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HELLO ALL.WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER, 2026 FINANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, WE'LL TRY AND GET THROUGH SOME THINGS TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT BUDGET MEETING, UH, LATER THIS EVENING, UM, THAT WE'LL CLOSE OUT OUR, UH, ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT WILL BE THE KIND OF STAR OF THE DAY.
UM, SO MAYBE WE CAN GET THROUGH SOME THINGS HERE TODAY.
UH, PROBABLY WON'T GO TOO LONG, JUST GIVEN THAT, UH, WE HAVE THE LATER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL MEETING TODAY.
BUT LET'S GET THROUGH SOME THINGS.
I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CFO, UH, TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO KICK US OFF.
AND THEN, UH, I SEE SOME RESIDENTS HERE, UH, SO WE'LL, WE WILL GET TO SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR.
TODAY'S MEETING OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN HYBRID FORMAT WITH A QUORUM OF THE COMMITTEE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND REMAINING MEMBERS, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPEARING EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S MEETING, VIRTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL 1-888-475-FOUR 4 9 9, AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2 POUND, OR LOG INTO THE ZOOM APP AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH AGAIN IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2.
ANY INDIVIDUAL WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, MUST CLICK THE RAISE HAND ICON IF YOU USING THE ZOOM APP OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE.
WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[OB 1. DISCUSS POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO TROLLEY ADVERTISING REVENUE AND CONSIDER ISSUANCE OF AN RFP FOR ADVERTISING SERVICES.]
IS WITHDRAWN, MB 10[NB 10. DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF REPLACING THE PLANNED 5TH STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WITH AN OVER WATER CONNECTION LINKING THE BAYWALK SOUTH OF 5TH STREET WITH THE BAYWALK NORTH OF 5TH STREET]
IS DEFERRED, AND OB THREE HAS A 10:00 AM UH, TIME CERTAIN.AND I BELIEVE CHAIR, THE FIRST ITEM WE WANTED TO HAVE WAS MB EIGHT, CORRECT? YEP.
I SEE SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
LET'S GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY.
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO, UH, OB THREE AND MB FIVE.
UH, THAT'LL BE HEARD TOGETHER.
[NB 8. DISCUSS POTENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL GOODWILL SOUTH FLORIDA DONATION TRAILERS.]
IN MB EIGHT THAT DISCUSSED POTENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL GOODWILL, SOUTH FLORIDA DONATION TRAILERS, MB EIGHT, AND I BELIEVE THIS, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.I HAD THE HONOR OF, UH, GOING OUT THERE AND SEEING IT IN PERSON, AND I HEAR, UH, I, I WAS, UH, TARDY FROM YOUR VISIT.
UH, YOU GOT OUT THERE AND, UH, SO, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO INTRODUCE.
AND THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I'M SO HAPPY TO BE SPONSORING TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF, OF OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, COMMISSIONER MATTEL SALINAS, COMMISSIONER TANYA BOND, AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE GOODWILL FACILITY LIKE YOURSELF, MR. CHAIRMAN HAVE SEEN THE INCREDIBLE, THE INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, THAT THEY DO NOT ONLY, UH, TRAINING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING, UH, PEOPLE OF, OF NEED THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO IDENTIFYING LOCATION WITHIN OUR MUNICIPAL LOTS WHERE WE COULD HAVE TRAILERS FOR DONATIONS, UH, IN BENEFIT OF GOODWILL AND THEIR, AND THEIR MISSION.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH OUR PARKING DEPARTMENT ON IDENTIFYING SOME POTENTIAL LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE CENTRALLY LOCATED IN OUR CITY.
AND I THINK IT'S A, IT'S AN EASY WAY, IT'S AN EASY WAY FOR OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO GIVE BACK IN AN INKIND MANNER TO A TREMENDOUS CAUSE THAT'S HELPING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, MR. CHER, ALLOW ME, I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARKING DIRECTOR, MR. WILLIAM MCDONALD.
UH, GOOD MORNING, WILL MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PARKING.
UH, SO WE'VE, UH, WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, WE'VE IDENTIFIED TWO LOTS.
UH, WE LEFT THE VERBIAGE SLIGHTLY VAGUE IN HERE.
IF THERE'S EVER A NEED TO RELOCATE, UH, WE CAN IDENTIFY THESE, THE TWO LOTS IN QUESTION ARE GOING TO BE P 63, UH, MORE WIDELY KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THE LOT ON 42ND, AND IN BETWEEN PRAIRIE AND ROYAL PALM, AS WELL AS P FIVE, WHICH IS ON THE CORNER OF ALTON AND FOURTH STREET.
SO THESE ARE TWO LOCATIONS, VERY CENTRALIZED WITHIN SOUTH BEACH AS WELL AS, UH, MID BEACH, UH, THAT CAN PROVIDE EASY ACCESS IN AND OUT FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND WE THINK THEY'RE GREAT LOCATIONS FOR THE CITY.
AND MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU, IF, IF YOU ALLOW ME JUST TO FOLLOW UP, UH, WILL, WE'RE GOING, THIS IS NOT JUST ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE A PERMANENT TRAILER THERE FOR DONATIONS, BUT THEY ALSO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THE USE OF THESE SITES, CORRECT? YES, THERE IS A PAYMENT INVOLVED WITH THIS.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO TRY TO WALK THAT FINE LINE OF, OF, OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS TO THE COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT WE CAN GIVE SPACE, UH, WHERE IT BENEFITS BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION, UM, WHILE AT THE MAIN TIME ENSURING THAT WE, UH, UH, UH, FOLLOW SUIT WITH ALL OF OUR BOND REQUIREMENTS AND, AND FOR THE UTILITIES, UH, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ELECTRICITY THAT'S INVOLVED.
HOW IS THAT BEING HANDLED? UH, SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS, IS THAT WILL GENERALLY GO THROUGH OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR ANY PERMITS THAT ARE BEING PULLED, BUT
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AS THE, AS THE LOT OWNERS, THE PARKING DEPARTMENT, UM, WE'LL KIND OF POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND LEAD THE WAY TO ENSURE THAT THEY FIND THE PROPER HOOKUPS.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO VERY COMMONLY WITH TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS AND VENDORS THAT ARE INSIDE OUR LOT ANYWAY.
SO IT'LL BE A VERY EASY LIFT FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, OUR FORMER MAYOR, UH, MAYOR DAN GELBER, A TREMENDOUS GENTLEMAN.
UH, HE WOULD ALWAYS CAUTION ABOUT SPEAKING WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY WON.
UH, BUT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, THE, THE NEIGHBOR THAT HAS, UH, JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AND EXCUSE THE UPON GOODWILL THAT GOES INTO THIS, HAPPY TO SAY THINGS, BUT BY NO MEANS NECESSARY.
I, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF SUPPORT HERE.
AND NO, THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT AND NO COMMENTARY NECESSARY.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THEN, UH, DOES SOMEBODY WANNA MAKE A MOTION? I THINK IF, IF I MAY, I THINK HEARING IT WOULD BE TO RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION AND NEGOTIATE AN EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, UH, FOR ADDITIONAL GOODWILL, UH, DONATION, UH, CENTERS AS PRESENTED.
WE'LL SHOW COMMISSIONER MONICA SALINAS AND ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[OB 3. DISCUSS A PROPOSED NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION AND VISITORS' BUREAU FOR DESTINATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES]
NEXT ITEM WILL BE THE TIME CERTAIN OB THREE DISCUSS A PROPOSED NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR DESTINATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES, OB THREE, MAYOR STEVEN.UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, COMMISSION, UH, CERTAINLY THIS IS FOR, THIS FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE, UH, GREATER MISSOURI CONVENTION, I MEAN, GREATER, GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.
SO, UH, FOR EVERYONE'S, UH, EDIFICATION, THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE G-M-C-B-B, UH, FOR ALMOST 40, WELL OVER 40 YEARS.
UM, AND SO THIS HAS ALWAYS CONTINUED TO ELEVATE MIAMI BEACH AS A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION.
UH, G-M-C-B-B REMAINS THE ONLY REGIONAL DMO, UH, WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, GLOBAL NETWORKS AND DATA CAPABILITIES TO MARKET GREATER MIAMI, INCLUDING GREATER, UH, MIAMI BEACH AT SCALE.
SO THIS AGREEMENT CONTINUES THAT PARTNERSHIP TO DRIVE TOURISM, HOTEL OCCUPANCY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND RESORT TAX REVENUE.
SO THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, UH, AS AS IT STANDS, THAT FUNDING MODEL IS A FLAT 10% OF, UH, 2% RESORT TAX, PLUS A $2 MILLION INCENTIVE.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S, IT'S A BIT OUTDATED AND, AND NOT RESPONSIVE TO ALL ECONOMIC, UH, FLUCTUATIONS.
UM, AS WE KNOW, TOURISM CAN BE CYCLICAL.
AND SO THE NEW PROPOSED CONTRACT, UH, UPDATES WITH THE FIVE YEAR TERM, UM, FROM OF COURSE, THIS YEAR TO 2031.
AND THEN IT'S A SLIDING SCALE COMPENSATION MODEL.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT FROM EIGHT TO 15% BASED ON ACTUAL MONTHLY 2% RESORT TAX RECEIPTS.
AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THE HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE, THE HIGHER THE, THE INCOME, UM, THE LOWER THE RECEIPTS, THE LOWER THE PERCENTAGE, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT FOLKS WILL RECEIVE.
THERE'S A MONTHLY PERFORMANCE TRACKING, SO PAYMENTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED EACH MONTH, UH, BASED ON VERIFIED TAX COLLECTIONS AND THE REDUCED, UH, MAXIMUM INCENTIVE, WHICH, UM, I BELIEVE THE, UM, OUR, OUR FRIENDS AT THE G-M-C-B-B ARE CERTAINLY AMENABLE TO, UM, THE ANNUAL CENT REDUCED FROM 2 MILLION TO 1 MILLION AS WE'VE GIVEN CONSIDERATION, UH, FROM THE COMMISSION, UH, DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TIGHTENING, TIGHTENING BELTS ACROSS THE BOARD, UM, FROM ALL PARTNERS.
AND SO REDUCING THE ANNUAL INCENTIVE FROM 2 MILLION TO 1 MILLION, UM, ALSO ALSO HELPS IN, IN, IN THAT REGARD.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE, THE MAIN, THE MAIN POINTS, UM, REALLY IN THE, IN THE NEW, THE NEW AGREEMENT, AND CERTAINLY OPEN TO, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM, FROM THE COMMITTEE.
ANYBODY UP HERE IN TERMS OF THE SODEXO AGREEMENT, UH, DO WE WANT TO HEAR THESE TOGETHER? UH, MR. CFO OR, I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT VENDORS, SO THE, THEY'RE THE SAME IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENT, DIFFERENT VENDORS, SO I THINK WE DO ONE AT A TIME.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, OF COURSE.
AND I MIGHT BE OPENING A CAN OF WORMS THAT I DO NOT INTEND TO OPEN BECAUSE I, I REALLY LIKE THE G-M-C-V-B-A LOT, BUT THE G-M-C-V-B IS AN ENTITY THAT, THAT IS THE RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
UH, AND SO, AND SO, I, I WILL TELL YOU, UM, DURING THE WHOLE FIFA EVENTS, I REALLY DID NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE USE OF G-M-C-V-B RESOURCES TO ISSUE A NUMBER OF TICKETS TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES THAT I, I DID NOT LIKE.
WE ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE G-M-C-V-B AND I EXPECT THE G-M-C-V-B, UH, TO MAINTAIN A GOOD, STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER.
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MOVING FORWARD, I REALLY, I, I DON'T LIKE TO SEE THOSE HEADLINES BECAUSE THEN IT PUTS A QUESTION ON US.OUR CONSTITUENTS ASK US, OUR TAXPAYERS ASK US, WELL, WHY ARE, WHY ARE OUR DOLLARS BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE THAT? AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I I, I DON'T LIKE THOSE HEADLINES.
AND I JUST MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU COULD ALL JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP.
SO MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN DONE TO TOGETHER.
UM, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, IF I MAY.
I, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTION WAS PROBABLY MADE TO RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE NEW DESTINATION MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE G-M-C-V-B AS PRESENTED.
UM, WHO ARE WE MAKING THAT MOTION? I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ MADE THE, AND THE SECOND, AYE.
AND FOR THIS SODEXO ITEM, IS THERE ANYBODY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT'S HERE OR WANTED THE CHIME IN? I KNOW THEY'D WORKED CLOSELY WITH THIS OR DOES NOT APPEAR.
STEVE, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT, UH, KIND OF COORDINATION LIES? ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THAT? AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SEDEXO.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I THINK THE, THAT'S WHY THE, THE, WAS THE RELEASE OF THE REFERRAL.
I THINK THE REFERRAL WAS HELD UP.
SO I THINK THAT MUST HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
BUT I'LL, I'LL CALL THE ITEM SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
[NB 5. DISCUSS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND SERVICE AMERICA CORPORATION D/B/A SODEXO LIVE! (“SODEXO”) FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AND CLUBHOUSE BUILDINGS.]
DISCUSS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND SERVICE AMERICA CORPORATION, DBA SODEXO LIVE, OR SODEXO FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AND CLUBHOUSE BUILDINGS, AND B FIVE.SODEXO IS, AGAIN, THAT'S A CONSIDERATION OF THE, THE NEW FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH SODEXO LIFE.
AGAIN, THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE, UM, MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH, WHICH HAS CERTAINLY, UM, BEEN A, BEEN A BOOM FOR, FOR OUR CONVENTION CENTER.
AND THE, THE JOB THAT SODEXO HAS DONE THIS DURING THIS TIME, UM, THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING CON UH, CONTINUITY ACROSS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AVOIDING TRANSITION CAUSE STAFF TURN, WE'RE RETRAINING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD COME ALONG, UM, WITH, WITH THE TRANSITION OF OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATOR THERE.
UM, SO SOME KEY POINTS TO JUST POINT OUT WITH, UH, WITH THE PROPOSED TERMS, UM, THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT, IF SODEXO ACTUALLY COMMITS A LITTLE BIT OVER 3 MILLION, SO 3,005,000 INSTEAD OF THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE OF THE TWO, THE 2.8.
UM, SO THAT'S 3 MILLION, UH, 5,000 TOWARDS FOOD SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE NBCC AND THE CLUBHOUSE BUILDINGS.
UM, AGAIN, THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH SODEXO TO MAINTAIN THEIR MANAGEMENT FEE OF 4% OF GROSS RECEIPTS, BUT OUR SHARE OF THE NET OPERATING PROFITS WILL NOW INCREASE FROM 83% TO 88%.
UM, AND THEN THE THERE, OF COURSE, THE FIVE YEAR TERM, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE PUBLIC BENEFITS AREA THAT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, UM, AS WELL, UH, THERE'S A CONTRIBUTION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT WAS SET HERE TO BE ANNUAL, UM, TO BE DONE A ONE TIME, FIRST TIME ANNUALLY.
UM, NOW THAT AMOUNT IS GONNA BE 50,000 EVERY YEAR OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S AN, UH, A PLUS THERE.
AND SO ALSO, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S, AND YOU MENTIONED OF COURSE, UH, THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT HOSTING, UH, QUALIFIED 5 0 1 C3 AND CHARITABLE EVENTS AT COST.
