE AVERAGE HOMESTEADED PROPERTY WOULD BE ABOUT $900 IN THE YEAR 2035 OR A CONDO.
AROUND $631, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FULL GEO BOND, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE ALMOST $800.
HOW ABOUT SOMEBODY, AND I GET YOU DON'T HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF YOU, SOMEBODY LIVING IN A $750,000 CONDO, ARE THEY PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE? THAT ANALYSIS WOULD BE MORE VALUABLE TO ME.
YEAH, WELL, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY NOW IS ABOUT $915,000.
WHAT ARE THE SCENARIOS FOR THOSE PEOPLE? SO THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WOULD BE THE $800 PER YEAR ON THE FULL GO BOND.
AND THEN HOW ABOUT FOR THE HYBRID? AND THEN ON THE HYBRID, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE $980 OR $686 IF I USE THE 70% RULE ON A CONDO.
AGAIN, THE AVERAGES ARE MISLEADING BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A DISPARITY IN THE CITY OF SUPER WEALTHY HOMES AND VERY INEXPENSIVE HOMES.
IN FACT, THE MEDIAN IS DOESN'T THAT MEAN THE AVERAGE IS CORRECT IF THERE'S EXTREMES ON BOTH ENDS? NO, THAT'S NOT A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF THE TAX BASE BECAUSE THE MEDIAN IS ACTUALLY THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE PORTFOLIOS.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MEDIAN.
I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE FINANCE FOR ALL OF THIS ONE.
NO, I'M JUST SAYING 50% OF ALL PORTFOLIOS.
LET'S REWRITE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE RIGHT HERE.
LET'S CALL FOR A VOTE AND LET'S DO IT.
LISTEN, YOU DO THIS FOR A LIVING.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN CONTEMPLATED IF HOMESTEAD TAXES ARE EXEMPTED.
IT'S EVEN MORE, IT'S STILL MORE EVEN ON AN AVERAGE BASIS.
OKAY, BUT PAYING, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING FEWER DOLLARS OVER THE LONG RUN DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GETTING THE BEST VALUE.
WE HAVE OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CFO, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND A FINANCE BRO WHO DOES THIS FOR A LIVING, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO FINANCE BROS.
I JUST WANT THE MATH TO WORK, RIGHT? I DON'T CARE.
I'M PAST THE, HOLD ON, I'M PAST THE ARGUMENT ABOUT WHAT'S BETTER FOR THE SYSTEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT THE MATH TO WORK, AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE ACCURATELY REPRESENTING IF WE JUST STICK WITH THE MEDIAN.
BECAUSE, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT WORKS FOR PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES ARE VALUED AT $300,000, OKAY? I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES ARE $20 MILLION.
THEY PAY MORE, THEY PAY MORE, RIGHT? BUT HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE MAKING, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONDO DWELLERS VALUE $750,000, A MILLION DOLLARS.
OKAY, THAT IS THE AVERAGE, THAT'S THE RANGE, I GUESS.
I SHOULD SAY, THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT.
FROM $300,000 TO $2 MILLION, WHO GETS STUCK HOLDING THE BAG THERE? YEAH, I THINK AS YOU WERE POINTING, AS YOU SLIDE UP THAT SCALE FROM $300,000 AND YOU START GOING UP, THERE'S A REFLECTION POINT WHERE IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE TO THAT.
SO THE MORE EXPENSIVE YOUR HOME, THE MORE LIKELY THAT CROSSOVER.
AND THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX WOULD BE ASSUMED IN 2035 TO BE ABOUT $800.
ON THE FULL GEO BOND, BUT FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL, IT WOULD BE ESTIMATED AROUND 980.
BUT AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE DEALING ABOUT WATER USAGE.
IF YOU HAVE THIS 70% RULE PER THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, THAT WOULD BE AROUND $690.
SO ACTUALLY, IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR AN AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CONDO.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAS PISSED ME OFF ABOUT THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE.
WE CAN DISAGREE ABOUT HOW TO MEASURE EQUITABLENESS, RIGHT? THOSE ARE FAIR PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS, BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT WE'RE JUST BASING IT ON ONE STATIC HOME MAKING 300, THAT'S VALUED AT $300,000.
YOU GUYS JUST SAID IF YOUR HOME IS VALUED AT AN AVERAGE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY BETTER OFF UNDER THIS OTHER HYBRID MODEL, OKAY? SO THAT'S FINE.
THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE, RIGHT? BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT IT'S JUST BEING PORTRAYED.
NOPE, GO WITH THIS MODEL OR ELSE.
YOU'RE PAYING THREE TIMES AS MUCH, AND THAT'S HOW IT'S BEING PAINTED AND SKEWED FAIRLY OR UNFAIRLY.
AT LEAST NOW WITH THESE TYPES OF THINGS, WE CAN MAKE MORE
[09:35:02]
WELL-ROUNDED DECISIONS.WE CAN SAY, OKAY, IS IT WORTH PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES ARE $300,000, BUT THEN THE PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES ARE WORTH $700,000, WHICH IS NOT RICH IN THIS CITY, IS NOT RICH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING MORE.
FAIR AND INTELLECTUALLY HONEST ARGUMENT, WHAT WE WERE HAVING BEFORE IS NOT.
WE CAN HAVE PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES ON WHAT IS EQUITABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE THE MATH MAPPING.
AND THAT IS NOW AT LEAST WE'RE AT A LITTLE BETTER POSITION THERE.
SO THE REASON WHY I LIKE USING A MEDIAN IS BECAUSE 50% OF ALL HOMES IN MIAMI BEACH $305,000 OR LESS.
SO HALF OF ALL OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR VALUES AT $305,000 OR LESS, AUTOMATICALLY, 50%.
THE REASON WHY I THINK THE AVERAGE IS NOT A GOOD REPRESENTATION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, NORTH BAY ROAD, SUNSET ISLANDS, VENETIANS, THEIR HOMES ARE SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN...
$305,000, THAT IT BRINGS THAT AVERAGE TO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF MOST TAXABLE PROPERTIES IN MIAMI BEACH.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, YOU AND I HAVE SPONSORED AN ITEM TO DO A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
THAT ITEM DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT.
LIKE, I WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST.
I DON'T HAVE SOME PHILOSOPHICAL.
I DO HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW TO BEST FUND THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
I'VE MADE THAT KNOWN, BUT I AM WILLING TO GET OVER THAT HUMP.
BUT LET ME FINISH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE JUST OBSERVING.
AND IT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOY THESE TOPICS.
CAN WE AT LEAST DO A STRAW VOTE TO SEE IF WE HAVE THIS ITEM ON THE TABLE? BECAUSE WHY ARE WE GOING TO DEBATE SOMETHING TO DEATH IF WE CAN'T GET TO FOUR VOTES? AND SO I'D LIKE TO REQUEST ON WHETHER THE GEO BOND, ON WHETHER THE GEO BOND PUTTING THE ENTIRE...
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER WITHIN THE GEO BOND TO THE VOTERS.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS, THEN WE COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND THEN WE MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY WE HAVE FOUR VOTES FOR THAT.
IF NOT, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FOUR VOTES, THEN IT NARROWS OUR OPTIONS.
I AM NOT GOING TO LEAVE INFRASTRUCTURE UNFUNDED IN OUR CITY BECAUSE TO ME THAT WOULD BE A DERELICT OF MY DUTIES.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE.
DO WE HAVE FOUR VOTES FOR THIS BEFORE WE CONTINUE? I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DON'T.
AND ACTUALLY, THERE'S A MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION TO BIFURCATE IT.
AND SO THAT'S AN EMOTION IN A SECOND.
SO AND I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE VOTES.
MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST FOLLOW THE LAST JUST TO BRING IT HOME FOR COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
AND I ALL I DID WAS AI HOW TO EXPLAIN HOW AVERAGE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN MEDIAN.
PLEASE DON'T INSULT ME LIKE THAT.
I'LL GIVE A QUICK, THERE'S ONLY SIX PROPERTIES ON HERE.
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I MISUNDERSTOOD.
I DID NOT MISUNDERSTAND HOW TO CALCULATE THAT.
WHAT I WAS NOT AGREEING WITH WAS HAVING TO PULL TEETH ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER IMPACTS WOULD BE IF WE'RE NOT JUST DOING A MEDIAN, RIGHT? I WANTED MULTIPLE COMPARISONS, WHICH WE'VE GOTTEN IN PART.
