City Commissioners, Vermonica Mateo Salinas.

Laura Dominguez.

Alex J.

Fernandez.

Tanya K.

Bot.

David Suarez.

Joseph Magazine.

City Attorney Ricardo J.

DiPico.

City Clerk, Raphael E.

Granado.

As a courtesy to everyone present, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices at this time.

Lobbyist disclosure reminder.

If you are a lobbyist appearing before the city commission or any city board, you must have registered with the city clerk prior to participating.

If you have not yet registered, please do so immediately.

Once you have joined the Zoom meeting, go to the bottom panel and click on the raise hand icon to notify the meeting host that you would like to speak.

As soon as the host grants you permission to speak, a dialogue box will pop up on your screen with two options.

After you finish speaking, mute your microphone and click on the lower hand icon.

After you finish sharing your comments, be sure to press star nine to lower your hand and star six to mute yourself.

Please take your seats.

The meeting is about to begin.

Remember to speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded for public record.

Please stand by.

We are going on air in five.

Four, three, two.

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

Our newly formed and elected body of commission.

So congratulations, everyone again.

And uh down to business.

I'll turn to Raphael Granado, our city clerk for any instructions.

Good morning, everyone.

The city commission is physically present and the commission chambers at Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, third floor.

Members of the public are invited to attend either in person or virtually.

If you have a if you're joining us virtually, here is how you can participate.

You can log in using the Zoom app or visit the Zoom.us on your browser.

You can also phone in at 305-224-1968 or toll-free 888-475-4499.

That's 888-475-4499.

The webinar ID is 813-928-576-71 pound.

Again, the webinar ID is 813-928-576-71 pound.

If you would like to speak on any item during the meeting, please click the raise hand icon in the Zoom app or press star nine on your phone.

The zoom link, webinar ID and phone number stay the same for every commission meeting.

All lobbyists must register with the office of the city clerk located at the first floor of City Hall.

You do not need to register if you're an expert witness giving only technical or specialized testimony.

A representative of a homeowner association or not-for-profit speaking without pay or a private citizen speaking on your own behalf without compensation.

However, if you're an expert witness or a non-profit or neighborhood rep, you do need to submit a written disclosure form to the office of the city clerk before speaking to the commission or city staff.

Forms are available at the office of the city clerk.

If a lobbyist gives or agrees to give a thousand dollars or more to a neighborhood association or its representative regarding a city matter, that must be disclosed in writing to the clerk.

Note that contingency fees are not permitted to become uh to compensate lobbyists.

If you plan to speak during the public comment period, we ask you to please sign in.

You can use the sign-in sheets on the podiums, or you can scan the QR codes also located on the podium.

And since we've gotten a lot of questions, we want to make a notation that the board and committee at large appointments have been deferred to the first commission meeting in 2026, as approved by the mayor to allow newly elected Commissioner Monica Mateo Salinas time to review candidates and due to today's full agenda.

I have some notations that I would like to bring to your attention on item C4AQ, which is the log cabin item that was moved to C7BV.

So C4AQ is was moved from C7BV.

Item R7AE, which is the fire station item, was moved from R9AM.

And finally, a correction, item C7CF, extend boat show license agreement.

Uh the resolution should be corrected to read seven additional days commencing January 26, 2026 instead of 17 days commencing on January 16, 2026.

All the addendum items will be heard after 5 at the mayor's discretion.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ralph.

It is my privilege to uh start off with an invocation, and I'm happy.

Thank you for being here, Father.

Father Andrew Fulton from St.

Joseph Catholic Parish will uh give us some inspiration and words of wisdom.

So thank you for being here.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you.

Eternal, eternal and loving God.

We come before you these days with uh grateful heart.

And every opportunity to serve comes from your generous hand.

Your word is your word in the Prophet Micah reminds us what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to work humbly with your God.

Lord, we ask you to help us leave those words in all we do today.

To make decisions that are fair, honest, and uh always mindful of the dignity of every person.

Teach us to love mercy, to treat one another with compassion, pay patience, and understanding, especially when opinions differ or challenges arise, and help us to walk humbly with you.

Never forgetting that all wisdom and success come from your hand alone.

Send your spirit to guide our thoughts and words during this meeting.

Let your truth be our light and your peace be our foundation.

Bless the work we undertake for the good of the community, and help us to see your presence in one another.

Lord of all creation, make us faithful stewards of the mission you have entrusted to us.

May our efforts today bear fruit that endures works of justice, acts of kindness, and decisions rooted in love.

We entrust this gathering to you, O God, and pray that everything we say and do will bring glory to your holy name and blessing to your people.

We ask this with gratitude and trust now and forever.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you, Father.

To follow up on your uh powerful words, if we can just take a moment of silence to remember the loss of lives in Sydney, Australia, this week, on the first night of Hanukkah, and we pray for peace and no more tragedy and terrorist attacks against innocent civilians.

Thank you.

I think it's uh now appropriate to start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

It's my honor to ask David Adams, who's been so instrumental in so many facets of helping us fight crime and working with our police department, your crime and awareness group, but also I know privately we've had so many conversations and uh appreciate all that you do for the safety of Miami Beach.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll start with our Sutnik Citizens Forum, our open forum to allow anyone to come and give us uh their opinions, suggestions.

Thank you, Mayor.

So if you wish to speak at Sutnik, I ask you to approach the podium, state your name, address, and you will have two minutes at this moment.

Please start, sir.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor, good morning, commissioners, Joe Sabag, 400 West 41st Street.

I am an attorney and policy specialist with NJAC Action.

Today we have an item on the agenda that speaks to city contracting and grant making.

A couple weeks ago, alongside our basil, there was an unfortunate event that decided to cancel uh Israeli and Jewish American artists from participation.

Unfortunately, the city had previously sponsored that event and found itself caught in uh an unfortunate situation.

The ordinance that you'll be hearing today is based upon a bill that was passed in Tallahassee.

I know that we have Representative uh Basabi here today.

Um he can talk a bit more about it.

I did draft that bill.

It's important for you to understand that the city is not in any way obligated to fund the speech of private citizens.

In no way is speech implicated by the ordinance that you will uh hopefully be passing today to the extent that somebody makes that suggestion.

It's important to understand that the city um is not constitutionally obligated to fund anybody's speech, including uh hate speech.

What this ordinance would do is make sure that um prior to entering into contracts or issuing grants or sponsorship, the city does receive a certification from the folks who would be uh uh participating in those grant-making programs or contracting with the city that they will not engage in national origin-based uh boycotts uh against Israel or people who uh are connected to Israel somehow.

Um so to the extent that there are any questions.

I'll be here for the next few minutes.

I'm happy to answer any questions about what this ordinance would do along with what this ordinance would not do.

Just want to thank you guys once again, Mayor Minor.

Thank you for that very classy opening and just reminding everybody that there are difficult things happening at a season that's supposed to be defined by light.

So thanks to everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next our first virtual caller is Robert Golding.

State your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Robert, please go ahead, unmute yourself.

PJ, let's go to Johan Moore.

Good morning, Commissioners and staff.

Johan Moore, 717 Jefferson Avenue, a resident of Flamingo Park Neighborhood, a member of Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association, and a member of Meridian Court Community, but not speaking on behalf of anyone other than myself.

I would think that he would uh endorse uh a recent proposal that we put forward, excuse me, that was put forward, uh calling for bond policy reform.

Uh I would join in the mayor's sentiment, hoping for an end to mass murder.

Uh, but I would advise that that has to be a universal requirement uh and that our sorrow over deaths should include all deaths of innocence.

I would also express my support for Commissioner Bott's item to incentivize conversion of short-term rentals uh to residential, an issue of much importance in our neighborhood.

I would also urge that as you consider uh the item before you to discuss the location of the fire station, that you not conclude that you need to demolish our historic and much loved South Shore Community Center in order to build a fire station whose primary purpose at this point in time is to serve the high-rise buildings not located in our neighborhood, and which we in fact hope will not in future be located in or immediately adjacent to our neighborhood.

I am supportive of the renewal of the South Shore Community Center lease uh so as to uh thwart any future efforts uh at demolition.

We appreciate Commissioner Dominguez, I should say I appreciate Commissioner Dominguez, uh item R9AK uh to discuss the loss of parking in Flamingo Park, but would caution that while that is an important issue, parking cannot come at the expense of the public commons uh and the desire to reclaim roads for pedestrians and micromobility from vehicular training.

Your time is up.

Thank you.

Go ahead, please.

Good morning.

My name is Judith Spock, 500 North Shore Drive.

Today I'm gonna be delivering a legislative update for Representative Fabian Basabi.

The representative is focused on rebuilding and strengthening working relationships in Tallahassee with legislative leadership, the governor's office, and state agencies.

The work has expanded access to state resources for District 106, including Miami Beach.

As a result, the district has secured record levels of funding supporting storm monitor and coastal resilience, infrastructure improvements, beach nourishment, biscaine bay protection, public safety, and efforts to help residents remain in their homes amid rising costs.

Expanded access to overdose reversal medication for first responders and consistent advocacy for public safety priorities.

An education representative Bisabi has supported parental choice paired with accountability, emphasizing transparency, and measurable outcomes so taxpayers understand how education dollars are spent.

As committee weeks resume in mid-January, the legislature will begin advancing proposals on education, insurance affordability, housing pressures, infrastructure, public safety, and environmental resilience.

Representative Sabi will remain actively engaged to ensure district priorities are addressed early in this process.

Before I close now, I want to add a brief personal note.

Many of you know me, and over the past several months I spent a significant time here in Miami Beach City Hall, learning how state and local government intersect.

As an 18-year-old and a first-time voter, I've been especially impressed by Representative Basabi's collaborative result-oriented approach, and I've seen that translate into tangible outcomes for this community.

Thank you for the opportunity to share this update today.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Sharon.

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

Hi, this is Sharon Weiss, 2338 Street, and uh I am calling today regarding item C7BW.

Uh I would urge the commission to embrace Representative Bestabe's uh uh uh getting uh an audit uh of of our operations.

Uh it's not something that should be looked at as something punitive.

This is something that's great.

The audit committee at the state uh was unanimous in agreeing that uh an audit was required.

We are outside of Orlando, we are the number one uh donor of taxpayer money to the state, and um we should welcome their audit.

This is uh this should we the our commission needs to work hand in hand with both the county and the state.

Uh we're all in this together.

This should not be viewed as something that is uh adversarial or punitive.

Um perhaps the state will come up with ideas to make our government run more efficiently.

Uh while the plural of um anecdote is not data uh from my conversations with other community members.

There seems to be unanimous support for this.

So uh I would urge you to hold off on uh censuring Representative Bisabe uh unless and until the audit comes up that we are perfectly perfect.

Then I think the commission could say, hey, this is punitive and wrong.

But until that point, we should be welcoming um representative Bisabe's efforts to assist us.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next, please state your name, address.

You have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

The young lady.

Ma'am, are you?

Okay, good morning.

Okay.

Fabian Bisabi, Nine Island Avenue.

I'm your state representative, and I represent the people of the city, not this day is not political careers, not insider interests.

Before I address the upcoming audit, one brief point on public safety because policy has real consequences.

A Jewish teacher was attacked near Lehman Commute uh Learman Community Day School by a repeat homeless offender.

Also remember, a trans woman was murdered by a repeat homeless offender living on the streets in Miami Beach.

Different victims, same failure.

These outcomes were foreseeable.

The local homeless ordinance weakened enforcement and failed the public.

This ordinance should be repealed.

State law should be enforced.

And if you disagree, then put it on the agenda for public discussion right here.

Let's debate the two approaches.

Yours protects private contracts and the status quo.

Mine focuses on solving homelessness by getting the people that need the help, the help they need off the streets without recycling them through arrest, release, arrest, release.

Now to the audit.

This body is attempting to push a challenge to me through consent agenda.

For the public watching, that means no discussion and no vote.

It's designed to pass quietly without debate.

That is not transparency.

That is evasion.

Several of you in front of me today have privately told me that this audit was needed, including the mayor's most trusted advisor, with whom I had a long conversation.

I'm now told that that communication is no longer permitted.

Let's keep in mind that the city staff are not personal employees.

They're paid by the taxpayers.

They work for the residents of Miami Beach.

They should answer when I call.

Thank you, sir.

Our next virtual caller is I can comment.

And I invite my colleagues to comment.

So first of all, uh Representative Bisabe, I welcome the audit.

I have no issues with the audit.

We get audited all the time.

Actually, this the state.

No, no, no.

No, no.

You spoke, I speak.

I welcome the audit.

I have no issues with the audit.

And if the audit does find something, that is, I welcome it.

And if but you have made accusations against our city, and it's not even relating to the audit.

The reason why this item is on the agenda is because you move from issue to issue, saying things that are completely fabricated, untrue, and have no basis in any evidence whatsoever.

That is intolerable.

You talk about the homeless statute.

I'll talk to our city attorney.

First of all, our homeless numbers are at historic lows.

We do not do that audit of a homeless census.

That is done by the homeless trust out of the county, not us.

You talk about issues of prosecution and uh it is an issue that our city commission.

And I tell you there is not a city in Miami Dave, there's not a city that you represent that has done more for law and order and to help reduce crime, clean up spring break than our city.

What I see is someone who you have difficulty within your own party in Tallahassee getting items passed.

So you're a failed legislator, and you have used the forum of Miami Beach, which is an international city to get headlines for your own political game.

I'm sorry, I have to say what I feel.

I've held it back for too long.

And that's why I put this item on.

I go on and quote and quote, numerous, numerous things that you have said that you have never backed up with any basis of fact.

You talk about our homeless statute being being uh I mean, you've took us terms of financial mismanagement, inflated contracts, diversion of funds, poor fiscal oversight, cronyism.

What evidence do you have whatsoever?

Want some?

No.

A contract that you gave as commissioner to someone who wasn't in good standing.

Yeah, you are out of order.

And I'm gonna turn to our city attorney to address that.

Because you're what you're saying is actually this is gonna be a debate.

You should have a lot of people.

It's not a debate.

There's not a debate.

Because I I refuse everything you say.

So what is it?

You're I am gonna turn to our city attorney and to refute the literally writing, you have it in your body.

Mr.

Mayor, we have rules of procedure for conduct in this day.

And no member of the public, no elected official is allowed to behave in a way that no other resident, no one is afforded special treatment in our days.

And that's why we have a sergeant of arms to and that behavior is reflective of the unbecoming behavior.

This is what we deal with.

Literally, unbecoming behavior.

Anytime name the place, name the time, I'll be there.

Mr.

Mayor, it's a waste of time.

I spent two hours with a representative trying to find peace with a representative, extending another yet another olive branch, and it all centers back on him.

It's not about the public.

It is all about him and elevating himself and demanding people to issue written statements using excuse me, I'm speaking.

Demanding, demanding me, asking me to issue a written statement on City Letterhead, endorsing him, supporting him.

Yeah, you sent me one from North Bay Village.

Excuse me.

You you sent me a couple of things.

Sergeant of Arms is not phone to the channel.

I am asking you to control this meeting.

We cannot have the constant interruption.

I'm not specific.

There is no censoring you.

There is no censoring you.

No censoring me.

You know that.

So this is reflective of the unbecoming behavior that our residents should not have to be subdued.

Don't fall into his trap.

I'm turning to our city attorney to address the issue you just mentioned.

I'm asking what he wants me to do.

If he's gonna keep talking, I'll listen.

Are you done?

If they're saying my name, I'll be here to listen and to respond.

Are you done?

I am asking our city attorney, please rick the pick up.

Explain to me the constitution.

The uh the FPI uh security services was administratively dissolved on September 24th of 2021.

The city our city attorney is speaking.

If you can't be quiet, please leave the room.

The the the corporation FPI Security Services Inc.

was administratively dissolved on September 24th of 2021, which was four days before they were reinstated at the time that the city entered into the contract, they were in good standing.

What year was that contract issued?

April of 21.

April of 21.

I was elected November of 21.

That sounds right.

But the bottom line is they were they were they were in good standing at the time of the contract, correct?

Multi-million dollars.

And do we have that contract with that service anymore?

But it welcomed the conversation over.

We we do not.

And I would like the record to I'm gonna ask, I I we cannot conduct public discussion one day.

Okay?

And if I'm wrong, if I'm wrong, Mr.

Mayor, no other resident, no other public official would be allowed to engage in this unbecoming conduct that is disrespectful to the public and to everyone else, the taxpayers who we serve, who are in line to speak about the real business of this city and not political theater that we are experiencing here right now.

It is so unbecoming.

This is what we deal with.

This is why Miami Beach does not have proper representation in the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee.

I am actually so grateful that our new county commissioner Vicky Lopez is here, because we had to knock on that door so many times, representative, looking for real true professional public service and representation for our city, because the alternative was extremely unbecoming.

So, Mr.

Mayor, and and I and and I also want the record to reflect that after I got text messages from Representative Basabe about that security contract, I called at the inspector general to my office.

And I let the inspector general of our city know about the text messages that I received.

And part of the reason why I did that was because I actually felt that I was being pressured by someone that's supposed to represent us.

I didn't feel that was coming from a place of good government.

I felt I my intuition, my gut at the time was like there was someone he was pushing for, which was the reason why he was advocating for what he was advocating at that at that time.

And that concerned me as and I at that time I reached out to our inspector general, I brought him to my office, and I let him know about it.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'm glad you reminded everyone about our inspector general.

Many of the issues that we're addressing.