SO THE, THE, THE PREMIUM THAT'S BEEN PLACED FUNDED, SO THE HOSTING THOSE EVENTS AT COST, UM, WAIVING PER GUEST FEES FOR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS USING A CULTURE CATERER OF THEIR CHOICE, SUBJECT TO NM BCC POLICIES, UM, ALLOWING CHARITABLE, UH, CLIENTS TO BRING OUTSIDE SNACKS AND DONATED FOODS WITH LIABILITY WAIVER COMPLIANCE AND CITY REQUIREMENTS, UH, AS WELL AS PROVIDING 20% DISCOUNT ON HOSPITALITY SERVICES FOR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS, UM, FUND DEVELOPMENT OF A KOSHER KITCHEN AND A TASTING ROOM AT THE NBCC.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I POINTED OUT THOSE SPECIFIC, UH, POINTS, BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE WERE THINGS THAT CAME UP AS, AS POINTS OF OF CONCERN AND SO FORTH.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE, FROM THE COMMITTEE.
JOE, I FIGURED YOU DIDN'T JUST MOVE FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE SEAT.
UH, JOSEPH SANTO, INSPECTOR GENERAL, I, I DON'T HAVE A COMMENT REALLY DIRECTED TO WHAT, WHETHER THE, UM, THE, THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE EXTENDED ONLY THOUGH TO, TO COMMENT THAT WE HAVE AN ONGOING AUDIT ON, ON SODEXO, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.
AND, AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WE'VE FOUND WITH IT.
I, I, THE, THE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF THEM.
UH, I THINK, UH, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, IS AWARE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MR. GREEN ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, I, BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS MADE AS TO THE, THE, THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, THERE'S DEFINITELY GONNA BE SOME, AND AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
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OUR TIMING, DEPENDS ON THE, THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION WE GET FROM THE, FROM THE CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE US WITH THE DOCUMENTATION WE NEED.BUT THERE WILL DEF DEFINITELY BE, UM, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT ITSELF AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO PROTECT THE CITY'S INTEREST.
SO I WANNA BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION, UH, OF THE, UH, OF THE COMMITTEE.
AND I WOULD JUST CERTAINLY, I, I THINK NO FINAL DECISION SHOULD BE MADE IN THIS UNTIL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT INFORMATION.
AND JOE, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE GENERAL TIMING OF THAT TO BE? SHOULD WE, MAYBE I'LL LOOK FOR TO YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.
SHOULD WE KEEP THIS HEARING COMMITTEE, CAN WE MOVE THIS ONTO THE FULL COMMISSION, UH, WITH FINAL APPROVAL KIND OF CONTINGENT ON HEARING FROM YOU? WELL, EITHER WAY IS, IS OKAY.
I, I, I, AS I SAID, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE QUESTION OF CONTINUING THE CONTRACT.
I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME TERMS THAT COULD VERY WELL BE AFFECTED AND THE ADMINISTRATION MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IN NEGOTIATING WITH, UH, WITH THE CONTRACTOR ON THE, THE NEW CONTRACT.
AND, UH, YEAH, I, I WON'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THE, THE, THE, THE SUBCONTRACTING THAT GOES ON THERE AND THE EFFECT THAT COULD HAVE ON CITY REVENUES IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND I, I KNOW YOU'LL, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE HESITANT TO COME IN BEFORE WE HAVE A FULL PICTURE HERE, BUT ARE THESE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE THINGS AND NOTHING NEFARIOUS THAT SHOULD HANG OVER HEAD? I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING NEFARIOUS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT IS A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION AND THERE MAY BE SOME, SOME PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT THAT ARE NOT AS CLEAR AS THEY SHOULD BE, AND SO THEY'RE BEING INTERPRETED BY THE, THE CONTRACTOR IN A CERTAIN WAY, AND PERHAPS THE CITY MIGHT WANT TO TIGHTEN THOSE UP.
BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD PREVENT US.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANY, ANYTHING NEFARIOUS.
AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S SOLELY BEEN IN THE HANDS OF CITY STAFF NEGOTIATING THE TERMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO YOUR TEAM WILL WORK WITH, UH, JOE'S TEAM ABSOLUTELY.
UH, IN THE EVENT THAT SOME OF THESE TERMS NEED TO BE FIRMED UP.
SO I THINK WITH THAT, AND PUT YOUR HAND UP IF I'VE MISINTERPRETED, BUT IF THERE, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THIS COMMISSION, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UH, TO PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF THE FULL COMMISSION, UH, WHILE INCORPORATING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WITH STAFF, INCORPORATING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK, UH, BEFORE FINAL TERMS ARE AGREED UPON.
COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE ASKED WHEN YOU WOULD EXPECT TO THE TIMELINE TO BE JUST A ROUGH, I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING SIX MONTHS, NINE MONTHS, TWO MONTHS? IT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE NINE MONTHS.
IN FACT, I THINK THE, THE, I WOULD SAY WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE SHOULD HAVE THE, UM, THE, THE DRAFT OUT, WHICH, WHICH CASE THE, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY REALLY NEED AND CAN PROCEED, I THINK, TO ACT ON IT AT THAT POINT.
IF I CAN CHAIR, I THINK THAT, YEAH, I THINK THAT WE COULD INCORPORATE THE, ANY OIG RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, INTO THAT.
SO IF YOU WANT, I COULD TRY TO WORK ON A, A MOTION.
I, I THINK BECAUSE ALSO THIS IS A ONE THAT REQUIRES A FIVE SEVENS ON FORMAL BIDDING, SO I HAVE TO PUT THAT IN THE MOTION.
SO RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVOR.
RECOMMENDATION TO WAIVE THE FIVE SEVENS VOTE FOR THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS IS IN SECTION TWO DASH 360 7 E OF THE CITY CODE FINDING IN SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND APPROVE IN SUBSTANTIAL FORM THE PROPOSED NEW AGREEMENT WITH SODEXO AS PRESENTED AND TO INCORPORATE OIG RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WHO WOULD BE MAKING THAT MOTION? NO, UH, THE CHAIR CANNOT MAKE THE MOTION.
THIS IS JUST TO MOVE IT TO COMMISSION.
RIGHT? THIS IS JUST TO MOVE IT TO, AS THIS PROCEEDS CORRECT.
AND STEVEN, WHILE WE HAVE YOU, PERHAPS, UH, WE'LL HEAR MB 13.
[NB 13. A DISCUSSION REGARDING A SPONSORSHIP FOR EMERGE AMERICAS 2027, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $82,000]
13 A DISCUSSION REGARDING A SPONSORSHIP FOR EMER AMERICA'S 2027 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $82,000 AND B 13 THANK YOU COMMITTEE.THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS OUR, OUR SPONSORSHIP THAT WE SPONSORED FOR EMERGE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF OUR SPONSORSHIP OF UP TO 80,000, $82,000.
UM, THIS REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, THIS MAINTAINS OUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO THE, THE ECOSYSTEM TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM THAT WE BUILT HERE.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, OF COURSE, THE, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE EMERGE WAS BORN IN MIAMI BEACH.
AND SO THIS IS THE MAINTAINING THAT, UH, THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KEY COMPONENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT SPONSORSHIP.
UM, THERE ARE ACCELERATORS, STARTUP SHOWCASE, UM, THERE'S THE EMPOWER EVENT, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS JUST A JUDGE FOR, UH, LAST, LAST WEEK.
UM, THEIR FOUNDERS DAY, HAPPY HOUR, UM, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH A LOT OF THE CEOS OF THOSE,
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OF THOSE COMPANIES.UM, AND SO THERE'S ALSO THE EXPO SPACE, THE MIAMI AI SUMMIT, I MENTIONED THE, THE PITCH COMPETITION AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EVENTS WHERE WE'RE CERTAINLY, UM, IT GIVES NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HERE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO INTERACT WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THAT NEXT GROWING INDUSTRY FOR, FOR MIAMI BEACH, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ALL OF YOU TO, TO PLACE YOU, YOU ALL IN FRONT OF, IN FRONT OF THAT GROUP AS WELL.
AND SO THOSE ARE, IT COMPLETELY ALIGNS WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PRIORITIES AS WELL.
SO WE WE'RE ASKING FOR, UH, FOR A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
YEAH, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS EVENT, VERY IN LINE WITH, UH, WHERE WE WANT TO GO WITH THE CITY.
UM, THE AMOUNT OF HEADS AND BEDS THAT THEY PROVIDE, THE AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, UH, IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE.
STEVEN, THIS ISN'T SPECIFIC TO EMER.
UH, MAYBE IT'S A BROADER THEME, BUT AS, AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PERHAPS WE COULD TALK MORE ABOUT, BUT WHAT I WOULD REALLY EXPLORE IN YOUR SHOES IS THE COSTS FOR SOME OF THESE LARGE CONFERENCES, EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE GET IS WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM COMING AND ASKING FOR SPONSORSHIP.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE COSTS ARE BORN OR ARE CAUSED BY THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE EVENT FEES OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEES.
UH, WE SHOULD REALLY EVALUATE THE COSTS THAT ARE INCURRED BY SOME OF THESE LARGE EVENTS, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE NOT JUST PASSED ON, IT COMES TO US WAIVING IT.
SO WE SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKING AT THE PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE FOR POLICE FOR FIRE.
IS THAT THE RIGHT PERSONNEL, UH, EVENT PERMITTING FEES? IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SMALLER EVENTS THAT WE HAD AND, AND THE AMOUNT OF MIAMI BEACH FEES THAT WE'RE CHARGING, UH, IS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL.
AND THEN A LOT OF TIMES THEN WE'RE ASKED TO WAIVE IT.
SO WE'RE KIND OF INCURRING THESE COSTS, AND THEN THEY'RE BORN BY, UH, MIAMI BEACH.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE CIRCULAR FINANCING, UH, IF YOU WILL.
SO IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY EMERGE, OF COURSE.
UH, I THINK IT'S A BROADER CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKING IF WE'RE KIND OF STAFFING, UH, THE FEES WE'RE CHARGING FOR SOME OF THESE EVENTS.
UM, BECAUSE IT IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL OPENING ONLINE.
WE WANNA BE COMPETITIVE IN THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY, UH, IN A LOT OF CASES, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE EVENTS, UH, THEY TURN AROUND AND THEN ASK US TO WAVE THINGS OR ASK FOR SPONSOR SPONSORSHIPS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS FINE, BUT WE SHOULD REALLY BE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE EFFICIENT COSTS THAT ARE BEING BORN HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOT JUST TAKING OUT OF THE RIGHT POCKET AND PAYING WITH THE LEFT.
WE, IN TERMS OF EMAR, FULLY SUPPORTIVE, A GREAT EVENT, UH, AND IT'S LIKE YOU SAID, BORN IN MIAMI BEACH, UM, AND THIS IS A TEAM THAT'S STARTING TO GET A NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY A GREAT KIND OF A FLAG FOR OUR CITY.
SO I THINK WE'D BE, IF IT'S THAT TIME, WE'D BE LOOKING FOR A, UH, RECOMMEND, A MOTION TO RECOMMEND RETURNING COMMISSION WITH A FAVOR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE SPONSORSHIP FOR EMER AMERICA'S 2027, UH, AS, AS PRESENTED.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AND I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MATEO SALINAS, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR NB SEVEN? I BELIEVE THAT'S YOU, RIGHT? UH, OR IS THAT YOU? COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ? I APOLOGIZE.
[NB 7. DISCUSS REPAINTING THE EXTRA-TALL LIGHT POLES ON LINCOLN ROAD]
MB SEVEN DISCUSSED REPAINTING EXTRA TALL LIGHT POLES ON LINCOLN ROAD, MB SEVEN.SO I HAD MET WITH THE LINCOLN ROAD, UM, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND AT THE TIME THE LIGHT POLES WERE IN ROUGH SHAPE AND NEEDED PAINT.
UH, I BELIEVE THERE WERE 14 OF THEM IN TOTAL SINCE THEN.
THERE WAS, UM, A POPUP THAT PAINTED TWO OF THE LIGHT POLES.
AND IN MEETINGS WITH CIP, THE BID WAS TOLD THAT THE COST OF PAINTING A FEW MORE COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
UM, DAVID GOMEZ CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE.
DAVID GOMEZ, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE ARE TO OUR COUNT NINE LIGHT POLES THAT, THAT COULD BE PAINTED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WE ARE UNSURE BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT OF THE POLES AND WHAT EXISTING PAINT THEY HAVE, WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE.
SO WE'VE INCLUDED AN ALTERNATE ITEM ON THE BID FOR PHASE THREE, UH, TO, IN ORDER TO GET THAT PRICE AND BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN INFORMED, UH, BASIS FOR THE COST OF PAYING THE, THE POLLS.
SO SHOULD WE LEAVE THIS, SHOULD WE LEAVE IT HERE FOR, UM, ANOTHER MONTH TO HAVE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE? THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE MEMO IS TO TAKE IT BACK TO COMMISSION TO DISCUSS FOR AWARDS SO THAT WE CAN SPEED UP THE AWARD OF PHASE THREE.
BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, WE ISSUED A, AN,
[00:25:01]
AN ADDENDUM TO THE BID THAT DELAYED THE, THE BID DATE.SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE TO, TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
SO IS IT SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING? UH, I DON'T THINK SO.
IT, IT'S, WELL, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TO COMMISSION, WE MAY NEED TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
I HAVE NO IDEA AT THIS POINT WHAT THE COST PROPOSAL WILL BE.
UM, WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THE NEXT FINANCE MEETING.
SO, FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, SHOULD I EARMARK ANYTHING? LIKE WHAT, WITHOUT A BASIS FOR HOW MUCH YOU WOULD NEED TO SET ASIDE? I, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.
THESE POLES ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 70 FEET HIGH.
IT'S GONNA REQUIRE SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT.
IT COULD HAVE EXISTING LEAD BASE PAINT, WHICH COULD NEED TO BE MITIGATED.
THE, THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY'RE PAINTED, WHETHER IT'S ELECTROSTATIC OR EPOXY, OR OTHER MATERIALS THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE IRONED OUT.
WE, IN OUR BID SPECIFIED A A QUALITY FINISH THAT WILL LAST A WHILE.
MR. CFO, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? UH, I, IT, IT SEEMS THAT IS, SINCE THERE'S REALLY IS NO BASIS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, I THINK FOR, FOR, FOR TONIGHT'S PURPOSES, IT MAY BE, UH, I THINK THERE'S A ROUND $1 MILLION THAT'S IN THAT BUDGET, UH, STABILIZATION RESERVE FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ADDING OTHER ITEMS, NOT KNOWING WHAT THIS NUMBER WOULD BE.
THE, MAYBE THE BEST TACTIC IS TO TRY TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF THAT, UH, THOSE DOLLARS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN ITEMS COME UP DURING THE YEAR SUCH AS THIS ONE, THERE ARE THE CAPACITY TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
SO IF, UH, SEND IT TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING FOR TONIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE DOLLARS TO EAR MARKET.
AND, UM, NEXT YEAR WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNTS ARE, SEE IF THERE'S AN APPETITE WITH THE COMMISSION TO TAKE IT FROM THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE.
AND IF I CAN, IS IT, IS THE RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A TIME TO COME TO THE OCTOBER FOR, TO HEAR THE NUMBER? THERE IS.
WE CAN COME BACK TO OCTOBER AND THEN DO THE AWARD FOR THE CONTRACT IN NOVEMBER.
SO IF YOU WANT, UM, THE SPONSOR, WE COULD, UH, SHOW THIS ITEM AS HEARD AND TO RETURN IN OCTOBER FOR FINAL DISPOSITION.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENT HAS THAT ABILITY AND NOT TO MESS WITH THE TIMELINE.
SO CHAIR, WE'LL SHOW THIS ITEM HEARD AND THE RETURN IN OCTOBER.