IF WE WOULD VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEOBOND TODAY, RIGHT, DO WE LOCK IN, LOCK IN THE NUMBER AND ALL OF THE PROJECTS? OR COULD WE VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND AT NEXT MEETING WE'D BE ABLE TO SIT HERE AND COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT GEOBOND THAT WE VOTED ON.
HOWEVER, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BODY, THERE COULD BE TWO OR THREE PROJECTS THAT WE ACTUALLY CARVE OUT.
AND IF THAT FAILS, THEN THOSE AUTOMATICALLY GO TO A GEOBOT.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING, BUT AT LEAST WE PASSED THE INFRASTRUCTURE PART HERE, RIGHT? AND THEN NEXT MEETING, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BODY.
TALK TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND CFO MORE IF THERE
[09:40:01]
ARE ONE OR TWO PROJECTS THAT WE PULL OUT FOR REVENUE BONDS, JUST SO WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD REGARDLESS OF HOW THE NOVEMBER VOTE IS.WELL, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE COMMISSION COULD GIVE DIRECTION TO COME BACK WITH A BALLOT QUESTION FOR A GEOBOND, AND WE COULD JUST LEAVE A BLANK SPACE FOR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
WE WOULD NEED TO AT LEAST INCLUDE WHAT...
PROJECTS ARE GOING TO INCLUDE OR IN GENERALITY.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO STORMWATER, WATER AND SEWER, I GUESS WE CAN INCLUDE ALL THREE.
AND THEN YOU COULD ALSO NARROW DOWN THE QUESTION WHEN IT'S PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE JULY MEETING.
I JUST SENSE THAT IF I MAY, I SENSE WE MIGHT HAVE THREE VOTES FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH, BUT I'VE BEEN LISTENING.
COMMISSIONER SUAREZ AND MYSELF, THAT WE SPONSORED THE ITEM.
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE SEEMS TO BE INCLINED.
I THINK COMMISSIONER BOTT HAS HER STRONG ARGUMENTS AND HER STRONG POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE VALID.
COMMISSIONER MATEL SALINAS, COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR DOMINGUEZ HAVE EXPRESSED ALSO VERY VALID POINTS.
I THINK THE MAYOR JUST EXPRESSED HE DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
FOR A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
FOUR? IT SEEMS TO ME WE ONLY HAVE THREE VOTES FOR A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST MORE PRODUCTIVE TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN, UNLESS I MISUNDERSTOOD.
NO, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY.
MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, MAYBE I CAN MOVE YOU.
JUST BETWEEN, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE HAVE, LET ME FINISH, PLEASE.
HOW TO ACTUALLY MEASURE WHAT IS AFFORDABLE, RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO PUT THIS OUT THERE.
IF THERE'S SIX PROPERTIES, ONE'S WORTH $200,000, ONE'S WORTH $210,000, ONE'S WORTH $220,000, ONE'S WORTH $230,000, AND THE OTHER ONE'S WORTH $1.5 MILLION, THE AVERAGE IS $472,000, AND THE MEDIAN IS $220,000.
THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS A BETTER REPRESENTATION OF THE ACTUAL PERSON IN MIAMI BEACH.
WHEN YOU DO IT AS AN AVERAGE, YOU'RE DOING IT BASED ON THE PROPERTY.
WHEN YOU DO IT ON THE MEDIAN, YOU'RE DOING IT BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
REGARDLESS, WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES.
I THINK THE MAYOR CAN BE MOVED ON THIS.
I THINK THE MAYOR HAS JUST MADE IT VERY CLEAR, COMMISSIONER SWARTZ.
I'LL PUT A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT WILL TAKE PRESIDENTS TO DEFER.
I WANT TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO PREPARE LANGUAGE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO VOTE TO ISSUE SOME FORM OF GENERAL BOND NEXT MEETING.
IT JUST DEPENDS IF IT'S THE ENTIRETY OR A SUBSET OF THAT.
AND MY SUGGESTION IS WE DEDICATE 11 A.M.
IF WE HAVE TO SIT HERE THE ENTIRETY THROUGH LUNCH, THEN WE DO SO.
AND I THINK I'VE, YEAH, I NEED MORE TIME TO REALLY DECIDE, IS A HYBRID MODEL WORTH IT, OR DO WE GO ENTIRETY OF A GEOBOND? I NEED TO SIT IN A MORE CONDUCIVE FORM AND TALK TO YOU GUYS REAL, REAL NUMBERS.
