Welcome to the City of Miami Beach Commission Chambers.

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Mayor Steven Miner.

City Commissioners, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez.

Laura Dominguez.

Alex J.

Fernandez.

Tanya K.

Bott, David Suarez.

Joseph Magazine.

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Good morning, and welcome to our commission meeting of today, September seventeenth.

Thank you to my colleagues who are here, all our residents and guests who are in the chambers and obviously watching.

Ralph, any instructions?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

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Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

We're going to do the Pledge of Allegiance.

I think our whole country was horrified, no matter what side of the aisle anyone is on, the violence that we're seeing in our country against political figures, against political speech, the senseless violence, it's disgusting.

It has to end.

We can't continue as a country like this if we can't have an open and respectful dialogue, no matter how much we may disagree.

And just the rhetoric, the division is is it's it's so it's so disgusting to me.

I've I've always prided myself of staying positive, talking about the issues, and and I think I'm asking that we all, and not just here on my beach, but all of us in this country need to do the same.

We're not gonna be a better country from violence.

It's gonna destroy us.

So anyone who has that intent is just woefully wrong.

So I ask us to just do a moment of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk.

Thank you.

We do have a special guest with us today.

Um the widow of David Schachter, a man who is uh recently we lost, and we lost the giant.

He was a Holocaust survivor, but that doesn't even do justice to who he was as a person, to the message he brought.

I mean he lived through evil, lived through hell, yet brought such a positive message of good to the world and showed that good will always prevail over evil.

And I know I'm co-priming with uh my colleague Commissioner Suarez, um, and I'd like to think it's important that we recognize him and show a uh and all of us together show uh a short video.

My name is David Shachter.

I'm ninety-five years old, a proud American and a proud Jew, and a survivor of two Nazi concentration camps.

I'm a witness to the greatest act of anti-Semitism, where six million Jews were killed for no other reason other than being a Jew.

I am here reminding everyone that there is still thousands of survivors alive today, who are in desperate need and who cannot be forgotten.

My name is David Schachter.

I'm a Holocaust survivor, and also the guy who created the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach.

I uh would like to thank the uh Miami Beach Commissioners, and thank you for caring.

Thank you for noting for the anti-Semitic behavior that hadn't be fallen on our community, and you are concerned about it, and this really gives us hope, and I am uh very much aware, but our children are being very much affected, and they are as innocent as uh as innocent can mean and they are the mean and excluded, and of course you who commissioners are very much aware of it, and I want to thank you for it.

I want you to continue it.

I want you to try and stop this ugliness of anti-Semitism, this poisonous children's minds, and then the means of my people, and especially Jewish children.

I am very much grateful that thanking God that the community of Miami, Miami Beach, has not lost their humanity, and please keep on doing what you stand about.

And please keep on doing what you stand about.

I'd like to say a few things, Mr.

Mayor.

As many of you know, I along with the mayor and the city.

Was just sued by the anti-Jewish hate group, Jewish Voices for Peace.

And their lawsuit.

They aired a series of grievances against us that had nothing to do with the law.

They're allegedly challenging.

Instead, they attacked us for acts of compassion and solidarity.

For donating an ambulance and sending firefighters to help with the injured in Israel.

For declaring our friendship with the Israeli people, and for passing a resolution opposing anti-Semitic BDS movement.

On today's agenda, we will be expanding that resolution.

Because our city will never back down in the face of anti-Semitism.

David Schachter understood the struggle.

He understood it because he lived through the ultimate expression of hate.

Nearly six million Jews were murdered in killing sinners such as Auschwitz, primarily in gas chambers.

David was almost one of them.

At age eleven, he was taken to Auschwitz against all odds he survived.

He went on to build a family and a life of meaning in Miami.

First with his wife Marvis, with whom he shared 53 years, and later with his beloved wife, second beloved wife Sidney, who is here today honoring us with his legacy.

As David said shortly before his passing, we need to gain our humanity back.

His words are as true today as ever.

In this moment, when hate and vitriol are again spreading across the world.

And ensuring that never again.

So they could carry his story forward when he no longer could.

And even at ninety-five years old.

He was still speaking out, testifying before the United States of Congress on April 30th of this year.

To remind the world that survivors are still with us, still in need, and that anti-Semitism remains a deadly threat.

That is why our resolution declares April 30th as David Shachter Day in the city of Mayan Beach to honor that moment of courage and sure his message continues to echo through time.

And I would see my neighbors, most of them elderly.

I was a little boy going in the elevator, and I would see my neighbors, most of them elderly, and a lot of them had the tattoos from the concentration camps, and it's really sad.

That one day we're not gonna be with any of these survivors and I fear for the future because those survivors are not going to be here to remind us of what can be done to humanity.

So it's important that we all remember meaning.

Thank you, Ms.

Mayer.

Mr.

Shacht, do you want to say something?

I want to thank all of you for honoring David's memory, and I promise you his voice will continue to be strong, and his light will still be inside me, and all of us who knew him.

I every person he met was touched by him at his funeral on September 7th.

There were 50 children there from the Young Lions.

Some of them are in college now, and their parents flew them in.

A cantor and seven different rabbis came to his bedside.

He was still coherent, and they all said, David, we're gonna continue to tell your story.

You can rest in peace.

So there's countless people that he has touched, and his voice will still be loud.

I just miss him so much, but I'm so grateful to you for honoring him this way.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you to the students of Hebrew Academy who took their time out from class to be here today.

I'm gonna ask uh Rabbi Daniel Hadar from Temple Moses in North Beach to give our invocation this morning behalf of our great mayor, commissioners.

At a time when the world is attempting to silence voices, at a time when it's the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the year for everybody for all the schools and for those that are starting off when it's a time to speak.

We're gonna take a moment to just remember that our words are important, our words have power, our words have the opportunity to inspire, to uplift, to help others grow.

And today we, as God to give us the power, the knowledge and the fruitity to help us use our words to share beautiful things to share with each other, to uplift each other, and may God bless you and the whole commission to continue to uplift, to continue to help the community grow, and they continue to use your words to inspire in this world.

Amen.

Thank you, Rabbi Hadar, and really you're representing today all our faith leaders in Miami Beach.

Uh and so thank you, and thank you for all you do to bring people together, bring community together.

What you've done, and and other faith leaders of Tampa would I would I personally witness what you've done since you came here permanently in Miami Beach and building a North Beach community and your and your synagogue is is beyond tremendous.

Okay, we're gonna have the open forum of Sutton now.

Good morning, everyone who is interested in speaking.

Please stand in line if you're able to.

And we're gonna go from the podium to Zoom.

So, sir.

Go ahead.

You have two minutes.

State your name and address.

My name is Ken Barnes.

I live in North Miami, and I'm a member of Jewish and live uh work with Jewish Voice for Pea.

Charlie Kirk.

I abhor that he was shot.

I abhor political violence.

There being no place for that in a civilized society.

However, using his memory as a weapon to stifle free speech is unconscionable.

To venerate this man as David Brasuarez has proposed crosses the line.

I will let Kirk's own words speak for him.

Charlie Kirk was an anti-Semite, saying Jewish people control, quote, not just the colleges, it's the nonprofits.

It's the movies, it's Hollywood, it's all of it.

Continuing.

The number one funding mechanism of radical open border neoliberal cultural institutions is Jewish donors.

Charlie Kirk and LGBT rights.

Lashing out at a gay community.

He denounced the LGBT agenda.

Opposing gay marriage, he suggested the Bible verse, Leviticus 2013, which endorses the execution of homosexuals, serves as quote God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters.

Charlie Kirk on black people.

Prowling blacks go around for fun to go target white people.

Or if I see a black pilot, I'm going to be like, boy, I hope he's qualified.

Changing subjects.

Boycott boycott defensemen and sanctions.

A resolution the city would no longer award contracts to businesses or organization that boycott, investor sanction doing business with Israel.

Two days ago, the United Nations Commission found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

BDS is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice, equality, and humanity.

How can anyone with a conscience watch what is happening in Gaza without feeling deep compassion for the close to 70,000 Palestinians who have died, their land reduced to rubble?

Thank you, sir.

Our next public speaker is via Zoom.

The name, the screen name is Glenn.

Glenn, state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Go ahead, Glenn.

Yes, good morning, everyone.

I want to talk a bit.

The State Attorney General, James Uttmeyer, said on Monday that members of law enforcement in Florida should no longer arrest or prosecute people for openly carrying firearms in public spaces, places.

This includes the what they call constitutional carry.

In other words, I, as a resident of Florida, can come down to Miami Beach with the M16 around my shoulder.

How is this going to affect our next spring break?

This is my concern.

If someone could answer this when I hang up, that would be great.

And also just talking about all the hate in the world on both sides and everything.

We need to come together.

All the Jews need to come together.

My family lost people in the Holocaust.

And I'm tired of this killing on both sides.

It must stop.

Thank you.

Please, if you can answer my question on the uh open carry, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sir, go ahead, say your name, address.

I have two minutes.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor, Commissioners.

My name is Joseph Sabag.

I'm here on behalf of the National Jewish Advocacy Center.

I want to congratulate you.

Miami Beach has certainly become the leading city in the United States working to combat anti-Semitism.

I think the most appropriate thing that you can do today to honor, I think the most appropriate thing that you can do today to honor the memory of David Schachter is to pass this very strong ordinance that's being considered that would do just that, combat anti-Semitism.

That ordinance is based on a bill that Governor DeSantis really signed, uh, recently signed into law in June, S17, uh, excuse me, 1678.

Um, I want to just make three points about what this bill does, what this bill does not do, and who exactly is opposing this.

Number one, this bill is about good governance.

The government has every right to regulate and place conditions upon the expenditure of taxpayer dollars in order to reinforce public policy.

That's a well-established fact of law that's been considered and settled by the United States Supreme Court.

It is within absolutely the right of this commission to pass this ordinance.

Number two, what this ordinance will not do is affect free speech.

Anyone who hates Israel or hates Jews has every right to go ahead and express their point of view.

What they don't have a right to suggest is that they have a fundamental right to receiving any funding or sponsorship from this city.

And they don't have a right to suggest that the city is constitutionally obligated to hand them a microphone as they go around and spread their hate.

Lastly, just speaking to the point of Jewish voices for peace, which we all read last week in the media, they're now suing this city, they're suing Maynard Mayor Minor in his personal capacity, they're suing Commissioner Suarez in his personal capacity.

This is a hate group.

It is recognized from right all the way to the left-wing ADL that Jewish Voice for Peace is an anti-Semitic hate group.

I would urge anybody who's paying attention to this debate simply to go onto the Anti-Defamation League's website.

Thank you.

Take a look at the dossier about Jewish Voices for Peace and understand who is seeking to oppose this city and this ordinance.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker is via Zoom, Johan Moore.

Please state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Mr.

Moore, go ahead, unmute yourself, please.

Good morning, Johan Moore, 717 Jefferson Avenue.

The hypocrisy of certain members of the Commission is striking, and the hypocrisy of the Commission, if it passes this legislation, will be even more striking and defensive.

It is Zionism, which is the hate group.

And for this commission to continue to fund the Zionist genocide against the Palestinian people is an outrage.

The Shoah was wrong, and because the Shoah was wrong, the ongoing Nakba is wrong.

And just because it is fascist Jews who engage in that genocide doesn't make it any more justifiable.

Thank you.

Yeah, well, I ms we've I I let Mr.

Moore speak.

He had his free speech, but I get my free speech.

Uh as we all know, Mr.

Moore has been censured by this commission for glorifying violence against Jews in Israel.

We've seen it in emails over and over again.

Uh I don't think I need to say more.

I mean, there's a whole history here.

But Israel moved, left Gaza 20 years ago.

They removed forcibly the remaining few thousand Jews that were in Gaza.

Hamas has ruled Gaza for 20 years, and they chose to use war and tunnels instead of building what could have been a beautiful coastal city.

Look at the map of Gaza.

It looks in many ways from a map, it could be Miami Beach with hotels.

And it used to be, by the way.

It used to be.

And days ago, when Egypt controlled it before Israel won it in a defense of war.

It's hard to listen to it.

We listened to it, but I just wanted to point these things out.

Mr.

Mayor.

I would like to remind the audience of the last person who spoke.

I think it's important because when we do say words matter, it's and people like that are actually members of our society.

I I think it's important to call them out.

Uh Johan Moore stated to all of us on the commission.

My husband joins me in congratulating Iran on its successful missile strikes against the genocidal regime.

I urge Iran to nuke Zionist-held population centers.

Dirty bombs, sufficing if fission warheads aren't yet ready to pursue the defeat of the occupational regime.

That was the last person that spoke.

So for anyone here, and and you kids from Hebrew Academy.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it.

But there are people out there who want you dead.

They want to kill you simply because you are Jewish.

It happened to David Schachter.

It happened to the six million Jews.

It's happening today.

So don't close your eyes, don't put your head in the sand and realize that there are sick people out there, like Johan Moore, who just called in.

Nothing to be happy than to watch you guys die.

So it's very important.

Keep your head high and make sure that whenever you see scum like that, you fight it.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Thank you.

Go ahead, please.

State your name address.

I have two minutes.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor.

My name is PJ Weir.

Commissioners.

I am here on behalf, and I'm the president of Energy Corporate Wellness.

This is about the wellness budget for today.

For over eight years, we proudly served the city of Miami Beach, earning two top ten final spots in the South Florida Business Journal's Healthiest Employer Awards.

Our mission has been to help employees overcome obstacles, whether it's borderline type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or helping those diagnose reduce reliance on medications.

As a self-funded organization, the city benefits directly from a healthier workforce, controlling claims and strengthening the bottom line.

Beyond Camp Energy's six weekly classes, we built a wellness channel where employees feel safe to ask questions and share concerns from beach boot camps and pop-up smoothie demos to leading warm-ups at the Mercedes Benz run in five case.

We've fostered a proud family-like community since January 2025 with minimal marketing.

We've grown participation across departments, driving team building and better health.

In 2024, we funded gift card rewards out of pocket to sustain engagement for nearly a year.

The city was in between wellness applications and associates weren't receiving rewards, and we felt it.

We operated with zero incentives, which significantly impacted participation during that time.

It became clear that points and rewards are a key driver of our program success, keeping associates engaged and motivated.

Please help us continue this vital mission with the support needed to keep Team Miami Beach thriving.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker virtually is Donna.

Donna state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Donna, please unmute yourself.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead.

My name is Donna Neville.

I live in uh North Beach in Miami Beach.

I was going to respond to one of today's deeply offensive resolutions, but need to respond to remarks made by members of this commission.

I grew up with Holocaust survivors in Miami Beach.

I spend weekend after weekend hearing their stories, which were etched into my soul.

I worked for the World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust survivors.

It is precisely because of how deeply and profoundly I honor their memory that I stand for justice today.

And that means standing against Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people.

To conflate anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel and its actions, makes a mockery of actual anti-Semitism.

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

On the issue of Jewish voice for peace, I have never been part of a Jewish organization that more reflects the values I grew up with of Tikunolum repair of the world.

I learned those values in every synagogue in Miami Beach.

I was part of and at the Hebrew Academy, right down the street where I went to school.

As a Jewish person and as a human being, I say stop Israel's ongoing brutality and starvation campaign that is right before our very eyes against the Palestinian people.

Silence is complicity.

Never again means never again for anyone, ever.

Thank you so much.

Morning, go ahead.

Say your name address, I have two minutes.

Good morning, Omar Jimenez.

Um, candidate for city commission in group one, 7324 Garry Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida.

The city is almost a one billion dollar budget annually.

However, we also have over 100 million in unfunded projects due to the waste and mismanagement of our taxpayer dollars each year.

Last week, the Dragstell Avenue pedestrianization finally broke ground after 12 years.

How is this project going to bring back people to Lincoln Road?

And most importantly, how does a few pavers and landscaping cost 31 million dollars?

It's a similar story with Pump Station 28.

In 2022, the upgrade was supposed to cost 11 million.

Then three years later, it's now costing 44 million dollars.

Are we really negotiating the best contracts possible?

Last week, the land use and sustainability committee meeting.

We learned that the city administration no longer feels dredging the contaminated sludge at the bottom of the Parkview Canal, estimated at $2 million, is fiscally responsible.

While we live surrounded by toxic waterways for the past five years and see regular closures due to bacteria-filled beaches, are we really focused on our bread and butter?

Our future is our clean and safe beaches and waterways.

Miami Beach is sounding more like a brown zone these days rather than a blue zone.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you so much.

Uh, Commissioner Baras speak.

I just want to clarify the record.

At last week's land use committee meeting.

It was not a discussion about whether or not dredging was a prudent fiscal measure.

The concern was that it wouldn't be in and of itself by itself, a solution that would yield the results that we want.

We are still proceeding with the dredging plan.

We are looking at other options to um to work in collaboration with the dredging plan.

I this is a very hot topic and very important to the future of our city to have an island where we all live, where water doesn't stop at barriers, to be clean.

So I don't appreciate folks' mischaracterizing the work that's being done.

I I agree that it's not as fast as we wanted.

I share the frustration that it's not solved yet.

I was the resident at the time who raised the alarm about this issue on Parkview Island.

And the administration at the time, not people here now, said, oh, don't worry about it.

It's just weird funky testing from the sewer line break in in Midbeach.

That was not the case.

And we have been working for years now, led by my colleague when he was elected, Alex Fernandez and all of the colleagues on the commission now to fix this.

But it is not a quick, simple, easy, or inexpensive fix.

We're spending close to 20 million dollars, if I'm remembering correctly, when all will be said and done.

And we will not stop until it is resolved.

But let's let's use facts accurately.

We are working on getting the dredging going.

We are working on other techniques that can enhance the effects of the dredging, and we will not stop working until we have resolved this issue.

Thank you, Commissioner Bach.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I just want to echo the words of my colleague because we have been working on this for for a number of years, and in great part because Commissioner Bond uh, prior to being elected, uh, taught me a lot about what was happening with water quality in North Beach.

And early on in my term, we started prioritizing the funding to fix the infrastructure in North Beach.

And we continued that work.

In fact, today uh we have an item that I'm sponsoring on the on the agenda to authorize an independent third-party review of the sanitary sewer pump station 23 out there in North Beach, so that if there is an issue, we become aware of it and we're able to take the definitive action we need to fix it.

And we're also authorizing funding for weekly water quality testing in the Parkview Canal so that the public can benefit from that information.

And most importantly, we've been working with Durham, our city administration, on new technology, in addition to the dredging, nano bubble technology, which in essence pumps the water from the canal, puts it through a system to oxygenate and hopefully kill the entrococci that has been plaguing this this canal for for five years, and there is high hopes that this could potentially um address some of the serious water quality issues we've been facing there.

Clearly, we understand the concerns of the community.

The community has a right to be upset.

For too long, prior to this commission, the issue was ignored.

But I'm grateful for the support of my colleagues as we're moving forward with real improvements and investments to fix this dangerous water quality issue.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

Next speaker.

Our next speaker is Alan Levine.

Mr.

Levine, state your name address.

We have two minutes.

I'm Alan Levine, a resident of Miami Beach, and a member and lawyer for Jewish Voice for Peace.

Last month the Commission adopted a resolution protesting the inhumane treatment of members of our immigrant community.

That display of tolerance seems to be too much for some members of the commission who proposed resolution celebrating cruelty and intolerance.

First, there's Commissioner Sware's resolution proposing to honor Charlie Kirk.

One need not, and I do not celebrate his assassination when I note that Kirk was a first class bigot.

He applauded stoning gay people, called people who were trans an abomination.

And said that Martin Luther King was awful.

That's who you're asked to honor by one of your colleagues.