UM, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR MB NINE, THE GRANT OF WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL FOR APRIL, 2026? SURE.
[NB 9. CONSIDER A GRANT TO THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,000 IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THE ATTENDANCE BY MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST CHAMPIONSHIP IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IN APRIL 2026.]
CONSIDER STEP, UH, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF AND STEP OUT OF THE ROOM.UH, MB NINE, CONSIDER A GRANT TO THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,000 IN SUPPORT OF THEIR SPONSORSHIP FOR THE ATTENDANCE BY MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE ACADEMIC WORLD QUEST CHAMPIONSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC IN APRIL, 2026.
GREAT ITEM COMMISSIONER, OR DO YOU WANNA PRESENT IT? NO, THIS IS ONLY TO ALLOW FOR SOME STUDENTS FROM MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH TO GO TO WASHINGTON, DC AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY.
I'D LOVE TO CO-SPONSOR IF I CAN, IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
SO IS THE ITEM TO RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT THE SPONSORSHIP, AND THEN IF IT GETS APPROVED BY COMMISSION, THEN WE'D RETURN WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT THE FOLLOWING MONTH TO APPROPRIATE DOLLARS FOR THAT? OR THE SPONSOR COULD BRING IT UP TONIGHT.
UM, UH, LEAVE IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE OR, AND, OR THE SPONSOR ON HOW THEY WANT TO, UH, THE WELL OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE THE, UH, BRING IT UP TONIGHT.
UM, I'M CAUTIOUS ABOUT TONIGHT OF JUST BEING A FREE FOR ALL.
I THINK PANDORA'S BOX MAY ALREADY BE OPEN, SO
I THINK THERE'S A FEW KEY COMMUNITY THINGS MM-HMM
THAT I THINK WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT.
BUT I DO WANNA BE COGNIZANT ABOUT AT LEAST STAYING IN LINE WITH WHERE WE WERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TIMING OF THIS.
UM, IT'S $6,000, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FULL SUPPORT OF THIS, RIGHT? UH, IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO, HEY, THIS IS VERY QUICK, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE HEARING.
UH, PERHAPS PANDORA'S BOX IS ALREADY OPEN AND IT WON'T MATTER.
AND MR. CHAIR, TO YOUR POINT, UM, I'VE, I'M JUST GONNA USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUT THERE.
UH, YESTERDAY I HAD A MEETING WITH CLEAN MIAMI BEACH, UH, THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT, THAT THEY'VE STILL HAVE BEEN, HAVE MADE THEIR WAY, UH, INTO THE, INTO THE FINAL BUDGET.
'CAUSE THERE'S OF UNINTENDED CIRCUMSTANCES THAT, UH, THE, THAT, THAT WENT ON OVER AT CLEAN MIAMI BEACH.
BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S AN ENTITY THAT WE ALL LOVE.
UM, AND THAT DOESN'T INCRE BE BE BEYOND US, YOU KNOW, LOVING THEM.
[00:30:01]
INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, IN OUR COM COMMUNITY.SO, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE GONNA COME UP, UH, TONIGHT.
SO PERHAPS TO MAYBE PLAY IT SAFE FOR, FOR THE, TO CLOSE THIS ITEM AMOUNT IS WE CAN HAVE IT KIND OF BOTH WAYS.
IF IT GETS RESOLVED TONIGHT, IT GETS RESOLVED TONIGHT.
BUT PERHAPS THE MOTION OUTTA THIS COMMITTEE BE RETURNED TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION, EXECUTE A SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED.
AND IF IT COMES UP TONIGHT, THIS BECOMES A MOOT POINT.
AND THE EXECUTING DEPARTMENT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO BRING THIS BACK TO COMMISSION.
IF IT DOESN'T COME UP TONIGHT, THEN WE WOULD BRING, UH, AN ACTUAL RESOLUTION.
SO IT WOULD BE DISPOSED OF THAT WAY.
SO YOU'LL BE COVERED EITHER WAY.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE SAFEST WAY TO GO.
UM, SO SEEING THAT, I'M GONNA SHOW BASED ON THE ATTENDANCE AND PROTOCOL THAT COMMISSIONER MON MONICA SALINAS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
I THINK RICK WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
I BELIEVE THE ITEM WILL STILL NEED TO RETURN TO COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT, EVEN IF YOU APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR IT TONIGHT.
SO, UH, I THINK JUST FOR PROTOCOL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHOW, UH, COMMISSIONER MONICA SALINAS AS, AS THE, UM, MAKING THE MOTION AND, UH, THE CHAIR MAKING THE SECOND, SINCE WE JUST HAVE TWO AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T WANNA LEAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER DOMINGEZ HANGING, MAYBE WE COULD SIGNAL, SIGNAL TO HER THAT, UH, ITEM HAS BEEN HEARD.
UM, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, WHY DON'T WE HEAR TOGETHER? UH, NB SIX RESTAURANT DISCLOSURE ON SERVICE CHARGES.
AND, UH, MR. CFO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THAT, BUT HAPPY TO KIND OF TEE THAT UP.
[NB 6. DISCUSS AND EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING ALL FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS TO CLEARLY DISCLOSE, THROUGH A BRIGHT STAMP AT THE TOP OF CUSTOMER RECEIPTS, WHEN GRATUITY OR SERVICES CHARGES ARE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED.]
SIX DISCUSSED AND EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING ALL FOOD, UM, FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS TO CLEARLY DISCLOSE THROUGH A BRIGHT STAMP AT THE TOP OF CUSTOMER SEATS WHERE GRATUITY OR SERVICE CHARGES ARE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED.UH, MB SIX, UH, I DO, UH, WE HAVE CODE WHO GO THROUGH IT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A, A NEW STATE LAW THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED THAT ADDRESSED SOME OF THESE ISSUES, BUT IT MAY NOT BE EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE CODE HERE THAT CAN GO THROUGH THE NUANCES OF THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, KINDA WHAT, WHAT TIPPING IS BEING APPLIED TO OR ADDED TO IS, UH, BECOMING MORE OF A BROADER SOCIETAL ISSUE.
UH, THIS ISN'T MEANT TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, BUT IT IS VERY UNIQUE IN MIAMI AND MIAMI BEACH, UH, THAT MANY TIMES AT SOME OF OUR RESTAURANTS, ESPECIALLY MORE TOURIST DRIVEN LOCATIONS, THAT AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY CHARGE IS ADDED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXPLANATION FOR THAT IS WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATION.
AND IN MANY OTHER CULTURES, UH, TIPPING ISN'T PERCEIVED THE SAME WAY OR APPLIED THE SAME WAY AS IT IS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THAT'S ALMOST TO PROTECT THE EMPLOYEES.
BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IS THROUGH IGNORANCE OF PEOPLE NOT KNOWING THAT SERVICE CHARGES APPLIED, THAT ESSENTIALLY, UH, AN ADDITIONAL GRATUITY IS BEING ADDED.
AND NOWADAYS, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THERE'S ANYTHING NEFARIOUS GOING ON, BUT, UH, YOU START GETTING INTO THIS AMBIGUITY, EVEN IF YOU ASK, WELL, IS THERE A TIP INCLUDED? UH, YOU KNOW, THERE SEEMS TO BE, WELL, THIS IS SERVICE CHARGE AND NOT, IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE CHARGE THAT IS ADDED ONTO THE BILL, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE MORE CLEARLY DISCLOSED BECAUSE WHETHER IT BE RESIDENTS OR VISITORS, THEY SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING CHARGED AND APPLIED.
UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE FROM OF PEOPLE FROM IGNORANCE.
AND, AND JUST VERY PLAINLY, A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORE TOUR DRIVEN AREAS, YOU'LL GO AND YOU'LL PAY A BILL.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT THINKING OR LOOKING AT THE BILL, WILL GIVE AN EXTRA 20%.
AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT, UH, SERVICE CHARGES ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, THE FREE MARKET ALWAYS KIND OF, UH, FIND A WAY AHEAD.
AND THERE'S CLEVER WAYS TO DISGUISE SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT, UH, TIPS AND CHARGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO IF WE'RE ADDING ON, NOT WE, IF A RESTAURANT OR HOTEL IS ADDING ON ADDITIONAL SERVICE CHARGES OVER, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE, UH, ORIGINAL BILL, WE SHOULD FIND A METHOD TO CLEARLY DISCLOSE THAT.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT IS, WHETHER IT'S HIGHLIGHTED AT THE TOP OF THE RECEIPT, WHETHER IT'S BLOCKED OUT IN BOLD RED, UH, LETTERS.
MAYBE WE WILL LEAVE THAT TO STAFF ABOUT WHAT THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
BUT, UH, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF UNLESS COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, HAPPY TO, UH, UH, TURN THAT OVER TO YOU AS WELL.
UH, AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS THAT ARE COMING FROM COUNTRIES WHERE TIP IS INCLUDED.
AND WHAT BOTHERS ME, AND I SEE IT HAPPENING IN SOME RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE BEACH, IS THAT THE 20% GRATUITY IS AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED.
AND THEN THE BILL WILL COME AND
[00:35:01]
IT'LL SAY, TIP WHERE IT SHOULD SAY ADDITIONAL TIP, BECAUSE ON WHAT PLANET DO THEY THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA PAY 40% ON TOP OF THEIR BILL? UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT IN OUR CODE WHERE THEY HAVE TO DISPLAY IT ON THE MENUS, AND IT HAS TO SAY IT SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO SAY IT ON THE RECEIPT THAT IF IT'S ADDITIONAL TIP, YOU WOULDN'T JUST HAVE, UH, PLUS TIP.AND ONE THING I'LL ALSO ASK YOU, ARE THERE LAWS THAT ARE AROUND WHAT A RESTAURANT CAN COLLECT OUT OF THE TIP? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE JUST IN THE PAST YEAR, IF YOU ASK A SERVER, OH, IS TIP ALREADY INCLUDED? THEY'LL SAY, YES, BUT THIS KIND OF GETS, UH, SPLIT AMONGST THE HOUSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT KIND OF LEAVES THE CUSTOMER IN A WEIRD POSITION.
LIKE, WAIT, I'M BEING CHARGED A 20% TIP, BUT MY SERVER'S BEING TOLD THAT DOESN'T GO TO THEM.
UH, JOE MAY, MAYBE THAT'S, UH,
JOSEPH NARINO, UH, INSPECTOR GENERAL.
UM, UH, I'M GLAD THE, UH, COMMISSION'S TAKING UP THIS ISSUE.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF RESORT TAXES.
AND WE, UM, WE AUDIT, UH, THE RESORT TAX PAYERS, UH, AS YOU KNOW, AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO DETAIL AS TO ANY SPECIFIC, UH, AUDIT WE'VE DONE, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, UH, THERE ARE, ARE RESTAURANTS AND ESTABLISHMENT, YOU KNOW, CHARGING THE 20%, UH, SERVICE CHARGE THAT IS UNDER STATE LAW, AND THAT'S TAXABLE AND SALES TAX AND RESORT TAX.
SOME RESTAURANTS PAY THE RESORT TAX OUT OF THAT, AND SOME DON'T.
UM, AND WE'VE, IT HAS COME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES IN DIFFERENT AUDITS, UM, AND I AGREE THAT IT, IT IT, IT CREATES A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SERVICE CHARGE IS GOING TO.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE RESTAURANTS THAT THAT CLAIM THAT THEY GIVE IT TO THE, UH, TO THE EMPLOYEES.
BUT SOME OF THE, THE, THE GIVING HAS TO DO, YOU KNOW, IS IN THE FORM OF, WELL, WE PAY FOR THE UNIFORMS, OR WE, WE, WE PAY FOR THINGS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE IN ONE CASE, PAY FOR BIRTHDAY PRESENTS FOR THE STAFF.
YOU KNOW, SO, AND WE, THERE'S A, WE WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO SOME, SOME, UH, SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH SOME OF THESE.
UH, AND THE, THE IDEA OF MAKING IT VERY CLEAR, IF THE SER THERE'S ONE THAT IS, THAT CLAIMS THAT THE SERVICE CHARGE IS OPTIONAL, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY THAT
SO IF IT'S AN OPTIONAL CARD, IT OUGHT TO BE A STATE IS AN OPTIONAL CHARGE.
IF IT'S A GRATUITY ON A STATE THAT IT'S A GRATUITY, I, THIS, THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE CLEARED UP NOT ONLY FOR THE CONSUMER, BUT FOR THE CITY'S OWN INTEREST IN COLLECTING RESORT TAXES.
APPRECIATE, AND, AND RICK, WHAT, WHAT IS THE STATE INITIATIVE? AND THEN COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, BUT, UH, RICK, WHAT, WHAT IS THE STATE, UM, AS THE CFO POINTED OUT? AND I, I THINK THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF INITIATIVE, UH, ALONG THE SAME LINES HERE.
UM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, UM, IN 2025, THE, THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED, UM, REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS.
UH, THEY NEED TO DISCLOSE THE AMOUNT OF PERCENTAGE OF ANY OPERATIONS CHARGE, WHICH IS DEFINED UNDER THE BILL TO INCLUDE ANY HOUSE CHARGES OR OPERATIONS CHARGES.
IT ALSO INCLUDES AUTOMATIC GRATUITIES, ET CETERA.
UM, THE, IF, IF THE OPERATIONS CHARGE INCLUDES AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY, THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY STATED.
UM, THIS, THIS IS REQUIRED BOTH ON THE MENU, IF THE RESTAURANT HAS A WEBSITE, IT'S REQUIRED ON THE WEBSITE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO ON THE RECEIPT, THERE HAS TO BE SEPARATE LINE FOR GRATUITY, FOR OPERATIONS CHARGES AND FOR TAX.
UM, ONE OTHER POINT, UH, TO THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED EARLIER, IF THERE'S ANY LAWS, UM, UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW, IF THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC CHARGE, UM, THEN THE RESTAURANT CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIP CREDIT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT REALLY MATTERS FOR PURPOSES.
BUT, UH, BUT THAT WAS JUST A FOOTNOTE.
SO, MR. MR. ATTORNEY, SO WHEN, WHEN THIS NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, DID THE RES, DID THE RESTAURANTS NEED TO DISCLOSE WHETHER THE OPERATION CHARGE THAT'S BEING CHARGED ON THE, UH, ON THE TICKET, WHETHER THAT IS A GRATUITY OR WHETHER IT'S RETAINED BY THE, BY THE RESTAURANT THERE'S, OR IS THERE STILL AMBIGUITY ON THAT? SO, UM, SO IF THE, IF THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC OPERATIONS CHARGE THAT INCLUDES A GRATUITY, THEN THE, IT NEEDS TO BE STATED SEPARATELY, THE, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT.
BUT WHAT IF, WHEN IT'S NOT A GRATUITY, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES
[00:40:01]
A CONSUMER MAY, MAY SEE AN OPERATIONS CHARGE AND JUST ASSUME IT'S GRATUITY, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S NOT GRATUITY AND IT'S RETAINED BY THE RESTAURANT FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS.UM, IF, IF, IF THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY INCLUDED, IT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATELY STATED.
BUT THE OPPOSITE, BUT THE REVERSE IS NOT.
PJ DO YOU HAVE, IF IT SAYS 20% OPERATIONS CHARGE AND DOESN'T, DOESN'T SPECIFY THAT THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY.
IF THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY, THEN THERE, THE RESTAURANT IS IN VIOLATION OF, OF THE LAW.
BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR THE CONSUMER THAT KNOWS THE LAW, UH, AND KNOWS ONE NEEDS TO BE DISCLOSED OR NOT.