We have an independent inspector general.

I believe we were the first city in Miami Day to have an inspector general voted in overwhelmingly by our residents about 87, 80 percent clip.

A couple of years ago, they're no longer on uh and I'm not gonna mention names, but there was an effort to weaken our inspector general, and I was took a very strong stance that we cannot in any way weaken the ability of the inspector general to conduct audits and anything that he and his team need to do uh to get proper transparency from from our city.

I would like to turn to Rick to address since the homeless statute was was referenced.

Uh I'd like you to to articulate uh what exactly our homeless statute does, which is actually quite strong.

Sure.

Well, our our ordinance is actually stronger than the state statute.

The state statute uh prohibits camping overnight.

Our ordinance prohibits camping at any time during the day.

And would you give an estimate how many times Representative Fasab Pazabi has mentioned what he did today about uh erroneously about our statute, and that you have corrected him in writing?

I I have not kept track of that, Mayor.

I apologize.

Is it numerous?

I believe more than once.

I'm not sure that I've actually uh corresponded with him.

Okay.

I I've seen uh Commissioner Bott.

Um, you know, it's funny because I don't um bothered responding to Fabian Bisabe's comments um when he posts them because they are just so fallacious.

Um they are based in who knows what motivation, and it's really disappointing to see that an elected representative who's supposed to represent all of us, we're all residents here, um, spends his time attacking the city, its leadership, and its residents, it's police officers, it's fire department.

I find that really disheartening and and um sad.

Um but I don't bother wasting my time trying to correct the record because I know it falls on deaf ears.

He's got his own agenda, and nothing we say or do is going to change that, as you all just saw firsthand.

But I would like to support the mayor and echo everything that he said.

I too, and I think all of my colleagues welcome an audit.

We have absolutely nothing to hide.

Um, and if there are opportunities for improvement, great, we will embrace them.

Um what is not okay is the one-sided vitriolic attack on our policies, the truth, individuals with no with no backup.

It's exhausting.

We see it throughout the country.

It's not it's not unique to us, but we you know generally are a collegial city with collegial representation up and down the ranks at all levels, and we can do better.

And I know that as a commission, a united body sitting before you, we are determined to do better here locally in our city together.

We don't agree on everything all the time, but most of the time we can do it in a proper, respectful way.

And it is really sad that our elected official in Tallahassee doesn't have the same skill set or more importantly, desire.

So I welcome any questions directly.

I'm sure my colleagues, not to speak for them, but I would imagine my colleagues would welcome questions as well if you want to learn more about anything that you think is is a concern.

Um, but we're very confident about what we're doing here.

That we're doing the the best we can to do the best by you with the facts and tools and resources that we have at hand.

Thank you.

Commissioner Magazine.

A couple of things.

I as chair of the finance committee, I welcome an audit.

Uh it is good for our taxpayers' transparency, is always good.

So it's not something I shy away from.

And if there are uh missteps, then let's skip them out in the open and let's fix and address them.

In terms of some of the other things that we're talking about here, I will work with anybody.

Doesn't matter, political party, uh, gender, creed, color.

I will work with anybody.

You know why?

Because this isn't about me.

This isn't about us.

This is about you, our residents.

So this can never ever ever be personal.

Because then we're putting ourselves above the city.

Right?

And that is not why anybody should be getting into public office.

It is to serve the greater good.

And sorry if that sounds altruistic, but that truly is what I believe.

Um, in terms of the homeless ordinance that was referenced, I took some offense that Miami Beach and our ordinances were somehow uh responsible for absolutely tragic incidents that happened.

Uh as somebody who's personally a victim of a homeless repeat offender and a violent crime, where I would want partnership where we could work together, because like I said, this is about working together, this isn't about us.

Let's fix, and it's not at the Miami Beach level.

This is where we can use our partners at the state, the revolving door of criminality.

These were people that committed these atrocities that were arrested and gone through the system and released numerous, numerous times, people that had no business whatsoever being on our streets.

And I don't mean in a homeless fashion, I just mean outside of the prison system because these were repeat repeat violent offenders.

So if we want to truly make our city better, if we want to make our region better, let's work with our partners at the state at all levels to try and fix that broken criminal justice system.

So thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Um I wanted to echo something you said, Commissioner Magazine.

I'm sorry we're taking so much time on this, but it's important.

And Commissioner Bott.

If it was just and you're right, for two years, our our city commission has pretty much taken taken the beating and the hits, and we haven't responded.

The problem is, I came to the reckoning, and I thought people will say, you know what, I know this is just political theater.

But I came to the realization that not everyone realizes that when there's no response.

When people when we don't offer an alternative to what's being said.

Because I heard during the campaign some very, very intelligent, smart people that I respect who actually believed or thought, why don't you guys ever respond to this?

And I realized, you know what?

Without a counter, people are gonna believe it.

And it's not it's not about me or any of us, because I actually haven't been the target of uh for pretty much of the attacks, but our city has.

And in my opinion, it got to the point where this is damaging to Miami Beach, which means it's damaging to you, it's damaging to our residents, it's damaging to our businesses.

When you constantly hear these arguments, by the way, I welcome the policy debate.

I welcome the city audit, the audit.

But when you have comments that our statute is unconstitutional, when it's not, it's actually been up, not ours, but the similar same wording has been upheld by courts when it's actually stronger than the state statute, not weaker.

When you hear terms like mismanagement, cronyism, uh, corruption, it's damaging to you, our residents.

Again, if it's true, back it up.

Provide some evidence.

The city of it is just the latest.

And if there is things that we can do better or should should do better, absolutely, absolutely, we'll do it.

I mean, if I again I don't believe it's true, but if someone did something that's fraudulent, they should be arrested and go to jail.

Again, no evidence of it.

But the point that I'm making now, and the reason why I did it now, and we're doing it together as a body, we're we're bringing these items to the floor, it's because this has been going on for two years.

It goes on from issue to issue, and then there's never any evidence, zero, and then goes on to the next issue and makes another accusation.

No evidence, move on to the next issue.

And we as a body have to protect Miami Beach.

We have to protect our residents, we have to protect our businesses, because eventually misrepresentations, falsehoods, lies, gets into the consciousness.

That's what propaganda is about.

I mean, I don't want to I don't have to get into propaganda during the Holocaust, other things.

I'm sorry to make the analogy, but that's what happens when you constantly have a berating without a counter.

And now Miami Beach is making decision, we are gonna counter.

You want to make an accusation, back it up, Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Oh, but before you go, I'm sorry, one last thing.

I do want to echo what you said about uh County Commissioner Vicky Lopez.

We're gonna hear from a moment.

We also have county that you are now uh our county commissioner representing us.

This is a big big win for Miami Beach.

Also, I don't want to be uh remiss and not mentioning Commissioner Mickey Steinberg, who's always been there for us as well.

We we have really good representation now in Miami Beach in the county, um, and I'm very I'm very very much looking forward to working with you.

I'm sorry, and I'd be remiss not to say at the state senate.

Um, you know, and it's again it's not a partisan thing.

Our Republican state senator, Ileana Garcia, who we may disagree on some issues on, but she is a professional.

We go to Tallahassee, we knock on her door, we sit with her, we talk with her, we we bring her to the district.

She walks, she walks the streets of our district with us, we work with her.

It's not about partisanship, not at all.

She is a public servant who cares about the issues, who has dialogue with us, and it doesn't, and she doesn't make it about her.

She doesn't make it about making headlines.

She makes it about the issues of the district and the people of the state of Florida.

Just as our State Senator Chevron Jones, our State Senator Shevron Jones, always an open door policy with us in Tallahassee.

He comes to the district.

He sits down with us, is professional, is never theatrical, is never childish, is never these baseless allegations uh thrown at us.

And lastly, I'd say, and I'll say it again.

Right after my election, I didn't need anything from Representative Fabian Basabe other than a good collegial relationship because we have a common constituency.

People that I liked at him and people that elected us.

And I sat down with him for a long lunch.

And and and he airdropped me a letter uh from an elected official in another city in official city stationary, okay, which which quotes as a commissioner of blank city, I am proud to endorse Representative Fabian Basave.

And asking me to give him a letter like that from my in order to find peace with him.

I'm sorry, I am not going to use my official city resources, my city letterhead, my city seal that represents every single resident of the city of Miami Beach, number one, for campaign purposes.

Number number number two to go into a partisan matter that when I represent Republicans, Democrats, independence, and everything in between.

I do not use my office for campaign purposes the way that I was being asked to do by the representative that alleges to be here speaking for the people.

That would be a misuse, a misuse of my office resources.

And he asked me to do that, and I didn't do that.

And then what was it, a week later or two weeks later, we're getting audited by the state of Florida.

That that's it.

Sink in.

Thank you.

Okay.

I think we can, unless anyone else wants to speak, we continue.

We're going to go next to our Larry Schaefer on Zoom.

You have two minutes, please state your name and address, please.

Larry Schaefer 23381st Street.

Good morning.

I I hope you don't mind if I try to lower the temperature in the room by starting by saying congratulations to all that were elected.

Special congratulations to our new commissioner and Vice Mayor, my friend Monica Mateo Salinas.

I'd also like to say congratulations to recently appointed Miami Dade County Commissioner Vicky Lopez, and I hope we can develop a better relationship with the county.

I'm calling to comment on the same item being discussed about Mr.

Basabe.

Uh on Monday, Mayor Minor in his inauguration speech said that he doesn't get complaints, he gets suggestions.

And that was pretty funny.

And I think if we can just kind of maybe tone things down and say, hey, Mr.

Bisabe has made suggestions here and actually followed through with an audit.

Just looking at it a different, more softer way.

Um Mayor Minor and the Commissioners also agreed to place the words in God we trust prominently near the ceiling of the commission chambers.

Well, in God we trust, but everyone else should be subject to an audit, including the city.

Instead of passing this resolution, I suggest the commission consider referring this to FERC, where many of the items are related to city finances.

Mr.

State Rep can bring evidence substantiating the complaints complaints, and the public can participate in the process.

Or we can have a town hall with citizen participation.

Citizen Commissioner Magazine, the chair of the finance committee, has advanced items related to financial accountability.

In fact, he has excellent items on the agenda in front of you about requiring line item budget next year.

With or without this resolution, the state audit is happening.

Perhaps the commission could defer this items until the results of the audit come back.

If there's evidence of corruption mismanagement, the resolution is not needed.

Because there are multiple options here, I think that maybe one of the commissioners could pull this consent agenda item if it hasn't been already discussed so much already.

Um and then to see if it should be discussed, referred, or deferred.

Finally, I'd like to wish everyone happy holidays and in the spirit of the season of love and light.

Can we try to reconcile our differences between the state rep in this commission so that we can focus on the needs of the city and its people instead of political and partisan arguments?

Go ahead, please say your name, address.

Hi, my name is Linda Kolco.

I'm a resident of Collins Park and a small business owner.

I do want to thank you, Mayor, for what you said just now.

And thank you for the moment of silence.

Okay, I'd like to start off with C4T, C4AP, C7BX, and R7AC.

And I want to express my support of these resolutions to bring back the rainbow colors in our city on bike racks, plaques, forever proud, like pole banners, and a replica of our rainbow crosswalk.

We are a welcoming city, and remember the LGBTQ annual purchasing power in Miami Dade County is $15 billion.

Okay.

C 7J.

I request a six month I request that you approve the six-month extension of the agreement between the city and the Miami Design Preservation League for the operation of the Ocean Front Auditorium 1001 Ocean Drive.

It's a popular resource for our tourists and our community who are interested in our Art Deco history.

They host wonderful informative free lectures.

In fact, there's one tonight.

And they run a terrific Art Deco store.

I also support our 9AJ to negotiate a three-year lease agreement with MDPL for the same location, 1001 Ocean Drive.

Now, R7Y, Byron Carlisle.

I am surprised we are again discussing what to do with the Byron Carlisle since the commission unanimously supported the thriving cultural community center, including three movie theaters with activations that appeal to all ages.

The project, which has been created with input from residents and community arts organizations, envisions a multifaceted community arts complex that would include the three movie theaters, art studios, and gallery space, recording studio free to students, classroom space, rehearsal space.

Let's keep the original plan supported by our commission.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller has a scream name of Bollare.

Please state your name address I have two minutes.

Hi, this is Wayne Roberts.

That's my joke of the morning.

I don't know.

So good morning.

I wanted to talk about uh uh I don't believe that there's any uh uh legal issues for the city of Miami Beach relative to their contract, but it is misspent.

I'll give you an example.

Uh recently, most of you in a day's uh recommended and and supported uh a fire department contract where the average fire department and EMS employee makes $350,000 a year with benefits.

Uh that's equivalent to what our city manager earns.

Uh it's four times what uh the average resident earns in the city.

Um we're building a firehouse that that looks like a Tajma hall uh where um I don't think that's needed.

I think they need a new firehouse.

But it certainly shouldn't be to the size and accommodations that we're talking about.

Um it should be placed where it is exist today, so you don't interfere with the lives of people that bought or built commercial property uh in neighborhoods where uh you're planning to put it now, or city property otherwise.

Um that's been there a hundred years.

Uh if there's a sewer problem, fix the sewer problem.

Uh but you're mismanaging money by and it's political.

These fire people are at our polls.

They're calling our residents for for you guys that that were elected uh uh during elections.

Which is inappropriate and it should be a policy within the city.

They cannot do so.

Um that's the crux of the problem.

It's not corruption.

Well, it's not it's not a legal corruption.

It's it's lobbying by and and and the fire department makes up over a quarter of our budget.

Uh we haven't had a death from a fire since 1977.

Sir State you're not.

I'm sorry, Ralph.

Um, Mr.

Manager, because there are a lot of people here today and a lot of people listening.

I don't believe that that um statement that the average firefighter makes over $300,000 a year is accurate.

Could you please address that?

Uh that number certainly is not accurate.

Um I don't know what the exact number is, but I believe it's less than half that.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

Good morning.

My name is Stuart Blumberg, 7532 Cutlass Avenue, North Bay Village, Florida.

And it's first time I'm back in here in 16 years.

Welcome.

It's changed a lot.

Uh I'm here to talk in support of the naming of the baseball field at Flamingo Park for Skip Bertman.

Um I want to thank Commissioner Fernandez.

I want to thank Commissioner Domingue for their help in moving this forward.

It's long overdue.

I've been a friend of Skipp's for over 70 years.

He has brought great honor to this community where he was raised, went to the school here, went to Beach High, was an all-city catcher, went to the University of Miami, where he was an all-American catcher, came back here to Beach High, taught for 11 years, coached the baseball team to a state championship, and then went on to LSU, where he is now the legend by winning five national championships and then the Hall of Fame at the college baseball.

This honor for him is well deserved.

He coached many of the people that are not in the room today, but are uh in this community.

Um he is a credit to the city of Miami Beach and to support this effort, to have the field named for him.

Um it's an honor for me to stand here before you uh and ask for your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor, we have elapsed the time for Sutnik.

If we wish to proceed, may I give one minute?

Yes.

So next caller is David Simon.

Mr.

Simon, state your name, address.

You have one minute, please.

Mr.

Simon, please unmute yourself.

PJ, let's go to last name Kenny.

Please state your name, address you.

One minute.

Hi, my name is Noelle Kenney, and I'm at 110 Washington Avenue.

And I strongly oppose the fire station being built south of this, specifically at Commerce Street and One Ocean.

This area is already extremely congested.

And it is a residential area that would be very disrupted by the additional noise and lights and something about South of Fifth that makes it so special is the community around here.

So I'm hoping that you guys will move forward with the location on 6th Street, as it's already logistically and financially a much better option.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead.

Good morning, Miami Beach.

Good morning.

Congratulations, Commissioner Fernandez.

Congratulations, Commissioner Dominguez.

Congratulations, Vice Mayor Mateo Salinas.

Good morning, everyone.

Welcome.

So I just want to officially state for the record that I do accept the results of the election.

And I just want to thank everyone for their participation.

Let's take a deep breath.

Let's talk it out.

I do have, as a matter of record, my position is for the audit.

Beyond that, I just want everyone to continue to do what you said you were going to do.

I made a lot of promises on about immediate impact on day one.

And even though that I was not victorious, we've continued with that.

We are already going on the fifth week of our neighborhood leadership academy.

We're moving forward.

We're still talking to the business owners.

So let's continue to move forward, support each other, work together.

Thank you, sir.

Stand by your word.

Mr.

Mayor.

The mayor also won.

First of all, elected officials.

Of course, absolutely, of course.

It was abbreviated for well for with respect for time.

It's all good.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Commissioner Fernandez.

And thank you, Louis Jan.

It's good to see you.

And you did win because whenever we run for office, we strengthen our democracy.

You help our community by running for office.

You you foster good debates.

You put out some good ideas out there.

And you are more engaged in the community now.

So even though you didn't win electorally, you did win in the community because we always win when we run for office.

We we meet neighbors, we get more involved, we offer good ideas, and you did good by running.

And thank you for having had the courage to stand up and to do it.

I think that's where that's Commissioner Fernandez's way of inviting an opponent the next time you run.

So uh thank you.

Our next caller has a PJ the phone number, please.

Call that person next.

Uh one five is the last number.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioner.

Um nice to meet you.

I'm sorry I'm not there in person.

My name is Lisette Garcia, and I'm the new executive director of the Mindy Gate LGBTQ and Allied Chamber of Commerce.

I am here in support of the resolution C7BX for the forever prod banner initiative.