And then there's Commissioner Gonzalez Rosen's proposal to give a one-way bus ticket to homeless people.

It's a proposal right out of the Ron DeSantis playbook, who paid for immigrants to be flown out of Florida.

And the proposal before you, by the way, is not directed at people who have committed a crime, but simply people who are too poor to pay for shelter.

For the city of Miami Beach to spend money to help disappear a vulnerable population rather than using that money to make their lives better is a shameful abdication of the city's moral responsibility.

And finally, let me say that the mayor and commissioner Suarez dishonor the memory of David Schechter by saying that those of us who protest Israel's genocide are anti-Semitic.

Anti-Semitism is a real thing.

Criticism of Israel is not that.

Thank you.

Our next speaker, please go ahead, state your name address so you have two minutes.

By the way, I'm gonna ask, because I actually find it personally offensive when I hear the clapping.

You can do what you want, but that actually is against protocols, and I have to tell you it is so painful when people say things that are hateful toward Israel and not only Israel, the Jewish people.

Every Jewish person sitting here, almost every Jewish person is sitting here highly offended.

And we are fearful for what this country and where we stand in this country, and to hear people clapping and glorifying misrepresentations, it's hard.

Mr.

Mayor and Commissioners, my name is Jacqueline Powers, and I'm speaking today about the educational enhancements and Steam Plus programming.

Um last year, the commission and mayor uh so amazingly funded not just for the public schools in Miami Beach, but also for the private schools, um, educational enhancements, enrichment, steam plus, uh, stop the bleed kits, and uh I'm with the the parent at innovative school Temple Beth Shalom.

I'm also the president of the PTO, and I understand that today is a budget meeting and that some of these enhancements, including the STEAM Plus program, are potentially being um thought to be eliminated.

And I just wanted to really stress that's what we were told.

We were told to to be here by the QAC, we were told, so that's why I'm here.

But um, I just really want to stress how important um these cultural partnerships are.

The Bass Museum is coming into our school and FIU, um, again, the Stop the Bleak kits, like all these amazing programs.

Um, not just by the way, uh the private schools in Miami Beach, also all the public schools.

Um, and I just wanted to show a couple pictures of our students who are enjoying this amazing programming by the Bass, and um they are really loving it.

Again, it's not just um the innovative school Temple Best Shalom, it's all those schools in Miami Beach.

So I would urge you when you're making these budgets to please um don't cut this programming.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I just want to ask the city manager, um, because if it's necessary for me to make a motion right now to propose not eliminating any educational enhancement, I'm happy to do it.

But my understanding is that the budget, as it stands, does not propose eliminating any of the investments that Miami Beach makes into education.

Is that correct?

Um I believe everyone is referencing appendix E attached to the budget.

Appendix E was the exercise that we were asked to do, but those are not recommended reductions.

So the city administration is not recommending uh unfunding any of the educational programs that the city has been investing in over the years, whether it be for public or private schools.

If I can just have one thing, apparently, because I'm also on the QAC.

Apparently, there's an open position, and if that position doesn't get filled, then they can't continue the Steam Plus programming, and so that position needs to be filled.

And from my understanding, and I hope I'm wrong, that position is not gonna be recommended to be filled, and then therefore the steam plus programming can't go forward.

That was what my understanding is.

That that is a very different conversation.

That is a frozen position right now.

That is not a budget reduction.

Right, and I believe um I had requested legislation so that so that if there was a frozen education position, that we could go ahead and proceed with the hiring of that position.

But I was told that there was no freeze and that that was not necessary.

Well, what what I understood is that this commission did not require a freeze.

There was a discussion item, but there was no vote taken to to impose a free on a freeze on hiring.

If there's one thing that has been consistent in the city of Miami Beach, is that it is intrinsic in our values, not only as a city government, but in how we invest the taxpayers' dollars to continue investing in the education of the students of our city, whether it be public or private schools, is something that we we find it an essential service of our city.

And so I would just want to make sure that if that is on the chopping block, that we you know that we unfreeze it and that and that that position remains funded in our budget.

Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez.

I would just like to echo Commissioner Fernandez's statement that that position should be filled, and I've seen the outcome of all of these STEAM programs in both our public and private schools.

I actually got a wonderful email from uh one of the yeshiva elementary schools actually saying how much they love the ballet program.

And it's it's it's citywide and it's critical.

So Eric, we need to make sure that that position is funded.

I will I will support Commissioner Fernandez on this, and I'm pretty sure on this day as you have support for these educational enhancements.

The position is funded.

I can confirm.

Right now we're in the middle of a budget process.

We're trying to make sure that at the end we can deliver a balanced budget, and I'm hopeful that we will be able to keep that position funded, and we will address that after the end of the fiscal year once we've got an adopted budget.

Okay.

Thank you.

Our next verse.

Our next virtual speaker is Abby.

Abby state your name address, and you have two minutes.

Hi, my name is Abby, and I currently live in Miami, Florida.

And I was not expecting this to be such a heavy morning this morning with the topics that were presented, but I just wanted to acknowledge and you know echo that you know we need to gain humanity back.

And um, I just wanted to also take a moment to recognize the families that sent their children to school at the beginning of a school year this year, and they um did not come home.

And the many families that will send their children to school this year, and they will also not come home again.

So this is not just political, this is humanity.

And um, you know, the matter that I'm about to share today is an ordinance actually bringing humanity back to Miami Beach, and that starts with changing our parking ordinances.

Um I was towed in Miami Beach after their proper signage not being displayed in a private parking lot.

The private parking lot looked very, very similar.

The signage to city parking.

And I just wanted to thank um the commissioners, Commissioner Bott Magazine and uh Fernandez who responded to my email immediately and wanted to really move this initiative and ordinance along to make um branded and clear signage available to all the community and the most vulnerable community that is affected by this is the handicapped community, thinking that they can park in these parking spaces that are handicapped when they're in fact in private lots, they are towed, and the cost for retrieval of your vehicle is at least 400, which in today's economy is extremely hefty.

And I just wanted to thank everyone for backing this initiative to make clear signage and disclosures and thank you so much.

The time is up, I apologize.

And thank you for that call.

Eric, I I've actually there was another incident in a different area, and and I actually went to check out the signage and it wasn't clear.

How do we rectify how do we rectify this?

So we had legislation that was brought a few months back to try and clarify this.

Um, there's actually an additional legislative item on the agenda today, thanks to Commissioner Fernandez, um, to add additional clarity to the requirements of private parking lots to identify themselves, and so we are going to continue to find ways to make it as clear as possible to the traveling public when a lot is the cities as opposed to when it's privately owned and operated.

And maybe it's a separate item or or if we can add on to what we'll discuss it at the time.

But the area I'm talking about actually was uh a street where there's a loading zone, but the it really wasn't clear.

I actually went read it several times and I couldn't figure figure it out.

Um, and I think we brought it to your attention, but uh, these are the types of things where somebody got towed and it's like kind of feel bad for them because even someone uh who who read the sign multiple times would be confused.

Understood.

We'll we'll work with our parking folks to make sure that the signage is clear and understandable.

Thanks.

Go ahead, please state your name address.

I have two minutes.

Hi, my name is Cole Bivany Sicklet, and I'm the newly elected president of the Hebrew Academy Student Council.

On behalf of my constituents, I want to thank you, Mayor Minor, Commissioner Suarez, and your administration for making Miami Beach even better and safer.

Thank you for working so closely with the Miami Beach Police to protect our city and its citizens.

We appreciate the enhanced visual police presence at religious sites.

Our student body is also very excited to enjoy the brand new park that the city's built on Pine Tree Drive, right near our campus.

Thank you for all that you do for our community.

Thank you.

And good luck in your uh new presidency.

Mayor, 30 minutes have elapsed.

May we continue?

And if so, may I do it before one minute?

Sir.

So everyone's we've elapsed the 30 minutes, so we're gonna give everyone one minute to allow everyone to speak.

The young lady with at the end will be the last person.

If you unless you if you want to stand in line, please do so now.

Otherwise, she's the last person.

Our next speaker is Amanda Harris.

Amanda, go ahead, state your name, address, and you have one minute.

Hi, my name's Amanda Harris.

I live at 1751 Washington Avenue.

Um I was reading an email this morning from Kristen Rosen Gonzalez that the plan is now to give unhoused people a bus ticket and a hundred dollars to get out of Miami Beach.

And I just want to say that I have never faced violence from an unhoused person.

My kids play at the soundscape by themselves, unaccompanied, and they've never been accosted by an unhoused person.

What I do see is that a higher number of unhoused people because the cost of living in Miami Beach is too high.

I think that this commission can work out a better plan that's sustainable for people in Miami Beach to live safely and coexist without having to resort to living on the streets because they can't afford housing.

So I'm asking you to consider being more creative and coming up with a sustainable solution that's humane to the humans that live on our streets who don't want to live on our streets.

Um and I think we can come up with something better.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Amanda.

Representative, go ahead, you have one minute.

Good morning.

Um I always come here to actually talk business of the city and state, and I just get drawn into the conversations that are constantly on the table.

So I'm gonna change what I'm gonna say again.

The other day, I just want to let you all know I I posted a very appropriate post on the death of Charlie Kirk.

No one should take bullets for their beliefs.

I posted on the Miami Beach community chats.

The comments were so toxic, so horrendous that the moderator shut it down.

I called him immediately and said, please do not do that.

I'm an elected official, I don't censor anybody, regardless of my position.

Um, and he refused to.

And I want people to see what's really out there.

We just had the um remembrance of 9-11 where I wasn't able to speak.

Um, and I heard speeches that hit the talking points, but failed to remind everybody, and I was there that day.

I lost friends that day.

And it wasn't just our first responders that I'm grateful for every day.

It was a community that stopped thinking of where to point fingers.

They just came together in an instant.

Perfect strangers, doing amazing things for strangers.

Um I the city is hurting, the world is hurting.

And I I want to blame the leaders, I want to blame the parents.

I want to take a lot of responsibility for myself.

I got into this too late to be a voice.

Um, we're all responsible until we make a decision to just stop the nonsense and do better.

And to the children that are here today and that are listening everywhere.

It is up to you.

Educate yourselves on every side of every argument and be brave and bold and step forward.

I do believe in us, and uh this city is my heart, it's my home.

I raised my kid here.

So I can't.

That's why I love it the most because it hurts the most.

He's a representative, just give him another one.

Yeah, I you know, again, I came to talk about other things, and and we don't always see eye to eye.

And and we won't.

And that's why we're here.

We should challenge each other.

But but please, please, let's get together and let's fix this.

That we cannot take any more of this.

It just hurts too much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Bisabi.

Uh, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

I would like to rebut a few of the comments about my um bus ticket item.

And I would like to explain why I put the bus ticket item on just so that people understand.

Right now, we have a camping ordinance in the city of Miami Beach, and uh we are arresting homeless people who are sleeping in our parks.

We have an option to arrest, an option to go to a shelter, and most of or a bus ticket.

And when I did a deep dive into this, I found that the reason the homeless people are not taking the bus ticket and they're just getting arrested, which is even worse, is because somebody has to receive them on the other end.

We know a large amount of our homeless population comes from outside of the city of Miami Beach.

So if we can send them back to reconnect with their families without having to have someone receive them on the other end, that is in fact compassionate.

And not only is it a bus ticket, but it is a bus ticket with a hundred dollars so that they can have some food and uh incidentals along the way.

So I think that this is not just a solution, it's a compassionate solution, and this is a pilot program, and we will look at the data after three months and see if in fact people are finally choosing to take the bus ticket option.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we'll obviously discuss this more at length when we uh when we call the item later.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Sharon.

Sharon, state your name, address so you have one minute.

Hi, uh Sharon Weiss, uh 2381st Street.

And uh I'm just calling in this morning to express my uh puzzlement why this commission is not taking the um situation with the water quality as a five alarm fire.

I absolutely cannot believe that the commission is wasting time and money on foreign affairs, on arts and culture, on far increases on developer giveaways.

100% of our money and focus should be on water quality without access to the water.

We are not Miami Beach.

We are just Miami.

We are hot, we are swampy, and we have no relief from it via our our beautiful waterways.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

State your name address, so you have one minute.

Good morning.

My name is Caleb Gdanski, and as a great grandchild of four Holocaust survivors, two of whom survived Auschwitz.

I'm especially grateful to share a few words today.

The city's commitment to honoring Holocaust survivors ensures that their legacy will never fade.

By creating spaces like this for remembrance and dialogue, Miami Beach reminds us that the fight against anti-Semitism is about protecting freedom and dignity for everyone.

As a lifelong student of the Hebrew Academy, I've consistently been taught the importance of not only our Jewish identity, but the paramount place that the state of Israel holds as our true homeland.

As a lifelong residence of Miami Beach, I feel deeply grateful to live in a city that has always stood with the Jewish community and with Israel.

Miami Beach has been a place where Jewish families, just like my own, feel safe and supported, even while anti-Semitism continues to rise in other parts of the country.

I want to thank the city of Miami Beach and its leaders for their consistent support of Israel and the Jewish people.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Louis Valdez.

Mr.

Valdez, state your name, address, and you have one minute.

My name is Louis Valdez.

I'm the Florida State Director for Gun Owners of America.

Our corporate address is 8001 Forbes Place, Springfield, Virginia.

But I'm a Miami native and grew up in Miami Beach.

Uh Shalom, Mr.

Mayor and honorable members of this committee.

Gun owners of America is completely against the resolution encouraging businesses to become gun free zones.

As it has been said, never again mean something.

One of the first things that the Nazi government did was enact gun control and disarm the Jewish populations.

Gun control only restricts the law-abiding criminals in no way abide by this.

Furthermore, it r it restricts the Jewish population and leaves them defenseless against anti-Semitic attacks.

Gun owners of America firmly believes that this resolution the city wishes to pass to encourages businesses to be gun-free zones in no way resolves this issue and in fact disarms the Jewish population and other law-abiding Floridians that visit and live in Miami Beach.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead, please, state your name and address.

You have one minute.

Good morning.

I'm Eliana.

Commissioner Fernandez.

I just want to just clarify for the record.

Does the resolution that was just referenced, does it encourage the businesses or does it simply inform and educate the businesses that if they choose, uh leaving it up to the business whether they want to or not uh prohibited weapons in their establishment?

Well, we're not in any way regulating.

We would be preempted from doing that under some law.

Um we don't want to regulate firearms, that's not our business.

Correct.

Um, this is you know providing information, um, allowing businesses to make their their own decisions, but it's not encouraging.

I believe that the wording does include the word encouraging.

Okay, I want to make sure that this is about informing, not necessarily encouraging.

I want to make sure that this is informational uh so that each business makes their own determination.

Okay, we can modify that when the item gets called.

Okay, and I just want to confirm, Mr.

Manager, this is the recommendation of the chief of police.

Uh the chief of police and I spoke briefly about this.

Um we want to make sure that the city is in the best position to be able to protect its residents.

Um I'm sure we'll have a conversation about this when the item comes up.

Okay.

If this is our recommendation of the chief of police, I just want to be on the record because I always believe in supporting our police, especially on issues having to do with weapons that we charge them to protect us about.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Just because we have students here, I would like to let you know that uh the program that you have at your school names, not numbers this year.

The funding was cut by the state of Florida, and we as a commission intervened and funded it for you and several of the other public schools.

So the commission does a lot um for the community and to keep the let the legacy of the survivors present, ever present.

This has been one of our most active open forums that we've had.

So go ahead, please.

You have one minute.

Okay.

Hi, good morning.

I'm Eliana.

I'm a senior at Hebrew Academy.

Today we pause to honor Holocaust survivors, men and women who endured unimaginable cruelty yet refuse to let hate define their lives.

Their courage is more than history.

It's a call to action.

As survivors grow older, our responsibility grows stronger.

We must listen to their stories, preserve their testimonies, and share them with future generations so that the truth can never be denied or forgotten.

Honoring survivors means more than remembering the past.

It means standing up against anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred today.

By carrying their voices forward, we ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust about the dangers of prejudice and the power of resilience remain alive.

Let us promise that their suffering will not be in vain and that their legacy of hope and human dignity will endure.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have to say I'm so proud hearing the students from Hebrew Academy that are speaking, because if I close my eyes and didn't see your faces and know your age, I would think I'm listening to a uh well-renowned public speaker.

Uh you it's uh I know it's from the heart, and it's incredible uh the talent that we have in our city.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Gina.

Gina, state your name, address, and you have one minute.

Good morning.

My name is Gina Presertlum, and I live at 5555 Collins Avenue, and I'm here today on behalf of Clean Miami Beach to speak in strong support of the agenda item regarding the ban of artificial flower petals and glitter on our beaches.

So these products may look festive, but they are actually harmful pollutants.

These are synthetic and they never fully break down, and once they're scattered, they enter our oceans where our fauna can mistake them for food.

Just yesterday during our cleanup at 24th Street, we once again collected many of these items littered on our beach.

And despite regular cleanups, they continue to reappear, showing that our cleanup efforts alone are not enough.

These items don't biodegrade, and they add to the growing problem of microplastic pollution.

A ban is not just necessary, it is common sense if we want to protect our beaches, wildlife, and the health of our community.

We are also urging the city to address the ongoing sewage contamination that threatens public health, degrades water quality, and harms aquatic life.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead, please state your name, address, and you have one minute.

Hi, good morning.

My name is Abigail Elyov, and I'm a senior at Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach.

I just want to take a moment to thank you guys for your consistent support of Israel and the Jewish community, especially in times like these.

With everything that is going on, I'm gonna be a little honest.

I was a little afraid to go to such a well-known Jewish high school.

However, the city has ensured safety not just for the kids who go to Hebrew Academy, but for the whole Jewish community here, and for that we should all be grateful.

It's necessary that in these times we stand against anti-Semitism and we continue to commemorate Holocaust survivors and defend their legacy.

It's on us to keep their stories alive and remind everyone what happened.

It's essential to know also that there are appropriate ways to address controversies, including peaceful dialogue and civic engagement.

Ultimately, thank you to you guys and the city for doing such an incredible job in safeguarding the massive Jewish community here.

Your dedication and support are truly appreciated and don't go unnoticed.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual speaker is as a screen name of Brandon Brandon State, your full name, address, and you have one minute.

Thank you.

Hey, I'm Brandon Buckles, traveler one for the agency at WeControl Time.com between uh Miami Beach, Bogota, Columbia, and uh Cordova Candina.

Caring for those in need is a core tenet of our shared traditions.

In Judaism, say that guy, I hope I'm saying that right.

The command to give charity is not merely a moral ideal but a communal responsibility that sustains society.

When we neglect the poor, we weaken the very fabric of our economy.

Recent analysis show that such neglect can translate into a loss of roughly four million dollars in hotel tax revenue, reflecting reduced tourism and local spending.

My own faith in Jesus Christ calls me to honor every person as an equal, extending compassion without judgment.

As Christians, we are also called to respect the Jewish people and recognize the authority they hold as appointed by God, acknowledging the wisdom of their teachings on justice and generosity.

Together, let us champion policies that live to the vulnerable because doing so enriches both our moral conscience and our collective prosperity.

Please stop hurting those experiencing homelessness.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead.

State your name, address so you have one minute.

Good morning.

My name is Jacob Lee Boitz.

I'm a senior at the Hebrew Academy.

Now, before I speak, I'd like to thank everyone in this room.

We are the Miami Beach community.

Now, I've been a resident of Miami Beach since 2009.

I didn't just grow up in the city, but I grew with the city.

And in recent times, there's been an exponential rise in hate.

Unjustified hate and hate that separates our community.