UH, A WHILE BACK WE WERE MR. ATTORNEY, YOUR, YOUR OFFICE AND I, WE WERE, WE WERE WORKING ON LEGISLATION ON THIS MATTER.
UH, AND THEN THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PREEMPTION.
AND PERHAPS THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, MR. CHAIR.
UM, BUT PERHAPS ASKING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UM, AND AT THIS POINT WOULDN'T EVEN BE JUST CONCESSIONAIRE OF THE CITY.
'CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS LOG GIVES THE CITY THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY ENTER INTO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF RESTAURATEURS GENERALLY.
UM, BUT ACTUALLY REQUIRING OUR RESTAURATEURS TO SELECT ONE OF THESE AS DISCLOSURES ON, ON THEIR, ON THEIR RECEIPTS.
UH, ONE OPTION BEING THIS OPERATION CHARGE IS NOT A GRATUITY.
IT'S RETAINED BY THE RESTAURANT FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS.
AND IT'S NOT DISTRIBUTED TO SERVICE STAFF SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY HOW THAT ESTABLISHMENT IS USING, UH, THE, THE THOSE DOLLARS.
THEN A SECOND OPTION, THIS OPERATIONS CHARGE IS DISTRIBUTED IN WHOLE AND A PART TO SERVICE STAFF.
IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A TIP.
AND YOU MAY LEAVE AN ADDITIONAL GRATUITY AT YOUR DISCRETION, OR A THIRD OPTION THAT THIS OPERATIONS CHARGE IS PAID ENTIRELY TO SERVICE STAFF IN LIEU OF A, OF A TRADITIONAL TIP.
NO ADDITIONAL GRATUITY IS EXPECTED OR REQUIRED.
SO THAT WAY THEY GET CERTAIN CLARITY, A CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, SOME SORT OF DEFINITION, UH, AS TO AS TO HOW THAT NEW LINE D APPEARING ON THEIR, ON THEIR RECEIPT IS BEING APPLIED.
AND ALSO, THOSE ARE ALL GOOD AND HAPPY TO INCORPORATE THAT.
COMMISSIONER, WHAT WOULD MY COLLEAGUES FEEL? AND I WANT TO GET, UH, CITY STAFF'S EXPERT OPINION, UH, HAVING SOME SORT OF, REQUIRING SOME SORT OF UNIFORMITY, UH, ALERT ALMOST, IF YOU WILL, ON A RECEIPT.
AND THEN I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO EVEN GET MORE NUANCED, UH, AS THERE'S A LOT OF POINT OF SALE, UH, SYSTEMS WHERE IF THERE IS A GRATUITY INCLUDED, WE COULD MAYBE LEAVE IT TO STAFF OR DISCUSS AMONGST US HOW THAT IS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CONSUMER.
WHETHER IT IS A RED STAMP AT THE TOP OF THE RECEIPT SAYING, UH, SEE BELOW GRATUITY INCLUDED, OR WHATEVER THAT DISCLOSURE MAY BE.
UM, BUT MAYBE ONE OF MY PRIMARY, UH, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HERE IS TO IMMEDIATELY BRING THAT TO THE AWARENESS OF THE CONSUMER SO THEY'RE NOT DOUBLE CHARGED.
THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF GRATUITY THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED.
SO PERHAPS WE LOOK AT SOME SORT OF UNIFORM DISCLOSURE ALERT, UH, WHERE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE SEEN.
UM, SO IF, IF SOMEBODY, IF A RESTAURANT HAS A 20% AND THEY SAY THAT THAT DOESN'T COVER THE GRATUITY, UM, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S WRONG, THEY SHOULDN'T MAKE THAT THE COST, UH, INCREASE THE COST OF YOUR MEALS AND DRINKS, UH, BUT DON'T KEEP ADDING.
ARE WE ALLOWED TO LEGISLATE, UH, SAYING YOU CAN'T CHARGE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SERVICE CHARGE? I, I THINK THAT GETS THE RICKET, AND THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THIS, BECAUSE IT SEEMS MORE AND MORE COMMON NOW, IF YOU ASK, IS, IS GRATUITY INCLUDED? AND THE SERVICE STAFF, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN SAYS YES, BUT THAT'S KIND OF SPLIT AMONGST AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I, I HEAR FURTHER HORROR STORIES FROM PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THESE INDUSTRIES ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE TIP POSSIBLY GETS DISTRIBUTED AMONGST STAFF, OR PERHAPS THE THINGS LIKE JOE SAYS, CREATIVE, UH, FINANCIAL ENGINEERING BY SOME OF THESE SOPHISTICATED OR NON-SOPHISTICATED OPERATORS SAYING, WELL, IT'S NOT COMING TO US, BUT WE'RE PAYING FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT SEEMS A BIT PREDATORY TO ME.
UH, RICK, LET, LET ME TURN THAT OVER TO YOU.
'CAUSE I FEEL AS IF WE'RE GETTING INTO LIKE SOME FEDERAL LAW THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED, BUT PERHAPS IS NOT.
AND GOING BACK TO THE, I THINK THE QUESTION COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ ASKED IS WHETHER WE COULD REGULATE WHAT RESTAURANTS CHARGE.
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD, NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.
WE'RE PREEMPTED BY THE STATE ON THE REGULATION OF, OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NEW LAW OPENED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY
[00:45:01]
TO ENHANCE WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.UM, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE SUBJECT OF THIS ITEM IS OF COURSE, AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO EITHER JOE OR RICK.
IF A RESTAURANT IS FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND THEY SAY 20% AUTOMATIC GRATUITY CHARGED, DOES THAT HAVE TO GO TO THE SERVER? IS THAT ABLE TO BE SPLIT AMONGST A STAFF THAT IS NOT MAKING MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE, UH, TIPS ARE INCLUDED? OR CAN THAT REALLY BE AT THEIR DISCRETION ABOUT HOW THAT IS DISTRIBUTED? 'CAUSE THAT, THAT IMPACTS A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS SERVICE INDUSTRY.
SO IF, IF IT DOES AUTOMATIC GRATUITY, THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT SHOULD BE ONLY DISTRIBUTED TO TIPPED STAFF, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, SERVERS, UH, RUNNERS, EXPEDITERS, IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH BARTENDERS, THE BARTENDER, THE BAR BACKS.
UM, SO AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF, IF IT'S A, IF IT'S A GRATUITY AND THE BUSINESS IS TAKING WHAT I REFERRED TO EARLIER, WHICH IS THE TIP CREDIT WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS RECEIVING LESS THAN THE STANDARD MINIMUM WAGE, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, FRAUD IF, IF THE RESTAURANT IS NOT DISTRIBUTING IT TO ITS EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT PROBABLY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS, BUT PERHAPS STAFF IS JUST, UH, BEEN MORE FORTHCOMING THAT, HEY, THIS DOESN'T ALL GO DIRECTLY TO THE WAITER OR WAITRESS.
AND I BELIEVE THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ FIRST STARTED WORKING WITH US ON, ON THOSE OPTIONS, IS THAT IF IT'S A SERVICE CHARGE, THEN IT, IT'S A LITTLE GRAYER IN TERMS OF IS IT, IF, IS IT ALL GOING TO THE REST IS, IS IT ALL GOING TO THE SERVERS OR NOT? AND YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THE SAME THAT SOME RESTAURANTS WILL TAKE, YOU KNOW, HALF OF IT AND KEEP IT FOR THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, UH, OVERHEAD EXPENSES AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THE REST.
IN THOSE CASES, UM, THOSE RESTAURANTS WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE TIP CREDIT AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE STAFF THE FULL MINIMUM WAGE.
AND JOE, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT INSTANCES LIKE THAT? OR DOES THAT JUST KIND OF FALL WITHIN FEDERAL LAW AND WE HOPE THAT THEY'RE BEING GOOD CITIZENS? WELL, I, I THINK, I MEAN, OF COURSE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TAXABILITY HERE, BUT IF IT'S, IF IT'S LABELED AS A SERVICE CHARGE, I BELIEVE IT'S TAXABLE.
NOW IN, IF IT'S LABELED AS A SERVICE CHARGE, MOST, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL ASSUME THAT'S A TIP.
BUT THERE, WE FOUND RESTAURANTS THAT KEEP THE ENTIRE SERVICE CHARGE.
WE FOUND RESTAURANTS THAT KEEP A PART OF IT.
UH, AND WE, AND THERE ARE MAYBE RESTAURANTS THAT GIVE IT ALL TO THEM, BUT, SO THE LABELING REALLY NEEDS TO BE CLEARER, I THINK.
I MEAN TO, SO YOU, YOUR TEAM HAS THE ABILITY IN YOUR AUDITS TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF GRANULARITY AND HAVE ENFORCEMENT INTO THAT? WELL, WE HAVE, WE ENFORCE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE GET AND, AND, AND, AND WE HAVE TO INTERPRET, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, YEAH, WHAT'S ON THESE BILLS.
BUT AS FAR AS THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO MANDATE THAT, THEY, I THINK I'D, I'D HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DEFER IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND WHATEVER THE CITY'S AUTHORITY IS.
BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
AND IT'S A REAL CONSUMER PROBLEM TOO, BECAUSE I MEAN, THERE ARE, ARE, I'M SURE THERE ARE STAFF BEING SHORTED BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME THE 20% SERVICE CHARGE IS GOING TO THE STAFF.
CHAIR, IF I MAY, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF ISSUES ARE HERE TO HELP CLARIFY, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES, 'CAUSE I'VE WORKED UH, A BIT WITH, UM, JOE'S OFFICE ON THIS ISSUE IS THE TAXABILITY CONCEPT, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW THE 2%, UM, FOOD AND BEVERAGE RESORT TAX.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS SHOULD THAT 2% BE APPLIED TO THE 20% SERVICE CHARGE? BECAUSE AS HE'S STATING, IF IT'S ALL TIPPED, THEN IT'S NOT, WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO IT.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE, IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO I THINK THAT THE ISSUE, I THINK WITH THE ASK FOR THE OIG G'S OFFICE IS MAYBE AS PART OF THIS, OR TO PIGGYBACK ON IT, 'CAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE CODE, WOULD BE TO CLARIFY, IS THAT 2% APPLIED TO IF THERE IS A SERVICE CHARGE, NOT A GRATUITY.
IF IT SAYS GRATUITY, IT'S NOT.
BUT IF IT SAYS SERVICE CHARGE, WHETHER OR NOT IT'LL BE 2%.
SO MAYBE WHEN THIS ITEM COMES OUT, IT'S, IT'S PERHAPS MAYBE TWO ORDINANCES TO BE QUITE HONEST, UH, OR, OR TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS IS PERHAPS TO LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE BRIGHT VISIBILITY, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ HAD HAD BROUGHT FORWARD.
MAYBE THAT ALL COULD BE INCORPORATED.
AND WITH OIG RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TAXABILITY OF THAT, MAYBE THAT'S THE MOTION THAT CAN COME OUT AND IT'S ALL THAT ALL ENCOMPASSING.
AND THEN MAYBE OIG AND STAFF CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO THEY SEE RICK'S WANTING TO CHIME IN TO COME BACK WITH ONE OR MORE ORDINANCES TO, TO CLARIFY THESE ISSUES.
BUT SO THAT, THAT JUST KIND OF THREW ME THROUGH A LOOP HERE.
BUT IF THEY DON'T CHARGE IT AND I LEAVE A 20%
[00:50:01]
TIP, THAT'S NOT TAXED.THE GRATUITIES ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE NOT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE O'S OFFICE IS HAVING DURING, AND NOT TO SPEAK FOR 'EM, BUT TO, BECAUSE I, I GET INVOLVED IN THIS AS A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WHEN THERE'S AN APPEAL IS THAT WE'RE, IS THE ENTITIES IN WHICH THEY SAY, UM, WELL WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE KEEPING MONEY FOR A CREDIT CARD FEE AND WE'RE KEEPING MONEY FOR THIS.
AND THEN WE START SPLITTING HAIRS, WHICH IS WHERE I THINK THE DIFFICULTY IN HIS AUDITS ARE.
UM, IF IT'S ALL GRATUITY, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
UH, SO IF THEY SAY THE SERVICE CHARGE 20%, IT ALL GOES, IT'S GRATUITY NOT AN ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS WHERE IT'S SPLIT, UH, OR IF IT'S FULLY RETAINED.
SO, SO CLA I THINK WHAT THE OOG IS LOOKING FOR IS CLARITY ON THAT.
IF I MAY THROUGH THE CHAIR, UM, I THINK JOE'S MORE FAMILIAR THAN I AM POTENTIALLY ON THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE STATE LOOKS AT, WHICH IS THE SAME THING THAT WE LOOK AT FOR PURPOSES OF RESORT TAX, IS WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTARY OR NOT.
UM, I DON'T THINK IF IT'S AN AUTOMATIC GRATUITY, IT DOESN'T BECOME, IT, IT'S STILL SUBJECT TO SALES TAX, I BELIEVE IF IT'S, IF IT'S AUTOMATIC, IT, IT, IT TURNS ON WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTARY OR NOT.
BUT JOE, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS, I THINK THE GRATUITY IS NOT TAXABLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, OUR POSITION.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S LABELED AS A SERVICE CHARGE, WHAT IS IT? IS IT A GRATUITY OR IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT NOT A GRATUITY? AND AS, AND THE, AND THE STATE HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT IF NO OVER THAT, THAT IF ANY PORTION OF IT GOES TO THE, TO THE RESTAURANT, ALL OF IT IS TAXABLE.
RIGHT? THAT'S THE LAW IS THAT IF, IF, IF THE RESTAURANT'S KEEPING ANY OF IT, THEN IT'S ALL TAXABLE.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHERE, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO TIP, IT'S VERY CLEAR HOW TIP CAN BE ADMINISTERED.
AND THAT'S CLEARLY DEFINED BY THE FEDERAL LAW.
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE MAYBE I'M SIMPLIFYING THIS TOO MUCH, BUT, YOU KNOW, TIP GRATUITY, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO CALL IT, CLEARLY THE, UH, INCOME TAX OR TAX LAWS DICTATE HOW THAT CAN BE USED.
BUT SEPARATELY IS ANY OTHER TYPE OF CHARGE THAT'S IMPOSED, OR WHETHER IT BE CALLED A SERVICE CHARGE OR AN OPERATIONS CHARGE OR WHATEVER OTHER TYPE OF CHARGE THAT CREATES THE AMBIGUITY THAT IS NOT CLEAR TO PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S A TIP, WHETHER IT GOES TO THE SERVER OR TO BACK OF HOUSE, OR WHETHER IT'S USED TO PAY FOR, I DON'T KNOW, DISHES THAT ARE BROKEN AND REPLACE DISHES THAT ARE BROKEN.
AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT CLARITY, THAT CLARITY IN GIVING, REQUIRING, REQUIRING, UH, FOR RESTAURANTS THAT CHOOSE TO PUT A SERVICE CHARGE OR AN OPERATIONS CHARGE ON THEIR BILL, REQUIRING THEM TO CHOOSE ONE OF THESE THREE OPTIONS FROM IT.
UM, BUT I MIGHT NOT BE UNDERSTANDING IT.
SO, BECAUSE I'VE JUST COME TO REALIZE OVER TIME THAT ALL OF THESE RESTAURANT ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AND WELL OVER MY, UM, MY $6,000 PAY GRADE
UH, COMMISSIONER MATE SALINAS, THEN I'VE PROMISED CITY STAFF, UH, WE, WE'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU THAT PROBABLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN ALL OF US UP HERE, UH, SPEAKING IN CIRCLES.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.
AND I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY, MR. ATTORNEY.