This is a visible fiscally responsible way to affirm inclusion and recognize the LGBTQ plus communities economic contribution.

As previously stated, it's in the billions of dollars, and I'm just here in support of that.

So I thank you so much for your time.

Thank you for your service and happy happy holiday.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

Mitch, you used to be the first one of the daising.

I'm flat.

That's correct.

Good to see you though.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mitch.

Congratulations and good morning, Mitch Novick.

Hiding in the consent agenda, I found 800,000 to Playboy, 600,000 to another wellness organization.

Increases in our water rates.

I would ask you to put this into the light.

As the budget conscious commission, your objective should be reducing our budget, which is doubled in the last dozen years, reducing our staffing, which is increased by 500 employees in that time.

In October, we had utility billing water rate increases, which were not reflected on our November and October utility billing statements.

Apparently, the city moved over to a new system.

Do we really need a glossy magazine?

Can I have 30 seconds, please?

Go ahead, Mitch.

Thank you.

We really need a glossy magazine distributed quarterly at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars by the Office of Marketing and Communication.

Our transportation and mobility department has decimate the historic character of Jefferson Avenue without proper board review.

Thank you, Mr.

Noble.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Barbie Martinez.

Say your name, address so you have one minute.

Good morning.

My name is Barbara Martinez.

I live at 400 South Point Drive.

Also want to reject plans to put a fire station south of Fifth.

As was already stated, this is a very busy area.

It's already high traffic.

There are days when you cannot even get from South Point Drive to Fifth Street without 30 to 45 minutes of traffic.

It would require crossing Fifth Street for the vast majority of calls, so it does not make sense to put a fire station at the very southernmost point of its service area.

Additionally, we will be in the next three years having construction at one ocean, what has been the Pier Park, now known as Nikki Beach Project, and to have additional traffic in that area, which when it's completed is expected to host up to 1,000 guests per day, would be very difficult for everyone.

Finally, it's also a transportation hub right opposite Joe's.

You have the Miami, it's the South Beach Trolley.

You have the Thank you so much.

I apologize.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Uh, Miami Beach, um, Valerie Navarre at Wisfavella, Miami, for the past 34 years as a volunteer.

I do homeless outreaching, helping them to get off the streets.

For the past three years, I have a contract with the city, a program that I was created by our mayor, which is the solely purpose is to get our sheltered individuals to find jobs and rebuild their lives and eventually move from shelter to um their own housing.

What I would like to share, most of you already know, but what I would like to share is that nationwide, the people that does that do what I do here, the success rate is between 30 and 70 percent.

And I would like to tell you that your truly over here, my success rate has been 78.79%, which is huge.

You guys can clap thank you.

Oh thank you.

Um, yes, so I would like to share this is a very important program, and I am very appreciative that you guys renewed the contract.

Thank you, Ms.

Navarro.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is David Simon.

You have one minute, sir.

David, please unmute yourself.

Let's go then to the next person on the podium.

Go ahead, James.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor and Commissioners.

My name is Patricia Agnello, 2555 Collins Avenue, and I am here today to speak in strong support of restoring and preserving the Byron Carlisle Theater.

The Byron Carlisle is one of the last remaining historic landmarks in North Beach, a place filled with memories and meetings for generations of Miami Beach residents.

We already have the funding to bring it back.

$30 million in voter-approved jail bond funds and $7.5 million from the Dovelle Public Benefit.

That's more than enough to renovate and reopen it as a first-run movie theater and family entertainment center, something that serves families, seniors, and visitors alike, all while staying within budget.

But instead of moving forward with restoration, the city is considering a plan to demolish the theater and replace it with a so-called cultural center, stacked under housing.

That plan would cost about 20 million dollars more, require hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to operate, and is based on a funding model that even the administration admits is uncertain.

May I please have 30 seconds more?

Go ahead, please.

Thank you.

We've seen this story before.

Projects that promised community benefit, but ended up serving developers and insiders instead.

North Beach does not need another high-rise or another broken promise.

What we need is to preserve our history and bring back a gathering place for everyone.

Restoring the Byron Carlisle keeps our history alive, strengthens our community, and uses public money responsibly.

It's a project that makes sense financially, culturally, and morally.

Thank you so much.

Please vote to save the Byron Carlisle and help us protect a vital piece of Miami Beach Soul.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Hi, my name is David Sexton.

I am the chair of the Cultural Arts Council and 30-year-plus resident of the city of Miami Beach.

I'm here today to do something I never thought I'd have to do, and that's to defend arts funding in the city of Miami Beach.

If you don't understand the value of art in this place, I have two words for you, art week.

Yes, the city spent a lot of money to bring in organizations and arts activation from all over the world, but it brought in over half a billion dollars to this economy.

And more important than the half a billion dollars to me was that the city of Miami Beach was for one week the center of the world in the most positive way.

This anti-arts funding is at the heart of the item that wants to revert the Byron Carlisle back to a commercial use multiplex cinema.

That is a purpose that had failed 10 years ago in that same location that had just failed on Lincoln Road, that is unfortunately failing across the country.

It is no longer a viable business model.

Why don't we spend 30 million dollars to turn it into a blockbuster video?

It's not, can I have 30 more seconds?

It is not a good use of our money.

We need to support arts and culture.

The existing plan would have three movie theaters in it, in addition to a black box performance theater, an art gallery, a free-to-use recording studio.

It would have multiple uses that would be transformative to North Beach and Miami Beach.

I ask that you support moving forward with the item that we've been working on for two years.

Thank you.

Hi everyone.

Welcome to the Season of Light.

My name is Brenda Jordan.

I'm a resident, 2316 Bay Drive.

And I'm here again as an artist.

And we just talked about the arts.

Arts, as you can see from Art Basel, is a very big business.

And for a program to be set up for artists with no artist involvement.

You know, I know you're trying to do your best, but it's not best.

We're artists, we have to be involved in setting up a program.

A lot of people are being displaced that have been in this program.

And I think the idea was to not have sloppy tables looking like junk, you know, places.

And I get that.

You know, as an artist is disrespectful to me.

But what I'm asking is that we set up a real program.

The first program didn't work because it didn't involve artists.

And this one does not involve artists.

The what is art and what is not art is being dictated by a uh lawyer, which great.

You're you're his client.

So he's going to narrate and direct the constitution according to how he sees it.

But I have case in point.

I have letters for everyone.

It's not fair to me, it's not fair for real artists.

I'm an artist and a beach resident.

Thank you.

Hi.

Welcome, Mr.

Mayor.

How are you doing?

Congratulations on your win.

I did tell you that you would win.

And I did ask you that.

So you're an artist.

My name is Janet Figueroa.

And I did ask you that we want equality for all the artists.

I'm one of the artists that do not live in Miami Beach and was left out not to participate.

I did an evaluation, and they consider my art non expressive enough.

Okay.

Now, as an artist, I will ask you, and as the mayor of Miami Beach, I don't have to live in Miami Beach to be part of Miami Beach.

Okay.

But I do come here every day for one hour and a half of driving to be here in this city and be part of it.

Okay.

And I feel, as the mayor that you are.

And all the commissioners here that they've been re-elected, you almost felt what it is to be unemployed.

By Yay Much, right?

Thank you so much.

Yeah, give me a couple of seconds.

I'm going to relief myself.

Go ahead, please.

Thank you.

I feel that, Mr.

Suarez, what you've done to this opt in optimist and the new writing is biased.

It's discriminative.

You're only choosing it for the residents of Miami Beach.

Miami Beach does not live on residents only.

Most of the people that come here to work in this city come from different boroughs and different areas to make this city a whole, to be operational.

Equality for all, Mr.

Mayor.

That's all I'm asking.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Matt.

Our next virtual caller is Michael Greeko.

Mr.

Greco, go ahead, please.

Good morning, everybody.

Can you hear me okay?

Yes.

Okay, great.

Good morning.

This is Michael Greco, your most recent former former state representative.

And I gotta tell you, I wasn't gonna call in today, but I was pretty pretty disappointed with the exchange this morning.

I was texting with a few of you up in the dais.

I gotta tell you.

Mr.

Greeko this issue.

I think we lost you.

Go ahead, please.

Can you hear me okay now?

Yes.

Okay, great.

Sorry.

The reason I'm calling in is guys.

You've been treating our firefighters, especially the ones that serve at a station on like political pawns for 15 years.

It's time to let the rubber meet the road.

Sixth Street is the place to put this thing.

Let's do it.

It's 80, 90% design.

The money's there.

As somebody who's now an EMT and has actually done shifts over in station one, not as a tourist.

I can tell you these guys need to be created, like the service that they provide.

I know a lot of them are in there today.

So guys, today's the day.

Let's let's let's do this.

I'm gonna come into the into the chambers in a little bit.

Thank you so much.

I want to say they're go ahead, please.

Uh good morning, mayor and commissioners.

My name is Vivian Martel.

Um I'm here to speak about the importance of making and keeping the bar in Carlisle as a permanent arts community asset for Miami Beach and for North Beach specifically.

North Beach has incredible diversity, history, and creative talent.

But as long as uh has been underserved when it comes to accessible art spaces, the Byron Carlisle is more than a building.

It's an opportunity to invest in the community connection and creativity and young talent.

As an arts venue, the Byron Carlisle can provide affordable performance spaces for local artists, cultural organizations, and um and it can activate neighborhoods year-round.

Programming support with uh will support local economies, creating cultural anchor that would add uh an arts commodity and uh economic development for every dollar spent to the arts, 42 comes back.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, Commissioners and Mayor, congratulations on all your recent elections.

Ums this morning in support of R5AG and C7BS brought by Commissioner Dominguez.

Thank you.

Um these are some meaningful first steps in treasuring a marine assets right off of our coast.

I think we saw the power of what Reefline was able to bring out this last weekend or this weekends ago during our Basel.

There's a lot of excitement out there.

We were seeing people explore this new space and then move on to the jetty and move on to our natural REAT track and really start to see this as a tourist and conservation project that can bring so much value to the city.

Um as someone who has been hooked by my um fishing equipment out there that is already actually against the law to fish in that manner where this is.

This is really important that we move forward with this and the restrictions on the land-based um shark fishing equipment.

Um I believe someone's going to show you what that hook looks like in a little bit, but it's really important that we move forward with this.

So thank you all and have a wonderful time.

Yeah, thank you.

I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

David Greaser, 1754 Meridian.

Thank you.

Thank you, David.

Um, we're gonna take a time out from the uh from the open forum because uh county commissioners Vicky Lopez and County Commissioner Mickey Steinberg who are our uh representatives from the county uh need to go to another meeting.

So I'm gonna give you the forum and then we'll continue.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of this incredibly esteemed group of city commissioners.

It is such an honor to finally say I represent Miami Beach.

Officially, I have worked so closely with so many of you.

Congratulations to those who have been re-elected and elected.

Um I am, as you all know, I spent three and a half years as a state representative, and even though uh I did not represent Miami Beach in District 113.

I always felt like I did.

Um it was such a privilege uh to be able to work individually with each one of you to not only bring home to you all and your residents uh appropriations that you really needed for infrastructure and for nonprofits, but also just to be there to listen to what was the for the good of the order here in Miami Beach.

And so it is with an esteemed honor that I now am your county commissioner and that I can officially say Miami Beach is home to Vicky Lopez as well as the mainland.

And I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you.

Commissioner Botts already reached out to me.

We're gonna work on micromobility devices, which was a really big uh issue that I worked on uh as a state rep.

Uh Commissioner Fernandes and I have been working on housing for it seems like a decade.

And I'm so grateful, Commissioner, for your leadership uh in what I know is probably the number one issue we're all facing, which is uh affordability for housing.

And I just am excited to work with each and every one of you and as a body collectively.

Um I know um that there is different needs here.

Uh it is as diverse in Miami Beach as it is on the mainland in my district.

And I know that each and every one of you represents every little pocket of residents that you are close to, and I uh very much am looking forward to having you connect me to those who you are very close to so we can collectively begin to represent the beach in a manner in which it deserves.

And so you have my commitment to be there for you.

I hope the residents who are listening today and those that are here know that that is my commitment to everyone.

And I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to come back to the beach.

I've been here several, I've been a county commissioner for 28 days.

I believe I've spent at least 10 of those here on Miami Beach.

And I'm grateful.

Um grateful for that.

And so uh I'm wishing everyone a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a happy Kwanzaa, and let's hit the ground running um right after the new year.

Thank you so much, everyone.

Thank you, Commissioner.

And I will confirm that I feel like uh Commissioner uh Lopez, I feel like everywhere I go, I see you.

So I think it's even more than 10 days.

And not to lobby from the dais, but I'll throw in uh help with funding the water tax.

But uh time for that, Mr.

Mayor.

I I'd be remiss not to say because you you mentioned your work in Tallahassee on behalf of Miami Beach and in the House when we needed a sponsor for for our landmark public-private partnership to revitalize the east end of Lincoln Road.

You were the one that helped us get the public funds we need to revitalize to bring new life to improve our beautiful jewel of Lincoln Roads.

So you're now officially representing us, but as a public servant, you've always had Miami Beach in your heart, and it's I'm so proud to call you our county commissioner.

Um Ralph, uh we're gonna we're gonna turn for a moment's uh uh to the North Beach CRA.

Before we do that, Mayor, I'm not sure if Commissioner Lopez can sit for the RDA also.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay, then the first time we have a full quorum on this.

Yeah, so if I don't know if you want to join us up here for a minute, please.

Uh so we're gonna uh recess as a city commission meeting, and we will be doing the redevelopment agency item.

It is item one.

It is amendment number three to the Kubiche 105 at 1555 Washington Avenue, adjust rent of 10 percent, RDA one.

Sorry.

We're doing the kissing.

The official welcome.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Go ahead.

Good morning, Mayor.

City Commissioners, Ozzy Dominguez, uh division director of asset management for the city of Miami Beach.

Uh, we're here to talk about item um the Kubiche item, which is a percentage rent request.

This area of the property itself has struggled with traffic, and they are requesting a rent reduction percentage rent of 10% of sales with operating expenses for the next three years.

Administrative is supportive of this with the expectations that we have the tax collector's office opening up very soon, bringing up a lot of traffic to this area.

They're right next to them.

And also with the hopes that the lunchtime traffic will pick up for them.

Yes.

I'll move the item.

It's not on.

Oh, sorry.

Excuse me, I'll move the item.

I'll second.

If I may, Mr.

Mayor.

Am I correct that it actually took some time for this restaurant to open?

Uh yes.

Actually, the restaurant was under a full renovation.

They spent probably about three million dollars on their renovation in 2019.

They opened and a few months later, shut down due to COVID-19.

So they have gone through a series of struggles to get up.

But it's a beautiful restaurant.

And I do want to say I believe that there were some permitting issues as well that prolonged their opening.

Correct.

And while we have focused, we've been steadfast in reforming our permitting process.

You talk about the cruel irony that business in our own city-owned building has permitting issues.

What does that say out there for the mom and pop?

So while this commission has been very steadfast in moving our permitting process forward, uh, that really speaks to the help that we continue to need from staff uh to really fine-tune this.

Thank you.

Let's call a vote.

Uh all in favor of item RDA1, please say aye.

Aye.

No one opposed, the item passes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Congratulations and welcome.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Mayor, we are now we are now convening as a North Beach community.

We develop an agency and we welcome Commissioner Steinberg to the day.

The first item is North Beach CRA 1.

It is amend North Beach CRA commercial facade improvement program.

Good morning, all Stephen Anthony, Economic Development Director.

Um this item is really just expand our current uh commercial facade improvement program.

Uh what we've gotten is the feedback from business owners uh throughout North Beach that says, hey, you know, this is a great program, but we'd like it initially the pilot was really focused around the Normandy Fountain area, and so we figure here's an opportunity now to expand it within all of the North Beach CRA area, and so that that way we can open the open the program up.

I'll move the item.

I have a question.

Um I would like to propose that we slightly amend this item.

I think it's a great item, but I think we should allow for the expansion, but actually have it so that we revisit it in about 18 months, 24 months, engage its success.

Are you guys okay with that?

Yeah, I think that's great.

So accept the motion, Commissioner Bottom.

Yes.

As amended.

Commissioner Stainberg, you're seconding?

If so, may I call the role?

Yes.

All in favor of North Beach CRA one as amended, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

There is no one opposed.

The item is approved.

We have a companion item.

Item two is amend North Beach CRA residential facade improvement program.

And that would be the same kind of recommendation.

I'll second your motion.

I have a motion and a second.

If there's no discussion, may I have a vote?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

No one opposed, the item is approved unanimously.

Thank you, Commissioner Steinberg.

Thank you.

Commissioner, did you bring chocolates for everybody like you used to when you were a city commissioner?

They're on the way.

Oh, they're on the way.

Look at that.

Motion to reconvene as a Miami Beach City Commission.

Second.

By acclamation, we are reconvened.

It is now 9 49.

Thank you for bearing with us.

Yes, please.

Next.

Say your name address, we have one minute.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor, Commissioner City Manager and Staff.

First, I would like to congratulate Mayor Minor on your second term.

Now you can continue and finish what you started.

May Miami be the best city of the country.

Thank you.

I would also like to congratulate Laura Dominguez.

As well, that's our new Commissioner Monica Mateo Salinas.

It truly makes a difference to have a commissioner who lives south of faith.

And walk around the marina around the neighborhood almost every day.

I would like to congratulate and thanks to assistant city manager, Mart Taxi, Court Enforcement Director Hernan Caloso and his entire team.