I am addressing not just the city but the people in this room with me now, begging for peace.

We are one community, and I ask that we preserve our community.

Community is built through proper communication and peaceful conversations.

Although everyone in this room shares a different opinion, we must ensure that we voice our opinions in a respectful manner.

I just want to take a moment to thank you, Commissioner, and frankly, everyone in this room who's here today for standing with the Jewish community during a very difficult and very anti-Semitic time.

Your support means more than words can capture.

As a student of Hebrew Academy, Israel has always been core to our values.

It is the home of my people, and I cannot begin to start my thanks for what the city has done.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Wayne Roberts.

Mr.

Roberts, go ahead, please.

Thank you, sir.

I want to begin by thanking Eric because he picked up the phone, uh Eric Carpenter at 7:30 this morning when I was in front of Walgreens, where I uh saw a uh man in his 30s sleeping on the sidewalk.

Um picked up the phone and services came from, but I had a long talk with him.

Um he'd been arrested several times under the uh the camping ordinances.

Um was happy to take shelter.

But I asked him, would he be interested in a bus ticket $100?

And he said, absolutely, because I want to get home.

I've been here for months.

Um and I have no means to get home.

So the people that are saying that it's you know it's it's cruel.

Most of the homeless here came here with $500 in their pocket and they and they're done.

They're they're they're they're broke.

They have no means to get home.

And so anything we can do to uh uh to put them back where they they're we'll have more success.

Thank you.

Go ahead, please.

You have one minute.

State your name and address.

Hi, my name is Brenda Jordan.

I'm an artist vendor.

I live 2316 Bay Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, 33141.

Okay.

Um I'm a certified uh Miami Beach artist vendor.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

Um none of the artists are here on behalf of the artists who are directly affected by the recent ordinance.

And if you artists can stand up, that would be good.

None of the artists were given proper copies of the ordinance to review before the vote was taken, including myself.

This goes against the spirit of Florida Sunshine Laws, which were meant to ensure the public can review government action before decisions are made.

Show the things.

My husband's going to show some of the art that, especially to the lawyer who considers jewelry not art.

Um against okay, the Florida Sunshine Laws, which meant that public, I'm gonna take his minute, can review government actions before the decisions are made.

We were denied a meaningful chance to commit, I mean, what is it, comment or prepare.

In August, we paid into a contract with the city for our permits and the lottery for the October through December turn.

On December 9th, we spent three hours on a Zoom call completing lottery chosen uh lottery and choose our spots.

After paying and signing off, we found that the city revoked the process without advanced notice.

That is bait and switch and undetermined our good faith contract with the city because it is a contract we signed into it.

A lawyer without credentials in the art is making decisions on what is and not art.

Jewelry and wearable art are some of the oldest recognized art forms in the world held in permanent collections at major museums.

Thank you so much.

Um, can I take your spot?

Ma'am, we have a lot of people in line.

No, because these things have to be heard.

It's not fair to me as a resident.

Thank you.

From the beginning, the program was built without input from artists or experts.

No one paid an experienced art professional to design it.

So loopholes and inconsistencies have piled up.

Now the foundation is cracked.

And the ordinance effectively broken.

There are no formal orientations for new artists, vendors.

People simply watch others and follow their lead, which leads to confusion, mistakes, and inconsistencies.

A uh trans parent, expert designed orientation would be helpful for those applying to comply with the program's points.

Artists are a vital point part of Miami Beach culture and economics.

Yet our voices have been marginalized.

We want a program that works with the city and authentic artists, not dictated without.

We want a program that honors the artists and our voices, not dictated.

And this didn't start with you.

This started with Mayor Maddie Bauer and Hilda Hernandez and Manny.

So anyway, going down here, we this is the solution.

We know people say you can't fight City Hall.

But right now, as a working artist, I feel like David standing before Goliath.

But David still had a voice and the right to fairness.

And so do we.

We're asking you not to be Goliath in the story, but to stand with us in creating a fair, transparent program.

Thank you, ma'am.

I respectfully thank the commissioners, but I'm asking you to not null and void our contract that we already signed up in August for the city.

I think if you wait until the end of this cycle, and during that time, we can make changes that need to be made with inclusion of artists and set up a viable program for the next session.

A lot of these people, one lady had to be taken to the hospital because this is her livelihood.

And she's in her 70s, late 70s, I'm in my 70s, but maybe her husband is in his 80s, dealing with ailments and have a heart.

These are people's livelihood.

And I'm not saying don't make changes, but people have already invested three hours in the lottery on the knife.

I paid my money in August, and without having any finances during the summer, please open your heart.

My husband was showing my jewelry that is art, and I hope you saw it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next virtual speaker has a screen name of Miami Beach.

Please state your name, address, and you have one minute.

Good morning, to all.

My name is Wanda Jamin, 8305 Creske Boulevard.

I'm calling a support of the anti-Semitic Ordinance.

I wanted to make it very clear that I'm not public Jewish rape.

I am a Catholic and a Christian.

Israel has a very special place in my heart because it is the birthplace of my king and savior, Jesus Christ.

I also support Charlie Kirk's memorial because the freedom of speech and expression should never warrant that on any human, no matter what the dialogue, violence and hate is not the answer.

Lastly, the city must make it a priority regarding the quality of our waters and take this seriously.

It's been too long, we had this problem.

If you can't do it on your own, please ask the state and the federal government for help.

Or I will take it upon myself to reach out to the state and the federal government and ask them myself.

As per the homeless um ordinance from my beloved Kristen Rosen.

I apologize, but we're out of time.

Ma'am, state your name, address, and you have one minute.

My name is Janet Figuero.

I'm one of the artist vendors here for the city of Miami Beach.

I was um told that only residents of Miami Beach are the only ones that are allowed now as an artist.

So many artist vendors that have been here in this program for a long time has been left out and with no say, and it's unfair to them.

We all participate in the lottery, there's a lot of artists vendors, they're all here.

And it's not fair to them that they signed a contract, they pay their fee, they participate in the lottery the way they're supposed to, and overnight they say if you're not a Miami City residence, you cannot participate in the program, which is biased.

And we're all talking here about getting along, the community, the Jewish community, the regular, everybody.

It's it's it's not fair to pick and choose.

It's not fair to say this group could because they live in Miami Beach, and this group cannot.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Raquel Pacheco.

Ms.

Pacheco, you have one minute.

Say your name and address, please.

Good morning, Raquel Pacheco, 732 Lennox Avenue.

So I just want to say first and foremost, this is a very unconventional setnik hour.

I have to say I like it, Mr.

Mayor.

I like the the exchange between you and the public.

But I was hoping it wouldn't cut into our time, so I find it a little bit concerning that wow, it's very engaging and it seems like you're all solving problems in real time, it shouldn't uh impede on the public's time to public for public comment.

And to that effect, I also want to say uh the message from the rabbi this morning was lovely.

And Mr.

Mayor, I'm sorry that your feelings are so hurt, but the facts uh trump your feelings, and the only way to start healing in our community is for everyone to come to terms with the facts.

And um the violent language that's coming out of this day, particularly with Commissioner Suarez.

You know, I gotta tell you, if that was one of my children in the audience that you spoke to earlier, you and I would have words on the side because that rhetoric is so violent, and I just want to say to those children nobody wishes you harm.

We all just want to.

Thank you, Ms.

Pacheco.

Uh say your name address, so you have one minute.

Good morning, Mr.

Marin Commissioners.

My name is Chelsea Lyon, External Affairs Manager for Florida Power and Light here in Miami Beach.

I'm here today to speak to you all about the FPL settlement agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission and urge you all to consider amending the resolution on today's agenda to focus on encouraging the PFC to conduct a thorough and fair review of the proposed rate increase.

The settlement agreement we've reached is a win for all FPL customers and a win for Miami Beach.

It supports our commitment to meet the reliability needs of our fast growing state while keeping customer bills well below the national average.

We expect a typical thousand kilowatt hour residential customer bill will increase next year by two dollars and fifty-nine cents a month.

Even with that increase, FPL's bills will be 20% lower than they were 20 years prior when you account for inflation.

You know, the settlement also includes additional bill pay assistance for qualifying customers through programs like LIHEAP, which is through the federal government, uh, and through our FPL Care to Share program.

We're 59% more reliable than the national average, and strengthening our infrastructure has helped us avoid over 1.8 million outages since the last rate increase.

Every year in Miami Beach, we're investing tens of millions of dollars in the infrastructure.

A few of the things we've done recently is we've hardened 26 miles of feeder lines Miami Beach is only nine miles long, affecting over 26,000 customers.

We have replaced over 4.3 miles of duct bank since 2017 with more proposed uh duct bank replacements coming.

We have an upcoming underground transmission project that I've spoken to you all about.

We hear you and the residents having concerns about wanting more underground infrastructure, and that's something we're planning to invest in in the near future.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Chelsea.

Our next virtual speaker is Larry Schaefer.

Go ahead, please.

State your name and address.

You have one minute.

Larry Schaefer, 23381st Street.

We heard from many precocious smart children today.

We're about to hear from a childish adult.

We are poop, people opposed to ocean pollution.

We want clean water in the tap, in the bay, and in the ocean.

We want the city to disclose in a professional, complete manner the location, age, and repair records for the tap water system pipes and pumps, the sewage system, pipes and pumps, and the stormwater system.

The city needs to let the community know if they live near sewage pump.

We need to know if sewage pipes are going to blow up and flood the streets.

We need to make good decisions for our families to decide if we want to live in this polluted place or if we want to move away to a place that is clean and not polluted.

We also want the city to voluntarily submit to oversight from the County Department of Environmental Resource Management, Durham, the State Department of Environmental Protection, and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, because your timeline doesn't work for us.

We refuse to live in pollution.

Thank you, Mr.

We want you to be the solution, not the pollution.

Thank you.

Yeah, that and thank you, Larry, and I and I appreciate your advocacy.

As as Commissioner Fernandez, Commissioner Botts said earlier, I'll also add that this commission as a body has jumpstarted numerous infrastructure projects on the water and sewer, which have been stalled for many years.

That's a really integral part of uh of improving the water quality.

So uh we're we're we're taking a lot of action.

Mr.

Mary, state your full name, address.

I have one minute.

Thank you, Ms.

Gernado, thank you, Mayor Minor, thank you, members of the commission.

I want to take a moment to physically wave and sense of love to the daist, everyone here.

And it's important.

Um as you all know, my name is Luigi Mary.

I am the Miami Beach candidate for group three.

And community unity is more relevant now than ever before.

I want to take a quick moment to thank uh the JCC and uh CBS Miami for a wonderful, wonderful uh robust debate.

And anyone who saw that, you could see that it was light and upbeat, and everyone was able to express themselves peacefully and lovingly.

Now, personally, I carry two dollar bills, not for its monetary value, but for its aesthetic value.

If you look on the back of a $2 bill, you see fraternity, you see people in political discourse.

And I keep them on me and I hand them out to people who support and love me because that $2 bill is an expression of community unity.

And lastly, if uh if I may, uh I know that there were some on the spot modifications or proposals of modifications.

Uh I think I could save a lot of us time.

Uh this is a fun and easy to read copy of the Constitution, and it can help us uh answer a lot of our questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Our next virtual speaker is Katrina Seraldo.

You have one minute, state your name and address, please.

Hi, my name is Katrina.

I live at 1000 West Avenue.

Um I am in response to the um you know anti-BDS uh resolution and the resolution uh just dismayed as a uh uh Miami Beach, born and raised um resident.

Um I think that JVP, Jewish Voice for Peace has been uh a very important voice.

I personally learned about the Holocaust as a child.

I read the Anne Frank Diary, I've been to the memorial, and I can see what's happening in Palestine, not just me watching the videos of children and families being bombed in their times, but also you know, all of the international genocide scholars now saying this is a genocide.

So Miami Beach, we have our own issues to deal with, as many of the residents have brought up today, and um you know, calling the civic engagement of members of Voice for Peace.

Thank you so much.

Very um, thank you.

Go ahead, please state your name address, and you have one minute.

Good morning.

My name is uh Madeline Diaz.

I'm um artist uh vendor, Miami Beach.

I live in Kernel, and uh I respectfully request that the city of Miami reconsider the classification of uh Christian dresses number one.

Number two, the city will provide I respectfully request that the city provide written gratification as uh to how the amends to chapter 18 apply to contracts already executed and paid to prior to their adoption, and the last thing art is universal and should not be restricted on a zip code.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our last virtual caller has a screen name of Usadio Zoom.

State your full name and address.

You have one minute.

Unmute yourself, please.

Go ahead, please.

Hello, good morning.

Go ahead, please.

My name is Joel Masantos.

I I'm Axis Vendo.

Now I'm Brazil and I receive email about the the end the program.

Sorry about my English.

I walk in this program in 20 years.

I I do SDA low because I walk with the ass.

Now I don't have money for pay my bill because you're you hadis.

You happy?

You happy?

Are you happy?

You're destroying walking.

You take my big Tony on the beach.

I'm in walking.

I'm not doing nothing.

You have to take it a homeless, homeless, no walking.

Please leave me.

Everybody walk.

We need pay rent.

You need food.

We need everything.

You need we need you happy, Suwatis.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

We are concluding the Zoom portion of it, as there's no one else requesting to speak.

We will continue, please.

Go ahead.

Alright, my name is Judas Savag.

I first of all want to thank the kids of the Hebrew Academy for coming and speaking today.

It's really truthfully amazing that you guys showed up.

And second of all, I want to look into the history of Miami Beach.

In the 1920s, when developer Carl G.

Fisher founded this city, he imposed deeds and grant restrictions among many Jews in this city and forced them to live south of Fifth.

Now here today in the year 2025, I stand before a commission with two Jewish commissioners and an Orthodox Jewish mayor.

I asked that in our in our city's leading fight against anti-Semitism that you support the ordinance against anti-Semitism and you support um the ordinance to remember um David Schechter, the um Holocaust survivor because um from the um what's the word the from the way the city was founded to the way the city is today, it's truly amazing to see how time can change and how um the world of um Jewry in specifically Miami Beach is big and it's growing.

leading fight against anti-semitism that you support um the ordinance against anti Semitism and you support um the ordinance to remember um David Schachter the um Holocaust survivor because um from the um what's the word the from the way the city was founded to the way the city is today it's truly amazing to see how time can change and how um the world of um jewelry in specifically Miami Beach is big and it's growing so thank you I just have a question for you Judah I just have a question how many commissioners did you say were Jewish I think I said two no you calling um David and I think you're right yes okay I just yeah and and the mayor and Kristen Christian oh so three sorry uh I'm amateur thank you go ahead please next name address I have one minute my name is Christian devencavets I live on uh nine island in Val Isle um my look I'm gonna be very quick the young people here today changed what I was gonna say now honestly and I'll plagiarize sorry they mentioned the buzzwords controversies proper communication community preservation civic engagement early this morning it was much heavier than most of us had expected uh with mentioning the voices matter show up matters silencing just in general throughout history so they did a lot more than maybe I would have done when I was young um but I'm gonna ask that when we do speak in front of you today for any agenda item not just the one I'm here for just really remember that some people are still afraid to speak up that's why a lot of people dwindle down as this goes down the pipeline any agenda item and just keep in mind that the people that you show up probably speak for about 30 or 40 people thank you very much next please my name is Ulysses Morillo Plaza represent so artisan and photos delinquent honest trabajadores dignes to travel pages and what they're injustice for that sustainment for pagan responsibility in the call the drogas robot but not alleged.

Thank you next please street vendor is for the commission especially materials no ustedes no pueden participating chance three participants y ahora no sabemos dónde vamos a trabajar no vivir aquí in Miami Beach perfect empatia in the force gracias no se preocupe yo no voy a votar por eso de Prada soy Albert Mirando Señor Suárez, usted que es el impulsor de esto nos demostra que usted tiene corazón de Raman Lagrizuna que nuestros compagnons nos hicieron entrar a la loteria está pagada el día 9 for the lottery invoice when we have the envoy no sea electron jueves a pagan and email decía that the program of Miami Beach certificates initiamos este program

El día nove fue la lotería.

El día 10 mandaron el envoys.

Cuando nosotros quisimos pagar el envoy, no se podía.

Si ustedes van a monificar todo eso, correcto.

Ustedes acercados a nosotros tocer, mira, esto no, esto sí, pero no tomarnos photos, comprar mercadería gastando dinero de la ciudad.

Porque esa mercadería no les sirve a ustedes a no ser si las van a repartir o a donar.

Entonces, ese ha sido un gasto inutile.

Nosotros estamos haciendo un trabajo neto.

La mayoría somos gente mayor.

Hola, buenos días.

No me expreso bien, pero vengo a Tambia sano.

No, desde que aquí trabajo in soy sola.

Mr.

Mayor.

I want to thank all the speakers who uh came as one of the speakers mentioned.

It does take courage to come.

I remember before I was an elected official coming to speak, uh, so I appreciate it.

I'm I'm specifically uh grateful to the students who came here and spoke.

It again it takes a lot of courage.

And I had a request to do a quick picture with the students, and I think that would be uh meaningful to you and and our commission as well.

Never mind.

Thank you so much.

Ralph, I'm gonna turn it to you for the consent agenda.

Thank you, Mayor.

The following items have been separated from the consent agenda.

You have a list in front of you that contains these items.

Too much, folks, too much noise.

Thank you.

Commissioner Dominguez has separated C7W.

Commissioner Fernandez has separated C7G.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez is not separating C7J, so if you can scratch out from your list to C7J is not being separated.

Those are the items that have been requested to be separated.

Only two separated items that may be a record for the fewest amount of separated items.

The addendum items have not been approved by the mayor, and they'll be heard after 5 o'clock.

I have the following two announcements on item C2A, the public benefit, which states a minimum of seven times blocks.

And reserve access to Miami Beach residents is being replaced with the following public benefit.

Providing a 15% reduction in court booking fees for Miami Beach residents.

The updated resolution on exhibit A were uploaded into one meeting yesterday.

We're adding Commissioner Suarez as co-sponsors to C7AF and R5O, and we're adding Commissioner Fernandez as co-sponsor of C7AB and C7AF.

No.

Wait, which I have a motion for C7AC.

I'm sorry.

C seven.

So tell me again, it's C7AF and C7AC.

Got it.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Just want to make sure that it's just those two.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, sorry.

If I can have a motion on the consent agenda excluding the addendums and excluding the separated items.

I'll move the item.

I'll move the agenda with the exception of the separated items.

And just uh point of information, Mr.

Mayor, are we doing today the board and committee appointments, or is that um is that we're doing the process.

I've actually had a request from members of the day not to hear those today.

I was supposed to both uh Ralph.

I'm sorry, uh Commissioner Fernandez was raising whether we're gonna hear the boards and committees.

Uh one I had some requests from members of the death not to hear it today.

Also, I heard from you uh to my office that generally we those positions are not even up till January.

Maybe you can clarify.

There are the reappointments are not up till December 31st.

There's a 60-day grace period.

Normally we do these at the end of the year.

Uh especially during an election year.

Of course.

So but the vacancies that are here you could do today.

They're not controversial, I feel, and there no one's being opposed.

So the vacancies could be done if you wish very quickly.

Okay.

I think that's a good suggestion.

I just want to make sure that you know we we are making decisions that of vacancies that might be effective at the end of the year, and that I think we owe it to whoever the electorate chooses through their wisdom to hold these seats to have the opportunity to make a selection in those in those positions.

It's the courtesy that's been afforded to us in the past when we were elected.

Then once we got elected, we were able to vote on the people who are going to be serving in these positions, and I think we should afford the same to whoever holds these seats uh after the elections.

I'll second that motion.

Thank you.