SO YOU HAD STATED WHEN COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ ASKED IF WE, IF THE RESTAURANT CAN CHARGE THE 20% OPERATIONS CHARGE, AND YOU HAD STATED THAT WE CAN'T REGULATE WHAT A RESTAURANT CHARGES THAT IS.
SO ESSENTIALLY THEY CAN PUT ON THE RECEIPT, THEY CAN PUT A 20% CHARGE FOR THEIR RENT, OR THEY CAN PUT A 5% CHARGE TODAY'S TUESDAY AND IT'S 5% EXTRA TODAY AND THERE.
WE ARE LARGELY PREEMPTED BY THE STATE ON, ON RESTAURANT, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, EVEN IF THEY CHARGE SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T PURCHASE.
WELL, IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IF, IF YOU BUY FOOD AND THEY'RE CHARGING A PERCENTAGE OVER AND ABOVE THE COST OF THE MENU ITEM, THAT THAT IS ALLOWED.
BUT IF THEY ADD A CHARGE ON THERE JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS GONNA BE ON YOUR BILL, WE CAN'T REGULATE THAT.
WELL, WHAT THE NEW STATE LAW DOES IS THAT IF THEY'RE GONNA, IF THE RESTAURANT IS GONNA CHARGE AN OPERATIONS CHARGE, WHICH INCLUDES THOSE RENT RANDOM CHARGES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA LABEL IT RENT.
THEY'RE GONNA LABEL IT, SERVICE CHARGE, OPERATIONS CHARGE.
UM, THEN THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT ON THEIR MENUS ON THE BILL.
UM, IF THEY HAVE A WEBSITE ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE UNDER THE STATE LAW.
UM, AND IF THAT, IF THAT SERVICE CHARGE INCLUDES A GRATUITY, THAT ALSO HAS TO BE SEPARATELY STATED.
BUT, BUT WE CAN'T REGULATE SOMETHING BECAUSE I, THIS OPERATIONS A SERVICE, WHENEVER THERE'S A SERVICE CHARGE, EVERYONE ASSUMES THAT'S A, A TIP.
SO NO ONE'S SURPRISED BY THAT.
BUT HAVING AN OPERATIONS CHARGE A CHARGE FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE, SO YOU'RE SAYING AS LONG AS IT'S DISCLOSED
[00:55:01]
ON THEIR MENU AND WEBSITE, THEY CAN CHARGE ANY TYPE OF CHARGE IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU PURCHASE? YES.AND, AND, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M USING THE TERM OPERATIONS CHARGE BECAUSE THAT IS THE TERM USED IN THE STATUTE, BUT MOST RESTAURANTS CALL IT AS SERVICE CHARGE.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN ANY REST TO ANY RESTAURANT THAT SAYS OPERATIONS CHARGE, BUT THAT'S JUST THE DEFINED TERM THAT'S USED IN THE STATUTE, WHICH INCLUDES SERVICE CHARGES AND INCLUDES AUTOMATIC TIPS, ET CETERA.
SO, AND THE SERVICE CHARGE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING TODAY IS THAT IF IT'S, IF IT'S, IF IT'S WRITTEN ON THE RECEIPT AS A SERVICE CHARGE, THE WHOLE PERCENTAGES TAXABLE FOR RESERVE TAXES.
THAT'S WHAT, YES, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE CONSIDER.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, IF IN FACT WE FIND OUT THAT ALL OF IT IS GOING TO THE, TO A SERVER, THEN WE WOULDN'T CONSIDER THAT TO BE TAXABLE.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT CALLING SERVICE CHARGE, IT, IT MAY REPRESENT ANYTHING, IT MAY REPRESENT A GRATUITY, MAY REPRESENT MONEY, GOES STRAIGHT TO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE, UH, UH, TO THE BUSINESS.
OR THERE MAY BE SOME, YOU KNOW, DIVISION, UH, SOME OF IT GOES AND SOME OF IT DOESN'T, BUT THERE'S NO CLARITY.
AND THE CONSUMER IS VERY CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.
AND WE CAN'T REGULATE WHERE THAT SERVICE CHARGE MONEY GOES.
NO, WE CANNOT, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENS IF I SEE A 20% SERVICE CHARGE, I ASSUME THAT'S 20% GOING TO THE STAFF.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS, UH, 10% COULD GO TO THE RESTAURANT AND IT'S ONLY 10% THAT GETS DISTRIBUTED TO THE STAFF, RIGHT? MM-HMM
LET ME HAND HAND IT TO THE CITY STAFF.
UH, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE, UH, EDGAR DISTRO, ASSISTANT CO COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR.
UM, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, THE STATE LAW, UH, DID GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST, UH, OF THIS YEAR.
UH, IT, IT ALREADY REQUIRES RESTAURANTS TO ITEMIZE ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES, WHETHER IT'S AUTOMATIC GRATUITIES, UH, CREDIT CARD SURCHARGES.
SO THOSE HAVE TO BE SPECIFIED ON THE RECEIPTS.
UM, IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT US FROM REQUIRING ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE PROMINENCE ON, ON THE RECEIPTS.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
UH, NOW AS FAR AS POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS, MOST RESTAURANTS ARE DIGITAL IN THAT SENSE.
UH, SO THEY COULD EASILY, UH, PROGRAM THE POS SYSTEMS TO INCLUDE, UH, SOME STANDARD LANGUAGE, UH, WHICH WE DID PROVIDE IN THE MEMO.
'CAUSE THE RECEIPTS ALSO DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH ROOM.
UH, BUT FOR THOSE RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY DIGITAL, UH, RECEIPTS OR, OR MAYBE PAPER RECEIPTS, THEY CAN INVEST IN, IN A, IN A STAMP.
SO IT, IT WOULDN'T, UH, BE ANYTHING TOO BURDENSOME, UH, FINANCIALLY FOR THE RESTAURANTS.
SO EVEN WITH THE STATE LAW, I, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT OUR RESTAURANTS, UH, HAVEN'T BEEN THAT PREDATORY WHERE THEY'LL ACTUALLY CONCEAL OR HIDE THE SERVICE CHARGES ADDED.
SO I THINK THE INTENT OF THIS WAS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND REALLY JUST BRING THE FURTHER ATTENTION.
SO, TO YOUR POINT, JUST 'CAUSE THE STATE LAW REQUIRES, I HAVE A FEELING 90% OF 99% OF THE TIME THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
THE SPIRIT OF THIS IS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, BRING THAT TO DETENTION.
SO MAYBE WE COULD ASK CITY STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A FEW OPTIONS WHEN THIS GOES TO, UH, FULL COMMISSION OF WHAT THAT FURTHER DISCLOSURE WILL BE.
UH, I'D LIKE IF YOU COULD INCORPORATE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT THEN LET'S ALSO HAVE, WHETHER IT BE A RED STAMP AT THE TOP OR THE BOTTOM OF THE BILL THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, GOD, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT'S A SERVICE CHARGE GRATUITY ALREADY INCLUDED.
I, I TODAY'S, UH, TALK ABOUT OPENING PANDORA'S BOX.
UM, BUT SOME SORT OF ABOVE AND BEYOND DISCLOSURE THAT, UH, JUST ENHANCES CONSUMER AWARENESS.
AND I STILL DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE CONSUMER CONFUSION BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY STAFF AND RIGI THINK THERE'S STILL A GREAT DEAL OF AMBIGUITY, UH, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.
AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE STATE LAW CAME INTO EFFECT AFTER COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ HAD WORKED ON THOSE THREE OPTIONS, WE WILL WORK WITH, WITH THE CODE, UM, ENFORCEMENT OFFICE AND ANYBODY ELSE ON STAFF TO TWEAK THE LANGUAGE SO THAT IT IS, IS MORE CONSISTENT.
AND IF I, AND IF I MADE SURE, I THINK SO.
I, I DRAFTED A BIT FROM, UH, THE MEMO FROM, FROM CODE HERE.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH IT AND I ADDING, UH, YOU KNOW, CONCEPTS FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ PRESENTED AND PERHAPS ALSO SOME CLARIFYING LANGUAGE THAT THE OIG MAY WANNA HAVE ON THE, ON THE TAX THING THAT WE CAN ALL ENCOMPASS.
SO ME, I'M GONNA TRY TO READ THROUGH THIS, BUT I THINK IT, IT GETS EVERYTHING TO THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU WERE SPEAKING TO.
SO I THINK IT'S A RETURN TO COMMISSIONER OF THE FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION PREPARED ORDINANCE TO, UH, TO HAVE A CITY REQUIREMENT THAT REQUIRES ALL FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS TO PLACE A BRIGHT, UH, HIGHLY VISIBLE STAMP AT THE TOP OF A CUSTOMER'S RECEIPTS WHENEVER GRATUITY SERVICE CHARGES OR SIMILAR AUTOMATIC FEES ARE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL BILL AND WILL INCLUDE CONCEPTS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER EZ AND ANY CLARIFYING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OIGI THINK THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION.
[01:00:01]
FURTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS WHOLE ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, UH, THING THAT WE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE.UH, AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM THIS COMMISSION, WE WANT TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO HELP, UH, OUR STAFF THAT'S WORKING AT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND PERHAPS THAT'S NOT ALWAYS 100% ALIGNED.
UM, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES ALSO AREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, UH, THE STAFF THAT'S WORKING THERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
SO, SO WHO WILL MAKE THAT MOTION? I'LL MAKE IT, I'LL SECOND.
DO WE STILL HAVE COMMISSIONER BOT AS A PANELIST? IF WE WANT AN UPDATE ON OB FOUR? I THINK THIS SHOULD BE KIND OF TAKEN CARE OF GIVEN THE NEW, UH, PARKING FACILITY THAT CAME ONLINE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO, UH, SPEAK FOR HER.
MCDONALD, DO WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BOT OUTSIDE BENEFITS? SHE'S A PANELIST.
BECAUSE I MAY READ IN OB FOUR, SO WE'LL BRING UP OB FOUR O OB FOUR DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY
[OB 4. DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY ENTERING INTO ONE OR MORE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY OPERATORS IN NORTH BEACH IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES FOR NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS.]
OF CITY ENTERING INTO ONE OR MORE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY OPERATORS IN NORTH BEACH IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES FOR NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS.WELL, MCDONALD DIRECTOR OF PARKING.
SO, UM, THE PARKING DEPARTMENT IS GONNA CONTINUE TO EXHAUST ALL POSSIBILITIES, UM, WITH THIS ITEM.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT NORTH BEACH, UM, WITH CONTINUED EXPANSION THAT IS OCCURRING FOR ANYBODY THAT'S DRIVEN NEAR HAWTHORNE, INDIAN CREEK, UM, COLLINS, UM, OUR CHALLENGE IS RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PRIVATE OPERATORS IN THE MARKET.
UM, UH, WITH, WITH THE CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS UP THERE, OBVIOUSLY THE BEEVILLE WAS, UH, UH, A GREAT FIND FOR THE CITY.
AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN THAT BEACH WALK IS GONNA BE TAKEN, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE STILL EVALUATING, AS I PLACED ON THE ITEM, SOME ITEMS THAT WE THINK WILL HAVE A, A GREAT EFFECT.
UH, THE, THE BANDSHELL ONE WAY VALET PILOT, I'LL ADMIT DURING FIFA, UH, BECAUSE OF THE DO VILLE BEING OPEN AND WE HAD A SHUTTLE PROGRAM, WE THOUGHT THAT THE SPACES NEAREST TO THE BANDSHELL WERE GONNA BE BETTER USED FOR PARKING AND SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE DO VILLE, UM, THE, THE WEST LOTS.
RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY WERE, YOU KNOW, STAYING AWAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BRING ANYTHING TO THE COMMISSION.
AND WHEN THE 72ND, IF AND WHEN THE 72ND STREET PROJECT GOES INTO EFFECT, WE ARE GOING TO WORK.
I, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO BE, UH, WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS TO CREATE A TROLLEY OR SHUTTLE LOOP BETWEEN THE VILLE AND THE WEST.
LOTS THAT ARE ALREADY PARKING LOTS IN AN ORDINARY THAT ARE UNDERUTILIZED TO CREATE A TIGHT TRANSPORTATION LOOP.
UM, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO, UM, OPEN TO RECEIVING, UM, I'LL SAY THERE, WE'RE OPEN TO LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO POSSIBLY HAVE, UH, UH, P THREE TYPE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN OUR PARKING LOTS AND OPEN TO ANYONE BRINGING ANY IDEAS TO US TO BUILD ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH THE CHAIR.
IF I MAY PLEASE, UH, WILL, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN BANGING OUR HEADS AGAINST, UH, SINCE I WAS ELECTED.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PRIVATELY OWNED LOTS, UM, ONE ON, UM, BAY DRIVE AND REST ESPLANADE THAT ARE MINIMALLY USED, UH, MINIMALLY USED.
I THINK THERE ARE 14 CARS IN THERE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
AND THEY HAVE ROOM FOR PROBABLY ANOTHER 20 TO 30 MORE.
THERE IS, UM, SIGNIFICANT OVERDEVELOPMENT OF PARKING SPACES THAT ARE UNDERUTILIZED AT 72ND STREET, UM, AT THE 72 PARK, UH, BUILDING.
HAVE WE REACHED OUT RECENTLY, UM, TO THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF THOSE LOTS? THE FIRST ONE IS A SMALL SURFACE LOT IN FRONT OF A MULTIFAMILY, UM, SINGLE STORY UNIT.
UM, AND I KNOW THREE YEARS AGO THE OWNER WAS RETICENT AND CONCERNED ABOUT INSURANCE ISSUES.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO, UM, THE CONCERNS THAT THE FOLKS AT 72 PARK MIGHT HAVE, BUT IT SURE WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO, UM, IMPROVING THEIR, UM, PERCEPTION AMONG THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY.
HAVE WE REVISITED ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE TWO AND ANY OTHERS THAT I MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT? UM, SO COMMISSIONER, TO ADDRESS THE PARKING LOT IF, UH, WE COULD OFFLINE, UH, TO GET THAT ADDRESSED, 'CAUSE WE DEFINITELY HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO THEM.
[01:05:01]
STARTED OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH 72 PARK WITH A KIND OF A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH.WE ADDRESSED THE FIRST ON TEMPORARY, UH, STORAGE FOR THE ONE-WAY, UH, VALET FOR THE BANDSHELL.
UM, WE WERE LOOKING AT WHERE THAT WOULD SET UP.
UH, THEY WERE OPEN TO THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, WHEN WE ADDRESSED THE, HEY, WHAT IF WE TALKED ABOUT JUST TAKING OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THE GARAGE.
UM, THERE WAS LESS RECEPTION TO THAT, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE I, I THINK THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT, UH, THE OCCUPANCY OCCUPANTS OF THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING NOW OPENING IT UP TO PUBLIC PARKING.
AND I THINK THERE'S THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT PUBLIC PARKING, ESPECIALLY BEACH GOING PUBLIC PARKING, YOU KNOW, MIGHT INCLUDE INEBRIATED INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS WHO CARE, YOU KNOW, DON'T CARE ABOUT GARAGES AS MUCH.
AND SO YOU, THERE'S SOME PROTECTION OVER WHAT THEY CONSIDER A PRISTINE FACILITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BE AGGRESSIVE IN OUR APPROACH.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE IT MUCH MORE PUBLICLY AS A LOT AS, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED SOME PHOTOS OF THEIR SIGNS BEING OUT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UH, BUT IF WE COULD GET THAT ADDRESS FROM YOU OR YOUR TEAM MEMBERS, UH, FOR THE FLAT LOT, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER FLAT LOTS, UH, THAT WE HAVE, UH, DISCUSSED THERE.