And that and thank you to all gonna finish.

And thank you to all of you, mayor and commissioner of the improvement we have seen at the marina regarding safety quality of flight, particularly with the previously other controlled chartered vessels.

So over the last couple of months, we can clearly see a real implicit difference.

At the same time, I want to emphasize the importance of no lowering your guards.

Thank you, sir.

Continua and consistent fortune, it's essential to proceed this game.

Also, I'd like to support Mr.

Mayor R5 to roll back the R West Operation and the charters.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual caller is John Porter.

You have one minute, sir.

Hi, good morning.

Uh my name is John Porter.

I'm the general manager for One Ocean Condominium, um, located at one Collins Avenue.

Um I'm uh speaking regarding the the fire station.

Uh One Ocean is supporting the 6th Street location.

Um that's all thank you.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead, sir.

Hello, my name is Patrick Brescick.

I live at 1754 Meridian Avenue.

Uh congratulations to everyone who is re-elected or elected for the first time.

I'm here asking for your support for R uh 5AG, the restrictions on land-based fishing gear, and resolution C7BS, which is the enforcement of the already existing rules on spear fishing near next to the jetty.

I've been hooked by fishing gear.

My mom, who's 67 has been hooked by fishing gear out there.

So voting yes on these resolutions and continuing the progress on our marine park will only make this a better place for ecotourism for our residents and our visitors alike.

So thank you for your progress on this and congratulations, everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

My name is Tom Hawkins.

I live at 1300 Monad Terrace.

First, I want to congratulate everyone who ran in the election on their resounding lecture results.

It really is.

So thank you for everything you do.

Uh and I'll like to thank uh Representative Bisabi for cutting in line early this morning and hijacking our Sutnik hour and harming our residents because we only have a few seconds to speak now.

So with that, I want to urge the commission today to please vote for the motion that reconsiders uh R5P, which is the ordinance regulating uh neighborhood associations and condominium boards.

The uh the commission should be commended for making the changes it did at the second reading to shift disclosure from the residents to the developers.

That made perfect sense.

However, there were other amendments that stayed in that uh that uh second reading that are harmful to civic participation.

I've written you all before about this.

I think you know how I stand.

Please do what you need to do today.

Thank you to reconsider that.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, congratulations on your elections.

I'm Spencer Roberts, 411 Northwest 43rd.

I'm a marine ecologist at the University of Miami here to speak in support of Commissioner Dominguez.

Ordinance R5AG and resolution C7BS.

Land-based shark fishing involves the use of drones and commercial fishing gear to bait sharks near the shore where they are then hooked and then dragged onto the beach.

Smaller uh harvestable species are typically killed for a jaw trophy or used as bait for bigger sharks.

These large prohibited species are often illegally held for social media photo shoots.

Tracking studies estimate that roughly a quarter of these sharks die within a month.

Um in April, a critically endangered great hammerhead was found dead on Miami Beach with a hook just like this.

Um this land-based shark fishing rig was found by Myrla, a swimmer off uh the reef line.

It inv uh includes 300 feet of braided thread, 300 more of thick monofilaments, and this two-inch wide hook.

30 seconds, please.

Baited with the head of a blacktipped shark, indicating the intent to attract a larger uh predatory species like a protected lemon, a endangered hammerhead, or even a great white.

You shouldn't be afraid of sharks though.

Uh thousands of people coexist with scores of sharks every day off the uh off our coast of the beach, but this peaceful coexistence can change into a chaotic frenzy with the introduction of bait and the killing of sharks prey.

I urge you to support C7BS and have a petition of over 1200 people supporting the shark gear prohibitions in R5AG.

Thanks for your time.

Ralph, you could add me as a coup sponsor to that.

Same here, please.

Okay.

And me.

Me as well.

Everyone or R5AC and C7BS.

Got it.

Next, please.

Hi, my name is Grace.

I live at 411 Northwest 43rd Street.

Um my introduction to the underwater world near my home was Miami Beach at South Beach.

When I first moved here, I was afraid that I was gonna have to drive to the Keys or up to West Palm Beach to be able to explore the ocean, but I have actually been very excited to find that I can bring all of my friends and family who visit here to the South Point Jetty.

I feel that it is a safe and easy place for me to bring seasoned swimmers or brand new divers.

The only concern I have, however, is that they are going to get entangled.

I myself have been entangled and I always carry a knife, but I believe that most tourists don't, including people who bring small children and simply when you fly on a plane, it's not easy to bring a knife.

The shark fishing gear that was shown earlier is in a major concern as well because even those of us who carry knives may not have a strong enough knife to quickly cut the metal leaders that can't tangle upon us.

I urge the commission to help in state laws that keep people safe and protect our ocean to try and prevent bringing in more shark fishing and also to enforce spear fishing bans and ideally to continue to put pressure on the local thank you so much.

All right, thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning.

Sangeeta, 2900 Northeast 7th Avenue.

Um I ask why do we allow fishing where our children are youngsters are either jumping waves or just sunbathing?

My daughter, who is a teacher in New Jersey, was visiting, was jumping waves and got entangled in this fish hook.

She bent down to deentangle herself.

Her big toe was entangled in this hook, and then her middle finger got entangled on the other side of this fish hook.

She would have drowned that day.

My other daughter and my husband were in the water.

They carried her out.

She was transported to the hospital.

They had to surgically remove the hook from her toe and her middle finger.

My question is why do we allow fishing where people are just having a good time?

Isn't that what Miami is famous for?

Why can't we just allocate a special place for people to go fishing?

Thank you, sir.

So that we are not stuck with these hooks.

Thank you.

I urge you to please pay attention.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Hi, Pyle Sopti Resna at 2900 Northeast 7th Avenue.

I want to speak up in support of the ban on spear fishing at the jetty, as well as support for eliminating shark baiting along the shorelines of Miami Beach.

I'm an avid open water swimmer.

I've been swimming in Miami Beach for many years, and there have been numerous instances very much recently as well, when spearfishers have been directly fishing in the waters near open water swimmers.

On Sundays, we have groups of up to 150 swimmers swimming in the morning, triathletes, uh sunbathers, families on the beach, and it is extremely irresponsible and dangerous to have spear fishing gear in very close proximity to the beach and swimmers.

So I urge the commission to continue supporting the safe and um family-friendly beach activities that we've all come to love in Miami.

Thanks so much.

Next, please.

I'm gonna probably need a minute, uh an extra 30 seconds.

Good morning.

My name is Dave Dobler, and I live at 8000 West Drive.

I'm here to support Commissioner Suarez's item C7BC and R7T.

I've been working on stormwater and pollution in Miami Beach since 2010, when I first stumbled across the marine debris crisis while kayaking in Biscayne Bay.

What I discovered was simple and alarming.

Trash from our streets was flowing straight into the bay.

Because we are failing both on upgrades and maintenance of our pollution control systems.

In many ways, every plastic reduction policy I've helped craft over the past 15 years exists because our stormwater systems were never upgraded to keep trash out of the bay in the first place.

In 2013, when the city installed its first pump stations, we were told the vortex hydrodynamic separators were the solution to trash and pollution.

But experience has shown otherwise.

They do remove some trash and sediment, but they don't capture the most polluted runoff the first flush.

Think about what that actually washes off our streets during the first rain.

Tire particles, oil, dog waste, fertilizers, bacteria, the pollutants you can't see, but to do the most damage.

So don't go need you to wrap it up.

Sorry?

Wrap it up, please.

Yes.

The truth is that the real solution was not vortex or injection, it's both.

It is important to note that while the city has 49 pump stations, there are 367 outfalls by any reasonable measure.

The majority of our out of our system is still legacy gravity based and still needs modernizations.

They can barely capture trash, and we're never built for today's public roads.

If we're serious about protecting Biscayne Bay, I'm sorry.

We were like I was I prepared for two minutes.

This is what I expected in that debacle this earlier this morning.

Thank you.

If we're serious about protecting Biscayne Bay, we must prioritize first flush capture at every outfall using a layered approach.

If we continue to discharge untreated first flush stormwater into Biscayne Bay, that is not a lack of knowledge, that is a policy choice.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Thank you, Dave.

And just for the record, the gentleman in the white shirt behind Mr.

Mohammed is the last person speaking.

Go ahead, please.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

My name is Matthew Goltanoff, and I live at 125 Jefferson Avenue.

I want to speak this morning on C2C, which is the trolley contract.

Many people have reached out to me concerned about proposed service reductions, and I urge that this be considered today.

Thank you.

And also I want to talk about uh the slow streets.

I want to congratulate you all.

They are under construction.

I want to thank for the funding that this commission has allocated or the previous commission has allocated.

This is the kind of thing that moves a city forward.

It's forward thinking, it's visionary, and many people, even though it's not completely finished, have reached out and are using it and have said how wonderful it is.

So I also want to invite any of you on the dais to uh walk, bike, roll, or drive along there.

I'd be happy to give you a tour and to talk about the future of the project.

So thank you very much.

Next, please.

Good morning, everyone.

One to Jamin, 8305 Crispy Boulevard.

Um, congratulations to all that were re-elected and elected.

I'm here to speak regarding the Byron Carlisle project.

I'm all for it.

Although I'm against the housing kind of component of it.

I'm asking the commission to please consider this.

Um we have an infrastructure problem throughout Miami Beach.

North Beach is getting uh I mean, the building is just out of hand.

Secondly, um I'm gonna speak about the trolley.

Um I think there was a consent, something of consent to minimize the hours and the frequency of the trolley.

I don't think this is very smart.

Um for the uh on the prairie, but you cannot take from Paul Steel from Paul to go to uh to give it to uh Peter.

So please consider the trolley uh extensions and uh the ferry, I'm for it.

And um Commissioner Bad, I know this is your item, so and I know you'd be air to this, but uh I'm all for it.

But please consider the housing.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Next, please.

Good morning, all, and happy holidays.

I may need an extra 10 seconds if you wouldn't mind.

Um my name is Frank Sarek, and I'm a 29-year-old member of the city's next generation council.

Our mandate is to raise and support issues that affect Miami Beach residents under the age of 40.

After rebuilding, we are proud to be an active organization with nine engaged members.

Our volunteer group has been meeting consistently for the past 12 months with the goal of improving the commission's responsiveness to our younger demographic.

So, with that in mind, the next generation council strongly endorses the commission's initiative to institute a permanent water taxi service.

As an initial route, we recommend connecting Maurice Gibb Park with the Omni Terminal in downtown Miami.

Furthermore, we endorse a water taxi service that is complimentary for Miami Beach residents.

We applaud the leadership of Commissioners Dominguez and new Commissioner Mateo Salinas, as well as I as uh Mayor Minor in championing this issue, and we are ready to collaborate with the Commissioner on future initiatives that benefit our young population.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for a meeting with me recently on this.

So it's great to see uh young leaders uh coming to the forefront in our city.

Sorry.

Hello.

Matt Rosenberg Pass, say Flamingo Parks, Out Beach Shot Club.

People love Flamingo Park, it's just quick and easy and sincere, welcoming and congratulating all the commissioners who are just elected, re-elected for Alex Fernandez, Laura Dominguez, congratulations, Monica Mateo Salinas for your first election, and of course, Mayor Minor for bringing it back for another time.

We just want to say, on behalf of the hundreds of people who have already contacted you and the thousands and thousands that use Flamingo Park, we love it.

We look forward to a great future together and wish you all great success for your next term.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next, please.

Good morning, everyone.

Lori Bacham, on behalf of Power Access and the South Beach Jazz Festival.

First, our heartfelt congratulations to Commissioners Fernandez, Dominguez, Mateo Salinas, and Mayor Minor on their elections and to each and every one of you on the dais for serving our community.

Miami Beach has excellent representation, and we all know it and appreciate it.

I'm here on Commissioner Abot's item, C7BJ.

This is waiving special event fees for the upcoming South Beach Jazz Festival.

It is a nonprofit event.

These are for our free spaces, and we greatly appreciate it.

It's a tiny amount, but for a tiny organization that does big things, it means a lot to us.

We also want to invite everyone to the upcoming 10th annual South Beach Jazz Festival, January 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th throughout Miami Beach.

So be Jazz Festival.com.

Thank you for the same.

Most of it is free.

And yes to the Barrow Byron Carlisle.

We do need that programming space in North Beach.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we'll be there for the South Beach Jazz Festival.

Thank you.

Haven't missed one.

It's great.

Great festival.

And Mr.

Mayor, I like to join us a co-sponsor with Commissioner Bond.

We love supporting the Jazz Festival and the great work that they do for members of our community with disabilities.

So please list me as a co-sponsor.

I think it's C7BJ.

Go ahead, please.

Good morning, everyone.

Christina Mikavitz Bell Isle.

Thank you all.

Congratulations.

To those of you who are here.

So I came in today focusing on C4P, C4I, and R9K.

Really targeted for condominium neighborhood financial impact items.

So, you know, residents now in condos are really overwhelmed, just when basic questions arise where they can turn to for help.

That's not going to be at a state level.

It's not a single condo issue.

The condo I live in, Belle Isle, is about to uh embark on a 70 million dollar project cost, by the way, was 30 million dollars less than a half a year ago.

So when we talk about condo collapses in Miami Beach and how Miami Beach is reflected and who comes here and why they love it, um it needs to be still a place where people can stay in their homes.

The 70 million didn't get to 70 million based on inflation alone.

There's a level of oversight that's uh needed and uh a level of oversight and the ask that I have for the uh commission is to consider appointing a condo task force or maybe an advisory committee of sorts for condominiums at some point in time.

Um thank you so much.

Thanks.

Good morning.

I may need a little more than a minute, if possible.

Good morning.

My name is Anna Marie Fitad Melo.

I'm a resident here in Miami Beach, 4779, and I'm the president of the Midbeach Neighborhood Association, which includes condominiums and hotels from 24th to 63rd Street along Indian Creek Drive and Collins Avenue.

MBNA strongly supports item R5Q, the reconsideration of the second reading of the ordinance regulating neighborhood associations and condominium boards.

It is essential to reverse provisions that discourage residents, neighborhood associations, and condominium boards from meaningfully participating in these public in the public process.

MBNA thanks the commission for pooling C7CF and modifying the extension from 17 days in Midbeach Park and 46th Street to seven days, which will reduce traffic and disruptions in Midbeach related to the boat show.

MBNA strongly supports item R7T and commends the city for directing surplus funds toward long-term preventative investments.

These include addressing first flush stormwater runoff as a citywide environmental and public health necessity and establishing a targeted mechanism to reduce costs and streamline permitting, particularly for condominiums now facing heightened safety obligations under the new legislation.

Preliminary findings from the NIST investigation into the Chaplain Towers, South Collapse indicate that the failure likely initiated from a pool deck.

Thank you so much.

And not um and through the SARS process and structural deficiencies are being identified and special specimens opposed and timelines are compressed.

This demand that we're being placed, if we don't have a quicker process and permitting our process that is more efficient, what we're seeing is that residents are having to pay additional assessments and additional fees.

And what we're requesting from the city, although we really appreciate the city administration saying there's a 10-day turnaround, that's not what we're hearing from our MBNA condominium and property owners.

And there we needed something to focus.

If we don't support this item, please provide an alternative for condominiums.

With the increase legislation, we need um.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Anna Marie.

Next, please.

Mohammed, welcome.

Welcome.

Good morning.

Uh Maor and Commissioners and our distinguished person.

Yeah.

My name is Mohammed Islam.

Uh living in North Beach.

Uh uh about 30 years.

I work with the city board member.

Uh today I came for the agenda uh 5A, which is the tobacco issue.

I have a lot of friends.

They're our community and they maintain a business, uh, small business.

Uh but the small business concept is selling tobacco and alcohol.

This is the main uh item of the selling.

So but here, uh City of Miami Beach, somehow they restricted to sell tobacco.

So there's the one part of the business is totally off.

So they cannot survive because Miami Beach is an expensive area.

People pay a lot of uh, you know, uh rent, uh uh what is called uh employee cost and other things.

So I I have a humble request to our commission to approve this to sell tobacco to small business to survive.

Yes.

Thank you.

That's all thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning, Antonio Maldonado.

1111 Venetian.

Um speaking on behalf of ordinance 2023 4550, section 8272.

Honorable mayor and commissioner.

This ordinance allows it.

The problem is noise.

This orderly conduct, unwilling behaviors, not the voting itself.

Yet the solution being proposed is not targeted, enforcing its blanket shut, it's its only blanketing shutdown of our industry by 7 p.m.

Other establishments in the cities, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and venues also have documented noise violations on record.

They're fined, cited, and monitored, but they're not being forced to close by the time restricted.

Only the charter industry.

This is an unequal enforcement.

The ordinary itself already provides escalating fines, business taxes pensions, a revocation of authorities.

These tools exist.

They should be used against violators, not against every complaint operator.

In July, the sun sets around 9 p.m.

Thank you, sir.

Can I get 15 more?

Go ahead, Sergio.

Thank you.

At uh in July, the sun sets at 9 p.m.

Our guests, they come from the hotel, they want to see Miami's beautiful city.

We'll no longer be able to do charters after 7 p.m.

The city issues permits restricted landscape uh uh restricting landings, creating congestions, and now proposed restrictions on every and and very operational that follow the rules.

Let's be clear, guys.

The noise is the problem, enforcing noise equal uh equally, but not shutting down the waterways, what I'm asking.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, Ms.

Mayor, Commissioners.