Okay.

You wish to do the vacancies now or later?

No, I I think what Commissioner Fernandez is saying is that uh in accordance with tradition, we will let the new electorate body uh make those determinations.

Could we do one in and the reason is it's a direct appointment from Hebrew Academy and it requires a waiver, and otherwise the person doesn't come in.

It's their nominee to act on the QEC.

Yeah, I'm happy to move that.

Okay, so Rabbi Seth Gutenberg, we have the waiver as he doesn't have children at the moment, so he needs a waiver.

So we'll do that by acclamation.

Sure.

Okay, so that's the one that is done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Any more announcements, Ralph?

No, that's it.

I just need a vote now on the consent agenda.

I have a motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Vice Mayor Magazine.

All in favor of the consent agenda.

Aye.

And I don't see Commissioner Suarez.

So uh one absent six zero absent Commissioner Suarez.

It's called R5E.

Commissioner Suarez on the consent agenda.

Yes.

So it's the consent agenda is approved, excluding those items 70.

You said R5E, Mayor?

Correct.

R5E is an ordinance of the mayor of City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the City of Miami Beach year 2040 comprehensive plan pursuant to the expedited state review process of section 163.3184 sub three Florida statutes by amending the resilient land use and development element goal RLU 1 entitled land use objective, RLU 1.1 entitled establishment of future land use categories at table RLU 1.1 to provide floor area ratio FAR incentives through the City Commission warrant review process and providing for codification, repealers of ability, transmittal and an effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5E.

Commissioner Fernandez with five co-sponsors.

Yes, and uh Tom, I just want to make sure that this has an exception for North Beach.

It does actually uh Commissioner R5F, which is the companion LDR amendment includes the exception for North Beach.

Okay, the the LDR amendment is the one that needs to have the exception.

Correct.

Okay.

So with that, I'll move the item.

I have a motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Suarez.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one on Zoom and no one in the audience.

May I call the roll?

Yes.

On R5E, Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Bach.

Yes.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Item R5E is approved.

R5F.

R5F is in order to the mayor, so the Commission of the City of Miami Beach Florida amending the Miami Beach Resiliency Code by amending chapter 2 entitled Administration and Review Procedures.

Article 5 entitled rezoning and read and development approvals.

Section 2.53 entitled design review.

Subsection 2.5.3.3 and title administrative design review.

Chapter 2 entitled Administration and Review Procedures and by Amending Article 13 entitled Historic Preservation.

Section 2.13.7 entitled Issuance of Certificate of Appropriateness, Certificate to Dig, Certificate of Appropriateness for Demolition, Subsection C and Title Review Procedures to Expand Administrative Review Authority for School Development by Amending Chapter 2 Entitled Administration and Review Procedures.

Article 7 and Title Commission Warrant to Section 2.7.1 title review procedures to allow FAR Warrant Request for School Development by Amending Chapter 5 and Title Off Street Parking.

Article 2 entitled Vehicle Parking, Bicycle Parking and Off-Street Loading Requirements.

At Section 5.2.4, entitled Vehicle Off Street Parking Requirements by Amending the Parking Requirements and Parking Tier 1 to eliminate the parking requirement for school use by Chapter 7 entitled zoning district regulations.

Article 1 entitled general to all zoning districts districts by creating section 7.1.12 entitled school use incentive to establish new zoning incentives, including without limitation of floor area ratio specific to properties proposed to be developed with a school use by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations article 2 entitled district regulations by amending section 7.2.4 entitled RM1 residential multifamily low intensity subsection 7.7.2.4.2 entitle use is RM1 and by amending section 7.2.5 entitled RM2 residential multifamily medium intensity and subsection 7.2.5.2 entitle use is RM2.

And by amending section 7.2.6 entitled RM3 Residential Multifamily High Intensity at Subsection 7.2.6.2 RM3 by amending section 7.2.10 entitled C D 1 Commercial Low Intensity District at Subsection 7.2.10.2 entitled use of C D1 and by amending Section 7.2.11 entitled C D 2 Commercial Medium Intensity Districts at Subsection 7.2.11.2 entitled use of C D 2 and by amending section 7.2.12 entitled C D 3 Commercial High Intensity District and Subsection 7.2.12.2 entitle use of C D 3 by amending section 7.2.14 entitled North Beach Town Center Core District TC at subsection 7.2.14.2 entitle uses TC1 TC2.

And by amending subsection 7.2.14.3 entitle uses TC3 and by amending subsection 7.2.14.6 entitled town center central core TCC district and by amending subsection section 7.2.15 entitled performance standard districts ps at subsection 7.2.15.2 entitled residential performance standards districts RPS by amending subsection 7.2.15.3 entitled commercial performance standards district CPS.

And by amending section 7.2.16 entitled SP special SPE Special Public Facilities Educational District at Subsection 7.2.18.2 entitled uses SPE by referencing the school use incentives established under section 7.1.12 and conforming the regulations for each represent respective zoning districts to reflect the incentives and providing for codification repealers of ability and effective date.

This is item R5F.

It requires a six sevens vote it is a second reading public hearing.

Commissioner Fernandez with four co-sponsors that's right thank you so much and uh and I want to thank my co-prime sponsor commissioner Davis Suarez because these items are about supporting the development of educational facilities in our city by offering target targeted incentives to facilitate that sometimes our zoning can be very restrictive but in the one area where we where we should perhaps have some more leniency is when we're talking about the education that makes us a desirable community for families to move to and so uh and so I'm proud to move this item I want to thank again my my co-prime sponsor commissioner suarez and all the members of the commission who have joined us as sponsor and I just also want to make sure uh the this is not included for now North Beach is that correct that's correct okay with that I move the item I just want to I just want to also thank you uh commissioner fernandez for joining me and we had a couple sunshine meetings uh on this and we I know commissioner fernandez and I are looking to invest in our future and the future families of Miami Beach

I want to thank again my my co-prime sponsor, Commissioner Suarez and all the members of the commission who have joined us as sponsor.

And I just also want to make sure uh the this is not included for now North Beach.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay.

With that, I move the item.

I just want to I just want to also thank you, uh Commissioner Fernandez for joining me.

I know we had a couple sunshine meetings uh on this, and we I know Commissioner Fernandez and I are looking to invest in our future and the future families of Miami Beach.

And if we don't have a good school base system here in Miami Beach, uh families are not gonna want to come.

And so we are a resident first city, and this is a great incentive to really encourage more families to come in Miami Beach and grow the roots here.

So again, thank you, Commissioner Fernandez, for co-priming this with me.

Thank you.

Great great item, and uh happy uh to co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Call the vote.

Commissioner Suarez, are you seconding?

I'll second the motion.

It is a public hearing, and we have one individual requesting to speak.

Daniel, state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Yes, I Daniel Serraldo, 730 103 candidate for commission group one.

Last time I called in on this item, I asked a question of the planning director about maximum height.

I was demonished by one of the commission sponsors who directed the planning director not to answer my basic question.

I'm still very concerned about this ordinance as it appears to be a citywide FAR in height increase.

I'm not clear on whether this applies to private or public schools.

I'm also not clear on the enrollment of some of the newer private schools.

I've heard that those enrollments are on the decline.

Um but um my overall question remains when there's a historic building on the site, will this still go to the historic preservation board?

We need to make sure that our historic buildings are protected and not destroyed by over developments.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Mayor, if I could respond to that.

Because HPB review is still required for demolition in historic districts.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

It's not like when uh Miami Day County public schools went to the cottage to the Rose Cottage uh and and demolished that because we didn't have jurisdiction on on the matter.

That building should have never been demolished.

That's a historic structure, but because it's the school system, they have their authority and their independent jurisdiction, and we weren't able to require HPB review.

In this case, HPB review is still required in those historic districts.

That's correct.

And uh what this does is it does not grant an FAR increase, is that it allows for schools to request one through a commission warrant at a and it and it's a limit, it's capped at 5,000 square feet of FAR.

That's correct.

And 5,000 square feet, we know it's really not that much for for a school.

Correct.

And that allowing that to go through a commission warrant.

And in addition to that, this allows for administrative review of up to 50 feet in height.

Correct, consistent with what's allowed in the zoning district.

Okay.

So just in case there was any misunderstanding or or confusion, just so that we are clear about what the policy does.

Commissioner Fernandez was a rapid fire questions.

You'd been a good lawyer.

Very impressive.

There is no other public speaker requesting to speak.

May I call the roll?

Let's call the role.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Thank you.

Uh Vice Mayor Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved.

That was item R5F.

R5A.

For the record, R5D is being open and continued to October 29th.

R5D.

You said R5A, sir.

Just to be clear, D isn't David, right?

He isn't David, yes.

Open and continued October 29th.

R5A.

R5A is an order to the mayor said the commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the resiliency code of the city of Miami Beach by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations.

Article 2 and title district regulations, Section 7.2.2 and title RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, single family residential districts.

That's subsection 7.2.2.6 and title 40th Street Overlay RS to amend the regulations for religious institution uses, including associate dormitories for providing for codification repealer subability on effective date.

This is a second first reading public hearing.

It requires 57th vote.

R5A first reading.

Thank you.

I'm the sponsor, and I'll turn it over to you, Tom.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um as most of the commission is aware, this particular item amends the land development regulations of the city code, specifically the 40th Street overlay, which has been in existence since 2010.

And this overlay, which is on the south side of 40th Street, allows for through the conditional use process, religious institutions within single family homes.

This particular proposal would amend that overlay to allow for a limited expansion for certain types of religious institution uses.

It's gone through a lengthy public hearing process through the land use committee and the planning board endorsed the item.

Specifically, and and I'll just go through some of the highlights if there's any specific questions I can answer them.

Um this particular overlay would allow for the introduction of dormitory uses.

Dormitories would be limited to four dormitory units per platted lot, which is consistent with what a single family home would have on a platted lot, and no more than four beds per dormitory unit.

Um design review board approval would be required for any site that contained two or more platted lots.

Um the unit size has in been increased from 50 percent to a 100%.

The lot coverage has been increased from 30 percent to 50 percent.

Um there have been modifications to the front setback requirements, um, which would primarily front either 40th street, depending on the lot, or one of the side streets, and those have been reduced for two-story structures from 30 feet to 20 feet.

Um likewise, street size setbacks have been reduced from 10 feet uh to five feet, and the overall height allowed has been uh increased from two stories to three stories.

Additionally, rooftop access and uses on the roof um would not be permitted, and up to three platted lots could be aggregated for purposes of development.

The administrative administration is supportive of this proposal because the 40th Street Overlay is primarily a transitional zone from the more intense commercial district on the north side of 40th Street into the north of 40th Street into the more low-scale RS area that is on the south side of 40th Street.

Uh, and we would recommend um approval of the ordinance if approved of first reading, second reading uh would be set for October 29th.

I want to acknowledge Rabbi Schlommel Stillerman who is here as well, who first brought this concept to to my attention several years ago.

There's been a lot of work uh and uh compromises that went into this uh this uh ordinance.

So, and I'm very appreciative of obviously Rabbi Stillerman, but also Tom and the entire administration.

Um, countless hours were done to make this uh amenable to our city to work for uh for anyone who wants to uh use this ordinance to enhance the uh religious overlay, but also to the nearby uh neighboring residents.

I think this is uh a really good piece of legislation, and it took a lot of work to get there, but we got there and uh very proud to sponsor it.

Now second the item, Mr.

Mayor.

I think you'll you'll move it.

Sure.

Uh and I'll second.

And I just want to confirm this is this is conditional use because I've received questions about this.

This because anything in an overlay like this would have to go back to the planning board when they submit an application for an operational plan, delivery, hours of operation, parking, all of that gets considered by the planning board uh at the time of an application.

That's correct.

Okay, all right.

So with that, uh I'll move the item.

I'll second.

Motion.

Motion from Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Mayor Minor.

Uh it is a public hearing.

Anita's iPhone is requesting to speak, please state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

My name is Anita Grossman, 4539 North Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach.

I'm very much in favor of this overlay.

I think it will be a boon to our city.

It will bring a lot of younger people into our community, and I hope that you all will pass it so that we can move forward with this project and see the growth of our community.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual speaker has a screen name of what YM Ventures.

State your name, address.

You have two minutes.

Please unmute yourself.

Y M Ventures, please unmute yourself.

Okay, they're not unmuting themselves.

Go ahead.

Can you yes, go ahead?

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Hi, my name is Jake Martyr.

I live off uh 4343 of Royal Palm Avenue.

I'm being involved in you who tenders a central role of my life.

Just be involved with the Houdin to further their mission of inspiring and guiding young professionals.

Uh I'm also here today to voice my strong support for the overlaying zoning.

This project isn't just about building, it's creating a hub that will really, I feel serve as a magnet for young couples and communities who want to build their lives in Miami Beach.

And I I feel like I speak not just for myself but for many members of community.

I see it as a real asset that will strengthen the neighborhood, encourage responsible growth, and provide a space for connection, education, and inspiration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual speaker is Sarah Banduho.

Please state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Hi, my name is Sarah Van Duho.

I live at 2931 Sheridan Avenue in Miami Beach.

I am a single girl in my 20s in the community, and Yuhudi is one of the only organizations that caters to my demographic.

And I feel like allowing organizations like Yehudi to grow only brings in other young people like me, which is essential to the sustainability of our community.

So I just want to show my support.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Yael.

Please state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Please unmute yourself.

Yael, please unmute yourself.

They are not unmuting themselves, so and there's no one in the audience.

So we can proceed then.

It's called the vote.

It is a motion from Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Mayor Minor.

Commissioner Suarez is a yes.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Bach.

Yes.

West Mayor Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carry.

Second reading public hearing is scheduled for October 29th.

Thank you.

Robbie Stillerman, welcome.

Good morning.

My name is Rabbi Stromlo Stillerman.

Very, very proud member of Miami Beach community for almost 12 years now.

I live here with my wife, and we are raising seven beautiful children here.

I want to really thank this body for doing an incredible job on giving me and my family such a wonderful place to live.

Thank you, thank you.

I was uh very touched to see this morning that we honored uh David Shaffer.

Uh Holocaust survivor of my wife is the granddaughter of four Holocaust survivors, making all my seven children miracles.

The fact that any of them exist.

Yehudi was established by my wife and I 12 years ago with the mission to inspire.

And there's many ways of fighting anti-Semitism, but we believe the way to fight anti-Semitism is through education, through educating our youth, through educating the next generation, through inspiration, teaching a generation of Jews what it means to be a light amongst the nations, what it means to have integrity, to have love and to have kindness.

That's why Yehudi is here.

I'm grateful for everyone here who made Yehudi possible so far.

I do ask if you can have one consideration on the current amendment.

This amendment will allow Yehudi to do what we're doing, except it'll give us a roof over heads because most of our events are currently outside.

Many of them in the rain.

So the fact that we could build a place that would keep everyone inside and a lot of our people that come to sleep overnight or have to be by houses from family members and community members.

Now they'll have a place to sleep inside, so thank you.

Um but there's one thing I'd like you to consider.

Many people have met their uh husbands or wives at Yehudi.

And it's a time-honored custom.

A Jewish wedding should be under the stars.

And there should be uh there's a chupa, a canopy with a rabbi, a few friends and family.

To be under the stars means that when you start your your Jewish home, there's no barriers, there's no roof on top of you.

It's you and the Almighty, and you can bring the presence of the Almighty into your home.

Bring the presence of light into your home.

And I ask that the uh commission please uh not deny our students that right and that that experience.

Currently, the rooftop usage of anything built on 40th Street would be prohibited.

And I asked if you could please consider removing that uh restriction altogether, or at the very least, modifying it significantly so that we could have chuppas, we could have uh marriage ceremonies on the rooftop where they could see the ocean, they could see the sky, and they could build homes filled with Jewish values of love and kindness for many generations to come.

Thank you, thank you.

Um thank you, Robbie.

Um Thank you, Robbie Stillman.

I'm just gonna ask.

We actually just voted on the item, so I'm gonna ask Tom for some clarification.

I believe, and I don't want to put words in the rabbi's mouth that uh he has a concern with one of the provisions of the amendment that prohibits rooftop uses.

That's was that was a condition that was recommended by the land use committee, and it was included um in the draft of the ordinance.

Um it would be up to you to decide whether or not you would want to modify that or remove that, either now or um look at revised language between first and second reading.

Yeah, uh Commissioner Magazine.

Uh can I make a motion perhaps to uh our planning department to come back with an analysis of uh between now and second reading about how we would be able to incorporate that?

Sure.

Great.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bach.

Uh Rabbi, it it's a beautiful tradition.

Can you provide a little bit more color about how you would anticipate using the rooftop for would it be just the ceremony itself with just a limited number of participants, maybe you know, the people getting married, the the rabbi performing the service, and um you know, maybe immediate parents and then the celebrations would be inside.

I think the concern of the community as as it is always with rooftop activations is you know it's it everyone wants to have a party on the rooftop because why wouldn't you, right?

So if it's if it's the ceremony, I think when when we hear what what everybody has to say between first and second reading, that's one conversation.

If it's the entirety of the celebration, that's a very different conversation.

So maybe you could shed some light on what you imagine the usage exactly being since you're here.

That time in my house starts at six o'clock.

So I know it means to put kids to bed, and I wouldn't want there to be any parties on any rooftops.

Uh but if there's a noise restriction, I'd fully understand that uh like noise restriction from a certain point onwards, maybe it's 10 o'clock onwards.

The the ceremony is uh typically very like ambient music, light music.

Uh the parties are indoor, the the celebrations will be indoor.

Um maybe on the odd occasion on a Pura Murchanako or a couple of times a year to have something on the on the rooftop.

But uh the most of the celebrations, the the primary functions will be indoors, downstairs.

The but you know, when you're getting married, I got married here on the beach uh to my wife a couple years ago, 20 years ago, um, in the Deuville.

And if it's an outdoor wedding, you're you're thinking all day, please God, don't let it rain.

And that's all you're really thinking about.

And if for a young couple, they should really shouldn't have anything else to worry about.

They shouldn't have to worry about like how many people they bring hell out the music is or this, that let them get married, let them start off their their families without stress and with with love.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And Rabbi, thank you for this beautiful tradition you have brought into our community.

It really highlights the values of Miami Beach, especially our mid-beach community.

Uh, one of the things that's very important is that this overlay is designed to protect the residential character of the single family neighborhood.

And so I think you know, it has to be very carefully tailored, whatever language is considered and proposed because there are single family homes abutting, abutting Yehuri.

And the issue is that we're not just talking about Yehudi, we're talking about an overlay that's for all of 40th Street.

That in the future, then other properties, not Yahuri could come and ask for similar rooftop activations on their on their properties.

So I think you know, we need to look at that language.

That is, it's not a small amendment.

That's actually a pretty big amendment uh to the to the item.

Did the planning board considered rooftop activations, Tom?

No, the the language that went to the planning board included the current provision not permitting any type of rooftop activation, and that's what the planning board recommended.

And when the legislation started, it had rooftop activations, and then through the legislative crafting process, yeah, and hearing from the community and the meetings that were had, the rooftop was removed.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay, so I just we have to be careful because there's there's a fine balance.

Uh and of course, this if there is a mission to be supported, it's this mission.

It's a beautiful mission, and it's and it's good uh for for for for Miami Beach, but we also have to protect the quality of the life of the abutting neighborhood.

And I say that because I love Jewish parties.

And you guys throw great parties, and there's always lots of music and lots of dancing.

Um and so we just have to be have the proper safeguards in place for the residents that are abutting the area.

And you add a lot when you come to those parties.

So thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Not the dancing, I'm not good with the dancing.

Yeah.