THE FLAT LOT BEHIND THE CVS, WHICH I KNOW, UH, REMAINS RELATIVELY EMPTY THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU RUN INTO A SITUATION WITH SOME OF THESE PRIVATE LOTS WHERE IT'S NOT THEIR MAIN BUSINESS OR THEY'RE LEAVING IT EMPTY TO DEVELOP IT VERY SOON.
AND NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE ON THE LIABILITY ASPECT.
AND WE AS A CITY CAN'T INDEMNIFY THEM.
AND SO IT GETS INTO HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH FOR IT TO COVER LIABILITY INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT GETS INTO A VERY TOUGH SITUATION.
WILL, IF I COULD, UM, FOLLOW UP ON A COUPLE THINGS YES.
ON THE 72 PARK LOT, WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF JUST DOING IT, UM, MAKING IT AN OVERNIGHT LOT? SO A LAYING THE CONCERNS OF, UM, CARELESS BEACH GOERS PERHAPS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS UNFOUNDED IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, BUT WHATEVER.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONCERN IS THE NIGHTTIME EVENTS, PEOPLE GOING TO THE BANDSHELL FOR EVENTS WHEN THE BYRON CARLISLE GETS BUILT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S ACCESSIBLE.
UM, AND FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE JUST SCRAMBLING TRYING TO FIND PARKING, UM, MAYBE THAT'S A WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THE, UM, UH, WHAT WAS THE SECOND POINT? WHAT WAS YOUR LAST POINT? WILL? I'M SORRY.
SO WHEN YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, WELL, THE 74TH, 74TH, UM, UH, STREET LOT.
SO 7,400 COLLINS IS BEING REDEVELOPED AS A LIVE LOCAL PROJECT, WHICH IS DELIGHTFUL.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A ONE STORY BUILDING ON THAT SPOT, WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE AN 11 STORY BUILDING GOING ON TO ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND NARROWEST STRETCHES OF COLLINS.
CAN YOU WORK WITH, UM, DEBBIE T IN PLANNING AND SEE WHAT, IF ANY PLANS EXIST FOR THAT LOT NOW AND IF IT'S BEING INCORPORATED INTO THEIR BUILDING PLAN? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME OWNER, UM, BUT CAN WE WRAP THAT CONVERSATION INTO THIS AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA BECOME A REAL PROBLEM? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
LET'S, CFO YOU WANNA TAKE A STAB AT THIS? UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S A, A MOTION.
I THINK THIS WAS REALLY JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM FOR, FOR AN UPDATE.
BUT YEAH, I WOULD BE, IF, IF, IF THE COMMITTEE ALLOWS, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS.
AND SO IF THIS, IF THIS STAYS HERE, UM, TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY OR AN AVENUE TO COME BACK TO DISCUSS IT IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 30, 60, 90 DAYS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOME IDEAS OF MAYBE GOING TO 72 PARK AND NOT TO ASKING FOR OPERATION OF THE GARAGE, BUT, UM, FOR A PARTICULAR GUARANTEE, ENSURING THAT THEY OFFER A, THE RESIDENT DISCOUNT TO REGISTER RESIDENTS LIKE WE DO, THERE'S SOME TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS WE'D HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE ANOTHER ALTERNATE, UH, TO JUST SAY, HEY, NOT EVERYBODY BUT THE, YOU KNOW, REGISTERED RESIDENTS WILL GET THE REGISTERED RESIDENT DISCOUNT.
AND, AND HOW IS THE UTILIZATION OF THE NEW NORTH BEACH PARKING GARAGE? SO, I, I CAN'T SPEAK.
UM, I KNOW THAT I'VE DRIVEN UP INSIDE THERE PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, UM, ONCE EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS JUST TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
I FEEL IT'S ALWAYS EMPTY WHEN I DRIVE UP INSIDE THE GARAGE.
UM, BUT I, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD AS WELL.
AND I DON'T WANT TO USE JUST ANECDOTAL FEEDBACK LIKE MINE AND YOURS, BUT LET'S KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
UM, BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ALL HEAR ABOUT THE PARKING NEEDS UP THERE, LET, LET'S BE SURE THAT WE'RE MONITORING, UH, FACTUAL, YOU KNOW, EVIDENCE AND
[01:10:01]
THINGS LIKE THAT AND, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S DIFFERENT TWEAKS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN TO BE SURE THAT THAT GETS THE UTILIZATION THAT I THINK WE ALL THINK IT SHOULD.UM, BUT IF IT DOESN'T, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE DOGMATIC AND WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
I THINK, I THINK WITH THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY, THERE'S, THERE'S PROBABLY TWO STRIKES AGAINST IT.
ONE, UH, NOBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S A PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE.
UH, 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY FACE ITSELF LIKE THAT.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT'S NOT PART OF PROBABLY THE INITIAL BUSINESS MODEL.
AND TWO, AT THE $4 AN HOUR RATE, WHERE IN NORTH BEACH, EVERYBODY IS GENERALLY ACCUSTOMED TO THE $1 AN HOUR NO MATTER WHAT.
UM, THERE'S PROBABLY LIKE, I WILL DO ANYTHING.
I CAME TO NORTH BEACH NOT TO PAY $4 AN HOUR LIKE WE DO IN SOUTH BEACH AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF I MAY.
UM, I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT IT'S UNDERUTILIZED RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK, UM, WHEN THE 72ND STREET COMPLEX STARTS, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND THOSE 350 SPOTS GO AWAY, UM, IT WILL BECOME VERY HIGHLY UTILIZED.
SIMILARLY, THERE'S A BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR THE BLOCKS JUST NORTH OF THAT PARKING GARAGE, UM, WHERE THERE IS CURRENTLY RESIDENT PARKING IN ZONE 26, AND AGAIN, UH, ZONE 26 RESIDENTS CAN PARK IN THE GARAGE FOR FREE.
ONCE THAT PARKING GOES OFFLINE, UM, THE DOVAL GARAGE WILL DEFINITELY BE, UM, MUCH MORE HIGHLY UTILIZED THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE CAN SHARE THE ITEM HEARD AND THE RETURN WITH AN ADDITIONAL UPDATED, APPROPRIATE TIME.
WHILE WE HAVE COMMISSIONER B ON THE LINE, UH, COMMISSIONER MOD, YOU BROUGHT UP THE, THE ISSUE OF ONE, THE 72ND STREET, UM, COMMUNITY CENTER GOES UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE LOSS OF THE PARKING.
UM, COMMISSIONER BI JUST WANT TO PUT OUT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I KNOW WE HAVE TWO ITEMS PENDING AT NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT A UNIFIED VALE SYSTEM, 1 4 40 FIRST STREET, ANOTHER ONE, UH, FOR, FOR SOUTH BEACH, BUT PERHAPS IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL, UM, JUST THROWING OUT THERE THE IDEA TO YOU COMMISSIONER, UM, TO EXPLORE FOR THAT AREA, PERHAPS A UNIFIED VALE SYSTEM TO, TO, TO HELP FACILITATE PARKING IN IN THAT AREA.
JUST WANTED TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, SINCE WE'RE IN THE SUNSHINE, UH, TO PLANT THAT SEED IN YOUR HEAD, COMMISSIONER.
I, I'M DEFINITELY, UM, UH, REVIEW THAT WITH INTEREST AND LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSIONS AT NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M MINDFUL OF NOT ADDING COST TO ANYBODY'S PARKING, UH, EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH WILL AND WITH JOSE AND TRANSPORTATION ABOUT HAVING PARKING TROLLEY CIRCUITS SO THAT, UM, YOU CAN HOP ON, HOP OFF A TROLLEY, GET FROM YOUR PARKING SPOT TO YOUR DESTINATION, WHETHER IT'S THE BANDSHELL OR, UM, YOU KNOW, A RESTAURANT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE, THE, THE PATH.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THERE ARE TWO VERY VIABLE, UM, WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO MAKE THIS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, WHY DON'T WE HEAR, UH, MB 11.
[NB 11. REFERRAL TO DISCUSS ELIMINATING THE CURRENT 30-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR NEW CITY EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE BENEFITS, INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PLAN PARTICIPANTS INSURED UNDER THE CITY'S SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN, AND TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTING COVERAGE EFFECTIVE UPON HIRE.]
REFERRAL TO DISCUSS ELIMINATING THE CURRENT 30 DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR NEW CITY EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE BENEFITS INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PLAN PARTICIPANTS INSURED UNDER THE CITY'S SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN, AND TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTING COVERAGE EFFECTIVE UPON HIRE MB 11.AND THIS ITEM IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UM, I'VE ALWAYS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE 30 DAY, UH, WAIT PERIOD.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, UH, THAT MIGHT BE LEAVING ONE JOB, COMING TO ANOTHER JOB, OR PERHAPS PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE EMPLOYED AT, AT THE MOMENT THAT HAVE NO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
AND THEN, UH, START, UH, AND BE FACING THIS, UH, 30 DAY WAIT PERIOD.
I KNOW NOTHING IS AS SIMPLE AS IT APPEARS, UM, BUT IF YOU ALLOW ME, MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO WALK US THROUGH THIS ITEM.
LP, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
THIS WOULD BE THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION AS FAR AS, UM, THE ELIMINATION OF THE WAITING PERIOD.
IT WOULD COME WITH A COST, UH, AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
AND I DO WANT TO, UM, MENTION TO THE COMMISSION THAT ADMINISTRATIVE COST WOULD INCLUDE A, UH, AN ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT IN ORDER TO, UM, DO THE WORK OF MAINTAINING THAT EARLIER ENROLLMENT PERIOD, UH, SORRY, WAITING PERIOD, UH, ELIMINATION OF THE WAITING PERIOD, THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD, WHICH WOULD BE 30 DAYS, EVEN IF YOUR COVERAGE BECAME EFFECTIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON
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DAY ONE, WE WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AN ENROLLMENT PERIOD OF 30 DAYS TO ALLOW THE EMPLOYEE TIME TO MAKE A DECISION.WALK ME THROUGH WHY WOULD, UH, REQUIRE AN EXTRA HEADCOUNT? SO SOME OF THE DETAILS, UM, ARE IN THE MEMO TO SUMMARIZE, UM, LET'S SAY I, I START AND I HAVE THIS 30 DAY TIME TO MAKE A DECISION IN THAT 30 DAY TIME TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW, UM, THE DEDUCTIONS WOULD NOT BE SET UP.
SO AFTER THE EMPLOYEE, UH, WOULD MAKE A DECISION, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND PUT IN THE DEDUCTIONS BACK TO DAY ONE, DEPENDING ON THE PLAN THAT THEY CHOOSE, AND PRORATE THAT BASED ON THEIR DATE OF HIRE.
RIGHT NOW, OUR DEDUCTIONS ARE, ARE BASICALLY THE FIRST OF THE MONTH, AND SO THEY SORT OF ALIGN WITH, UM, A REGULAR PATTERN, AND THERE'S NOT ANY PRO RATING GOING ON.
SO THIS WOULD PRORATE EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S, UM, PERIOD BACK TO THEIR DATE OF HIRE.
THAT WOULD BE ONE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
THEN YOU HAVE TO RECONCILE THE BILLS WITH THE CARRIERS TO MATCH THAT, UH, DATE AFTER THEY'RE ENROLLED.
AND YOU SUBMIT THAT, UH, EMPLOYEE INFORMATION TO THE CARRIERS, UM, THEY'VE ALREADY BILLED YOU AND NOW THEY HAVE TO GO BACK EVERY MONTH AND ADJUST THE BILL FOR THE INDIVIDUALIZED ENROLLMENT PERIODS FROM THE PRIOR MONTH.
IT'S JUST GONNA COME WITH A, A, A HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
AND, AND GENERAL BALLPARK, HOW MANY HEALTHCARE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE THAT START NEW, UH, WITHIN MIAMI BEACH, LET'S CALL IT EACH MONTH? I, I GUESS I, UNDER, SO OUR PART, PART-TIMERS DON'T HAVE HEALTHCARE, BUT WE, OUR PART-TIMERS ARE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR, UM, EMPLOYEE BASE, OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
I WOULD, I'M GONNA JUST GUESS, I, UH, I DON'T HAVE THIS NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES ELECT THE HEALTH COVERAGE.
BUT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT NEW EMPLOYEES.
DO WE HAVE, I WOULD ASSUME LESS THAN 10 NEW EMPLOYEES PER MONTH, RIGHT? THAT ARE FULL TIME? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO I'M TRYING TO DO MATH IN MY HEAD.
WE, WE HIRE ABOUT 200 EMPLOYEES A YEAR.
SO THEN DIVIDING THAT BY THE, SO ABOUT 10 TO 12, WELL, 10 TO 15, RIGHT? THEY'RE KIND OF, THEY KIND OF CLUSTER DEPEND BECAUSE OF COURSE, POLICE AND FIRE, PARTICULARLY CLUSTER EMPLOYEES.
I DO WANNA MENTION THAT THIS, THIS, THIS ITEM IS WRITTEN TO JUST APPLY TO THE, THE CITY OFFERED BENEFITS.
POLICE AND FIRE HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH TRUST, AND RIGHT NOW THEIR HEALTH TRUST ALIGN WITH THE, UM, THE 30 DAY, UH, WAIT PERIOD THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY DOES WITH OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND WE WOULD NEED TO BARGAIN ANY CHANGE TO THEIR ENROLLMENT, UH, EXCUSE ME, ANY CHANGE TO THEIR WAITING PERIOD.
AND IT, THE COSTS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS MEMO ARE JUST FOR THE CITY PLANS, NOT FOR THE HEALTH WORKERS.
SO I GUESS WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT THEN, MARLA, IF THAT 10 TO 15 NEW EMPLOYEES PER MONTH INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM, SO I, I KNOW JUST USING ABSOLUTE ESTIMATES, PUTTING MY YOU HAND IN THE FINGER IN THE AIR HERE, BUT WE'RE TALKING THREE TO FIVE MAYBE NEW EMPLOYEES PER MONTH.
I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT THAT WOULD TAKE A FULL DEDICATED NEW HEADCOUNT TO HELP BRING THAT ON THE, BECAUSE WE'RE SELF-INSURED, OUR, ALL OF OUR CLAIMS ARE PAID.
ALL OF OUR BILLING IS DONE, UM, WITH EACH CARRIER.
UM, IT IS, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UM, ONE FULL-TIME PERSON DEDICATED JUST TO BILLING AND TO ADJUST EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S INDIVIDUALIZED BILLS AND, AND, UM, DEDUCTIONS, NOT JUST TO START THEM, BUT TO GO BACK IN TIME AND READJUST THEM.
IT, IT WILL BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND, AND I APOLOGIZE IF IT'S IN THE MEMO, BUT THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE, WOULD THAT BE A ONE TIME THING TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM? OR IS THAT AN ANNUAL RECURRING COST? SO THE ANNUAL RECURRING COST IS THE ESTIMATE OF CLAIMS. YEP.
WHICH IS $325,000 FOR THE EXTRA DAYS OF CLAIMS WE WOULD BE PAYING.
AND THEN THE, UM, THE, THE REST OF THE ESTIMATE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ JUST AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ AND, AND MR. CHAIR, I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM SO THAT I CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM, UH, FROM MARLA AND THE HR DEPARTMENT.
IF, IF I COULD JUST GET A CLARITY POLICE AND FIRE, THEY DON'T GET, UH, HEALTH BENEFITS ON DAY ONE.