Uh thank you for your service.

I'm here today to urge you to set aside the consideration of the new fire station building at the Flamingo Park West End of the track.

Uh a lifelong resident of Miami Beach.

Many people use it.

Uh I'm not here to debate whether we need to give there is no debate about giving our firefighters or paramedics or law enforcement the best facilities possible.

But the Western and the Flamingo Park track is not the place to locate a new fire station.

You're going to take a quality world-class facility and destroy it by doing so.

We have a viable alternative on 6th Street, or maintain it where it is and rebuild the fire station and uh this process could have been long over.

I mean, we could have built the fire station in the time that it was approved back in 2021.

Thank you, sir.

Please table this issue.

Your name, please.

Haskell Meyer.

I agree with you about Flamingo Park, but and we're gonna hear the item right after uh the Sunac reform.

Next, please.

Good morning, Ray Roslin here.

One of the very first things I did when I was appointed the historic preservation board was to vote to approve the fire station to be at the South Beach Rec Center on 6th.

It was the best plan, and many people uh liked it at the time, then all of a sudden we went backwards.

Let's talk about the 21st Street rec center.

We used to have one at 21st Street.

If we decided to save that, we would no longer have a ballroom with the convention center.

All those services were relocated to acceptable locations, and that's exactly what would have happened at 6th Street, and that's where the fire station should go.

You've spent millions and millions of dollars on your fire station, and you've got no place.

Step up to the plate.

Thank you.

Ray, I think you just won some fans.

Good morning, everybody.

Uh, I'll be quick.

Uh Kevin Kruger, nine-year resident, and uh recently returned to baseball player.

So I'm playing uh baseball since July, the first time at age 51 now, and with the gentleman that was here earlier.

I've been meaning to talk to you guys and share my passion for the sport in Flamingo Field in particular.

I emailed John Rebar last month to compliment his team of three who are out there dedicated every day, keeping that incredibly professional.

It's natural grass.

In the summer, I had presented to you guys briefly.

I don't love the astro turf that we have at um the football field.

I think it's carcinogenic, it creates injuries.

And if we want to be the world-class sports facility, I would recommend going back to grass.

I know the softball field is converting to AstroTurf.

Um, and then lastly, as he said, dedicating the field in the name of a uh a famous coach.

Likewise, Mime Marlin's uh Saiyun award winner, Sandy Alcantara had won the 2022 Cy Young.

Thank you.

And he's his name is not specifically referenced on the beach at 6th Street.

Um it should be listed with his name, the Cy Young Award, the Marlins.

It's a great connectivity for sports tourism.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Can everyone hear me?

Hi, Abby Gdinski Snyder.

I'm a second generation native from Miami Beach.

We are four generations strong here.

Um I'm here today for the second reading for changes in disclosures for uh private parking lots and signage.

Um I am now up to 177,000 views for my tow hurlard herd around the world.

Um so I'm hoping today that we are going to become a more welcoming city and that we are going to have proper, clear uh signage requirements in private lots so that any person who is in a private lot knows exactly where they're parking, and that when they come back and they were towed for 400, they know exactly why.

And this really also protects um our handicapped community because they are the community who's been impacted by this the most.

They think that they can park in private parking lots and not pay.

So thank you guys so much for your time and support on this matter.

I think it's very, very important for our community and all the tourists and everyone that come visit us to show that we are welcoming and that we are clear and that we are disclosing.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you for your advocacy.

You were here on our last commission meeting uh speaking as well, and I see the views keep going, uh, keep going up.

So we've got over 800 comments, and I need it so this would mean a lot.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, and I I want to thank Abby because we my my office and her take together with staff, we met several times to craft this ordinance to make amendments to the ordinance.

You have given so much time to meet with us to get it right and to ensure that we really protect the consumers.

That's ultimately what we're doing.

We're protecting the consumer, our residents and our visitors.

So thank you for working so closely with our office on this.

It really has been such a pleasure to advance this through teamwork.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you everyone.

Um we went obviously a little bit over, but uh extremely helpful to hear everyone's feedback and comments.

Certainly, we're also available uh to meet in person, text, emails.

Uh this is a very responsive commission, so please do have your voices heard.

Uh let's vote on the consent agenda.

Actually, so first I'm gonna announce the separated items from the consent agenda.

Commissioner Dominguez is separating C4J and C2C.

So C4J, C2C.

Commissioner Fernandez is separating C2C.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas is separating C7AZ and C2C.

So Mateo Salinas, C2 C7AZ, C2C.

Commissioner Suarez is separating C7AR, C7BX, and on your list, you don't have these two, so if you want to add them to your list, C7AS, C7AY.

So Commissioner Suarez is separating C7AR, C7BX, C7AS, C7AY.

And for the record, Commissioner Suarez wishes to vote no on C7G when the consent agenda is called.

So we will make that notation into the record.

And also we when I get a motion for the consent agenda, this does not include any of the addendums.

These will be heard after 5 p.m.

So may I have a motion for on the consent agenda, please.

I'll move the consent agenda.

Mark me as a no also in C7G.

Motion by Commissioner Fernandez, a second by Commissioner Suarez.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Hearing no, the item is approved as stated with C7G as a no.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, sir.

Okay.

Our first item of the day.

We will start with our esteemed fire department and the fire items R7AE and R9AI.

Yes, sir.

We will do this item under R7AE.

R7AE is built fire station one at 833 6th Street, South Shore Community Center.

Uh and we are doing the companion item, R9AI, discuss, take action, selection of location of fire station number one.

R7 AE.

I'm a big believer that we can never thank and recognize our first responders, our fire department, our police department enough.

So thank you for all that you do.

And uh I echo the sentiments that it's unfortunate that we've been panthering about this item, but I'm confident that this commission will find a landing uh on this item.

Something that our residents need and deserve to allow fire department to quickly respond to emergencies.

But uh also for our fire department who deserve uh first class facilities for the work that you do.

It's not so it's R7AE, R9AI.

Um we're gonna go in order R7AE.

Commissioner uh Suarez.

I move by item.

Well, while you do that, I'll recognize our fire chief Ding Nabello.

Thank you so much, and uh CIP director uh David Gomez, thank you.

Do we have a motion on the table?

Mr.

Mayor, Mr.

Mayor, I would like to suggest is we with together with nine R9AI.

We had previously requested an RFLI.

And the purpose of the RFLI was to see what interest there could be out there in the community for private properties to accommodate a new fire station uh for for the city.

You know, we've had very political conversations about Flamingo Park.

We've had very political conversations about um about the South Shore Community Center.

We've had very political conversations about lots in in other areas.

I don't have a recommendation, a professional recommendation from the city administration.

I know that we have a list of sites that are not viable.

We have a list of sites that are viable.

I don't have one recommendation that is the professional recommendation.

And I would like for us to have one final professional recommendation come back to us, whether it's the South Shore Community Center, whether it's flamingo park, or whether it is uh the the alternate private site that's been identified now that is not parkland and that it's not a uh a historic building.

I we need a professional recommendation of of what is best for the city before I can say that we can take an action and I respect my colleagues for bringing forward their own items on this.

This is the point where we just need to put politics aside and and take a professional recommendation and advance the most professional recommendation of what is best for the life safety of our residents.

Yeah, Eric.

Do you have a professional recommendation today?

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so if I could just briefly relate to R9 AI.

Um we were directed on July 23rd of this year to go back, and there were actually five requirements.

Repair requests for letters of interest to determine if private property owners are interested in partnering with the city and including a fire station as part of the development process.

Two, exclude Flamingo Park and the South Shore Community Center from further consideration as potential sites for the fire station.

Three, allow 60 days for receiving ideas from the community, elected officials and the administration.

Four following that city staff will have an additional 60 days to explore and evaluate the feasibility of those ideas.

Five, all viable options excluding Flamingo Park and South Shore Community Center, will be brought back to the city commission for review and a vote.

Looking for a location for the fire station.

We did the RFLI.

I'll be honest with you, I wish we had done it earlier.

Unfortunately, we got the RFLI results in early December.

We got one interested party.

That interested party has not given us a full suggestion of what their offer would be.

It is in what we refer to as the Joe's parking lot, or I'll call it the 800 block of Commerce Street.

That site is large enough to house a fire station.

However, there are operational concerns.

There is no fatal flaw that I'm aware of today for that site.

However, we have not pulled that string to its final ending point.

Of the 24 sites that we've assessed are the Flamingo Park site and the South Shore Community Center, which are the two sites that we were directed not to consider.

So what we've presented you today is a a list of the most recent group of uh I believe it's 10 sites that we've looked at.

Um and unfortunately, none of those 10 sites we can sit here today and recommend.

So what is your professional opinion of the two sites?

Uh of the two sites you recommend both both sites are viable.

Both sites have pros and cons related to them, and we don't have a recommendation here today between the two sites.

Madam Vice Mayor, if I if I could be recognized.

Yes, you're recognized, Mr.

Fernandez.

Thank you.

Um that's what I need.

I need a professional recommendation, and we're not saying that we're going to put it at Flamingo Park.

We're not saying that we're going to put it at the South Shore Community Center, and I'm not saying that we're gonna put it uh at South of Fifth.

Uh, but what I am saying is that before we go forward and do something, touch something so sacrosanct, such as park space, or we go forward and we demolish uh what is an important, you know, I would say it is architect least architecturally significant, even though the historic preservation board said otherwise.

I want to make sure that before we touch that, since we have this other option available to us now, that you have the time to tell us, hey, listen, this is feasible or does it not feasible?

This improves response time, or this doesn't improve response time.

Uh we don't know if we end up saving the taxpayers' money by going ahead and and using uh public-private partnership opportunity.

We don't know if they're interested in a public-private partnership opportunity.

We don't know if they're interested in leasing land to the city, selling land to the city.

We don't know what could come out of this that could potentially uh save us uh money.

Uh so I would like for for us to make a motion at least to know what we would be rejecting, to know at least what would we be rejecting before we move forward to say demolish an architecturally significant building?

I have a question.

Um 6th Street Community Center.

There are activations there.

If that were the site, uh is there a viable location in the area that we can continue those activations and the services that we offer.

Today, I don't know that we have a very clear alternative.

We had always been focusing on the daycare, and we had come up with an alternative location for a temporary daycare to make sure that we didn't lose that.

Um I don't believe that we have an alternative location identified for some of the other programming.

What about the well the the current use of the fire station?

Where that's gonna be could that be a viable option?

It could be.

Could be and and I kind of think I have the same concern that you have Mr.

Mayor, like not knowing where these programs are going to end up.

Mayor, like not knowing where these programs are going to end up, you know, it'd be great for at the next meeting if you can bring your own professional item, your item brought by the administration with okay, which is the locations, and if if it ends up being the South Shore Community Center, well, where then do we house and relocate the services?

I think we have 200 people uh that are getting to 200 elderly that uh that that usually suffer from food insecurity that are getting services there, and we also have the child care services uh for people in in limited incomes that serve our workforce uh that's housed there, and I don't know today where those services would go if we move forward with this item, Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Magazine and then uh Adonis Garcia, uh the union uh chief of the fire department wants to speak as well.

And 100% respect that viewpoint, Commissioner Fernandez, uh city manager.

If I can ask you, it's been the longstanding recommendation over years that 6th Street was the recommended site, correct?

Until we put another viable alternative, uh Flamingo Park, which wasn't previously considered before the countywide referendum.

So but that had been the longstanding recommendation, correct?

Uh South Shore Community Center was the location that we were focused on, I believe, from 2019 through 2023.

And Flamingo Park was a viable alternative.

We test you and your team to go out one last time, right?

Because you've done so over years and find other viable sites.

And I heard a lot of the conversation putting in the layman's terms.

Just make it simple.

Is there any other alternative?

Yes, there's this thread dangling out there at the Joe's parking lot, which one doesn't seem viable, but also we have received in the course of five days since the agenda is published, a hundred times more pushback on that than anything we've received on the previously recommended site.

So putting in the layman's terms, are there any other viable alternatives besides Sixth Street Community Center and Flamingo Park?

Like I said, there is no fatal flaw that we've identified on that one, but we also haven't pulled that thread to the end to see whether or not it would make sense.

I don't know what the offer is on the table.

I don't know whether they're looking to sell us the property outright or whether they're looking to do a development deal with us to include.

I think there was recently in the city of Miami a fire station built in the in the first floor of uh of a uh residential building.

But point being, even if it is viable, we've received more pushback against that site in the course of five days than the cumulative pushback against the original location in the past 10 years.

So to me, it becomes it's a simple decision tree, right?

Do we need a new fire station?

Yes or no?

Yes.

And the answer is yes, right?

So let's move on to the next one.

Do we need it now or can we continue kicking the can down the road and coming up with various alternatives and proposals and designs at the cost of millions of dollars of taxpayer money and jeopardizing a statewide grant that we have for how much?

I believe it's 10.9 million.

10 million dollars.

Should we continue?

Do we need it right now?

Yes.

We can't continue kicking the can down the road.

So then you go down to the decision tree and say, what are the viable alternatives?

And over 10 years of analysis, we essentially have two, right?

And with respect, despite whatever your professional recommendation of both of those are viable alternatives, I will never ever, ever, ever vote to put it in Flamingo Park, right?

I go out there and that is the lifeblood of our community.

There are hundreds of people that use that every single day, right?

And we can't have we can't find an alternative for that open green space.

We can find an alternative for the programming South Shore Community Center.

I think the current fire station is a tremendous alternative.

We've also had uh public-private partnership uh opportunities there.

That doesn't need to happen right now, right?

We can give a little bit of leeway and flexibility for you to make that decision.

But right now, if I run down that decision tree and I come down with do we need to move forward for a fire station, then there are two options.

It's a binary choice, South Shore Community Center or Flamingo Park.

And like I said, despite whatever your professional recommendations may be, whether it be today, next month or next year, I will never ever ever vote to put it in Flamingo Park.

So that leaves me with one alternative, and that's what I'm going to go forward with.

I I concur about Flamingo Park.

I I was always not a fan of it, which uh I've stated in the past.

The first street option also to me is not an option because we don't even have the property.

So we're starting such a long road, and I'm determined that we gotta make this decision hopefully today.

I mean, if at the I mean, literally in the um but but it but it's certainly in short, and that's not to take away from what you said, Commissioner Fernandez.

Um, but uh we owe it to them, and we don't uh to talk about a property on first feet besides obviously the the the feedback that we got, it's just it's not even viable.

I mean we could we could end up in a year of negotiations over the property, so uh that's that to me is a non-starter.

Commissioner Suarez, and then I know Adonis Garcia uh like to speak.

So Commissioner Fernandez brings up a good point.

So in essence, you recommend both locations, correct?

Uh I believe that both locations are viable.

Correct.

So it's a part it's a policy decision at this point, whether we need to decide either at Flamingo or the 6th Street, correct?

If we do not want to delay any further i it is certainly within the confines of the decision-making authority of this body to give us direction on where to land the fire station.

We're the politicians, not you speak frankly.

Yeah, this speak directly to us.

Elected officials.

Of course we invite Adonis to speak, but you know, I've made a motion.

I I don't want to waste any more time.

I I think you know, I think we've all made up our minds, and let us let us move forward finally.

And let's just make a decision.

Let's just not kick the road.

Commissioner Fernandez, Mr.

Mayor.

The one thing but the one thing that I think is also very important is to recognize the importance that transparency is to the public trust.

Transparency is so important to the public trust.

We told our residents just a few months ago that we would exclude Flamingo Park and the South Shore Community Center from further consideration as potential sites for the fire station.

Mr.

Clerk, we have a resolution directing pass directing or or or giving authorization to build the fire station at the South Shore Community Center.

When was this resolution put as an action item uh when was R 7 AE put onto the agenda as an item for action today?

This was a it printed with this agenda, so it's a new item.

Not an October Okay, but is is this is this an add-on item or is this or it was it was moved from it was supplemental, it was originally uh as a discussion item and it was then moved.

So but that's my point.

It's it's uh it's it's a supplemental item.

I don't know that the community really knows that we're gonna be taking the drastic move today to go back on what we said about either Flamingo Park or South Shore Community Center.

I don't know that the community knows this.

I don't I don't know that they know that you know for four years, and at least two years, the last two years, this building has been off the table.

I don't know that anyone really knows that today we're about to vote to go back on all of this.

And I'm not saying that it shouldn't go there.

I'm saying the community should know.

The community should know, they should be aware of of of the decision that that that we're making.

This is a historic building.

Uh I know that the historic preservation board does not agree uh that it's a historic building.

Um, but it is a community building.

And the community should be aware that we're about to take this this action, that we're about to reverse policy, that we're about to move forward with this, and I just do not know that the community really knew that this decision, major policy decision, was going to be taken today.

And the one thing that I do know is that if they do not know that we're taking this action today, we're gonna end up full circle again.

People are gonna come out, they're gonna say we didn't know that this was happening.

We have kids that go there, we have senior citizens that go there, they're gonna come, their families are gonna come again back to to us, and it's gonna be full circle because we have not given, I believe, sufficient notice to our residents that we're doing this today.

No, thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

I appreciate I appreciate that.

Um and I'm contemplating what you're saying.

At the same time, this was this was the location for four years, and um, and I'm gonna ask uh our city manager to make a commitment that we can we'll make all efforts to find locations for our youth activities, our senior meals.

Um I did want to hear uh Adonis Garcia uh wanted uh speak as well.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um to say at this point that this has not had um public input is a joke at best.