Okay, so this is this is passed on first reading without that uh amendment, and um we'll we'll it'll come back to us at second reading and we'll we'll review it.

So is that as amended then or as is.

So it's as is, and second reading public hearing is scheduled for October 29th.

That's what we're thank you.

Correct.

Thank you.

Just wanted to add my personal touch.

You know, we have so many residents and leaders in our city that adds so much to our city, often goes unrecognized.

We try to do it through proclamations and what have you to recognize people, but it's what makes our city so great and special.

But since you're here, Rob I still and I will give you a shot.

I've met personally many of the they're college students or or or graduate students, but uh young adults in their 20s, and you've changed our lives.

I've seen it, they've told me that.

Uh, they've met their spouses through you, they've grown professionally and spiritually.

So thank you for what you add to to our city and and and cultivating that in our in our city.

I want to call um, thank you.

I want to call R7M, as in Michael.

R7M is urge grantees pursue other sources of funding for budgetary constraints.

No, R7M.

M, okay, inclusion of notable cases on MBPD website.

So I brought I brought this item.

Uh I want us to start highlighting cases that um of crimes in our city that don't do not get the proper treatment, generally by the judiciary.

So what happens is we've taken so many steps as a commission, as a body, as a police department, to reduce crime.

And the numbers, the numbers are telling, and we're doing we're doing good work on that.

That being said, we we make arrests, but then it has to go through the system.

We have our municipal prosecution team, we're now prosecuting where we were on what and I'm very proud of the legislation that I brought that I brought on that, and and our commission has also signed on in so many different ways.

Well, ultimately, there's been a number of crimes in our city that in the last several years, where when you look back, they're not committing the crimes over and over in Miami Beach generally, because we are taking the actions, but they are committing the crime elsewhere.

And then they the they're literally just released on their own recognizes after committing a violent crime.

And then they come back and they go elsewhere, including Miami Beach, and then commit the crime.

We've had instances where it's literally just days after they've been released when it's so clear they should not be released.

I think it behooves us as a commission to know to highlight those cases.

We have to.

And we're not trying to uh embarrass anyone.

We're just giving the facts.

We're giving the facts as this is the this is the criminal history of this individual.

This is the crime they committed, and this is the action that was taken through the judiciary system.

We need to start highlighting that.

This item actually, I say that should be on our website.

I'd like to pro to propose if we could do it within this item, or I'll bring a separate item that we start doing it on social media.

It is um we had an incident a c a couple days ago.

An officer, one of our officers in making an arrest.

Luckily, this person had not uh not interacted or or or engaged with anyone from the public.

My understanding of the situation is that the police officer recognized, and this is through proactive visible policing that we've been pushing, and thank you for that, Chief Jones.

The officer through through his own proactive uh policing saw an individual who could be a threat.

And when they went to effectuate the arrest, he headbutted the officer in a very violent manner, causing the officer to have seven stitches, five five or seven stitches, going to the hospital.

I spoke to the officer, thank God he's doing well.

But this person has a criminal record that is unreal, mostly outside of our city, but some of it in it, and just continues to be back on our streets.

We need to start highlighting these cases for the judiciary.

And I'm very proud when we had this uh the prior, the prior uh there's now new leadership in the in the Miami Dade County judiciary, but the prior had brought in this bail reform that would have been devastating for our city.

And I'm very proud of it.

I I highlighted it.

Others highlighted it, Commissioner Fernandez.

I know you took a major lead on that.

Ultimately the governor stepped in.

But this we've seen this happen elsewhere in other other cities, and it does not end well.

It's and and this is to me another aspect of that.

So I'm gonna turn it to you, Chief Jones.

How do we get that done?

How do we start highlighting these cases?

And I'm gonna propose now that we do it on social media as well.

Uh good morning, uh, Wayne Jones, police chief, uh, mayor commission, city manager.

You know, um we have long held within the police department uh this idea that we want to show as much of what we do, how we do with uh public.

Um that's evident the fact that uh some time ago we stood up dashboards that shows our crime data in real time uh in many cases that are residents or anyone interested in learning what's happening with the police department at any given time can go to our website, click on a dashboard and see what's happening in their given neighborhood in terms of crime data.

We believe this is just another iteration of this, a sharing information with the community that we serve.

Uh the fact that highlighting um arrestees, uh particularly particularly folks we call um uh habitual offenders on our website, highlighting certain cases on our website.

We think it's the next iteration of that of task, uh, Captain Brown and his team to come up with a way to do that.

Um and uh he's working that diligently right now at some point near future.

We hope to have uh something we can put forward uh for you to you and your colleagues to view um and then give to the general public.

But just to be clear, uh I it's it's not only highlighting the arrestee, it's highlighting what happened in the the judicial system.

The case wasn't prosecuted, we highlight that.

But generally, I don't think that's so much as the issue as the judiciary is is releasing individuals on their own recognizance, they are lowering uh probation periods and releasing before the full probation period.

And we've seen instances where literally within days of a very lax ruling or release that this person goes out and commits a violent offense.

Yeah.

And I and I again I don't think we have to editorialize it.

We could just state the facts.

This is what happened.

This person was arrested for the 49th time.

I mean, these are people, let's be clear, we're not talking about people arrested once or twice.

We're talking about people who have been arrested 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 times.

Not all in our city, mostly not in our city, but elsewhere, and then they make their way here.

Yeah.

Um to some extent we have the ability to do it now.

We we have on our website today links to the Clicker Courts where someone can go to our website, click on those links and find out the information you you're suggesting the uh available.

But most people are not doing it.

It's too hard to do.

So we're gonna find a smart way to do it.

Yep.

Absolutely.

We're we're looking for a smarter way to do that, and Captain Brown has seemed to have been tasked with coming up with a way to do that, and so to make it easier and more efficient for someone to go to our website and easily find out this information.

How about on your social media?

Uh we can certainly look into that.

Uh Mr.

Mayor wasn't prepared to talk about social media today, but uh seems like I say that to you, Eric, as well, on our on our city of Miami Beach social media.

Uh and I think you kind of highlighted on it, Mayor.

You know, the important thing is gonna be walking that fine line between not embarrassing people but highlighting the facts.

So and and by the way, I I agree.

Uh it there's an there's an extent that it will be embarrassing, but uh I think we should take the it should be the facts.

If embarrasses someone it embarrasses someone, uh but ultimately we're just stating the facts.

This is what happened, and we're highlighting it.

People should know the information.

It's very difficult.

I've spent so much time on this.

Um, the judiciary the what happens after a person's arrest is so murky.

We've pushed, and I'm appreciative that we've made more information available in the last couple of years internally, but it is very murky and very difficult to find out exactly what is happening through the court system.

And that is, in my opinion, I'm giving I'm editing now.

I'm editorializing.

I think it's by design.

I think it's by design how difficult it is to realize what's going on.

And all I'm saying is that we as a city should make that as transparent as possible so people can see and they make their own decisions.

Judges are elected officials just like we are.

Uh and people should know, should know the decisions they are making.

Just like they know the decisions we make.

Uh, Commissioner Fernandez and then Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And you mentioned a situation where 49 times the individual of us arrested.

Uh sometimes more.

That is incredible.

And you know, just and just looking at this at this resolution, uh, where you mentioned in here Perry Smith.

Perry Smith, who um who was released uh from custody after being arrested for assaulting Joe Manning in 2024, then proceeded to batter an out-of-the-country tourist.

Okay.

In 2025, just a few months after us having a plea bargain on those two cases, he was rearrested for battering a German sports journalist who came here to Miami Beach.

And then we know in 2024, there was another person, um, an accused serial burglar and a repeat offender who pointed a gun to our colleague, Commissioner Magazine, and then he was released from custody just several months after that incident, and he removed his ankle monitor and was underrun.

And now, Chief, I have a question.

When these individuals get arrested and they get released, do they have a car to get back to Miami Beach?

Um short answers oftentimes no.

No.

Do they think they walk back to Miami Beach from TGK all the way in Durral back over here?

No, sir.

Chiefly use public transportation to get back here.

They use public transportation.

They are coming to Miami Beach back on the bus that our tax dollars is paying for.

And that is the biggest problem that we have.

The judges who are allowing them to be released, and then the facilitating of a bus ticket to send them back, not to the continuum of care for them to get services, not to into re-entry services, uh, not to job training so they can better their lives, sending them back to someone else's backyard, to our backyard, to the backyard of the taxpayers and the residents of the city of Miami Beach who are becoming the victims of these criminals.

And I think we need to stand up.

We need to go back and lobby Miami Dave County to end once and for all that bus ticket that is sending criminals back to where?

To our community.

Where to batter our elderly, to point guns at our colleagues, to attack our tourists, to harm our police officers.

It's time for it to end, and it has to end now because we're not only an economic engine for Miami Dade County, we are an economic engine for the state of Florida.

And that bus ticket is just sending criminals back to our beautiful paradise.

Commissioner Magazine, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh community is only as strong as our weakest link.

And we have the best police department in the entire country.

The men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department put your lives on the line continuously.

You did it for the situation, Commissioner Fernandez referenced with me, where your officers approached and apprehended.

Somebody that they knew was of uh probably ill mind with a looted weapon.

And you do so continuously.

I saw you do so uh from my apartment just several weeks ago on Seventh in Euclid.

We have the best men and women in the entire country serving our city.

We have a legislative body that is absolutely unified in providing the safest, cleanest city in the entire world, right?

But our weak link is the judiciary system.

And that puts all of our efforts, not renders them for naught, but it greatly reduces that, because as I said, you're only as strong as your weakest link.

And it is ironic, whether by design or not, that that is the most opaque part of this entire system.

When people constituents come to me, they say, Well, how are these people back out?

I I don't have a great answer for them, and I'm somebody that follows this day in, day out.

So perhaps we do need to embarrass people.

Perhaps we do.

Because if we don't, what does that result in?

Before the violent incident that was referenced in Sutnik Hour today, there was another viral incident in North Carolina that we all saw come across our computer screens in social media last week, where a young girl had her throat slit on public transportation.

And I still can't bring myself to watch that video.

I stop it, but the part I will never ever get out of my mind is seeing her eyes open up and look up if she knew something was about to happen.

And as the father of a young daughter, I'll never get that out of my mind, seeing just the helplessness there.

And why is that?

Because the judicial system failed.

That monster was arrested time after time after time, and there was no accountability.

He should have never been walking that street.

And because he was that young girl and her family's lives are either gone or changed forever.

And that hurt me as a human being, even though it happened in North Carolina.

I couldn't live with myself if that happened in our city to one of our residents.

And we're doing our job up here, and you are doing your job.

We need to hold the people accountable that are not doing their job.

And this is the way to do so.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Magazine.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

I don't I like this item.

I mean, I'm looking at our crime statistics right now and year over year.

Aggravated batteries and assaults are now up by 15%.

Not blaming the police because I think this is a judicial issue.

Um, some of our policies, sexual batteries now up 150% year over year.

So it's very concerning.

Um what I would say is that these people that are being arrested at time and time again, this is obviously mental illness.

And I think that there's a few things that we can do, apart from the bus ticket item that I have here right now, and that's possibly not you know, not reaching these convictions or plea deals and actually taking them to trial and insisting because what we're doing right now is we're reaching um a plea deal, they're getting out on time served, and it's it's not the police department's fault because they're arresting again and again and again.

Um I really think that we have to stop trying to get these convictions so we can say our conviction rate is so high because what's the point of getting a conviction if they're just getting arrested again and again and again?

Um well, I I I I understand that you think that when we get to a certain amount of convictions, that this is a positive thing, but it's costing a lot of money.

Um I'm not saying to to stop uh doing it, and I'm not sure that the police department wants to constantly post uh criminals on their social media.

I do know that Miami Crime and Prevention does this successfully, and they are extremely frustrated with what they see as the prosecution.

Um striking these plea deals, uh, the homeless, many of the times who are committing these crimes, they're released on their own recognizance, they're back out on the street immediately, and um we need to stand our ground and say we're going to trial.

So I'm not quite sure is this just to get a higher conviction rate, because I think that's really where the problem is.

We can say, oh, we have this great conviction rate, but if you see that sexual batteries up 150% year over year, at a time when sexual batteries down by 50 percent in the city of Miami, okay, and you see that aggravated assault and battery, and I know the other day, mayor, you said aggravated assault isn't so bad.

It is, it's aggravated assault and battery.

So people are getting beaten up, and that is now what 15 percent.

I thought it was up only 10 percent.

It's up 15 percent.

And that's because we can do better at the court system.

We've invested in it, and I think that we need to really push through and no longer seek these plea deals just to have a high conviction rate, so we can go around saying, hey, we're doing great when we're not.

So I don't know how you feel about the bus ticket item.

I didn't have an opportunity to speak to you about it, but I'm thinking that you know, as a pilot program, this might go a long way in asking some of these people to leave the city um and see if they take us up on our offer, at least leave Miami Dade County.

And I would call that item separately.

Um I I vehemently disagree with much of what you said, and I'll I'll try to parse it out and I'll turn to the chief.

I also appreciate if we don't do politics and campaigning from from the dais.

I don't think it's politics, it's numbers, stats, and facts.

Yes.

So the reason our prosecution, and I and we have uh the head of our prosecution team here as well.

It is it is a fact, and it absolutely has worked to have the convictions because we used to have individuals in our city that committed multiple crimes over and over again.

That is actually not happening nearly as much.

That has been reduced significantly, and I'll and I'll turn and I'll let I'll let the police chief and our our our head prosecutor address that.

What we are seeing though is people committing crimes in other cities and then come here, uh obviously individuals are mobile, but the conviction rate absolutely works because absent a conviction, the arrest is meaningless.

Now, obviously, if a person gets arrested, it could have an impact in their life.

I'm not just saying an arrest is is is meaningless and in a vacuum, but I'm talking about people who are arrested over and over again.

Absent a conviction, the judge and the judiciary system cannot, cannot then assess that for future um adjudication.

So the convictions have worked, they have worked, and we've also done other things.

We offer programs.

I mean, it's not just the convictions, we offer court options, we offer mental health rehabilitation.

So there's no question that that is helping.

I'll turn it to you.

But I also before we turn it to the prosecution, I'd like to turn um because the police department, it's not me saying it.

I just cite the statistics that the police department provides.

Major crimes are down about 16 percent.

Our homeless count is literally the lowest that we've had in at least a decade.

I'd like to let you, I'll let you address that, Chief.

Well, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And you're absolutely correct.

Um the data yeast side is that I provide you, and I stand by uh data.

Really proud of work to manage my B Speech Department doing a daily basis.

The fact that our crime is down across the board, the fact that people feel safer today than they did years ago, I think is a testament of work that my cops do every day, uh being visible, addressing um offenders like Perry Smith that tend to uh somehow um uh escape going to prison for lengthy periods of time and come back to our community and and victimize people over again and again and again.

And each time he does, we find them, we arrest them, you send them back to jail.

So standby crime numbers, stand by the good work, the men and women of my beast police department do on a daily basis to keep the city safe.

Can we address the homeless count as well?

I mean, that's the numbers coming from the homeless trust, correct?

Home discount is down as compared to uh previous years.

I think the Lewis has been um taking aside uh the year of COVID.

Uh lowest has been in 10 years.

I think it's a direct result of uh collaborative efforts with uh my police department and the city's homeless outreach team led by Dr.

Atier, I'm sure he's here, can speak on some of the work we do.

Each day my cops go out and address a couple of things.

One, they address um uh quality of life issues oftentimes committed by a homeless population, and they provide um when uh accepted services to these homeless individuals to try and get them off the street.

Uh I think it's a fantastic formula's work year after year.

In fact, we've been so successful that other municipalities, other police departments, other cities and states around the country have reached out to us to find out how we do it.

Um and we've taught them how to do it and get better uh better at dealing with the homeless population.

Very proud of work that's being done, sir.

Thank you, and I'll talk to Mark Fishman.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

Good morning, everyone.

Yeah, and Mark Fishman, City Attorney's Office.

And I'd just like to be clear and remind everyone uh that the reason our municipal prosecution program started in January of 2018 was because we looked at, we were paying the state attorney's office to prosecute our city code criminal city code violations on behalf of us, which the other 33 municipalities in Miami County continue to do so.

When we looked at the statistics, they were either null processing themselves or allowing the judges to illegally dismiss 93, 94 percent of our criminal ordinance violations.

It was to the point where our police officers, we had repeatedly hear from our police, I'd hear from the police chief.

I had an office next door to the last three police chiefs.

We'd continue to hear the officers would be taunted by the defendants who would be arrested, and the defendants would laugh at our officers and tell them, I'm gonna be back here on the street of Miami Beach before you arrive back here for your next shift.

I cannot tell you what that would do to the morale of our police officers who nonetheless continue to still do their residents in our in our residence, of course.

But the point was that they were not being prosecuted, there were no repercussions.

Then when that person would get arrested again and they'd go to court, they have no convictions.

Judge says this is a first-time offender.

And again, the case would get dismissed, so it didn't matter.

This was just a never-ending cycle.

So now we go and we prosecute.

Again, remember.

I'll I'll just remind I brought legislation requiring our prosecution of the cases, and if the judge dismisses it without a basis, we're going to appeal.

And that happened right away.

They tested us, we appealed and we won, and they stopped dismissing them.

Correct.

Several times that happened, Mayor.

They dismissed our cases because they were used to doing that when the state was prosecuting our cases, and when the state's prosecuting if the other 33 municipalities, they're used to dismissing.

They did that a few times in ours.

We appealed them just like you had said, and we uh succeeded, we're successful in all the appeals.

The cases got reinstated, and they don't longer do that.

Um, but the the important thing to remember too is we only prosecute city code violations.

The maximum time we can get in jail on any defendant for our you know drinking in public, smoking in public, can't be, is 60 days in jail.

But the other critical thing to remember is this.

The judges can do anything except dismiss the case, they can do anything on our cases.

They have complete and unfettered discretion.

They can release someone on their own recognizance, they can deny motions, deny continuances.

Heck, they're the they're the they're the trier of the fact.

If we go to a trial, it's the judge who determines guilty or innocent.

Unless we'd like to have a full jury trial with six jures, then we have to convince six citizens that this person's drinking in public or smoking in public or whatever it is is a crime, and that's fine.

But even if the jury finds the person guilty, the six jurors unanimously agree, it's the judge who decides the sentence.

It's the judge who decides the sentence.

So at the end of the day, we can't escape it.

We have to, you know, deal with that.

So we always try and secure convictions the best we can.

But you know, it's we're we just are limited with what we can do.

But I definitely stand by our work.

Our work has been spectacular.

We have a successful prosecution rate of over 90 percent, when before it was a dismissal rate of over 90 percent.

Um so I I think we do an amazing job.

And thank you for your work.

Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez.

Do you think the state attorney's office is going to consider this a hostile act if we post the judge's name attached to these cases on our website?

I just want to know because I think that you know, have we sat down with the state attorney's office and spoken to them about this and actually had a conversation before we go and start posting judges' names on the website.

I just want if they can do whatever they want, and they will, then if you antagonize them with something like this, then it might work against Miami Beach instead of for it.

I think starting out with a conversation would probably be a more diplomatic way to this.

Yeah, if I could just briefly answer, I first of all it's not the state attorney's office.

I I believe maybe they won't say it publicly, the state attorney's office would love this.

They face the same problems we do.

It's the the judiciary that might have have an issue.

And by the way, for my because I speak to some of the some of the judges are good on this, and and they're frustrated too.

They don't like when their colleagues um dismiss these these cases.

Some of them are Miami Beach residents as well, or they live in Miami Day County, sir, certainly.

But uh Mark.