WHO IS LEFT HOLDING THE BAG? WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF SOME THINGS? LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT HELD BENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON THIS.
AND I'M NOT KICKING THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD JUST TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
I'M DOING IT SO WE CAN HAVE AS THOUGHTFUL OF A CONVERSATION AS POSSIBLE.
AND IF I COULD JUST THROW IN WHAT MY POSITION IS, YOU KNOW, SEEING THAT AT LEAST TODAY WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO DO AN ENTIRE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
SELECTING WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS, SELECTING A HANDFUL OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND GIVE PREFERENCE TO CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FUND CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS IMMEDIATELY THROUGH A REVENUE BOND, AND THEN LEAVE THE BALANCE, WHILE I SEE THE BENEFITS TO THAT, IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT.
THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT.
THAT GIVES ME PAUSE AND CONCERN.
I WANT STAFF, I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT INFORMATION.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THEN IF WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION.
BOND THAT THEN WE PERHAPS CONSIDER WHAT COMMISSIONER MATEL SALINAS HAD HAD PROPOSED WHERE WE'RE NOT SELECTING ONE
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NEIGHBORHOOD OVER OVER THE OTHER BUT YOU'RE UM PUTTING STORM WATER IN A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND THEN AND THEN IF WE HAVE TO DO A A NOMINAL RATE INCREASE WELL THEN WE HAVE TO DO A MORE NOMINAL RATE INCREASE BUT IT'S UNIFORMITY IT'S PARITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY AND EQUALLY.ISN'T THAT WHAT OPTION IS? IS WE ARE BIFURCATING THIS? YEAH.
WE HAVE AN OPTION ON THE TABLE.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
WE HAVE A SECOND FOR OPTION ONE.
I MEAN CALL THE VOTE I WOULD SAY.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND THAT MOTION TO DEFER TAKES PRECEDENCE.
COMMISSIONER MAGISMINE HAS MADE THAT MOTION.
AND I'LL SECOND IT WITH THE CAVEAT, 11 O'CLOCK, UNTIL WE VOTE ON IT.
BECAUSE NEXT MONTH IS THE DEADLINE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO KICK THIS CAN PAST THE DEADLINE.
WHY I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE TONIGHT, I CAN'T ALLOW THERE TO BE THIS AMBIGUITY WHERE THE MESSAGE SENT OUT IS.
WELL, IF YOU GO THROUGH THIS MODEL THAT COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS SUGGESTED, WELL, NOW, NANCY, TAXPAYER, THAT'S THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AS IF WE WENT THIS METHOD.
WE NEED TO REALLY IRON THESE NUMBERS OUT.
WHAT I WANT, I GUESS, MR. MAYOR, THE PUBLIC TO REALIZE IS THAT WE HAD AN OPTION BEFORE US, I GUESS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, TO DO A SIGNIFICANT RATE INCREASE.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER AS THE COMMISSION TO SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, AND FORCED THERE TO BE OPTIONS.
AND THAT'S A GREAT, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE RIGHT NOW TO ME A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S A GREAT POSITION BECAUSE THOSE OPTIONS, WE KNOW AT THE VERY LEAST, I THINK IN THE WORST OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD SAVE.
OUR RESIDENTS 30% FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE TABLE? 35%.
SO WE MIGHT BE SAVING OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCENARIO IN THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY, 35% OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY BEING PROPOSED.
AND THAT PUTS US TODAY IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WHERE THIS CITY COMMISSION WAS AT.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND IT PUTS OUR TAXPAYERS IN A BETTER POSITION.
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU FEEL THIS ISN'T FULLY BAKED TO VOTE ON TODAY, I WILL SUPPORT YOUR MOTION TO DEFER THIS.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST EVERYONE TO BE CLEAR THAT ABSENT HAVING THE VOTES TO DO THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, I'M NOT GOING TO SELECT NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU KNOW, WE I WOULD JUST GO WITH WITH WITH THE MORE FAIR OPTION I BELIEVE THAN THE SECOND MOST FAIR OPTION WHICH IS WHAT COMMISSIONER MATILDA SALINAS HAS ON THE TABLE YEAH AND GENTLEMEN I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY WHAT YOU HAD WASN'T FULLY BAKED RIGHT IT'S ME TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THINGS UH MOVING PIECES NOT KNOWING SOME OF THE INFORMATION MY COLLEAGUES WOULD HAVE PUT FORWARD SO NOTHING TO TO DO WITH WHAT YOU HAD OR HAD NOT READY.
IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOU IN THIS PAST TWO WEEKS TO GO OVER THIS PERSONALLY.
SO TAKE IT AS ME NEEDING TIME TO REALLY COMPREHENSIVELY GET MY HEAD AROUND THIS.
NOTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE PREPARED.
SO NOBODY WANTS TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS.
THAT'S A LOSING PROPOSITION FOR THE RESIDENTS, FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OPTION ONE.
SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT DO THAT.
IT COMPLETELY BIFURCATES THE TYPES OF PROJECTS, AND IT'S VERY CLEAN.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A MOTION ON THE DAIS TO DEFER, AND THAT TAKES PRECEDENCE.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOBODY'S CHOOSING WHICH PROJECT GETS PRECEDENCE OVER SOMETHING ELSE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, I WILL DEFER TO YOU, JOE, OF COURSE, TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS SUCH RESISTANCE.
TO OPTION ONE, WHICH REALLY FEELS LIKE IT IS THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY TO PROCEED FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT JUST LAST WEEK OR EARLIER THIS WEEK, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER ANYMORE, THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE HAD RESIDENTS WHO ARE REPLACING THEIR FLOORS EVERY YEAR OR
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REPLACING A CAR OR TWO EVERY YEAR, AND THEIR INSURANCE COSTS ARE GOING UP.I MEAN, THIS IS NOT SOME ABSTRACT CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING.
WE HAD A TRUCK FALL INTO A SINKHOLE.
BY HEARING IT NEXT MONTH DOESN'T MAKE IT GO TO THE BOND MARKET ANY SOONER.
NO, NO, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT.
I WANT EVERYBODY WHO MAY BE LISTENING TO THIS TODAY OR DOWN THE ROAD TO UNDERSTAND HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS AND HOW SERIOUSLY THIS IS BEING TAKEN.
I DO AGREE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO MORE OPTIONS THAN WE HAD BEFORE.
I REALLY STILL WISH THE MORATORIUM WOULD BE LIFTED BECAUSE THAT WAS THE GOAL OF HAVING THE MORATORIUM.
IT PUTS IT AT A 5-7TH HURDLE INSTEAD OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
I'M CONTINUING TO HOPE THAT SOMEBODY WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES ON THAT.
NOBODY'S LISTENING BESIDES US.
I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE WE'VE SPENT ALMOST TWO HOURS ON THIS, BUT THIS IS...
WE MOVE THE NEEDLE BIG TIME, AT LEAST I FEEL, ALL OF US, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO HAMMER THIS OUT.
EVERYONE'S GOING TO MEET, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE NEXT MEETING.
I THINK WE KNOW WHERE THIS IS HEADING.
I HAVE A PREDICTION WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DEFER, BUT LET'S ALSO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES WITH THAT.
ALL IN AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE MEETING? DO WE ALSO WANT TO INSTRUCT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO AT LEAST COME UP WITH DRAFT OPTIONS? YES.
VALID LANGUAGES, MORE THAN ONE OR ONLY ONE VALID LANGUAGE? I THINK WE DO ONE AND WE CAN MODIFY IT.
IF I MAY, I THINK YOU MAY WANT TO DO TWO.
I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TWO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING.
IT WOULD BE ONE WITH A BLANK AND WE CAN ALWAYS REMOVE WHAT IS COVERED OR NOT COVERED.
OKAY, SO WE MOVED TO AND AGREED TO EXTEND THE MEETING AND MOTION TO DEFER.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, SECONDED BY MAYOR MINER.
ALL IN FAVOR OF DEFERRING THE ITEM AND BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK AT 11 O'CLOCK, I'M CERTAIN, ON JULY.
ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE ITEM IS DEFERRED.
JUST FOR MY, I'M PUTTING BACK R7AH AND.
HAPPY JULY 4TH UPCOMING FOR EVERYONE.
MR. MAYOR, WHAT ITEM WAS THE FULL GEOBUND? SO THAT SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF WHAT YOU CALL...
YEAH, I'M BRINGING BACK AH AND R9AH.
HAPPY AMERICA 250, AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE.
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.