We've been going around this circle for years, years.

I personally have been waiting 15 years for a station.

The only political pawns here are the firefighters who have to sleep in those conditions every night while everyone here sleeps in their homes very nicely.

The sad part is that we're here again, again.

I ask when we talk about bravery and politics, I ask for a little political bravery today.

And know in your hearts what is right and what is right is giving us a station at 6th Street and making that decision today and not punting the ball again.

We should be ashamed of ourselves that we're at this point.

And for those of you who do agree with us, I thank you and I thank you and I thank you.

I thank you for those poor people that have to sleep in those conditions every day that we wouldn't even have prisoners sleeping in.

Prisoners we wouldn't have sleeping in.

It was backed up days ago.

Okay, such backed up four inches in that station.

This will not be tolerated.

I have stayed quiet, I have stayed peaceful till today.

Today I'm insulted.

All these firefighters insulted.

We do nothing but risk our lives every day, and all we ask is for conditions to sleep in.

I ask you to do the right thing today.

I'm gonna give you a little perspective.

That station was built in 1967.

I want you to think back to Miami Beach in 1967, what was here.

There wasn't a Portofino Tower, there was a racetrack.

There were no high rises.

There's 50 story towers.

We need a new station to fit our equipment to service these people.

When I hear about First Street, think common sense.

Guys for safety first.

Please don't forget that.

Thank you very much.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes, and of course, much respect always to our fire union and to our firefighters.

I don't think anyone is questioning whether this conversation has not been very known and all that.

What I'm saying is that people did not know that this vote was going to be taken today.

That is what I am saying.

People did not know that this vote was going to be taken today.

People knew that Commerce Street was on the table and they came out and they and they gave us their opinion about it.

I spoke with people from Flamingo Park.

Um I spoke with people from Flamingo Park yesterday.

There are people that do not know that we're taking this vote today.

That's the only thing I I have to say about it.

Yeah.

Why why do you say people are not aware of it?

I don't believe that people know that we are reversing the policy decision that we took and that we are moving forward today in approving the demolition of the South Shore Community Center, that this vote is going to be taken today.

That's why, but but I'm asking you why do you think that they're not aware of it?

Have we heard from anyone?

We we don't even we haven't even no, I understand it's on the agenda.

I mean, I'm there's just I'm not I'm not questioning you.

I don't I don't think not a cross-examination.

I'm just I don't think I I don't know to me, it seems like the neighborhood did not know that this was going to be an action item, that this was going to be a resolution on today's agenda.

I think people knew we were gonna have a discussion.

Um I think this item when the agenda got printed, it got printed as uh R9 item as a discussion item.

Is that correct, Mr.

Clerk?

Yes, sir.

Okay, so so this item originally was a discussion item, and then it was moved from the discussion items to the regular agenda as a resolution afterwards.

I don't think I don't think the public necessarily knew that that today we were going to be taking this vote on a resolution to undo the policy that we did back in back in July.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yeah, and I'm gonna call Christians.

I'm very sensitive to what you're saying, Commissioner Fernandez.

At the same time, when we when we took the fire station off the table several months ago, we specifically stated that we we wanted to bring this back to the commission.

Honestly, it's been a lot of political uh passing the buck.

So I I mean, yes, maybe I could see your point, but I mean it I I think we really telegraphed that once this new commission came into power, power, I hate using that word, sorry, came and was elected, then uh you know we were gonna act.

But uh Commissioner Suarez.

I could speak to Commissioner Fernandez's summer points.

Uh you know, I met with Scott Needleman, the the chair of the flamingo parking.

I told him uh a couple days ago that this is gonna be on, and he's not here, he's not he's not discussing it, he's not calling it at Sutnik.

Um and the reason I turned it from a discussion, well, the discussion was actually to decide if it's gonna be at the current location or sixth street.

And after speaking with the professionals, um they both informed me that it's better at 6th Street.

Um so I just narrowed my item to one location.

So I so Madam Vice Mayor, if if I can.

You recognize thank you, thank you, Madam Vice Mayor, Mr.

Manager.

We have a recommendation because now I'm hearing two things.

And I'm gonna be very clear.

I expect I expect items like this moving forward to be coming from the administration.

This is something that affects our fire department.

This should not be a political item, this should be an administrative item.

An administrative item as to which is the best site for the fire station.

If this is if this is the site that you guys felt professionally that was the best site, why does one commissioner get that recommendation?

Because I was referring to Adonis.

Well, because I'll I'll tell you the the professional recommendation I got was actually Flamingo Park.

So to me, it is which is not which which again I don't think is it's right either.

From who so you said it was a recommendation.

From your city administration.

So to me, it's it's very concerning that on such a serious item, we're getting one recommend one colleague is getting one recommendation, and another colleague is getting a different recommendation.

This is why this cannot be a political item.

This is why we hire a city manager to bring forward the professional recommendation, not political recommendations as to which are the sites that cover the areas best, which are the sites that offer the appropriate response time and the proper facilities for our for our firefighters.

So I have an issue that you get one recommendation and then I get a different recommendation because then it creates this problem that we have here today.

And I'm sorry, Mr.

Mr.

Manager.

It should be a unanimous recommendation.

It should not be one colleague hears one thing and then another colleague hears another thing.

We cannot operate that way.

I don't believe that either of you heard a recommendation from my administration.

You heard from one colleague that you heard something from the union representation.

Um Mr.

Commissioner, I believe that you're referring to a conversation that you and I had that said that the lean right now might be in that direction.

It was not a firm recommendation.

And as it's not a firm, so there's not a firm recommendation, and that's my point.

There should be a firm recommendation, a final recommendation.

The public should know what that recommendation, what that professional recommendation is, and then we should take a vote on that.

Voted up, voted down, but we should take a vote on what the professional recommendation is on something like this.

That's that's all that I have to say.

Adonis Garcious.

Just very briefly, Mr.

Mayor.

Um professional opinions are a matter of opinion, right?

So I've only got 33 years in the fire department.

Only 33 years and hold the rank of captain.

Let me start with that.

And common sense is common sense at the end of the day.

Sixth Street is smack in the middle in the middle of our zone.

That's number two.

Number three, when we talk about recommendations, before this illustrious city manager here uh came into office, our former city manager, it was all recommended, it was all voted on.

We keep going up and down, ask for political courage today.

Let's quit bouncing this ball.

Let's do it today.

We're gonna be another two years here, Commissioner Fernandez playing the same game.

I don't understand how it's turned into this.

Sixth Street is the location.

Please vote it up.

Thank you.

If I could respond to that, Madam Vice.

I to Adonis.

Yeah.

I'm just responding.

I want to get on the microphone.

Go ahead.

Yes.

Two years ago, one of my colleagues looked at me and said, Commissioner Fernandez, how are we going to move forward in demolishing this historic site when we're going to Tallahassee and asking Tallahassee not to not to demolish historic sites?

And that's how we got here today.

I didn't want to take the fire station off the table.

One of my colleagues sitting on this day is looked at me and said, How are we going to move forward to with demolishing a historic site?

Commissioner Bernandez, if I may, if I may, you also, you also, again, I don't want to get into politics, right?

But if we're if we're going to speak frankly, me and you had a conversation about the park, and then you polled out on that.

So let's have some political bravery today, and let's make a vote.

If you want to vote against me, vote against me.

Or vote against the firefighters.

But please don't say any more about how we love the firefighters, and then you're gonna have us living in those conditions.

Again, Mr.

Mayor, if I could know again if I could honest with respect, we can't make any of this personal.

Commissioner, I know I I get you.

Commissioner Fernandez, I'm very sensitive to your point about transparency and our people aware.

And what I'll say to that is over the past 10 years, and it predates all of us up here.

It was almost this boogeyman argument that was put out because there was never this huge outpouring of opposition against 6th Street.

I'm not saying there was none.

But it wasn't this mass outpouring.

Like I said, that we saw within the course of four or five days on First Street, right?

It was always these boogeyman arguments.

Well, well, maybe people are working over the course of 10 years.

We've probably had 20 people that have been in opposition.

So it doesn't surprise me that there's not a lot of people out here because that's actually been the track record for the past 20 years.

That besides for some people, and I don't begrudge them because like I said, this is a binary choice.

Put it in point A or point B.

Uh I think why we don't see a lot of people out here in opposition to that isn't because they don't know.

It's because that really tracks with what we've seen over the past 10 years.

Uh we all went to the South Shore Community Center, and there were a handful of children that were in there in the classrooms.

Many of them weren't Miami Beach residents, and you have my commitment.

Everybody has my commitment.

I'm the father of an eight-year-old that's on the PTA.

Education is not it's paramount importance to me.

Um, and I was a single father that needed to rely on those social services uh for my child care.

We need to task our administration with not kicking the can down the road for finding viable programming alternatives for what will be lost at the South Shore Community Center, but bringing this full circle.

I don't think we don't see a lot of opposition because people didn't know.

It really tracks with what we've seen over the past 10 years, where there just hasn't been that same amount of out opposition that we see when we propose Flamingo Park or when we proposed First Street, which kind of tells me we're we're over the target there.

Chief of Chief Abello, what's your professional recommendation?

Good morning, Chief Abelo, Mayor, Commissioners.

Um, we spent 10 years debating whether or not we're gonna see the Lapidus building on Sixth Street or the historical track in Flamingo Park, and while we continue debating everything, 1965.

I'm asking the men and women that service zone one, 15th Street to 1st Street to prioritize and look past the history and forward for serving our residents again.

We're getting into a weeds of 6th Street and Flamingo Park historical response times.

We're talking one eleven thousand five hundred and fifty-three calls to date today from First Street to 15th Street.

That's 34 call in a day.

One call per hour.

At this point, our recommendation, we went Sixth Street since 2018.

2018, historical port preservation, everything.

We are shoveling ready.

Commissioner Bach came in.

She was directed to take uh the lead and finding a different location.

Sixth Street was out of the question.

We affirmed the park was the appropriate choice, because that's all we had.

We started that design, and now we're back here again.

So recommendation, takeaway park, 6th Street.

That is what's the viable option.

Outside of that, as far as responses, that is the prime location when it comes to accessing our Star Island, Hibiscus, and Palm Area.

That is where majority of our prime cause are between Fifth Street, 10th Street area.

People do anything we ask them to do.

But their conditions, their health is priority, and not getting to the cause.

Every time we start going back and forth, we're just delaying and delaying and delaying.

And that's one of the reasons Mr.

Mayor.

That's one of the reasons I'm I'm ready to take that vote today.

And I'm gonna second the motion.

Commissioner Well, we haven't ever Commissioner Bott yet.

Commissioner Bach.

So I have committed to the fire department that I would not kick the can down the road today.

Um I respect and understand my colleagues' concerns about proper notification and the concern that perhaps not everybody has known that today was you know, poof or get off the pot day, but it is.

PJ, could you run that tape?

We've people claiming that that far western edge of Flamingo Park is really used.

It is not.

The track is a thousand percent.

This is footage over the last three weeks.

The weather's been spectacular.

Everybody's in town for all the things, and almost nobody is using that western edge.

So I I told the firefighters when I was running for office that I would not get in the way of getting them a new home, and I will not, I will vote today.

I think it is heartbreaking.

As my grandmother would say, it's a shonda.

It's shameful that we are putting this little edge of Flamingo Park over the well-being of an underrepresented community in South Beach.

They are working class, they are backs, service people, elder, elderly people who are not engaged in the civic process, they are not organized in powerful homeowner associations, and yet we are taking away an extremely well-built and sturdy building, regardless of if you think it's attractive or historic or important, but it is an extremely well-built uh uh building that houses daycare and senior lunches currently is going to it's already started to, but is going to have the entire top floor used for the police department.

And I know firefighters you're like, ah, screw them, we don't like them.

I'm just kidding.

That was a little joke for Levity's purpose.

Thank you.

I appreciate it, Joe.

Um, but you know, that's kind of a little dark spot in Miami Beach in South Beach.

It is a good idea to have more activation there with police for those residents who are concerned about homelessness and safety.

In addition to that, that facility has so many opportunities for community engagement, for not-for-profit organizations, for social services, for nighttime activations for free that the arts organizations can host, that our parts and rec organizations can host.

We had a summer camp there that had a waiting list.

So the idea that we are going to demolish and put into a landfill a really solidly built building where we can continue to reactivate that neighborhood for the greater good of residents who are not able to speak here for themselves because they're not engaged.

Because of I'm not sure what the drama is about an underutilized little sliver of a large park.

I think it's shameful.

And I am not gonna not vote.

I support getting this done now.

My only regret is that is this is where we ended up now.

Why did we waste two years with unanimous approval?

With unanimous approval.

Everybody on this day is except for one was not elected at the time.

It's on you guys.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Thank you.

Um this is a very tough item.

Uh the firefighters deserve uh to have their new location.

They have been going back and forth for years, as the chief said.

Um initially, this was a geobond project, and um I had voted for it.

And then since then, as Commissioner Bott has mentioned, it has come up twice.

And we all voted unanimously to take Sixth Street off the table.

Um the new location that came out uh on Commerce Street did get a lot of backlash.

Um interesting that the reason why we do need new fire trucks, and the station is to service South of Fifth and those high rises, uh, but then they're not willing to have it in their uh neighborhood.

So that is another situation.

But um, we're trying to move forward and find places.

I know a while ago I had asked um uh assistant city manager David Martinez about the Walgreens and the two adjacent parking lots.

Um was that ever looked at as a viable location?

It's a huge spot, it's on fifth and Jefferson.

Um we absolutely looked at that spot, and I questioned, you know, multiple times what the outcome of that was.

And David, you can talk about why we believe that that site doesn't work unless you were able to acquire an additional property to the north, which then ends up being a residential parcel we would have to acquire.

We had actually looked at that site previously, and we looked at it again uh as part of this exercise.

Uh, in order for us to be able to accommodate the fire station at that location, it would be a back-in uh condition from Fish Street to heavily trafficked street, so the the backing in of the fire equipment at that location is difficult.

We just don't have the length on the property to accommodate the rent to get up to the right elevation.

So the building would be pushed all the way to the north limit, and really the way only way to get the rent to work is to take the property to the north, which is a uh it's it's affordable housing, senior affordable housing.

Do we own it?

We do not.

Um the county?

It is the county, yeah.

So that's that's the reason we decided that that one was too big a lift.

Okay.

Um also uh one of my colleagues mentioned that the western portion of Flamingo Park isn't used, and I I'm going to say, yes, it is.

There's a Chabad right across the street, and on any given afternoon, the kids that go to the Chabad are seen there playing volleyballs and other sports activities in that area.

So I'm I'd be very sensitive and I wouldn't support putting anything in the park.

I've gone out um to the track, I've met with the people that use the track, I gave them my word.

Uh so I'm very sensitive there.

Going back to the South Shore Community Center, um, and I know that that was the location with the geobond, and uh uh the city was already at a certain percentage design, maybe 30 or 50.

Right.

We had a GMP in place.

Okay.

Um but what changed is we did pass a resolution just a few months ago, taking it off the table and started to activate it.

I thought MBPD was gonna have a substation on one of the floors.

Um there was going to be activities for kids and um daycare, and then on top of that um the senior meals that we've been negotiating and doing that in the process.

Uh so what I worry about, because as we're having this conversation, I'm getting bombarded with emails, so I'm sure my colleagues are as well, of people in the community that are watching that did not know we were going to make this decision today.

And for me, that's what's of most uh concern, the transparency of the community thinking that we're trying to pull a fast one.

So um a couple of things I just wanted to address.

First of all, I know you didn't mean anything uh by this because these are votes that happened a couple of years ago, but uh I won't even mention names, but uh a commissioner mentioned that there were six zero and seven zero votes.

I actually had voted no a couple of times, and I have the record here to show um that I always uh that I had expressed skepticism of Flamingo Park, and also had not wanted to take uh South Shore Community Center off the table.

And of course I got I got some heat for that, but uh I I felt it was the right decision to do that, and I did, and I took those votes.

Um it really comes down to me that unfortunately, this not today, I don't mean anything today, but in the past, this has become a political tool, uh political hot potato.

Thank you.

Thank you for the acknowledgments.

And I just I I feel like one of the statements we can make today as a commission, and I under believe me, I understand the concerns, and and and partly I I see the concerns that are being expressed by my colleagues.

But at the same time, I think it's a real statement we can make as a commission day one that's something that has been kicked down the road so long that we are gonna take the bull by the horns and say, no, this is this is enough.

Our residents need this, our fire department needs this.

Uh, and that's why uh I'm I'm gonna support this today.

Uh even though this is not a public comment uh item, I think it's such an important item.

I am gonna open it up for for public comment if we can.

And Mr.

Mayor, I'm sure this is something I I mean, just doing a tally here on my notes.

I'm the direction that this is going in.

And you know, I want to say I don't blame my colleague for putting this on the agenda because we have to move things forward.

I'm gonna be very blunt here.

I'm very disappointed in our administration because this should be a professional item, not a political item.

Mr.

Mayor, you hit the nail right on the head.

This has been a political football.

Why?

Because it's always the politically elected, elected officials bringing the items and all that.

Are the the discussion items should have had a recommendation?

And as I go into my second term, I'm gonna make it very clear.

I expect recommendations from the administration.

This shouldn't be a political item.

This should be a professionally decided item.

If the administration has concerns, put the concerns that the administration believes it should go one way or the other, but I am going to be expecting recommendations from the city administration.