Yeah, no, thank you.

And I I I you know that that was that was a concern.

That was something that you know the mayor and I had discussed, and I think the way his previous resolution and this resolution will be played out is it's not just you know saying what the defendant did and you know who the judge is and what the judge has done or has failed to do on the case.

It really lays out just facts for residents, but it's all inclusive.

It's defendant's name, the arrest date, the charges, the case number, the next hearing court date, what has happened in the case, the facts of the case, the name of the judge.

So it's all it's everything, just providing factual information to our residents, and the judge's name and identity is just one factual component that will be posted.

It's not just singling out judges with this judge did this on this case.

It's it's just providing comprehensive factual information for our residents uh to follow in an easy format.

Um one more question.

These judges that are dismissing the cases.

Have you reached out to them and had a conversation with them?

Yeah, yeah, we did that.

We did that.

This was several years ago, uh, almost when we first started our program.

They dismissed some of our cases, and we immediately appealed them.

They don't like to be appealed.

They got reversed by the higher court.

The case came back to them.

We sat down with then Chief Judge Robin Faber uh and another judge, I can't recall which one.

We sat down with a second judge, and they no longer dismiss our cases.

And I also, for what it's worth, don't believe that they're dismissing the the state attorney's office cases, the higher level crimes, the first degree misdemeanors and the felonies.

I think what might be happening is uh the state might be sort of limited in some regards with what it can do based on their own issues and based upon um certain judiciary issues.

But they're not they're not dismissing those cases, they're not just shouldn't be dismissing uh any of our cases at this point.

I feel like we should schedule a meeting and have everyone in the room together and talk about this and have a conversation.

You've done that with the state attorney with all of us in the room with our municipal prosecution team, everyone sitting at a table and explain with a few victims and say, look at what we're going through right now, and and appeal to these judges.

Have we done that?

I've met with the judges too.

Commissioner I mean it's I don't know.

Um I've two thoughts.

One, um, you know, when I was uh on the board of MBU, we started a um commissioner scorecard, and it put out for each piece of legislation that Miami Beach United took a position on, um, how the commission voted, whether they supported it or did not, as per the recommendation of Miami Beach United.

It's not singling anyone out, it's just a an aggregation of the voting record on those whatever hundred items that over the course of a year.

That is another option, in addition to what the mayor is suggesting to hold these judges accountable.

I you know, I'm I'm a huge supporter of due process and um everybody getting a fair shake at court.

But um if people are coming in and being um released on their own recognizance or you know time served when they are repeat offenders and have a wrap sheet as long as they're you know, voters when we have elections, everybody turns to everybody else say, What are you doing about the judges?

Like nobody knows what to do about the judges, right?

It's it's probably the hardest elected uh uh position to get information about.

And this might be um a way to hold people accountable for their work output, basically.

It's not an intent to embarrass anybody, but let the residents of Miami Beach know what's going on.

Maybe that's for later time.

It was it's a thought.

Um the first thing I wanted to talk about and putting on my background as a marketing and branding professional.

Um, having this data come out on a website on the police social media platforms, I think makes a lot of sense.

I would be very leery about putting this data out on the Miami Beach uh platforms, specifically Instagram.

I might be less concerned about um our Facebook page, but it seems like this is something that should have its own channel of output because the social media that we use for the city of Miami Beach, I'm not talking about the police department or the Facebook page by residents, has been carefully built and curated and does a specific job.

It's a very, very specific job.

I mean, if you went to the GMCVB and said, hey, we're gonna put out these crime stats on our social media posts, they would have absolute heart attacks.

So I I do like the idea of sharing this aggregated information with, you know, here's the facts, nothing but the facts, so that people can stay informed and follow up, but let's be very mindful about where we place it.

We don't want to say, hey, coming over spring break is great, the water is wonderful, the weather's fabulous, the food's excellent.

Look at all the health and fitness stuff we're going.

But hey, by the way.

Here's a judge who just released the criminal.

Yeah.

Avoid this guy.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Okay.

So what I'd like to do today is we have a resolution relating to the uh Miami Beach uh police uh portion of the website to put this data.

So I'd like to pass that today.

I I will bring back a separate item dealing with some other ideas incorporating what you just said as well, Commissioner Commissioner Bott, and and uh on the police social media.

Um so I'll bring that for next meeting.

I'll move the item.

And it's me as a co-sponsor.

Thanks.

Yeah.

As amended that it be a separate, not the main profile of the city.

If I may through the chair, I think that we will be addressing the social media components through a separate item next meeting.

And I and I I'll add we've we've really cultivated, I know you have Mark and I have with the state attorney's office.

For example, our municipal prosecution team has to work in in and co in in uh collaboratively.

Uh one example early on that was an issue was that the state attorney's office handles felonies.

We handle the state sort of our our city ordinance that uh as the munici of the misdemeanor equivalent.

But early on, this is going back four or five years ago when I had brought this legislation, the state attorneys might not ultimately bring the felony charge for whatever reason, maybe a witness doesn't show up, but we could still prosecute the misdemeanor, but we wouldn't know.

So we wouldn't get heads up.

So and then the the Facebook page rightfully and did a good service by pointing out, hey, why is this case being dismissed?

Well, we've resolved that.

And it's through we reached out.

I reached out to uh our state attorney's office, Cathy Fernandez uh Rundell and her deputies, and they've done a really good job of working together with us, and um so I I think we have a good uh a good system going with our prosecution team, and I'm I'm I'm really proud of the work that's being done.

And Mr.

Mayor, I just want to echo PS the state attorney's office is working hard.

And they face great challenges because the state limits the salaries of the prosecutors.

The people who we charge to go into court to fight for us, to fight for the justice of the community, for the justice of the victims, they're one of the least paid public servants.

And and and so the state attorney, Kathy Fernandes Rundle, she really tries her best to fight for us for our justice, but we need she needs strong, capable, well-paid attorneys that will stay there through the course of a career to really fight, fight for us.

But in the meantime, the judges, the judges are the ones that need to be held accountable.

Yeah, and and the reason why we're a great supplement to the state attorney's office is they have to they have to to an extent focus on those uh felonies and perhaps uh misdemeanors where there's uh habitual offenders, but we're adding tremendous value by having a handful of prosecutors.

What do we have?

Four prosecutors?

We have three full-time prosecutors and one who does weekends and holiday volunteering.

I don't want to say their salaries uh publicly, but they are not like you say, Commissioner Fernandez, they are not the highest paid public servants, but they are so valuable.

Um they're really sort of, you know, we see the police officers out on the street, but our prosecutors are out there fighting uh for for our residence and safety um uh uh in a big way.

So uh I'm proud of that work.

But you you are correct, Commissioner Fernandez, the state attorney's office um is is has to handle felonies.

But I'll I gotta tell you when I did meet with a group of judges, I I was I was actually really disheartened because what I heard from them was you know, we're judges of Miami Dade County.

We see all types of brutal crimes and murders and and and and the worst, unfortunately, of humanity, and Miami Beach, like we're seeing a homeless person who's arrested or criminal mischief.

But we take those crimes seriously here in Miami Beach.

We do not, we do not say, well, that's okay, it's just a misdemeanor.

We're even trying to prevent, and you brought this item, Commissioner Bot that I'm co-priming with you about uh making sure businesses prosecute um uh prosecute shoplifters.

I mean, we are taking every level seriously here, and unfortunately, what we're seeing, and and it was said to my face by the judiciary there, the own judges said to me, we can't, this is not this is not the priority.

Um, and we need to change that narrative.

Can I add something to that?

Um, you know, mental health professionals talk about your wound is not less valid than somebody else's wound.

Um, you know, somebody is dealing with cancer, somebody else lost a child, somebody else, you know, um lost a job.

Those are not ranked injuries.

Those are all incredibly real injuries to people going through those things and experiencing them.

And for the judicial body to say effectively that that our wounds don't count because they're not as grievous as other wounds.

I mean, nobody says that about laws when they're being written.

I mean, if you're it's a felony, it's a felony.

If it's a misdemeanor, it's a misdemeanor.

So proceed accordingly.

Um it's I I did not know that that was their response to you, and that is really underwhelming and not how laws and and the judicial process is supposed to um to work.

And I I find it quite disheartening as well.

So if if I may, I'd like to also be uh a co-sponsor on this item, Ralph.

And I will I'll like to, if with your permission, um work with you on the next item you're gonna bring.

Uh I I would love that.

Thank you, Commissioner.

But I will add there are some good judges up, like everything else.

So I'm obviously um uh we're but we need to highlight in transparency and we should show uh you with the data we're putting out.

People will see who the judges who are taking crime seriously and the judges who are not.

And by the way, it's up to the electorate.

They'll ultimately vote for these individuals if they want to vote for a judge who's locks on crime.

I don't think that'll be the case here in Miami Beach.

They can they they can certainly do that, but we're just providing the information.

Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez.

Just one final question, and it's for the chief.

With all of this stuff that we're doing, why are we up in some of these categories?

What's going on?

And specifically, like the aggravated assaults and the sexual assaults.

Yeah, I haven't looked at the numbers today, but but I can tell you it's just not unusual from time to time for us to be up in certain categories, particularly when you factor in year to date that we went through spring break more the weekend when our crime numbers seem to uh tend to peak as we get into the fall months like we are now.

Um those those tend to decline.

So at the end of the year, I I I predict we're gonna be lower across every category than we were last year.

And just uh for just for clarity for anybody watching, what's the definition of assault?

Um uh uh assault is unin uh threatened uh of an intentional touching.

So a battery is where you you hit an individual, is an assault is where you threaten to do so, and the person believes you could do so, but you don't actually commit the offense, commit the battery.

But the category is actually aggravated assault and battery.

Which are collapse now.

They used to be separate categories, but now under the data that's collected, they've now uh they've now put them together, correct?

You're they're collapse.

In addition to that, you know, I think there's a slight uptick this year compared to C and period last year in domestic related uh batteries and assaults, and there's really little the police can do to sort of prevent those things from happening.

I just like to be clear that our our prosecution team does not prosecute aggravated batteries, aggravate assaults, or even domestic batteries.

Um I just wanted to make that that clear.

What are overall our crime numbers this year, year today?

Uh I didn't bring with me, I'd have to get back to you on that.

I mean, you posted it on your social media just the other day.

Yeah, it did, but I can't give you the exact numbers.

I think you wrote it.

Yeah, major crimes are down 15.55 percent.

Uh just oh almost 16 percent.

Yeah, but I can't give you the exact numbers compared to senior.

Let's call the vote.

Oh, Commissioner Bot.

Mark, what why don't you prosecute or why don't we prosecute those categories?

Those are felony offenses.

Oh, okay.

Let's call the vote.

So motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Mayor Minor, co-sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez, Suarez, and Bot, as is on R7M.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, the item is approved 70R7M.

And thank you to our police department, our prosecution team, really appreciate all the hard work.

Uh R5K.

R5K is the normal mayor of City Commission of City by Beach Florida.

I mean, Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Miami Beach and South Administration, Article 7 entitled Standard of Conduct, Division 3, and title Lobbyist by amending Section 2-481 and title definitions to amend definitions applicable to divisions by amending revising the title for section 2-43 exceptions to registration, written disclosure requirements for persons excluded from the definition of lobbyist to clarify and restate the written disclosure requirements for person excluded from the definition of lobbyists by amending section 2-485.1 penalties to clarify provisions related to the enforcement by Miami Dade County Commission on Ethics by amending section 2-485.3 contingency fee prohibited to adopt clarifying amendments to the prohibition on the giving or acceptance of contingency fee in the connection with the appearances before the city.

This is item R5K.

It is a second reading public hearing.

Thank you, Rob.

Hi, Mayor.

I'd like to make a motion to defer this item.

I had conversations with the city attorney's office with several neighborhood associations.

None of them were consulted in this item, so it's not fully baked.

Um I think there needs to be more time in order to get this right.

So I'd like to just prevent my own.

If I have a second, I'd like to put to defer it.

I'll turn it over to our city attorney for procedure.

I believe a motion.

Um defer would would take precedence.

I would just like to make my I would just like to make my presentation, and then you guys can more than happy to make your motion.

I just like the ability to speak.

There's a lot of residents here from Bel Isle and online who wish to be educated on the subject and what happens.

So I'm gonna turn to our city attorney just for uh procedurally.

Well uh procedurally, the motion to defer does does have precedence.

All right, let's call the vote.

Motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

Again, uh colleagues, I would just like to go with excuse me.

I would just like to go ahead and present my case.

You guys can be more than happy to uh present.

If after this item I have the privilege of presenting um uh a presentation, that's also fine with me if it's up to the mayor.

Mr.

City Attorney, the motion to defer takes precedence, and the city clerk was in the process of collecting the votes.

So motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by Commissioner Bosa Gonzalez, motion to defer to October 29th.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Nay.

One no.

The motion motion.

I'm opposed if somebody's bringing an item, but the five-two motion.

No, like I I have no idea what's happening.

Yeah, I actually I don't even I don't even know what the item is gonna be, but uh but there's a lot going on, I'm not reading between the lines.

Mr.

Mayor, I I would uh Suarez.

If if I could have a point of personal privilege to have a my presentation shown.

I I don't I I don't have that, I don't know if I have that ability.

That's why I keep turning to our city attorney because I'm gonna let I'm gonna let our city attorney make the make that determination as to what procedurally is allowed or not allowed.

Um I believe that if if the commissioner is making a point of personal privilege, you would have the discretion to decide how to proceed.

Well, I gotta I mean if if if the vote is to defer the item, then we're gonna defer the item.

We can defer the item.

However, I'd like to have a point of personal privilege to have a presentation.

There are again a lot of people here and online who would like to hear what I have to say.

Uh I certainly don't like I think more open dialogue is good for the city of my beach.

This is why I'm bringing this ordinance to begin with, is to make sure that everyone this is a transparent process.

The fact that I'm trying to be silenced uh on this particular item is uh I think egregious.

So I simply would through the mayor.

I'd like to have just carry on with my presentation.

You know, the motion has already been deferred and it's not transparent because I spoke with the city attorney's office.

I also spoke with outside counsel, and I spoke with five neighborhood associations.

They do nothing about it.

This item was not ready, and they feel that you are trying to stifle and silence the residents by making it more difficult for them to speak.

So the motion has been deferred.

I'm just been supported.

Mr.

Mayor.

And I think that's a good question.

Can you move on to the next item?

For the item.

Who's here for the item?

These people are using one, two, three.

And how many are online?

Online, it's growing.

I have eight so far.

He just sent an email and it was a deceptive email to get people to get online.

Rick, if we have we have a motion to defer it.

It looks like we have the was it can we count the votes?

Well, I think Commissioner Magazine hadn't made a determination yet.

I don't want to speak for you.

I think no idea what's happening.

What but what happens?

Ultimately, uh Commissioner Suarez has brought an item.

There's been a motion to defer.

What happens at the next meeting?

I mean, could that could you keep doing this every month and he never gets his item heard?

I'm trying to figure out what procedurally happens.

Well, the the item is being deferred for today.

Commissioner Suarez is asking as a point of personal privilege to to make a presentation, and that is within your discretion.

So I'm asking a different question.

I'm asking, there's been a motion to defer.

What happens at the next let's let's what happens at the next meeting when this item is brought up?

Can you keep going?

Uh I mean, so I mean, I I guess what I'm saying is let's say hypothetically, and I don't this is not the case with this commission.

We have a good resident focused commission.

But let's say hypothetically you had a commission and it's some municipality that follows the Robert Rules of Order, and you had four.

Yeah, and you had four individuals, four members of the body who just didn't want to hear uh from another member.

Can you just keep deferring their items and they never have their items heard?

I guess I'm trying to figure out what happens on October 29th.

I I don't think we can know what's gonna happen on October 29th until we're gonna but if they if a motion to defer was made, would it would the item just get held in abeyance again?

Procedurally, the the body has the right to defer items.

Mr.

Mayor.

Just a question.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Because I got I got that was a motion to defer.

I'm sorry of us in the back, but um I notice it was something going on here.

Um we have members of the public that came to speak, so I got we're not gonna discuss the item today.

I got we're not going to vote on the item today, but just out of respect, because I've seen some of the people here since the morning, maybe maybe the residents that were not be able to speak just out of respect to them, not saying us to have a discussion uh or a presentation or anything like that, but out of respect just for the people that have been sitting here in front of us.

I I agree, and I was uh thank you.

I was about to propose that.

I think that's the best where I'm at if people come here to speak from the public.

Right.

And I believe in order to move forward with this, someone would need to make a motion to reconsider the motion for the I'll make a motion for the concern to defer in order for them to hear.

To hear from the public.

Wait.

This is a city commission meeting.

You're telling me to bring up the item.

To open up the item.

And we're not opening up the item, we're hearing from the public.

So we can make a motion to hear from the public.

Yeah, let's make a motion to hear from the public.

Let's make the motion to reconsider.

You can have the same votes when you make the motion again.

I don't think you unless you change your mind.

So let's just make a motion to reconsider.

This way we'll hear we'll hear from the mayor.

We have to do it the right way, procedurally.

Mr.

Mayor, I just for everyone watching, for everyone here, look.

I I want to bring to light an issue that I've been very passionate about as far as ethics and developers in the city of Miami Beach.

I find it very frustrating that I take the time to put a presentation and to inform residents who really need transparent processes in Miami Beach.

All I'm asking to do is just speak, state my case.

It's a it's a seven-minute presentation.

I think behooves us to have more transparency in government, not less.

People are here.

They want to hear, they want to hear what I have to say.

I certainly am not going to stop what other people have to say.

I would never do that.

But I think through a point of personal privilege, I would like to have some context for what people are speaking about right now.

It's a seven-minute presentation, uh, Mr.

Mayor.

This is my only presentation today.

And I I would like that courtesy.

Commissioner Magazine.

Oh, Commissioner Dominguez.

Thank you.

Uh so as I mentioned, um, the sponsor did not take time to go to any neighborhood associations in order to get their feedback on something that's gonna affect them directly.

I'm not even sure.

I I think I know what he's but I don't even know what he's presenting.

So I I don't think a lot of us have the context of what that means.

Well, if you see what he's paying for on social media, that's the context of what he's doing.

It's uh in essence election.

And I um think it's highly inappropriate.

And if I could finish uh what my thoughts are in speaking with several neighborhood associations, and that includes Sofna and uh Flamingo Park and Sobey West.

Um they knew nothing about it.

They were very disturbed that they weren't consulted.

They understood that it passed that first reading, but it was not ready, is not ready to go to second reading.

I'll read you some of the comments.

I think this is an unacceptable ordinance that the sponsors putting pushing through.

It shouldn't be accepted at second reading, especially when so many people who volunteer on neighborhood associations are away for the season.

This should have been sent to the neighborhoods committee uh to be fleshed out where it could be vetted and discussed.

And then there were many parts about the ordinance where they're talking about the definition of a lobbyist and the issue of non-monetary.

Well, Sofna has their meetings in um the continuum.

That's a non-monetary use.

So now if somebody from SOFNA were to talk about something happening at the continuum, they'd be held responsible, or else the sponsor would uh file an ethics complaint against them.

Um Flamingo Park uses the PAL, same thing there.

MBA, when they have annual meetings, they do it at a hotel.

Is the same thing gonna happen to them there?

So there's many components of this item that is not ready to be voted on, and I think to be transparent, the neighborhood associations should have been um consulted.

Another element of this is that the sponsor made it a point to file personal ethics complaints on it against an entire organization.

And when it went to the Commission on Ethics, even though he brought residents from the neighborhood to support his claims, the Commission on Ethics found them no probable cause, nothing wrong was done.