THEY'RE, UM, THE SAME AS THE CITY EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH THE CITY PLANS, WHICH IS, UM, 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST
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OF THE MONTH FROM THEIR DATE OF HIRE.BUT THAT, FOR ME, THAT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THE VERY MINIMUM POLICE AND FIRE POSITIONS, OCEAN RESCUE POSITIONS, ANY FULL-TIME POSITION WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON DAY ONE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S SUBJECT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROVISIONS.
UM, SO I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM SO THAT I CAN GET MORE, MORE INFORMATION FROM STAFF, BUT I'D BENEFIT FROM ANY OTHER FEEDBACK FROM THE DAYS THAT I CAN TAKE BACK WITH ME AS WE WORK ON THIS ITEM.
COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, THANK YOU.
UM, I KNOW I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR MIAMI BEACH TO ENTICE WORKERS.
DO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OFFER THIS ON DAY ONE? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
UM, THE COUNTY DOES, AND MOST MUNICIPALITIES DO HAVE A WAITING PERIOD OF 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS.
BUT THE COUNTY DOES OFFER DAY ONE.
UM, MARLA, THE, DURING THAT PERIOD, THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO WORKERS' COMP INSURANCE, RIGHT? SO IF THEY WERE INJURED IN THAT 30 DAY PERIOD, WORKERS' COMP WOULD STILL YES.
SO, JUST, JUST TO, TO CLARIFY THAT.
AND, AND JUST ONE LAST MOMENT, UM, I CAN ALSO APPROACH THE HEALTH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMMISSIONER THE, UM, CONVERSATION BEING BROADER THAN JUST CITY HEALTH PLAN AND ALSO, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE HEALTH TRUST.
SO WE CAN SHOW THE ITEM, ITEM WAS HEARD AND TO RETURN WITH AN UPDATE WHEN APPROPRIATE.
AND, UH, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO HEAR, LET ME KNOW.
BUT ABSENT THAT, I THINK WE'LL WRAP UP AFTER MB 12, UH, GIVEN WE HAVE A LONG NIGHT AHEAD.
[NB 12. DISCUSS A POTENTIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES REPORTING HUMAN OR SEX TRAFFICKING.]
12, DISCUSS, DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES, UH, REPORTING HUMAN OR SEX TRAFFICKING MB 12.UM, SO THIS IS MY ITEM AND, YOU KNOW, I'D, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS A INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT HUMAN, SUSPECTED HUMAN OR SEX TRAFFICKING.
THIS WOULD ONLY BE PAID OUT IF IT LEADS TO A CONVICTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE CALLS AND THEY SUSPECT SOMETHING, IT'S LIKE A CRIME.
UH, CRIME STOPPERS IF THEY CALL AND SUSPECT SOMETHING, AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE, UM, NOT A, UH, A REAL SITUATION.
UM, IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, RINGING THE ALARM BELL ON SUSPICIONS, BUT THIS WOULD ONLY BE PAID OUT IF IT LED TO, UH, ARREST AND CONVICTION.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS COULD BE A GREAT PROGRAM SINCE WE HAVE SUCH A, A, UM, A, A, A LARGE, YOU KNOW, POPULATION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING AND COMBATING THAT, BUT IT, IT HELPS TO HAVE PEOPLE, FRONTLINE WORKERS THAT ARE IN OUR HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A VERY WORTHWHILE PROGRAM.
AND, HELLO, UH, OFFICER ROBINSON, CHIEF MAJOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT RANK YOU ARE AT THIS POINT.
I CURRENTLY OVERSEE, UH, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION, OBVIOUSLY OUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO ONCE FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED FOR THIS, I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO CRIME STOPPERS TO SEE IF THERE'S A PROGRAM WE CAN PUT IN PLACE FOR, UH, FOLKS CALLING IN, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND THAT LEADS TO A SUCCESSFUL ARREST, UM, SPOKEN TO STAFF, OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SQUAD AND LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS.
UM, IF POSSIBLE, WE DON'T WANT IT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED WHERE IT'S JUST HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES, BUT MORE SO EVERYBODY OR ANYBODY THAT CALLS IN A COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION A TIP ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO IT WOULD GO THAT SOMEBODY CALLS IT IN AND I BELIEVE THERE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING OCCURRING HERE.
UM, OUR DETECTIVES WOULD INVESTIGATE THAT, UH, VET IT TO SEE IF IT'S ACCURATE, IF IT IS ACCURATE, AND THERE IS AN ARREST MADE AS A RESULT, WE WOULD THEN CONTACT OUR FRIENDS OVER AT CRIME STOPPERS.
THERE'S A CERTAIN, UM, POT OF MONEY SET ASIDE JUST FOR THAT.
AND WE PUT THE TWO OF THEM IN CONNECTION, THEREBY, HOPEFULLY, UM, THEY WOULD GET A REWARD FOR CALLING IN THAT TOO.
AND, AND CRIME STOPPERS, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AS WELL.
THEY'RE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY, AND I WANNA JUST CONFIRM WITH YOUR CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH THEM, THEY WOULD EARMARK ANY TYPE OF DOLLARS FOR CASES THAT EITHER ORIGINATED IN MIAMI BEACH, OR MAYBE THE PERPETRATOR WAS CAUGHT IN MIAMI BEACH, BUT THERE WAS A MIAMI BEACH CONNECTION WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE THAT, THOSE FUNDS EARMARKED FOR FOLKS THAT WHERE THE YES, MA'AM.
SO IT WOULD BE MIAMI BEACH CENTRIC.
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THAT CALLED IN A TIP ON MIAMI BEACH, AND IF THERE WAS AN ARREST MADE ON MIAMI BEACH, THAT POT OF MONEY SET ASIDE WOULD JUST BE FOR THAT, UH, THAT PURPOSE.UM, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A POT THERE OR IS IT, UH, WE CAN ADVERTISE THIS PROGRAM AND TO THE EXTENT THAT, UH, IT'S UTILIZED, THEN WE COULD DO, UH, KINDA A ENTER YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT? I, I WOULD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT WOULD BE HANDLED THROUGH, UH, AN ALLOCATION.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE FINALIZED TONIGHT.
UM, SO THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS THE COMMITTEE CAN, CAN GO FORWARD WITH THIS IS, YOU KNOW, TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, UM, WITH THE FUNDING BE MULTIPLE WAYS.
IT CAN BE EITHER TO BE CREATED AS A, A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED DURING THE 2028 BUDGET PROCESS.
UH, IT COULD BE HANDLED TONIGHT WITH ONE TIME MONEY, PERHAPS AN ALLOCATION OF $75,000, $50,000, SOME DOLLAR VALUE.
UH, SO THERE'S A POT OF MONEY ON A ONE-TIME BASIS, UM, THAT COULD BE GIVEN TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, AND WHEN THAT POT IS, IS IT COULD BE ROLLED OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR AS IF IT ISN'T UTILIZED.
AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLENISHED, THE, THE POLICE COULD BRING BACK A ONETIME BUDGET ENHANCEMENT IN A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE OR WHATEVER THE BUCKET IS.
UH, REPLEN, UH, NEEDS TO BE REPLENISHED.
UH, BUT SO GO BACK TO THE COMMISSION DIRECT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THAT THE, BUT YOU DO NEED TO HAVE DOLLARS TO IDENTIFY TO DO THAT.
SO I CAN, AGAIN, EITHER BE HANDLED THROUGH, WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THINGS ARE GONNA START CONVERTING PROBABLY IN OCTOBER TO RECOMMEND TO BE A BUDGET ENHANCER 28, BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THE NIGHT, SO I MEAN, THE SPONSOR IS HERE.
UM, SO THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REQUEST AN ALLOCATION OF ONE TIME MONEY.
SO AS PART OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR, UM, A A, A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT'S COMING UP, THE PART OF THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GO SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS THIS.
SO, SO MAYBE PERHAPS IT COULD JUST BE TO IMPLEMENT TO, LEMME SEE RETURNING COMMISSION WITH A FEDERAL RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT, UH, THE HUMAN OR SEX TRAFFICKING REPORTING INCENTIVE PROGRAM AS PRESENTED, UH, WITH FUNDING, UM, WITH, WITH FUNDING AS, AS IDENTIFIED IN A, WAS IT DEVELOPMENT ORDER? I, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'LL BE CONTINGENT ON THE REFERENDUM.
BUT PERHAPS, YEAH, IF THAT DOESN'T PASS, THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
SO, SO IF I MAY, SO AGAIN, RETURNING COMMISSION WITH THE FRAME OF RECOMMENDATION, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENT, UH, HUMAN OR SEX TRAFFICKING REPORTING INCENTIVE PROGRAM, UH, AS PRESENTED AND, UH, TO BE, UH, AS PRESENTED.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE, THE FUNDING ALLOCATION.
SO, UH, IF IT ISN'T THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY LY ANOTHER REFERRAL TO DISCUSS BUDGET ENHANCER 28, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION, UM, ASSUMING THE REFERENDUM GOES IN, THEN THE POLICE WOULD HAVE THEIR, THEIR ALLOCATION WHEN THOSE FUNDS ARE RECEIVED AND THE PROGRAM COULD BE ROLLED OUT.
IF I, WHO'S MAKING THAT MOTION, I CAN MAKE THAT MOTION.
HEARING THE AND PASSES THREE, NOTHING UNLESS YOU'RE SORRY FOR, UH, THE EXTENSION.
UH, BUT I GOT A MESSAGE, UH, AND B BEFORE LET'S, UH, HEAR THAT AND THEN WE CAN CLOSE THINGS OUT.
[NB 4. DISCUSS THE ESTIMATED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING WATER TAXI AND CONNECTOR SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR FOUR (4) DAYS OF THE BOAT/YACHT SHOW, INCLUDING WATER TAXI VESSELS, CONNECTOR SHUTTLES, AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.]
BEFORE DISCUSS THE ESTIMATED COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING WATER, TAXI AND CONNECTOR SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR FOUR DAYS OF BOAT YOP SHOW, INCLUDING WATER, TAXI VESSELS, CONNECTOR SHUTTLES, AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, JOSE GONZALEZ, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
SO EVERY, EVERY YEAR WE WORK WITH INFORMA AND WITH THE BOAT SHOW TO DEVELOP THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THAT, THAT YEAR OF BOAT SHOW.
HISTORICALLY BOAT SHOW, UH, PROVIDES ITS OWN TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, MEANING AT NO COST TO THE CITY, AND THEY PROVIDE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE, ROBUST NETWORK OF SERVICES.
UM, AND SO QUITE HONESTLY, WE'VE ALWAYS USED THEM AS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNER WHO COMES TO OUR CITY AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR EVENT IS GOING TO, UH, CREATE SOME TRAFFIC IMPACTS, BUT THEY, ALONG WITH THEIR EVENT, THEY ALSO BRING SOME SOLUTIONS.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY JUST VERY RECENTLY ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, INFORMA, UH, COMMUNICATED WITH THE CITY AND THEY, THEY SENT A LETTER WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM.
AND IN THAT LETTER, UH, INFORMA IS REQUESTING THE OPERATION OF EIGHT WATER TAXI VESSELS AS PART OF THEIR UPCOMING 2027, UH, BOAT SHOW.
UM, AND SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE, WE'VE AT LEAST LOOKED AT WHAT THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR REQUEST AND WHAT IT WOULD COST, WHAT THEY'RE, AND JOSE, TO CLARIFY, THEY WERE ASKING US TO BEAR THE COST OF THAT, OR THEY WERE
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SYNCED.THEY'RE ASKING THE CITY TO BEAR THE COST OF THIS ENHANCED WATER TAXI SERVICE FOR, UH, BOAT SHOW 2027.
AND I CALL IT ENHANCED BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE COMPLIMENTING OUR CURRENT WATER TAXI SERVICE, SUCH THAT OUR CURRENT WATER TAXI SERVICE WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE, BUT, UH, THE SERVICE WOULD BE AUGMENTED.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE EIGHT, YOU KNOW, EIGHT VESSELS COME IN.
AS, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, WE ONLY OPERATE TWO VESSELS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND THAT'S AT MOST, UM, DURING THE AFTERNOON PERIOD, IT'S TWO VESSELS.
ALL OTHER TIMES IT'S ONLY ONE VESSEL.
SO WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THEIR REQUEST AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE, YOU KNOW, USING OUR, THE CAUSE FOR WATER TAXI SERVICE AS WELL AS, UM, THE, THE CAUSE FOR ART WEEK, WE USE THAT AS A BASIS AND WE TOOK THOSE ESTIMATES, PRORATED THEM, AND FOR FIVE DAYS OF BOAT SHOW TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT INFORMA IS REQUESTING, UH, OF THE CITY, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $135,000 FOR THE FIVE DAYS.
THERE'S A CERTAIN LEVEL OF IRONY THAT THE BOAT SHOW, UH, HAS PULLED BACK THEIR BOAT SERVICE AND ASKING THE CITY TO DO SO.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, WE HAVE STAFF HERE THAT WAS, UH, TASKED WITH NEGOTIATING, BUT WAS THE MOVE BACK TO ALONG INDIAN CREEK.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE GOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT WAS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE, UM, MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT INFORMA PUT FORWARD THAT WOULD HELP MITIGATE TRAFFIC.
OF, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WAS HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT TRAFFIC ALONG INDIAN CREEK.
AND I CAN REMEMBER HAVING MEETINGS WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES THERE AND THEY LAID OUT A PLAN AND SAID, WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS CONTINGENT ON THE TRAFFIC, UH, CONTRACT BEING EXECUTED OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY A SELLING POINT, IF YOU WILL, FOR INSTANCE, MAYBE YOU WANT TO COME UP AND TALK TO THAT.
UM, THAT HAPPENED IN YEAR ONE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY I'M CONCERNED, BUT, UM, POINTING OUT THAT NOW IN YEAR TWO, WHAT WAS USED AS KIND OF A CARROT FOR HOW WE COULD GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMFORTABLE MOVING IT BACK TO INDIAN CREEK, THAT THAT'S SORT OF BEEN TAKEN AWAY ANY RHYME OR REASON FOR WHY THAT HAPPENED AND THANK YOU.
WHY SHOULD LOOK AT IT AS LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH.
FRANCIS VAIO, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF TOURISM AND CULTURE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE KEY POINTS OF PART OF THE NEGOTIATION FOR THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY MADE SURE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC AND CLOSURES.
NO CLOSURES WERE EVEN ALLOWED ON COLLINS.
AND THEIR LOAD IN AND LOAD OUTS ARE LIMITED TO TIMES THAT ARE NOT DURING RUSH HOUR.
IN THE AGREEMENT, IT DOES STATE THAT PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT A TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE, UH, WATER TAXIS, WHICH IS SOMETHING, AS JOSE ALLUDED TO, IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE.
I THINK THE CONVERSATION MAY HAVE COME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THE CITY HAS DONE DURING ART WEEK, AND MAYBE THEY'RE LEANING ON THAT AND, AND NOTICING, UH, THAT THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE PARTICIPATED WITH JOSE ON THESE MEETINGS.
UM, WE'VE SHARED THAT DURING ART WEEK THERE'S CLOSE TO 30 EVENTS.
UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT FAIRS WHERE, VERSUS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, IT'S JUST ONE, WHICH IS A, A MAJOR EVENT.
IT'S A, AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE CITY.
CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY, BUT, AND WHAT IS ALSO UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THE OFFICIAL AR BASEL THAT WE HOST, THEY'RE NOT HAVING ONE OF THEIR OFFICIAL EVENTS ON INDIAN CREEK, SO THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT WHERE FOREMAN CAME TO US AND SAID, HERE'S THIS IDEA.