This is this is a matter of life and death for our for our residents, and I feel and I sense that the memo that we got was ambivalent because the administration is scared of politics.

I'm being very blunt right now.

This needs to be a political decision and not a this needs to be a professional decision, not a political decision.

And I'm gonna want to see recommendations from the administration moving forward because clearly it's very clear the direction where this vote is going in.

Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Bott.

Thank you.

Um I am not trying to cast any aspersions.

I went through with Sarah, my aide, um, all of the vote points that were in this memo and checked the records with the clerk's office, and based on that information, that's where I said backed up by what we believe to be correct facts that these items that aren't.

So maybe there was a vote that wasn't articulated in this memo, but based on the records and the minutes from the clerk's office, every one of these vote points in this memo was either 6-0 or 7-0.

So I'm not trying to pick a fight.

I'm not trying to throw anybody under the bus.

I'm just saying how frustrated I am that we have wasted two years and two million dollars if this is where it's going to end up, because we had very clear direction.

So please understand that.

No, please, and I didn't even mention your name about the case.

No, I know, but I and I know it's I know I just said it.

I know you meant it in the best.

And by the way, it's almost irrelevant.

Well, I just I had to correct just because it was my vote, but your point is well taken.

It's a even if it's 7-0, 6-1, the your point is well taken.

Um but I'm happy to share the votes.

But it that's kind of a side show.

It doesn't it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

I just uh had to say.

Um I am going to open it up to thank you though, Commissioner Bottton.

And then by the way, thank you for taking the lead.

Uh it's you know, we we these are tough decisions.

This is something that had gotten a lot of uh we did get a lot of public feedback in general.

It certainly uh was very active out there on uh in the media and social media, um, and and you did take the lead as well, Commissioner Bottton.

So I I'm I'm I respect that, and ultimately we have to make decisions and uh and unfortunately this process has been long, but sometimes you need to get to a landing space by going through an arduous process, which we definitely have done.

Okay, Mr.

Mayor, uh Commissioners are give me one second.

I'll I'll call you right now.

Just for the record, we have a motion from Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Mayor Minor, and Mayor Minor would be listed as a co-sponsor.

Go ahead, sir.

You have two minutes.

Uh may I?

Uh go ahead.

Okay.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, Commissioner, it's on David McKinney.

I live at 1020 Meridian Avenue.

Um, and you know me well.

Uh you've just gone through a campaign uh and you've won by the voters' will uh against well funded and uh very uh vocal opposition.

There uh I would ask you to continue to do the voters' will and look back at the referendum, which overwhelmingly stated by that neighborhood by by the city, by the county where the fire station should go at 11th and Alton.

Also, I would like to correct the record.

Uh Mr.

Carpenter, one of your staff and sworn statement before the Historic Preservation Board said that the uh current fire station could not meet the standards to be the daycare center.

Uh so that should be there.

Also, I understand because you if you recognize me, I'm the crazy old guy that is behind you on first there.

But I would not put children where you do not want to sleep.

And I think you should think about that too.

Oh, there if you want a place, take a recreational place.

Don't take a uh school away from children.

You're not that type of people.

And so oh um, I would ask you, follow the will of the people.

Uh Mr.

Magazine, you once told me that you were an applause meter.

And I would ask you not to be that, because applause only measures the most noise.

I would ask you to think about what uh is important to this community.

The senior programs, the daycare are very important to people who can't who, unlike me, do not have a day to spend to hear.

So please follow the will of the people.

But the uh put the um the fire station at 11th in Alton.

Thank you.

Our first uh virtual caller is Andrew Mitchell.

Mr.

Mitchell, say your name, address, and you have two minutes.

I thought we were in line.

Um yeah, my name is uh Clark Mitchell, and uh I'm a physician here in the area of South of Fifth.

And uh as a physician, I like to say if I need cardiac surgery, I've I you know um refer my patient to a cardiac surgeon.

And in this case, you're listening to the firefighters, and they're telling you what is the best place for their fire station.

And I think they're the professionals in this, and I and I and I love our new commissioners, I love our mayor more is one of the best um civic uh uh you know um groups that I've ever you know encountered living here 30 years.

And I've just hope and pray that you will listen to the firefighters.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Um yes.

Good morning.

Clotiles, I live at third 301 Ocean Drive, and I'm frequently on 6th Street, and I'm uh begging you all today to vote with empathy for the people who are gonna get kicked out and become homeless, basically, the services that are absolutely essential.

There never was a really good alternative for the daycare.

That was kind of a misrepresentation from the beginning.

It's kind of stupid to tear down a building and dump it in landfill uh when you have all of these essential services that are offered there.

Uh you have to have some empathy for the people who are gonna get uh kicked out.

There are no replacements for them.

And um 6th Street is really not the right place to have racing fire trucks.

There are grandmas crossing the street with walkers.

It's a pedestrian place.

I go to the market across from this the South Street community because it because it's much more humane and local and friendly than public's, you know.

I mean, this is a neighborhood.

Fire trucks having to make a turn, make another turn, make a third turn, make a fourth turn.

The firemen have changed since I've been paying attention to this.

Uh they've changed their minds several times and they were okay with the flamingo park.

It's a rapid exit.

In two seconds, you're on Alton Road, going faster than if you have to make five turns to get onto Fifth Street where there's traffic.

I mean, I'm not, you know, they're not going to agree with me, but it's obvious empirically, you're going to be zooming faster to an emergency and saving lives if you can jump onto Alton in uh five seconds.

So I would urge you to vote with empathy.

We talked to the mothers who bring the kids over to that uh South Street Community Center.

These are women who did not vote for you and they didn't donate to your campaigns.

They work on the beach, they do essential services that we need every day.

These people had no idea that they were gonna lose the South Shore Community Center.

So you cannot compare with the demographic down on commerce in South of Fifth.

Thank you, sir.

Are much more affluent and connected than the people who are gonna get thrown out.

So vote with empathy and save Sixth Street, the character of Sixth Street.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual caller is Karen Revo.

Ms.

Rebote, state your name address, you have two minutes.

Good morning, Karen Revo, 4566 Prairie Avenue.

I have had the privilege of chairing the Geobond Oversight Committee since 2019.

And from the very beginning, building a new fire station has been the greatest priority.

Honestly, folks, you have to show backbone today and move this forward.

There have been numerous recommendations on Sixth Street.

It is not a contributing building, and I have every confidence that the services in that building can be relocated appropriately.

The most important thing for our residents is safety.

And that should be priority today.

And I hope you have the backbone to go ahead and move this forward.

If we had done this three or four years ago, that building would be built, and our firemen would be in a better building.

And so I'm hoping you are going to do what you need to do today.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Grigo.

Thank you, Karen and Ken.

Thank you for your service in chairing the Geobond Committee.

This is obviously only one of many, many, many projects throughout our city that our voters have approved for general obligation bond funding, and you do a great job chairing that committee.

Good morning, everybody.

Michael Greco, I stand here uh in wearing many hats.

One being uh a member of the South Beach Track Club, one being a zone one resident myself, one being the former state representative who helped secure that 10 plus million dollars in grant money that is gonna be going to this facility, also wearing a hat as uh the former commissioner who, when this issue first came up, I was actually sitting up there back when we had spent zero dollars on this issue.

We have now, as taxpayers, spent over five million dollars in soft calls to not build a fire station.

And today is the day, as I said when I called in this morning, where the rubber meets the road.

This is the gut check for the commission to finally move forward and follow their you you got a professional recommendation that was asked for by many of you.

You got one from your own fire chief today.

And I applaud her for standing up there and telling you what you need to hear.

Put it at the 6th Street location, and I'm gonna tell you this one more thing.

There's one more hat that I'm wearing.

I'm potentially gonna be a firefighter myself.

I'm currently an EMT.

I have the opportunity several times a month to ride with the station one team on rescue trucks, and I can tell you right now, that facility.

I knew it as a commissioner as a tourist when they would put you on the tour.

That facility is a dump.

It's a dump.

Okay.

Our firefighters risk their lives and stick their necks out every day.

And to have them not just sleeping, eating, being housed, having to be in that station.

It's a dump.

I remember when they had the poop flies back in the day.

I remember all the issues.

If you go up into their sleeping facilities, it is.

It's like sleeping in a prison.

You have a responsibility to move forward.

Please stop kicking the can down the road.

The voters spoke and supported people that supported the Sixth Street location, and we're asking you now to move forward and vote yes on Commissioner Suarez's item.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Johan Moore.

Mr.

Moore, you have two minutes.

Good morning again.

It's no surprise if we're counting numbers that you would be getting so much objection from South of Fifth.

There are thousands of people living in high rises down there.

We, on the other hand, were not the commissioner's allegation aside.

Our community was not, in fact, in the least informed that this was happening today.

If the allegation is correct, and our neighborhood association chair knew of this, that would be grounds for a motion to remove him from office.

But that's not what's before you today.

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association's land use subcommittee, in fact, met on Monday to consider another issue before us, and we uh had no information that this was coming before you today.

Uh I want to thank the Chief, uh Chief Abedo, uh, for uh declining to get sucked into a commissioner's uh, I will say, revenge-based agenda uh against our neighborhood for various reasons that I will not speculate on.

I also want to thank the mayor for the one ray of light uh that he's offered, uh, if in fact you should vote to demolish the South Shore Community Center, which is that in fact the current fire station could house some of the functions.

But as I have pointed out to you all, as I was bombarding you with emails this morning, most of those who are most vulnerable and take advantage of the South Shore Community Center live in proximity to it and would not want to schlep all the way up to the park with their walkers for their lunch.

I will end by thanking the commissioners who agree with long-standing community opposition to destroying this essential institution, but I will appeal directly to the newly elected commissioner.

Please, Commissioner Mateo Salinas, do not hold anyone that you might have toward me against my neighborhood and vote against this proposal.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

Uh thank you again for giving me the opportunity to possibly convince you this time around that the uh flamingo park was not the place.

My name is Haskell Meyer.

Uh Commissioner, uh, you've requested the professionals uh uh input.

They've given it to you time and time again.

The epicenter of their zone is 6th Street.

To your point, Commissioner Bott, that the green space is unnecessary.

I think I've discussed it with you a number of times, but let me discuss it one more time with you and let me enlighten you about a track.

You cannot put a 60-foot wall, tall wall, five feet away from the track.

You are going to destroy the quality of that track.

That track has been there for 60, 70 years.

Storied runners have come to this track, and it's a great public amenity.

The new fire station does not belong on the western end of Flamingo Park.

It belongs on 6th Street.

And the reason I say that, I have the privilege of working Mr.

Lapidus.

That was his least favorite building.

That lot is 45,000 square feet.

If you don't want to level it, there's plenty of room to put up a fire station, which currently uses about 16,000 square feet on a 21,000 square foot lot.

You have a great facility to utilize for a new fire station.

Please, I urge you, you're gonna destroy the quality of life of Miami Beach residents.

Do not place that fire station on the western end of Flamingo Park.

The right location is on 6th Street.

Thank you.

Good morning again, Ray Breslin.

First off, um, when I was on the historic preservation board, this was one of the first things came before us.

How many of you have actually looked at the plan that we approved?

How many of you?

Okay.

You know that there were several features of the Morris Lapidus building that were being preserved or replicated.

We were also bringing in uh Apollo that was in storage from the Versailles Hotel.

It it was an absolute perfect thing.

It was approved, and for two years, you all worked on relocating all of these services.

Everything was relocated, and then all of a sudden the hammer came down.

No, we're gonna save this building.

And now you're acting like there's no place for these places for these services to go.

There absolutely is.

And think about it.

After it's all done, you've got an old dilapidated firehouse you can either tear down or renovate and move all of those services there, right next to Flamingo Park, and it's a win for everybody.

But to get from point A to point B doesn't happen with the snap of a finger.

You've got to plan it, you've got to follow through with it, and you really need to do it.

It's been four years now, four years, and we're no further ahead, but we're at the right location.

Please build it at the South Shore Wreck Center on Sixth Street.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Mr.

Wayne Roberts.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Um first and foremost, I want to I want to state that my 350,000 a year is accurate.

Um I welcome the opportunity to sit down with Eric and review the number of employees that work for fire and EM EMS and subtract uh ocean rescue, which is lifeguards, and divide the wages and benefits associated with those employees.

And you will come to 350 under this new contract.

What's more, you gave them a two-day work week.

Uh that's right, a two-day work week.

Um third, uh it you I believe that they deserve good housing and they don't have it today.

But where it belongs, it's not in the track or sixth street.

It belongs where it is without a Taj Mahal facility.

You they they could have adequate uh accommodations to foreping and for weight lifting and everything else on that existing property and the the sewer has to get fixed.

It's got to get fixed if you put a firehouse there or you you tear down the firehouse.

Uh it you know why it's not fixed, I have no idea.

But uh that's where it belongs, and that's not in the discussion.

And you don't have to up-end the whole community to help a politically connected uh fire organization, who I think does a great job, but overpaid and has too much political influence.

Thank you very much.

Go ahead, please.

Hi, Sarah de los Reyes as a resident.

I want to give you guys some input.

I've been coming here for years, and we've been talking about this for 10 years.

We're very lucky that nothing has happened really big in South of Fift.

What you have it's been recommended, the Sixth Street Community Center.

Why don't we move everybody from the community center to the old fire station ride by Flamingo, built a new one, multiple floors, and can accommodate all those services that are in 6th Street.

We own the property, we can do that when you vote.

Say that you are gonna do 6th Street in the and going to move all the services to where the flamingo close to the flamingo park and build a new building.

We own it, we can do it.

So this way it will solve both problems.

And not you need to vote.

This is very important.

You need a state-of-the-art fire station.

The trucks that are you need to go on those high rises, do not fit in small fire stations.

And I and I'm not a fire, I'm not a fire person, but I know because of New York City.

I understand that I lived in the city all my life.

So please vote and just get it over with everybody.

It's like we keep moving and moving it, and nothing is done.

And it's gonna take three years to build, probably.

So make a vote.

Just do that and give the services to the other fire station.

That's all.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller has the next virtual caller has a screen name of Cynthia's iPhone.

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

I mean, hi, it's uh Cynthia Escavell, South the Fifth President, Sofna member.

Um I wanted to first congratulate all the newly elected members of the commission.

I'm very grateful for your help.

It's a hard job.

It's a hard issue, but the most important person that I two people that were very important that I heard from were our fire teams.

And when they speak, I listen.

They're there for us 24 hours a day.

This is what they want.

Others have already relayed.

Um wise comments from Commissioner Greco to Um Karen Revo to others that are valued in our community.

Please listen.

Please listen also to the fire team.

That's what they want.

Um, what they want is what I want.

Thank you so much.

Hi, uh, Matt Rosenberg Palace again, uh St.

Flamingo Park Group.

I tell you what, I have never spoken to Adonis.

That kind of passion got me excited.

We have never taken a position other than that.

We love the park.

You know, thousands of people use it.

We have no vested interest financially.

Love that park, love that space.

And by the way, Commissioner Dominguez, the same Orthodox Rabad students that are playing volleyball came up to me a few months ago.

How devotee?

How devocate, they asked me that.

Because I informed them, and by the way, Mendy, who's in charge of that, I know communicated with all of you.

What not you, you weren't here yet, uh, about their feeling.

That kind of passion, we don't know what anyone was recommending, but I do know the passion that we feel at the track.

I do know the thousands of people, the children talk about parents and children and the love of a track and space.

And yeah, you need space.

No, you don't need a 60-foot building right there.

These guys work hard.

We don't know what it's like to sleep in the area that they sleep in.

We feel for them.

We love this community passionately, and we trust you to do the path that you take, which we think will be best.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Our next virtual caller is Lindsay Lovell.

Ms.

Lovell, you have one minute.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

Most of you have heard from me already this morning with a very brief note, but I felt compelled to call in since we reopened public comment.

Please stop kicking this can down the road.

My entire residency in this city.

We have been talking about this.

From what former Representative Greco talked about to what our neighborhood association has been talking about four years.

It was planned to go at Sixth Street.

I understand there was opposition to that, but overwhelmingly, I will say that even those people didn't want it in the park, and they didn't want it in the park back then until they realized the only option was 6th Street.

And I have to say that we need to stop kicking this can down the road.

I've met with the current chief.

I've met with the former chief.

I've not met with Adonis, but I'm sure I'd be happy to do so.

I've seen the heat maps.

I'm sure they're outdated by now because the ones that I looked at were years ago.

We've got to move forward.

Please, please, I am begging you do not kick this can on the road again.

Thank you so much.

Go ahead, sir.

Yeah, David Adams, 1242 Alton Road.

I uh support the resolution to have the fire station built on 6th Street.

Uh I joined the fire service 42 years ago.

I'm an EMT.

And uh response time is everything.

Sixth Street is the ideal location and supports a good response time to South of Fifth.

And uh I don't think it's fair that our firefighters have to put their lives on the line, sleeping in conditions with mold and sewage, and we've been uh talking about building this fire station.

Uh we need to vote today and get it done.

It's for the greater good of the community.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Juliana.

Juliana, please unmute yourself, state your name.

You have one minute.

Hi, um, I'm a resident of Miami Beach Flamingo Park area and an architect, and I'm begging you not to build on to our precious flamingo park area.

We need adequate green space.

We certainly don't have enough per resident right now as we are increasing our density and building more high-rises.

And there was a report done stating that we don't have sufficient green space.

Uh we need the green space to combat the heat island effect, and we need the green space to also combat storm water drainage so that the streets aren't having to do all that work.