And instead of saying, oh, okay, it's already been on trial and it's done.

The sponsor doubles down and then starts spreading lies and misinformation, which is where people get the mistrust of government.

That's why I did a motion to defer.

I did that because neighborhood associations have not been consulted.

I re- I did the due diligence between first and second reading.

And it also doesn't have explicit language that this is prospective.

It makes it seem like it is, but there are a lot of things that need to be buttoned up.

This is a very uh inappropriate item.

And uh, Madam Commissioner, is it deferral or uh the right option or a negative vote?

Right.

Um, well, it's like if it if it doesn't have merit, it doesn't have merit, and maybe we vote on the as it stands right now, it doesn't, but maybe after getting flushed out with the neighborhood associations, perhaps it could.

Um I think this is the perfect place and setting to discuss that.

We just discussed for 45 minutes crime and safety.

I'd like to have a discussion on ethics and developer money in our city uh as it pertains to zoning projects.

This is the perfect place and time.

The neighbor associations are listening.

People are here ready to listen to what's going on.

I don't see the problem in this.

We don't have to vote on it today, but I'd still like my 10 minutes to discuss the issue.

It certainly seems that some of my colleagues are are blindsided.

I think my presentation gives perfect clear context to it.

And I I again I don't see what the problem is with more transparency on what I have to bring.

So you know, I I consulted with neighborhood associations, I've consulted with condominium associations.

Condominium associations that are directly affected by uh our lax uh ethics laws.

So, you know, Mr.

Mayor, please, I'd like to have my uh seven minutes on a presentation to discuss this item or to just give a point of privilege to to have my presentations.

Rather than flesh things out of commission, um I would like to uh make a motion to refer to neighborhoods, and it can be fleshed out there honestly, or that's what ordinances should go from the very beginning instead of blindsiding colleagues with lack of information.

That's why things go to committee.

In the meantime, I'd like to hear from the public.

Thank you.

If anyone who wants to speak could stand in line if possible, that way I can visually see who you're fine.

Uh you have two minutes, ma'am, state your name and address, and I'll be going from the podium to online.

So please go ahead.

My name is Faye Horton.

I live at one century lane.

I am the president of the board of directors for the Vistas Condominium Association.

On June the 11th, 2025, the Miami Dave Commission on Ethics and Public Trust held a hearing to determine whether to open a formal investigation into a one point two million dollar agreement between the developer of the standard hotel and the bail owl residential association.

A self appointed group that claim to represent the interests of the bail owl residents and the Vistas Condominium Association.

I have never been a member of the bail out association for one reason.

For months, I tried to contact them to get information before any of this to join, and I could not get any information.

Only one that brought this to our attention, and I called a board meeting with our members was David Suarez, brought this agreement, and everyone that I have talked with at our association have personally told me that they were against that agreement.

They do not represent us.

They have not come to us and discuss.

The only person that have come to us and explained to us what was going on is Mr.

Suarez.

There is a loophole that needs to be a good idea.

And I do want to share this audience.

And the ordinance will close that loophole.

I want to clarify misinformation for something that Faye had said.

Miami Date Ethics Commission found the complaints that were filed by the sponsor with no merit and no probable cause, just to be clear.

And that's because of the loophole.

Your time was up.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm going to go virtually next.

So give me one minute.

Tara H.

is our next speaker.

Tara, please unmute yourself.

State your name and address, please.

Good morning.

This is Tara Harris.

I'm a longtime resident and constituent of our beautiful city of Miami Beach.

This issue is brought to my attention.

And my only key takeaway is that the actual homeowners on Bell Isle just should have an opportunity to vote on this issue with the development of the Standard Hotel.

And that's just my key takeaway.

If you could let David Suarez do his presentation, I, as a constituent, would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Sir, state your name, address.

You have two minutes.

Go ahead.

My name is Bert Horton.

I live at the Vistas on Century Lane.

Is a key element in this discussion.

In response to an email I got from them.

I uh uh in response to an email that I got from them in June.

I entered into the little box where you can correspond with them.

I'd like to read to you what I wrote.

I am a resident of the Vistas and an aware of a 1.2 million dollar payout to a separate three-person LLC.

I would like to request one, how much money has actually been dispersed to the LLC to date.

Two.

Three.

Thank you.

My name Bert Horton.

Unit number 610 Vistas.

I received nothing.

No acknowledgement, no response.

Thank you.

And we're talking about transparency today.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our next caller is named Richard.

Richard State Your Name, address, and you have two minutes.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Richard, resident of Bell Isle.

It's really mind-boggling.

This continued obfuscation and confusion and misinformation on this issue, which a blind man can see.

This is corruption at its highest peak.

Thank God we have somebody in integrity, like Commissioner Suarez, who has no horse in this race, okay, other than doing his due diligence.

We've been blindsided with this time and time again.

It's time to put an end to this and put Miami Beach back on its pedestal as being clear.

Where are the sunshine laws?

This is just baffling time and time again.

Let's put this to rest.

If need be, we start from ground zero and leave it to the people who are most affected by all of this.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.

Thank you.

Go ahead, please.

Go ahead, it's your turn.

Hi, my name is Monica Tracy.

I've lived on Bell Isle for 39 years.

I was a member of the Belle Isle Residence Association board for 12 years, 10 of those as secretary.

We were a Mickey Mouse, genuine, sweet little group.

I'm sure you all, some of you remember Herb Frank, who has since departed activists for many years with organizations, and Scott Diffendurfer, who also were on that board.

I left it at the end of 2020 when the leadership changed.

At that time, I set up the little Bell Isle bird feeder, and I maintain and sponsor the bird feeder with my own funds now for almost five years.

The Belle Isle Residents Association board wants nothing to do and will provide no funding to this date.

I've not seen one dime of that massive payout to them being spent on Bell Isle in any way.

I have never had any communication from them since I left that board as a residence.

I'm sure they have my email address.

Okay.

Well, okay, so we were this little board.

We had a big annual meeting every week, every year in the spring with the police and fire and everybody would come.

The public was invited.

It was a Mickey Mouse little board.

I have a list here of accomplishments of the board.

If you want to pass that around, the things we did, a list of accomplishments that we we you know cared about, putting new benches in the park.

Okay.

I we were all blindsided by this massive payoff to the new board uh that went into a fund that there's no transparency, at least they've received at least almost 400,000 of this money.

I immediately called Commissioner Dominguez, and to this day I am mystified that she continues to support this this nefarious group of people of self-appointed people who have decided that they control Belle Isle.

And I I had I had thought, you know, and just I I'm so sorry, I was just shocked when my sitting commissioner who I thought represented me sat there and said, Oh, this is fine.

I think this is wonderful that they're getting this money.

Oh, isn't this great?

And I, you know, I'm not gonna argue with her.

I mean, she's you know an elected official.

Okay, thank you.

Um again, I I think this stinks to high heaven.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual caller is Daniel.

Daniel, please unmute yourself.

Yep, two minutes.

Yes, hi, this is Daniel Serraldo, 730 10th Street.

I'm also a candidate for Miami Beach Commission Group one.

I want to talk about really the unfairness of this targeting of residents, citizens by the Commissioner Suarez.

I'm one of those residents that has been targeted, and I'm currently in the process of also looking at a potential uh defamation lawsuits to against the commissioner.

But what I want to say, because I know there's a lot of residents that are afraid to speak because they're afraid of being attacked by the commissioner, is that we need to find ways for the public to have a great voice, not less of a voice.

So when you have folks that spend 600,000 to get elected, and then tell other people they can't speak, that is really where democracy ends.

So let us stop these witch hunts.

Mayor Minor, you're an attorney.

I would ask that you also think about the damage to the reputation of citizens before allowing these sort of heinous nonstop at every meeting attacks by a commissioner whose main public record is he has a one-star rating for his skincare business, and you can look that up online.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Do you have two minutes to your next one?

Um, Christina Mikovitz, Bell Isle Resident.

Look.

Um I don't even know what I want to say with all these notes, I'll be honest with you.

So thank you for everyone who let us speak.

We took time off work, kids, family, whatever.

Very emotional.

A lot of us have gone through a lot living on Belle Isle.

But here's the thing.

Everyone keeps talking about community not being in secret, not having notification, and you know, it's great to talk about it, guys.

So I'm just gonna say this.

January 24th, 2023, there was a survey.

The residents, Belle Isle, old board of Belle Isle said, we'll be vigilant.

We would adversely, this would adversely affect the quality of life for Bell Isle.

Fine.

Okay, then we have August 2024.

We have a year and a half.

Then we had a Zoom.

Okay, they informed us of the project.

All right.

The check was cashed three weeks before that.

So that's it.

That's all I want to say.

Um, in light of what we all talked about this morning, I think we all need to have a come to Jesus, no pun intended.

But this is not okay to kind of come where we came from this morning.

We're talking about a residents association.

Let's just revisit this and I'll respect the right to revisit this in October.

But I really need everyone just to really think about what we're talking about here, okay?

Look at the dates, look at the timelines, look at the email stamps, and the rest can be conjecture, but the dates are the dates.

Um a resident, I'm a member of Standard.

I love my community.

I've been trying to get on the Bureau for some time.

I've been emailing emailing them constantly.

And I met with Sean Patrick Bryant after this came out, and I've had nothing but harassment.

The overlap with board members on neighborhood associations and board members of condominiums and serving as any type of vote or decision maker.

I just think in any place in the in the country, there can't be an overlap, guys.

Because then you have conflict of interest.

And what happens is I couldn't get people to come here today, because you know what they said?

I want to renovate my condo, and I don't want to get backlash.

No one's gonna show up if there's overlap.

Thank you so much for letting us speak, everybody.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is John Courtney.

Please state your name, address you have two minutes.

All right, thank you guys.

I actually wasn't gonna speak today.

Um, but I I've and I'm I'm sorry that this has become like so personal uh on the commission.

But I I'm just so disappointed that we're stifling the conversation with all the resident interest.

Um I've seen the manipulative and unethical behavior of the lobbyist in question in my own neighborhood, and I've been shut out of conversations that directly affect me by those manipulative tactics of uh of a small board and a lobbyist.

And it's a real problem in the city, and we should be talking about it.

And um, you know, I appreciate I'm sorry that it's become personal.

Um, but I would hope that the the no votes to defer would just recognize the importance of the conversation and and let it happen.

Um, because it is it is a very serious problem in our city.

Thank you.

Hi, my name's Chris Floody.

I'm a resident of the Palmview neighborhood.

I'm also on the Palmview Neighborhood Association board, but that's not how I'm speaking to you today.

I'm gonna share though a little bit about my experience on that board.

In September of 2023, a lawyer came to us and representing somebody that wanted to bulldoze down a full block in our neighborhood and build rezone it and build higher density housing.

And I said, Well, I don't agree with that, but let's see what the residents think.

Let's open this up.

Yeah, we had a lot of actually the lawyer was working with the president of our board and they actively canceled the public discussions and worked together for months to make sure it wasn't shared with the rest of the neighborhood.

And I felt this was going on, but really confirming it was difficult until December 15th of 2023, when I was included on an email chain where the lawyer was advising and recommending to our president that they reduce the number of seats on the board to push me, the primary complainer, the primary person uh advocating for the public discussion, push me off of the board.

Or alternatively uh make the conversations actually smaller with an executive committee.

So excluding the rest of the board to get to what I believe was a recommendation from the neighborhood.

So it took many months of lots of arguing.

Ultimately, our president resigned, and I think Palmview neighborhood now has a standard that is admirable.

All of our meetings are 100% open.

All of our meeting recordings are posted on our website along with the agendas in the minutes.

So we've come out of this with a commitment to transparency with a commitment to engagement with our residents, and I hope that that can become more of a standard for the neighborhood associations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller has a screen name of Dee Rogers.

Please state your name, address.

Hi, um, this is Douglas Rogers.

I live at Five Island on Bell Island.

And actually, I'm a forensic accountant and would be happy to join the Board of Bureau and help sort this all out.

I feel like there's been a lot of inuito innuendo by Congress or our Councilman Suarez thrown at folks, residents of Bell Island, and I feel it's unfounded.

Again, I've been a forensic accountant for more than 30 years, and I know some of the folks that are on the board, and they are quite ethical and wonderful people and members of our community who are not set out to rip off and personally benefit from this.

They are gonna be objective and transparent about how they spend the money.

And I feel like Councilman Suarez is just out there tar and feathering them in public, and it's a shameful act.

So again, I would be happy to do a forensic accounting investigation.

Of or oversee the money as a member of the board.

But I think you need to stop your innuendos and and and publicly belittling members of our community councilman Suarez.

It's a shameful act.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next virtual caller is Neil Vasquez.

Please unmute yourself.

You have two minutes.

Hello, I'm Neil Vasquez.

I'm a resident of Five Island Avenue.

I too was not going to speak today, but I just want to say that I was appalled by what I just witnessed on the commission.

Commissioner Suarez and I don't agree on much, but we agree on free and open debate and putting residents first.

And what I just witnessed with Commissioner Dominguez trying to stifle and silence discussion is absurd and appalling.

For those of you who do not know the details and facts, I encourage you to educate yourselves.

Commissioner Dominguez is obviously a shill for the real estate interest.

She's totally in the pocket of real estate developers.

She has sold out our residents on this issue.

And I encourage everyone to educate themselves, find out more.

And if the item is deferred until October, come back and speak your mind.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I will remind everybody speaking.

Can I call it address the commissioner by name?

It's for Robert's rules.

Is that just during Sutnik Correct or is that throughout the process?

This is really more a matter of maintaining the quorum amongst the body.

You all should not refer to each other by name, uh, but members of the public can reference names just as long as they maintain the quorum.

Our next virtual caller is Mr.

Wayne Roberts.

Thank you, sir.

Um I know both parties are on the dais, and um they both come from good places.

Um the legislation should be about a an effort to ensure that associations have um have uh uh uh made statements to the city that they have no interest in the in the property or no uh payment to the association for their support.

Uh that would be a very going forward, that would be a very strong um uh legislation to avoid any conflict of interest.

Um you know, Laura is is more pro-development uh for than David, um, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Um I don't she's never made a dollar off her campaign.

She's she's invested hundreds of thousands of her own money to become a commissioner uh after her partner died.

Yes, uh passed away.

We could have um and and you know I I respect her and I respect David.

But I think what ultimately, instead of this legislation, there should be some sort of committee set up to like make rules that associations can have any um payment without notifying the city uh that that the board members cannot be um a party to the to the profits or or to the uh to the discussion of the development.

Um that sort of discussion should make sense and to shut down associations or paint them as negative is not really what I think David wants to do, and I think I don't think the legislation currently really balances that out as well as I would hope.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller has a screen name of iPhone.

Please state your name.

Unmute yourself, you have two minutes.

Name and address, please.

Um good morning.

My name is Olivia Seovak, uh Belle Isle residents.

Um, and I'm here on the call regarding uh the board of Bayran not being transparent as we are talking whole morning about being transparent.

I am asking for the commissioner David Suarez to give his presentation so we all know what is going on.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Our last caller is Christobal.

Go ahead, please, take your name, address, and you have the two minutes.

Hello.

My name is Chris.

I am a resident of Bell Isle, and I am so happy that we've heard from forensic accountants and people who are very well versed in law and hearing all these details, but I'm here to speak on behalf of the C word, which is community, and the standard is and and community is a word that's been overused, and the standard is an institution that really has a community for us locals here.

And what will we what will happen when it closes and it comes back under new management?

I've had the pleasure of meeting some of the investors that are a part of the net of of the of the investment group.

And there's no way that it's going to be the same hub for arts and culture and creativity like it is right now.

So I just plead that our commissioners, when they think of community and what projects they're supporting, think of what the effects are for us residents and how we're going about our day-to-day and our community centers.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes the public comment period.

Thank you all for uh for calling in and speaking.

I I just want to give a brief comment.

Uh I've worked closely with our neighborhood associations.

There are many throughout our city.

I know all my colleagues do as well.

They hold meetings, residents come, they pass motions to bring to our attention, and we are absolutely a better city because of the advocacy of our residents and our neighborhood associations.

So I've had very good experiences.

I think it was important to hear from our residents and to hear the concerns.

I'll tell you my determination.

I am going to allow the presentation because I feel that I'll be stifling something.

And I also believe that our commission and our body needs to make a determination.

The vote today is to defer.

Maybe we change our mind after, maybe we don't.

I'm not trying to advocate one way or the other.

I voted, uh I voted the way I did.

But I I think we're ultimately gonna have to make a decision whether we hear this item.

But I am asking, Commissioner, that we are not that we are not going to be attacking anyone on the dais here or anyone else.

It it's I assume it'll be factual and people will make the determinations as they be without making any uh attacks against anyone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I really appreciate the opportunity.

How is that possible?

Rick.

Our city attorney mentioned that I have the discretion of allowing client presentation.

You also had made many points also to Commissioner Dominguez, um, which in theory could have I didn't have if we deferred the item, we didn't have to, but we've been discussing it, and I think uh I think also from what I'm hearing and also from people reaching out to me, I think people want to most people don't know what's going on.

I think uh for generally, or at least the specifics of what's going on.

We're and uh I I think I'm gonna allow it.

Thank you, Mr.

I'm going to allow it.

Uh PJ, if you could pull up the uh presentation.

Mr.

Mayor, just just a quick question.

Commissioner Fernandez, if we're gonna hear the we heard from the public and we're gonna hear the presentation today, then to have then we're gonna if we move forward with a deferral, then we've dedicated a lot of time.

People came from their jobs, um their families to come and be here then.

Then we just might as well hear the the item today, because if not, October we're gonna have to go through a second second reading.

So it'll be the third time that the item gets heard, it'll be the third time that the public has to come and speak on the item, it'll be a third time that Commissioner Sarez has to do his his presentation.

Uh so in that case, if if we're gonna move forward with a presentation today, we might as well entertain then a reconsideration of the deferral.

I'll second it.

Yeah, I didn't vote, I I voted to move forward.

So my Mr.

Mayor, I have a question.

Um there was an item C7Y, and that was about Bell Isle and the standard.

When the standard saw that on the agenda, they withdrew their application, making C7Y moot.

So what the sponsor has done is because he wanted to have a presentation about the standard, he's conflating the two.

This is about R5K.

I just saw PJ's first page on the slide, and it was about the standard.

That's not the item that we're listening to because that's moot.

That one is done.

So if that's a presentation, that's not what we should be listening to.

And I stand firm on that.

I'll let the presentation speak for itself, Mr.

Middle.

Can I say one?

I will just let me just turn to our city attorney for a moment to comment on that.

Well, I have not seen the presentation, so I I can't say as to whether it relates to the lobbying item or to the case.

If it's about R5P the lobbying item, that's one thing, but it's it's about the item that was uh on consent that is moot because the standard withdrew their application, that's unacceptable.

This is about R5K.

Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.

I mean as long as it's not just if it's about the issue, and we can reopen the issue and not a specific person, then I think that's fine.

But I think that the attacks are divisive, and I don't think they move us forward in a positive way.

So as long as this presentation is about the issue and it's about transparency in neighborhood associations, then I'm fine with that.

And I think that hearing it today could probably make a better ordinance out of it, because I think there could be a few changes to the current ordinance.

The only thing that I would ask the commissioner is um these uh attacks are not necessary here publicly.

I think that they uh rune us as a body, and I would ask for you to please just focus on the issue.

That's the only thing I'm asking.

It's exactly what it's doing.

So I'll move over consideration of the deferral.

I'll second motion by Commissioner uh Fernandez, second by Commissioner Suarez to reconsider the deferral.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

So the item is back on 70.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I really appreciate it.