WE'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO INDIAN CREEK TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND NOW THAT'S KIND OF THE RUG'S KIND OF BEING PULLED OUT FROM UNDER US.
UM, TELL ME, DO WE HAVE A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT IN PLACE, UH, WITH THE BOAT SHOW HAVING IT THERE? WE DO.
I CAN CONFIRM, BUT IT'S A MULTI-YEAR.
SO IS THAT PART OF THE, IT'S NOT A SPONSORSHIP, IT'S JUST ABOUT THEM PROVIDING FURRY SERVICE? I'M SORRY? IS THAT PART OF THE CONTRACT? UH, NO, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE IT, IT JUST SAYS THAT AS YOUR MOBILITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THAT THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS, BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE IT THROUGH THE CHAIR BECAUSE I PULLED UP THE CONTRACT.
UM, AND I THINK FRANCIS IS, IS CORRECT, BUT THEY MUST PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR ATTENDEES TO LIMIT THE USE OF PRIVATE VEHICLES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL SHOW.
SO WE DON'T SPECIFY WHETHER IT'S WATER, TAXIS
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OR SHUTTLES.WE HAVE AN IN PARENTHESES EXAMPLE, WATER, TAXIS AND SHUTTLES.
BUT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO USE SHUTTLES OR, OR WATER TAXIS.
UH, ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
I DON'T SEE THE INCENTIVE FOR US TO SAY, OH, WE'RE GONNA SUBSIDIZE THIS THROUGH THE TUNE OF $130,000 FOR IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A CONTRACT OF WHAT, FIVE YEARS, UH, THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE WHERE THE ENTIRETY OF WHY WE GOT COMFORTABLE MOVING IT INTO HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS BE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLANS THAT WERE PITCHED BY THE, UH, SPONSOR OR EXHIBITOR MM-HMM
IS THERE ANY, AND SORRY IF THIS HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY, BUT IS THERE ANY FUNDING THAT THE COUNTY CAN HELP US WITH ON THIS ASPECT? UM, THEY'RE DOING IT HERE, BUT IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
CAN THEY HELP? SO, UM, WE HAVEN'T BROACHED THE COUNTY WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR FOR ART WEEK AND EVERY YEAR THE COUNTY ESSENTIALLY SAYS NO, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO PARTICIPATE, UH, FOR ART WEEK.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MUCH MORE REGIONAL EVENT AND WE'VE ASKED THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE REGIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES, MORE BUSES, MORE FREQUENT SERVICE ACROSS THE CAUSEWAYS AND YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE COUNTY HAS, UM, YOU KNOW, DENIED THAT REQUEST IF IT'S EITHER FUNDING RELATED OR THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS OR SOME.
AND IS THE CONTRACT WITH, UH, THE BOAT SHOW ALREADY SIGNED AND ALL SET, CAN THEY STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND OFFER MORE SO THAT THEIR SHOW IS EASED? YOU MEAN IS THE FOR THE YACHT SHOW? FOR THE YACHT SHOW, YES, IT WAS.
SO LA THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND, UH, EVENT IN 2027.
AND WITHIN THE AGREEMENT, IS THERE ANY, UM, FINANCIAL, UH, TO THE CITY, ARE THEY GIVING US ANY MONEY? THEY DO.
UH, IT'S, I BELIEVE, IS IT ALREADY EARMARKED? CAN IT BE YES.
CAN ANY OF IT BE PUT TOWARDS THIS? AND ORIC HAS IT UP, SO YOU COULD PROBABLY SAY THE EXACT LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S 250,000 AND IT'S USED FOR THE RESTORATION OF BISCAY, RESTORATION OF BI.
I'M JUST, I'M GONNA BE VERY SINCERE ABOUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA TIE PROBABLY TO OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT, THAT OUR BODY IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSING IN IN THE FUTURE.
I I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THESE, THESE ENTITIES MAKE A LOT OF MONEY BY COMING TO MIAMI BEACH.
AND, UH, AND THIS DAY IS, HAS HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GIVE OUT SPECIFICALLY ACTUALLY FOR NON-PROFIT ENTITIES.
AND HERE WE HAVE A FOR-PROFIT VENTURE THAT MAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM BEING HERE IN OUR CITY.
WHY WOULD WE SUBSIDIZE THIS FOR THEM? IT'S IN THEIR AGREEMENT THAT IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT WE SET, UH, AND THE MESSAGE THAT WE SEND TO OTHER FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS, UM, THAT, THAT CHOOSE US AS, AS THEIR VENUE.
THEY ARE HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND TO PAY TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
THE CITY IS NOT HERE TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR FOR-PROFIT VENTURES.
UM, AND THAT I THINK APPLIES, IT APPLIES IN THIS CASE, UH, TO, TO THE YACHT SHOW, UM, AND IT'S GONNA APPLY TO OTHER FOR-PROFIT SHOWS THAT ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE CITY.
AND SO I WANT TO JUST SET A VERY, A VERY, YOU KNOW, BROAD MESSAGE OUT THERE AS IT RELATES TO THESE TYPES OF SUBSIDIES.
YEAH, AND I, I AGREE WITH YOU.
UM, I DON'T MEAN TO BE DRAMATIC BUT RUBBED THE WRONG WAY, IF YOU WILL, BY JUST THE TIMING OF THIS, WHERE IT WAS, WE HAD THIS BIG DOG AND PONY SHOW ABOUT LET'S MOVE IT HERE AND HERE'S ALL THE THINGS THAT THIS TREMENDOUS SPONSOR'S GOING TO DO.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, BY ALL MEANS, THEY'RE A GREAT PARTNER AND A VALUED PARTNER TO THE CITY.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THE YEAR AFTER WE AGREED TO THIS, TO ALL OF A SUDDEN COME BACK IF WE WERE AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT AND WE SAID, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE NEGOTIATED.
BUT WE SHOWED TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD FAITH AND WE WERE LEFT IN A WAY LOBBYING OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR RESIDENTS TO SAY, PLEASE TRUST US.
IT MAY NOT BE GREAT FOR THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS ALREADY CONGESTED,
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BUT HERE'S ALL THE MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH TO TRY AND OBTAIN.AND NOW THAT'S JUST BEING PULLED OUT FROM UNDER US.
UH, ABSENT HEARING ANYTHING FURTHER, UH, THAT'S HOW I'M FEELING AT THE MOMENT.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, FRANCIS, YOU SAID THAT, I'M SORRY, THEY WERE PAYING THE CITY 250,000 TO GO TOWARDS WHAT NOW? UH, THE, THE RESTORATION OF BISCAYNE AND RICK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT UP.
IT'S, UM, FOR WATERWAY AND SPOIL ISLANDS CLEANUP, WATER QUALITY RESTORATION EFFORTS OR OTHER PROGRAMS, UH, WITH THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING OR MAINTAINING THE QUALITY HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE CITY'S WATERWAYS.
SO IT'S, IT'S EAR TIGHT, IT'S EARMARKED, EARMARKED FOR THAT MM-HMM
AND THEN, UM, IF THEY, UM, IF WE SAY NO TO FUNDING THIS, ARE THEY PREPARED? HAVE THEY GIVEN ANY INDICATION THAT THEY WILL THEN PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES OR THEY WILL HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO SUBSIDIZE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.
I KNOW THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM INFORMA HERE EARLIER, BUT I I, I DON'T SEE THEM HERE NOW.
UM, THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION.
AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
BASED ON OUR CONTRACT WITH THE WATER TAXI, UM, IF THEY WERE TO SAY, IF WE DECLINE THIS OFFER AND THEN WE JUST HAVE OUR TWO BOATS, ARE THEY ABLE TO BRING IN SOMEONE ON, YOU KNOW, A YACHT THAT'S NOT OUR CONTRACTED PRO PROVIDER TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR WATERWAYS? OR DO THEY HAVE TO GO WITH OUR CONTRACTED NO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH OURS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, FOR THE FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW, THEY USE, UM, THEY USE THEIR VENDOR THAT THEY PROCURE HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME VENDOR WE CURRENTLY HAVE HERE FOR OUR WATER TAXI SERVICES.
BUT IT'S, IT'S AN ENGAGEMENT THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, UH, TAKE THE LEAD ON AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH OUR VENDOR.
HOW WAS THE UTILIZATION? I KNOW THAT THE FERRY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE MAINLAND WAS VERY HEAVILY UTILIZED.
UM, AM I RIGHT IN THINKING, JOSE, IS THIS THE INCREASE, THE AMOUNT AND FREQUENCY OF THAT? OR IS THIS MORE FOR GETTING FROM ANOTHER AREA TO THE MARINA THAT'S SET UP IN INDIAN CREEK? SO IT WOULD BE THE, THE SAME SERVICE ACROSS BISCAYNE BAY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING, UH, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAYS.
SO FROM THE VENETIAN MARINA AT THE CITY OF MIAMI AND DOWNTOWN MIAMI TO MAUR GI MEMORIAL PARK, IT WOULD BE THAT SERVICE.
SO DID WE DO ANY TYPE OF FURRY SERVICE TO THE INDIAN CREEK, UM, PROJECT SPOT? NOT CURRENTLY NOR WOULD BOAT SHOW UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, THEY WOULD COMPLIMENT THE WATER TAXI SERVICE WITH SHUTTLES TO, TO, UH, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
BUT THAT PART IS NOT CHANGING THAT, THAT'S ALL PART OF THEIR, THAT'S ALL PART OF THEIR TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
HOWEVER, THAT COMPONENT OF IT, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD, UH, FUND.
SO THE SHUTTLE, THAT PART I, I DID MISUNDERSTAND.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST ABOUT ENHANCING THE SERVICE BACK AND FORTH ON BISQUE BAY, UH, BETWEEN WATER TAXES, THE MAINLANDS.
UM, SO THEN, SO LAST YEAR DID WE HAVE ENHANCED SHUTTLE BOAT, WATER TAXI SERVICE THIS ROUTE? WAS THERE ANY TYPE OF ENHANCEMENT LAST YEAR THAT EITHER THEY PAID FOR OR WE PAID FOR JUST OUR, WELL, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE OUR WATER TAXI SERVICE, SO LAST YEAR WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WATER TAXI SERVICE.
WE HAD NOT INITIATED, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S SERVICE YET.
AND THE BOAT SHOW DID NOT PROVIDE WATER TAXI SERVICE IN LIEU OF THAT.
THEY PROVIDED SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND THEY'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT SAME SHUTTLE SERVICE.
HAVE THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT SAME SHUTTLE SERVICE THAT THEY DID LAST YEAR? YES.
SO ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR US IS FOR US.
SO THEY'RE PROVIDING EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROVIDED LAST YEAR, BUT THEY'RE ASKING US FOR AN ENHANCEMENT.
UH, FOR THE WATER TAXI SERVICE.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THEY ARE PROPOSING TWO ADDITIONAL SHUTTLE ROUTES FOR 2027 AS COMPARED TO TO 2026.
BUT, BUT THOSE TWO, THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL SHUTTLE ROUTES ARE IN CONNECTION WITH THE WATER TAXI SERVICE.
IT'S THE WATER TAXI BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE WATER TAXI LAST YEAR.
SO THEY'RE ENHANCING THEIR SHUTTLE SERVICE RIGHT.
AND, AND IF I MAY TO PROVIDE MORE OF A CLARITY, THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD THE SHUTTLES AND THE FERRIES, BUT LAST YEAR THEY DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY MOVED THE
[01:45:01]
YACHT SHOW ONTO MIAMI BEACH.BUT I FEEL FROM CONVERSATIONS THEY PROB THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONGESTION IN THE CITY.
SO ALLOWING THE FERRY AND THE SHUTTLES ELIMINATE SOME CARS MOVING IN THE CITY TO ALLEVIATE.
UM, SO THEY'RE ENHANCING THEIR SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM WHAT THEY OFFERED US YEAR'S THEY'RE PROPOSING, BUT THEY WANT US TO ENHANCE OUR TR OUR WATER TAXI SERVICE, CORRECT? MM-HMM
UM, I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP OUT GETTING A LOGICAL SPONSOR ON THE WATERWAYS TO HELP WITH A FURRY SERVICE.
I MEAN, THE CRUISE LINES WOULD COME TO MIND, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMETHING AS PROMINENT AS THE BOAT SHOW, ONE OF THE BOAT SPONSORS THAT WOULD SEEM TO JUST FALL VERY HAND IN HAND, UH, ONE OF THE BOAT MANUFACTURERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
CAN WE HAVE CITY STAFF MAYBE WORK WITH, UH, INFORMA TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND A SPONSOR THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SPONSOR THE ENHANCED FERRY BACK AND FORTH FOR THAT WEEKEND? UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT A GOOD BOAT NAME WOULD BE, BUT, UH, NOT, NOT GOING THERE.
UM, BUT GRADY WHITE, YOU KNOW, BOAT SERVICER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, UH, JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE VERY LOGICAL FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BOAT SHOW SEEMS, SEEMS LIKE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT STAFF CAN, IF THE ITEM IS TO NOT MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WITH CITY FUNDING FOR THIS ENHANCED LEVEL OF WATER TAXI AS AS I THINK, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ALREADY GONNA HAVE AN ENHANCED LEVEL IF WE, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FURRY LAST YEAR.
AND WE HAVE THE FURRY THIS YEAR.
SO THERE'S, THERE IS ENHANCED LEVEL IN THIS, THE CONCEPT THERE WAS NO WATER TAXI LAST YEAR AND THAT THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE A WATER TAXI.
BUT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDED, UM, IF THE IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMITTEE MAY BE KIND OF LETTING THAT LIE.
AND IF THIS ITEM IS JUST GONNA BE HEARD AND CLOSED, I THINK STAFF CAN STILL GO BACK AND SAY, LOOK, IT WAS HEARD A COMMITTEE, THERE WASN'T AN APPETITE, BUT THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WOULD RECOMMEND PERHAPS, AND THEY MAY, MAYBE THAT'S IN THEIR, THEIR PLAN B IS TO PERHAPS WORK WITH SPONSORS AND THAT WE COULD HELP FACILITATE IT BEING EXECUTED, BUT AT NO COST TO THE CITY THAT THEY WOULD'VE A SPONSOR FOR THE COMPANY.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I, I'D LIKE THIS TO TURN INTO.
MAYBE WE COULD, UH, HAVE STAFF WORK WITH, UH, INFORMA TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND A SPONSOR THAT WILL SPONSOR, UH, THAT'S RELATED TO THE BOAT SHOW THAT WOULD, UM, SPONSOR THE ENHANCED, UH, WATER TAXI SERVICE FOR THAT WEEK.
I THINK, I THINK STAFF HAS HEARD THAT AND I THINK STAFF CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO GO COME OUTTA COMMITTEE.
I, I, I THINK IT CAN, IF THAT'S THE INTENT IS JUST TO, TO BE HEARD AND I SEE RICK RAVI, CIII AGREE.
I I BELIEVE THAT STAFF WOULD BE HELPFUL TO INFORMA REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE SAID OR DIDN'T SAY, SO.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE.
SO IF, IF THE COMMITTEE'S SIGNED, WE CAN JUST SHOW THE ITEM HEARD AND CLOSED AND, BUT STAFF DID HERE THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THE, THAT THEY COULD WORK WITH INFORMA TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET A SPONSORSHIP TO HAVE AN, AN ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENT LEVEL.
SO WE'LL SHOW THE ITEM, HEARD AND CLOSED.
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO THAT CHAIR? NO, I THINK THAT'S ALL.
SO WE'LL SHOW THE MEETING ADJOURNED.