We need the precious green space to absorb the water.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Novick?

Rich.

Go ahead, please.

Good afternoon.

Mitch Novick, I would kindly request you give me an extra due process minute as I own a Henry Hohauser designed apartment building across the street from the proposed site of the uh new fire station.

I've been living in this community since the late 80s, involved in historic preservation since that time.

In the early 2000s, there was a fight to save, a preservation fight to save Fire Station 4 on 69th Street.

Uh, the former or original fire station was designed by an architecturally significant uh or significant architect.

It was an architecturally significant building.

Ultimately, uh it was demolished.

Uh trailers were brought on to the site, and a new facility was built at the site.

And in an ideal world, that's what I would like to see at Jefferson Avenue in 10th Street.

In moving forward, uh I would be amenable to the Sixth Street site, which I opposed since its uh first uh inception 10 years ago, since uh I was here opposing it uh when Commissioner Fernandez represent uh uh uh mentioned the uh superflies and the commission voted to move forward.

All I could do was jump on board and do my best to make it better.

Uh as many of you know, I spearheaded the effort to save the Jack Stewart mural.

Uh it was uh removed from the former uh annex of the Versailles Hotel.

Over a million dollars was spent in conserving that masterpiece.

Thank you, Mitch.

Wait, which was incorporated into the fire station design at uh at the uh South Shore Community Center.

If that uh uh uh approval is still in effect, which includes the mural, I would be in support of this uh uh for what it's worth.

And I would not like to lose uh any of the uh parking space uh as a result uh parking spaces that uh my tenants uh have today as a result of the uh the uh cycle lane uh bikeway that was recently put in place.

Thank you.

Next virtual caller is Paula, Paula State, your name address, and you have one minute.

Oh no, I need when I'm at 345 Ocean Drive.

Paula, I couldn't hear you.

Start again, please.

Hi, uh Paula Allen, 345 Ocean Drive.

I'm calling.

Uh there was a lady that spoke about three people before before, I think right before Cindy.

And her idea or what she said about putting the uh community center, the senior community city and the daycare at the existing current fire location uh directly across the street from Flamingo Park.

Um, if that can be done, that would be a win-win because the flamingo has so many activities.

So basically, I mean, of course, yeah, the plumbing, all that I'd hope would be all redone and the building and you know brought up to code, etc.

Because the seniors and the children could take advantage of so many things at Flamingo Park going swimming, doing uh a senior aqua aerobics, the kids could play by just simply going across that street.

It would expand their experience, the seniors and the children's so to me that was a great idea.

Go ahead, Mr.

Andres uh Mayor Commissioners.

Uh when the Moore Stoplist building was contemplated on being uh demolished and wanted to be saved.

I got together with Kobe Carp to try to find uh a way of being able to do a copy paste of that building and move it on to the west end of the park, putting it onto Alton Road.

And taking that building exactly the way that it was and moving it over to the park and moving the field over one foot would have made it happen without creating the building that was being created right now, which what was proposed at the last meeting incorporated 911 dispatch, which made the building the width of Alton Road, which was never part of the plan, and I don't know how that became part of the plan because it's not the same thing.

I just want to say that the firefighters, when they were originally proposed all the options, they loved that option the best.

In addition to that, it creates a campus for the firefighters because now the the firefighters could train.

Mayor, can you please give me the two minutes?

The the firefighters could also use a track to train, and in addition, whenever there's a football game, a soccer game running, you have firefighters on that field 24-7, seven days a week to be there, first responders to all the people there in the park.

So there's a lot of pros and cons, and at the end of the day, the firefighters just want this thing to get done and passed.

So for the fire union, they're like, just give me 6th Street.

If politics-wise, this is not gonna fly, and we're not gonna be able to get the site on Flamingo Park, which is obviously on Alton Road, it's the main commercial street.

The fire trucks come in and out right off of Alton Road.

They originally wanted it there, but at the end of the day, what they want is a fire station.

And if the commissioners tell them that's not gonna fly, you gotta do it on 6th Street, they're gonna go and ask for 6th Street because at the end of the day they just want to build and they deserve it.

Thank you so much.

Our next caller is Richard Grozinski.

Please unmute yourself.

Yes, good morning.

Uh my name is Richard Rashinsky, I'm president of a Holmes Association of Alton Road on Alton Road.

Um, we've gone round and round about this fire station.

I think the uh the uh the firemen need a new station.

We obviously know that.

Um and flamingo park is just unacceptable, obviously, to myself and all of our residents in our community.

Um Street is uh much better option.

Um I don't know why you can't incorporate the present building that you have on 6th Street with the new fire station design.

But I believe that we should um make a decision on this, and I think you should uh change the plans for 6th Street and and incorporate the uh present building in uh in the design of the fire station.

I appreciate your time.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Seeing no one else, I have Alison's iPhone.

Please state your name.

You're next.

Unmute yourself.

Let's go to Ronald Starkman.

Hi there.

Okay, go ahead.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Sorry, Alison Herman, Portifino Towers President as well as off the VP.

Um I'm I you know, I hope we can all agree that the most important thing for our residents is safety.

Um, you've heard from the professionals, as I heard one commissioner um ask.

You've heard from the fire team, you've heard from Chief Abeo, you've heard from the captain that unequivocally the best location for response time is 6th Street.

It's directly in the middle of the corridor it's going to be serving.

This location was previously approved for demolition demolition, it's been vetted, and it's more than viable.

And it offers the best response time.

Today, you as a commission need to stop with the hot potato.

You need to move forward on this essential project.

The firefighters deserve a new station, and the neighborhood deserves you to support our safety.

Please vote today to move forward with 6th Street.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Ronald Starkman.

Mr.

Starkman, you have one minute.

Okay.

Yeah, hi.

Ronald Starkman, 300 South Point Drive.

Um again, as you've heard, the Sixth Street station seems to be the optimal from a uh life safety standpoint.

I'd like to address the angst of you have about the votes that were taken previously.

Uh remind everybody that that I think the 6th Street was almost ready to go forward.

And then what the argument that was made was wait, don't want to delay it, but let's look at other alternatives.

Let's see if there's something better.

Let's try and do that.

It was on that basis that people voted to defer the sif or to take the 6th Street off the cable.

Now that we've completed that whole process, it turns out that Sixth Street seems to be the only viable alternative.

So I don't think you're being inconsistent if you would now vote for the 6th Street location.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Everyone who originally was aligned has has spoken.

Okay, thank you everyone for your comments.

We have a motion and a second.

Let's call the vote.

Mr.

Mayor, I just want to make sure Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I want to make sure that as I think I think we know the direction this is going in.

Um I think I had sponsored at one point uh an item um regarding the Apollo murals to incorporate it into the design for Fire Station One.

I don't know if Maria Hernandez is here.

Um I don't know, that's still on the table.

I don't know if we need to re-incorporate it as part of the motion that we're approving today.

Um we love that idea.

But can we can we make sure that uh that that's still incorporated here?

Welcome, Maria.

Hello, everyone.

Um, I believe that legislation is still valid.

Okay.

Um, I don't think it has um expired.

Okay.

So I want to I want to provide as part of this motion direction.

Direction to the uh city of ministry because you know, I got I got the concerns that people have with the um with the people using the field, uh the west end of uh flamingo park.

Um I know there are people at St.

Francis that go to St.

Francis that have told me that they used a lunch service uh over at the South Shore Community Center.

And so, and and those are you know, those are relatively poor people uh who we represent as well.

They might not live south of fifth, they might not live in luxury buildings or have the ability to be here or speak up, but we represent them too.

It really it really hurts me.

It really it does it does hurt me, and because it's it's like if they don't matter.

Like these are poor people.

I don't think that's fair.

No, but today I literally started this meeting by by discussing those individuals and and we're giving direct.

I was actually gonna bring a separate item, but we're giving direction to the city manager that we should as part of this, we must find a suitable location for the and I take that back.

So thank you.

I um you know, I those people are important as well.

Those those are people who depend on the service, and and maybe we never should have initiated the program, but when we create programs like these, we create a dependency on these programs.

And these are residents who we need to look after.

So thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I apologize.

No, and that's okay, but um I and I I know your passion and and and you're right, and I'm fully fully supportive.

It's actually why I mentioned at the beginning that we must find uh concurrent with no breakup in their services that we provide currently and a suitable suitable location uh in the vicinity.

Thank you.

And as I said earlier, you know, I don't blame my colleague for bringing this item because we need to move forward.

Um but but moving forward, I need to see our city administration take greater leadership.

These are administrative needs.

The memo that we had today from the administration should have had a recommendation.

Period, end of story.

We should be guiding ourselves by the recommendation of the administration.

Well, you know, we have our fire chief here who's who is speaking now, and and the manager, these things should come properly.

They should come properly through the agenda in the memo where everyone can see what is the recommendation of the city administration.

And I expect that moving forward.

I I expect a little bit stronger uh recommendation on these types of items when we move forward.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Let's call the vote.

Uh motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by the mayor, co-sponsored by the mayor with direction to find alternative location for the services in the vicinity, incorporate the Apollo mural.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, the item is approved 7-0.

That's R7AE.

Thank you.

And congrat and congratulations to our city.

And I and I think what and I think I speak on behalf of anyone of everyone.

I don't like to do that usually always, but this is uh a robust discussion.

But I think everyone here in their heart has such appreciation for what our fire department does.

The men and women do every day.

And uh unfortunately the process takes some time, but uh I think we landed in the I know we landed in the right place.

I thank you so much for this commission for taking the leadership position.

It makes me emotional.

But I will say, Commissioner Francis, I look forward to working with you on trying to find help for the people with the services that are moving.

I feel just as passionate as you do.

Thank you very much.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

Let's call item R 5D, as in David.

Mayor, before we do that, I don't know if you want to set the calendar so because we need those dates for the ordinances for for the second reading.

So at some point we need to do that.

Let's do it now.

Okay.

We are going to do item.

Excuse me.

R7i.

R7i is set dates for 2026 City Commission, MBRDA and MBCRA meetings.

Everyone here has a calendar in front of them.

We put it on the dais.

We've incorporated all the requests that have been come that have come forward regarding uh conflicts.

So we've we've done everything that we have been asked for.

So I don't know if you wish to have a discussion or have a vote on the item.

Do we have a motion?

Move by Commissioner Dominguez I'll second.

It depends.

So on the light blue, it is uh on those dates.

Let's see, it's winter break.

Miami Day County Public School in January.

We have a little key everywhere.

So there will be no meetings in January like we have in 2025 and 2023.

Uh we have two meetings in February, we have six presentations meetings, we've taken into consideration holidays, scoop.

Sorry.

The light blue is a school system, public school system.

Usually is, yes.

Yes, okay.

Yeah, both stuff that we usually have so much traffic or conflicts at but the green and the red are the the meetings.

So I have a motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by the mayor.

All in favor?

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Item is approved.

Thank you, sir.

Yep.

Was there rationale?

And you may have given it in the didn't pay attention why we're not going to have the meeting in January.

Commissioner Dominguez is out from for two weeks on the mayor's out for one week.

Okay.

We really couldn't accommodate so.

So uh a meeting on early February, and then they're regularly scheduled late in February.

It's the mayor's world.

I don't know about that.

I think there were multiple actually, I think there were multiple commissioners.

Every request that was made, we accommodated it.

Yeah.

I think there were multiple commissioners, and just the dates didn't work out.

So R7I is approved.

Yes, sir.

What item?

R5D, as in David.

Yes, sir.

R5D is an ordinary to the mayor of City Commissioner of City by Beach Florida amending the code of City Miami Beach or Part B entitled land development regulations by amending chapter 3 of the Miami Beach Resiliency Code entitled Concurrency Management and Mobility Fees by amending Article 2 and title concurrency by creating Section 3.2.3 and titled Imposition of Collection of Concurrency Mitigation Fees to establish provisions for the waiver of applicable concurrency mitigation fees by amending Article title mobility fees by amending section 3.3.3 and title imposition and collection of mobility fees to establish provisions for the waiver of applicable mobility fees are providing for codification repealer sub ability on an effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

The item requires five sevens vote.

It is item R5D.

I move the item.

Second.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Co-sponsored by me.

We have a motion, a second.

Let's call the vote.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one on Zoom and no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Yes.

Congratulations on that.

The first vote.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bach.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved.

That was R5D.

Call R5H.

R5H is an order to the mayor, City Commissioner of City by Beach, Florida, amending chapter 82 of the code of City of Miami Beach, Florida, entitled Public Property by Amending Article 3 and titled Use of Public Property by amending Division 1 entitled generally by amending Section 82-72 thereof entitled Commercial Vessel Activity Hours of Operation of Publicly Owned Marinas by further restricting the permissible hours for commercial vessels, activities of public marinas and public marine facilities and providing for repealers of ability codification and effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5H.

Thanks.

I'll just teat up very quickly.

A couple of years ago, we we didn't have uh limitations on charters.

We had a lot of problems with the public marina south of fifth.

I put on legislation approved by our commission to make it till 9 p.m.

We uh unfortunately last year we started having problems again, so I put on legislation to make it till 7 p.m.

But we have an exemption for operators who have not had a violation.

I think it's good legislation.

It shows that if you're a good operator in general, you're gonna be rewarded, and if you're not um we're gonna have to uh protect our residents and businesses.

Were we were we co-sponsored?

And you're a co-sponsor, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Well, on the on the 9 p.m.

I think we were yes, but uh transport ultimately the South of Fifth uh Neighborhood Association worked with the charter operators and and were amenable to keeping it at 9 p.m.

for those who have not had any violations.

Because I uh and and thank you.

Um there's a good operator there that has the Meisner's dream.

And they they're on the uh north end of the pier, never had a problem.

Um they do sunset tours.

I think it's like wine and cheese.

And uh I certainly hope that they do not get uh affected by this.

And I don't think they do.

So Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

So I have a question on this.

Um I thank you for for bringing forward this policy with the amendment for the good operators.

Um I believe right now there's legislation going through Tallahassee having to do with business tax receipts.

Um the enforcement of this is tied to business tax receipts.

Um how do we properly enforce this if in Tallahassee let's say there is legislation that does go forward?

Is there any other way we can tie this?

Uh is there any other avenue that we can use besides business tax receipts to regulate these operations?

Sure.

And I think there may be some confounding.

Uh the allowance for good operators to operate past 7 p.m.

is not tied to BTRs, it's tied to uh code violations, which could include a BTR violation, but there could be other code violations as well.

So I think we could cross that bridge if if we need to uh down the road because if the BTR legislation moves forward, that would have significant consequences all over the place for us.

Okay.

All right, so we don't have to be worried about that now.

Not at this time.

Okay.

All right.

I move the item for the item.

I move it.

Let's call the vote.

Uh motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by the mayor.

Never mind.

Okay.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one on Zoom, and I see no one in you wish to speak go ahead.

Guys, I'm back again.

How are you guys doing?

Um basically I just want to make sure that we're very clear.

I've been running a charter company for now over 20 years out of Miami Beach Marina.

It's a way with tourists come, enjoy our city.

Our city has grown.

It's a very beautiful city day and night.

Your restriction was taken into serious consideration at 9 p.m.

during the COVID Act, which was a little chaotic.

All those things have changed.

Now the issue is the noise violation.

The same noise violation you guys have in the city.

In your bars in your restaurants, I think there's a count of 1,800 in some cases in Miami Beach alone.

Noise violations.

Those violations can be enforced by restriction by basically penalizing them with the BTR.

But setting a limitation of time, it's not a fair thing to do.

7 p.m.

on a July, it's still daylight.

Restaurants have opened up in the beach and outside, and people want to come visit Miami and go take a nice cruise with their family and go out to dinner.

So what we want to do here is just enforce the issue at hand, which is the noise.

Maybe the best thing to do is inside the marina.

There's no loud music, period.

That's a great restriction to avoid the noise violation.

But it's but setting a time of charters, it's a little unfair.

Unless you're going to do it to everybody else in the restaurant business in the bar business.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

But this doesn't this doesn't go to 7 p.m.

This is only it only it excludes charter operators who had violations.

As long as it's violations, fair enough.

Otherwise it's 9 p.m.

Yeah.

Thank you.

It was, I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Antonio Maldonado.

I spoke earlier.

I see no one else on Zoom.

No one else requested to speak.

May I call a roll?

Yes.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Dominguez?

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine?

Yes.

Commissioner Bott went to the restroom, but she said she's a yes.

Commissioner Suarez?

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved.

That was R5H.

It's called R5K.

R5K is an order to the mayor, city commissioner City of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 74 of the code of the city of Miami Beach.

Florida entitled peddlers on solicitors of Article of Article 1 entitled in general by creating section 74-2 to establish permit and business tax receipt requirements for home solicitations to establish hours of solicitation, conduct standards and permit display requirements to create city maintained no solicit, no solicitation list.

The solicitors must check and comply with to provide for enforcement penalties and revocation and providing for repealer subrability cut of fiction and effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5K.

Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So I've been working closely with uh a number of different residents across the board on North Bay Road in particular.

They they've had some significant uh security concerns, quality of life concerns.

Uh that neighborhood in particular is made up of a lot of single family homes.

They've had a rash of break-ins.

Uh and one of the things that uh happens quite often is they will get a lot of solicitors, and some could be valid, uh, some could be not.

A lot of them look to be almost uh uh people that are out almost staking the neighborhood uh under the premise that they are out there soliciting.