Um PJ, if you could please put it.

Thank you.

So I want to give everyone a little bit of context of what just happened.

A lot of people are probably confused on what just you just watched.

Um I'm gonna be laying forward a presentation on multiple loopholes that uh affected our ethics and developers on how they control Miami Beach and how they plan on getting votes from us.

So fixing the system, lessons learned from the standard, and this is a path to stronger ethics.

Again, this is to protect neighborhoods and not developer interests or their profits.

Next slide, please.

Okay.

So uh the standard hotel was recently purchased by a new set of owners, um, and they plan to significantly up zone the property.

They um they wanted to add probably a more than I think 75% intensity to the footprint of the site currently.

And then they wanted to add six ultra-luxury high-end condos for um for a group of people.

Um the developer and the Bell Isle Resident Association Bureau entered into a contractual legal contract for 1.2 million dollars for their quote unquote neighborhood support without transparent resident input, as you've just heard.

Um this 1.2 million dollar agreement was officially announced one month after the binding agreement between the developer, and I'll be showing the timeline of events.

Um, the ethics commission did flag undisclosed communications by BIR board members to uh members of the city commission, such as myself.

Um the Bell Isle residents are overwhelmingly opposed to this uh process and upzoning development.

So I think timelines are important.

Uh next slide, please, BJ.

Uh timelines are important, obviously, because it gives a little context on to what has happened.

Um July 34, 2024, the standard and the neighborhood association Bureau sign an agreement, a 1.2 million dollar agreement, uh, with the first payout of $360,000 on August 14th.

On August 27th, almost two weeks later, the standard lobbyist holds a webinar to inform Bell Isle of the Standards development plans.

That's again after the agreement has already been signed.

On September 30th, the standards lobbyist files paperwork with the city disclosing the 1.2 million dollar payout to to the neighborhood association bureau.

Now, October 1st and October 14th, the design review board meeting was held on October 1st, and then on we had a land use meeting where I brought significant issues to this ethics on October 14th, questioning this 1.2 million dollar deal.

Um two weeks after I raise these concerns, BIRA then sends out an official email about the 1.2 million dollar payout to its organization.

On October 30th, the agreement was rewritten to make the 1.2 million dollar payment time-based instead of contingent on project approval.

Next slide.

So what do I mean by contingent?

This agreement that Bell Isle and the developer for the standard entered into agreement was for a again a 1.2 million dollar payout, and it was contingent upon how we vote on the city.

So 30% within 15 days of execution from this agreement, and then 30 days of non-final appealable approval.

So that means once we've agreed to approve this project, that means that they're going to get paid another 30% of the 1.2 million dollars.

40% after the issuance of a building permit.

So what I'd like I'd like to show the next slide, please.

This is what they were obligated to support.

Excuse me if if members of the commission can keep it done.

Thank you.

The next this is, and this is important.

And this really goes to the heart of the agreement and why I think it's so wrong.

This organization with the developer signed a binding agreement for their support.

They were contractually obligated to support this project.

They were supposed to come to every zoning hearing and voice their support.

And another issue that of course was they were never allowed to appeal or encourage people to appeal this project.

They were contractually obligated to do so.

Next slide.

Okay.

So everyone's asking.

What if we could like about the ordinance?

I don't even uh reading.

Yeah.

What's this money for?

This money in the contract says for physical quality of life, security, lifestyle, and cultural improvements to Bell Isle as determined for the non by the nonprofit establishment.

And then the Bell Isle Resident Association sent out an email saying what this 1.2 million dollars could be used for.

Some of it would include yoga, fitness soccer camps, uh children music festivals.

Okay.

I could certainly imagine that Bell Isle needs more than yoga events and children events.

I think the one thing questions comes to mind is Bell Isle needs seawalls, new seawalls for for their capital improvements.

So I want to lay out what exactly this money, this 1.2 million dollar payout is going to be used for.

Next slide.

Now it's also very strange, and and I don't know for the life of me that the that the person who witnessed this contract was our previous.

But I think it's pointing pointing out residents of a neighborhood association.

This is a ex-city attorney.

This is this is this is our previous city attorney signing a contract that is contingent upon government approval.

I think that's I think that's very important.

I I think this is very I look.

I want to make sure that everyone in the room and the public understands why people are so distraught over development, lobbyists, and politics in our city, and things like this is why the is why people question government.

And I'm here to raise the transparency and raise accountability for what we do in Miami Beach.

To that end, next slide, please.

Mr.

Commissioner, so I look if I could just look if I can just if I could just finish.

Would you not entertain um having a very public forum to let uh everybody speak and hash out the proposed ordinance at the neighborhoods committee where residents could come and um HOAs and associations who did not know about this could come and share their thoughts?

I think we are to a person on this commission united in the desire to have full transparency and unimpeachable ethics.

I don't think there's any issue with that, but I do think there's a lot of concern.

I know I've heard it from residents about um the um their ability to come and speak their minds without risking um repercussions from the sure.

I I would like to finish my presentation, and we can certainly sort of let me just chime in.

My my and when I'm hearing from my colleagues, but I believe as well.

I'll give you a little latitude here, but the the item was as Commissioner Dominguez pointed out, the you kind of you kind of won in the sense you you won the first battle in the sense that they removed the item.

But this so you're you're you're bringing it up to uh have full-scale citywide legislation, which I which I appreciate, and we'll vote on it, but I think you need to kind of let's let's let's bring it home and get to the legislation at issue.

Sure.

Again, the community, as you all were here, was shut out.

The the on July 31st, the agreement was signed.

Residents were only informed about this, residents of Bell Al were only informed about this uh through a developer-sponsored webinar with with the 1.2 million dollars, no strings attached.

And so I go to the next slide where there's a video of this webinar where after the contract was signed, this is what uh we saw in the webinar.

Million dollar.

Good afternoon.

I signed your presentation.

There's a 1.2 million dollar um given to the beer attribution.

What is that for?

Well, technically it's Nick, do you know the name of the nonprofit that was created by the Bureau Board?

Is that um I'm not recalling the name exactly?

It's something along the Bell Isle Improvement Trust Inc., I believe.

Um is there information anywhere where we can read what the use of that fund is who's managing it?

So yeah, go ahead, right?

So we don't have any there are no strings attached by us.

Um it would be up to your buyer board of directors.

So I would just say at the next monthly meeting, just um you know, raise this uh as a question.

Is this a proposed plan a done deal, or are you waiting for resident approval on a referendum on a ballot?

Our approval process is not dependent upon a popular vote by the residents of Bell Isle.

If you go to the next slide, please, PJ.

And so before you before you push play, I held a town hall uh shortly after I found out about this, where I believe there was 400 participants.

Um and I actually went condo to condo to condo in Bell Isle asking to speak to the condominium associations and asked if they've ever heard of this uh settlement agreement with the Bell Isle Resident Association and the developer.

And I none of them, uh almost none of them have heard anything about this.

And so at the town hall, this is a summary of what we were heard.

You play it now, please.

The Bell Low Residents Association has never represented me or most of my uh neighbors on Ferry Lane.

Uh I've never received uh any communication from them.

I've never been invited to vote for the people who are you know representatives on that board.

I I've never been in the least involved nor invited to be involved in the 15 years that I've lived on Ferry Lane.

So to say that they represent the whole community is is uh a stretch in my experience that what I have a problem with is how this whole thing went down.

I honestly have never seen these plans apparently a negotiation happened.

There was a settlement uh with a value of a million point two seven.

I found out uh I found out all this last week.

I'd love to hear from the audience.

Uh there's almost 300 people on on Zoom.

There's about a hundred people here.

And I would like to know why the lawyer isn't here because I wonder if there is a crime here by the association.

I don't think there's anybody that lives on Bell Isle that wants to see this happen.

It is time that the community stands up to the developers, that the commissioners and the government come in and say, listen, you just can't come in and ram what you want here.

I'm the present president, but prior to that I was on the board.

I had no idea of this situation.

I resent someone feeling that they could represent my interests without my permission and without even coming to me and asking me what my needs are.

And I was on the Bell Out Residents Association during these publication.

But I resigned 14 minutes before they voted because I couldn't vote for an agreement that they wouldn't get your food.

This project is a clear example of how broken processes have eroded the trust and robbed us of being able to make a transformative project.

This project wasn't about engaging residents or addressing real needs, as we've mentioned.

It was about backroom deals and a neighborhood association that used this project to enhance its own power.

The fact that we were left out of the whole thing, and now I find out that not only were we left out of it, the people who are going to be impacted by far more directly with any project that happens at this standard.

But all you guys were left out of it too.

It's insane.

Something is very rotten here on what's being proposed for the redevelopment of the hotel.

Many of us are opposed to that.

Knowing that the community with this unprecedented turnout had not had engagement for a year and a half before a decision was made.

We're finding out tonight that not only was there no transparency, but there was a conscious effort to hide the entire deal.

That's a big problem.

They made a deal without already asking their members what to do with the money.

So they're getting money without knowing where it's going.

All of that's bad.

But the worst part is saying they represent all of us.

That's absolutely not true.

They've never approached me.

It's weird to have the lack of a transparency.

Let me just put that in the right.

We as a body have made a rule about the five-minute presentations.

You've used up that time, and we haven't even gotten to the you've got to get to the legislation in front of us.

Sure.

I think you've made I think you've made the point.

Nick, through the mayor, if you can uh come to the podium.

So when I filed, because as it stands, the ethics commission can no longer unilaterally open an investigation.

The ethics commission needs a complaint from a person to open an investigation.

That was a state law that changed this year.

I'm the one who made the complaint because I found this ethically challenged and wrong.

And Nick, if you can please go through the contingency fee before this second reading, and how it's going to strengthen and how it relates to what we witnessed with uh Bureau and uh the developer.

Sure.

So the code uh that's currently in place prohibits an agreement to pay uh or the payment or an agreement to receive or the receipt of a contingency fee in connection with certain appearances before the city.

So what does that mean?

That means uh the payment of a fee by a third party uh that is contingent on the outcome of a decision by the city commission or or or a city board uh or the or the administration.

Um what this ordinance does with regard to the contingency fee section.

So Nick, I think at the last time we we we discussed this, I believe it was land use.

And that first agreement that they had signed with the developer and the neighborhood association, where the payments were contingent upon our approval.

I understand it got sent to the ethics commission and they made their findings.

But in your opinion, did they did the contingency fee rule apply?

So our the contingency fee restrictions that are in our code now were in effect at the time that this agreement was executed.

Um the the question of whether a violation of the code has occurred or not is a question for the ethics commission to determine based on the uh you know, based on now it has to be a a complaint.

Um they can't initiate investigations on their own.

But the ethics commission would look at the individual facts, uh the parties involved, and determine whether the subject of the complaint um has violated the contingency fee prohibition.

Okay.

And the challenge that I saw with the ethics commission was that they don't charge entities, correct?

That's a county ethics issue.

Our city code says if you are a person or an entity agreeing to give or not give, uh agreeing to give us or to give any sort of compensation based on how we vote.

The ethics commission was unable to to do that because of the way our code was written.

But the intent was either an entity or a person, individual should not uh have a compensation based on how we vote.

And if you can explain why we're amending this or ordinance for ethics between now, but between what it was before this agreement and after the agreement, that'd be great.

So the the ethics commission's position is that they cannot take enforcement action against entities, that they can only take enforcement action against individuals.

So the mere fact that this organization was an entity and they can't charge or uh investigate entities is left the city commission uh without any recourse.

So if you can explain that one more time.

So one of the things that one of the changes that this ordinance makes to the contingency fee prohibition is that it includes uh individual individual natural persons when they're acting on behalf of an entity.

Um you know, it it's an individual who's acting um in the capacity of let's say the principal of a business or an officer of an organization could be subject to uh enforcement by the county ethics commission under this change.

And again, for those of you who are watching, I want in in plain terms is you don't want to see a developer or a lobbyist tell tell his client, well, you know, all I need to do is get four or five votes and I'll make a million dollars.

I don't think that's right.

I think that's very scary to think, and it sets certainly a bad precedent for contingency fees, and that's why we have these laws.

Now we're strengthening these laws so that the ethics commission at the county can charge and and and actually uh enforce what we want.

Um and that's why I had the ethics commission and our city attorney get together and strengthen uh this particular ordinance so that this sort of quote shenanigans behind closed doors doesn't happen again.

I shouldn't be getting lobbied uh or communicated by people who are set to make uh or entities that are set to make a a payout, the I vote.

And we need to make sure moving forward that if that is gonna happen, I just want to know about it.

I just want to know.

And I think everyone on this commission should know about it.

So can you also explain what else this ordinance does to enhance our ethics uh code?

Yeah, so it also makes amendments to uh some of the definitions to in particular the the definition of um of neighborhood association to make clear that it also includes uh residential condo or co-op associations, which is something that the county code uh that the county code provides.

So this would make us consistent with that.

It amends the definition of city employees who um who you are required to register as a lobbyist before you meet with to make that consistent with the county code.

Um it amends the the uh the disclosure requirements for representatives of neighborhood associations under our code, which is stricter than the county code.

Under our code, a representative of a neighborhood association is not a lobbyist um, but they are required to submit a separate form to the city clerk's office.

Um this ordinance would make clear that that separate form is is called a written disclosure, um, that it needs to be filed in writing with the city clerk's office, the city clerk will provide a form for it.

Um, and that a neighborhood association only becomes a uh a lobbyist and subject to the lobbyist registration requirement if the association itself is going to receive consideration um based on the association's support of a measure or uh agreement to withhold objection to a measure.

So if a neighborhood association agrees with a third party um, you know, in exchange for monetary or non-monetary consideration that the association will appear before the city and affirmatively support a project or or sit out and not oppose it, then that association will now be treated as a as a lobbyist.

And I want everyone to understand that you know, look, this was egregious, obviously.

Paying for support and being contractually obligated to support a project when that neighborhood association never went to the residents to begin with and never held public forms to um to really explain the issue, I think is is wrong, obviously.

Um Nick, last question.

What did the ethics commission did take action?

Correct?

And if you can explain what they took and what and uh in their findings.

With regard to the the Bell Isle legislate the Bell Isle complaints, the um the ethics commission issued letters of instruction to uh to to three respondents um directing them to register with the city clerk's office as neighborhood associations prior to to future appearances.

Okay, and and I'll I'll I'll end with this.

You know, if this is allowed to continue, you know, every developer and high-powered lobbyist in this city will know they can simply buy their support from a neighborhood association.

And I'm sure no one on the commission wants that.

No one in our city wants that.

Um I think whenever it comes to compensation, whether it be money or cryptocurrency or free tickets, I think all of this needs to be open in the sunshine.

Um, one thing about being elected commissioners uh being elected is that we're subject to the sunshine laws.

Everything has to be out in the transparent process.

However, behind these closed doors between developers and private organizations, they're not bound by the same sort of um transparency that we are.

And then that's why I'm bringing this to light, because I think that if if there's going to be an obligate uh contractual obligation that we just need to know about it.

Simple, very straightforward, and I think it's the right thing to do.

And I I certainly don't see why this would be uh a cause for concern.

It just means more transparency in the process.

Um, I can't think of every situation of why this uh is a good thing, but I can certainly tell you that the more disclosures we have, the more transparency that we have in our process about how we make decisions and who's supporting what is a good thing.

So look, um, I I'd like to certainly move this item.

These these concerns were never raised at first reading, they're raised now for some reason.

And you know, I'd like to make a motion to to pass this, as is on on second reading.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Thank you.

Um, words matter and defaming and talking about it about neighborhood associations and volunteers in our community is shameful because then that prevents neighborhood associations from speaking up, residents from getting involved, and it's just not right.

I want to clear the record because um some of the stuff that was discussed went in circles, and one of the things I will read is that the Commission on Ethics found that there was no probable cause to conclude that there has been a violation of 2-111S of the Miami Dade County Ethics Code, or Section 2482 of the City of Miami Beach Code, and Section 2485.3 of the City of Miami Beach Code.

The respondents were deemed exempt from lobbyist registration as unpaid representatives of neighborhood associations, and there was no evidence that they received or agreed to receive any personal compensation or benefit as a contingency.

So that's that's something that's real important because it's not right to lie and defame people, especially when they're not here to defend themselves.

When this item came up the first time for first reading, I brought up that this wasn't fully baked and that I was gonna do my dil due diligence in between.

I did, and I contacted two attorneys who said this is not ready, there's a lot of loopholes and loose ends here.

I spoke with neighborhood associations like Sofna and So be West, Collins Park, and Flamingo Park and Bera.

They knew nothing about this.

They were very concerned about the non-monetary um issues and a whole slew, like I have like a page and a half here.

Um the policy should incentivize neighborhood associations to engage with the city.

And the way it's drafted, it creates additional obstacles to engage.

So it's not really transparent, it's shutting people out, and that's wrong.

So I would like to move this item, refer it to neighborhoods so that all the neighborhood associations can be in invited and learn more about it because the ones that I called didn't know anything about it.

Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I think we always want to move in a path towards more ethics, more transparency.

We also want to move in a path for more community engagement.

And I want to make sure that when we pass policies, that we pass policies that do not discourage the civic participation of our residents and our neighborhood associations.

I get concerned, I don't like seeing the residents' names being placed the way that they have been.

These are our residents, they've placed their trust in us, and we might not agree with a lot of things how they happen, but there are residents and they deserve our respect as much as we want them to respect us.

I would I would say I get concerned about putting the onerous and well-intended residents that get involved, but that don't know the details of the law or the ordinance.

For example, in my briefing, I started asking details about the ordinance.

The very people who should know the ints and outs about the ordinance had to go back and look at the ordinance to get those answers.

They got me the answers that I needed, but I have to go back to the ordinance.

These are people that have worked on this legislation that we're considering today.

And I made the comment imagine that's today when we're actively working on this legislation.

Who's going to remember the details of this legislation six months from now?

And most importantly, forget about us, the people who we serve.

Will the people who we serve, the residents, the residents whose civic engagement we want to foster, will they even know that this exists?

And I used an example.

Let's say Mary Smith.

Mary Smith moves into a condo.

And next to Mary Smith's condo, there's a condo that comes in that is going to do construction.

And now that construction offers to, you know, re-landscape the front of Mary Smith's building.

She'll have to register as a lobbyist if she comes and speaks about this, but she might not even know that she has that requirement.

She might even she might not even know that she is breaking the law when she thinks that she's just coming in to be an active resident to be a good neighbor.

And that's where I think perhaps keeping the intent of the transparency, the owners should perhaps be placed on the developer.

Developers hire lobbyists who know the laws.

Developers hire highly sophisticated attorneys and pay them a pretty penny, a pretty penny to know the ins and the outs.

And they have resources that the residents who are being involved and getting involved don't know.

And the last thing that I would want to see is a well-meaning resident who is simply who is simply advocating for the community to end up with an ethics complaint because they spoke up for their neighborhood.

So I personally think that the onerous should fall on the developer.

That if the developer gave whether it be a free meal or a contribution to a condo association or to a neighborhood association, the reporting party should be the developer and not and not the resident who later might end up in the middle of a process and a political controversy when they simply just wanted to get involved and speak up for their neighborhood.

If you could entertain that type of amendment, because that way we move forward with the intent, but we protect the very residents whose civic participation we want to continue fostering.

And and Commissioner Fernandes said, thank you for bringing that up.

And I want to clear the record through through Nick, I mean through the mayor, that if, for example, if Mary Smith wanted to come and advocate for whatever item that is being presented, she's free to do that.

She doesn't have to disclose anything.

But what this does is if you are getting compensated for that.

If they are going to get a compensation for their support, and that's what I'm trying to prevent.