Welcome to the City of Miami Beach Commission Chambers.

We're glad to have you with us today.

If you require ADA assistance or accommodations, please notify the city clerk or any staff member, and we will be happy to assist you.

We'd now like to introduce our City of Miami Beach elected officials and leadership.

Mayor Steven Miner.

Laura Dominguez.

Alex J.

Fernandez.

Tanya K.

Bottom.

David Suarez.

Joseph Magazine.

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The meeting is about to begin.

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Everybody uh in the crowd here in person, of course, everybody listening in.

Um looking forward to a productive meeting.

And I'll turn it over to our city clerk.

Good morning, everyone.

Uh the city commission is physically present in the commission chambers on Mammy Beach City Hall, 1700, Conventional Center Drive, third floor.

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Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ralph.

Uh it's my honor now to call up for our invocation, Pastor Victor Palacios from Iglesia Potista Poder de Dios.

Just have to say a word.

I met you uh over six years ago, probably seven years ago when I was running for commissioner, and you have you're not just a uh special spiritual leader in our Miami Beach community.

Thank you, but also a personal friend, so it's it's an honor to have you here.

We pray.

Thank God for this day for your mercy.

Thank you for this meeting.

God, we ask you to blessing other commissions in here, the city clerk, the police department, the five department, the schools, the hospital.

We ask the Lord to give you the wisdom, Lord, in uh integrity to run the city the base the way you want me.

We bless the city to the north, to the south, to the east, to the west.

We are in you hang.

And you know, always you will is going to be.

Thank you for everything you do so far.

And I know we still a lot of we have a lot of more to come.

You're gonna be blessing for this city.

Thank you for the mayor.

The job is there in the city, this family, and everybody in here in this meeting.

We ask you, Lord, uh the blessing to these people too.

We pray in your name.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Pastor.

Thank you, Pastor.

Now I get to surprise someone in the uh in the crowd.

How about Stephen Anthony?

Why don't you lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance?

Our economic development director, director.

Don't worry, you just have to start the first word and we'll go along.

I'm sure you got it down now.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

For which it stands.

Stephen, perfect.

I like to act, I didn't I didn't give you any warning.

I like to, because one time uh several years ago, somebody did not uh recollect all the words, so certainly my intent is not to embarrass anyone.

But great job, Stephen.

Um let's start off with the Sutnik hour.

Thank you.

Anyone who wishes to speak, please approach the podium, state your name.

You have two minutes.

Now I feel we're back uh back normal with Mitch Novick leads off.

No longer slacking off.

Mitch Novick, good morning, everyone.

I've received your $500 homestead relief check, which will be used to offset my Miami Beach water bill, which is increased annually for the past dozen years.

Within that period since Jimmy Morales first took office as city manager, we've seen our budget more than double while the city added roughly 500 more employees.

You can be assured I will be first in line to vote to abolish homestead property taxation.

If passed, I'm certain you'll be compelled to refrain from wasting our tax dollars, which has led to housing unaffordability.

As I've stated numerous times, I believe we must reduce our budget by two to three hundred million and reduce our employees to level seen when our city ran well for much less.

According to the administration, the entertainment district is fully subsidized by taxpayers and has suffered a net loss of several million dollars annually.

Who can forget the recent northern section of Ocean Drive's illegal pedestrianization, requiring private traffic management at a cost of one million dollars a year?

I would also urge it to end the Ocean Drive Promenade or sparsely attended Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series, which only benefits the venue where it's held to the detriment of the greater good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please, Ms.

Manning, go ahead.

Joe Manning, good morning, everyone.

I could refute Mitch, but I won't.

I'm in a good mood this morning.

Um I want to speak for an entity that doesn't have a voice.

And I heard this is going to be come up at a at a meeting, and that's the bots that we see on the street.

Those little machines that wander down the street delivering things.

And you know they're polite.

They're not like the bicyclists who will run you over and then yell at you for getting in their way.

They will stop.

They stop at corners.

They're very kind.

I really think they add to the ambiance of the city.

People like to see them.

People's faces light up.

And again, they're polite.

Something we need more of in the city.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Good morning.

My name is Michael Freindlich, and I live in Sunset Harbor.

I wish to bring up a topic that has been previously mentioned in this venue, but remains an ongoing problem specifically.

Pedestrian and micromobility traffic.

I've resided in Miami Beach for the past 25 years, during which time there has been a substantial increase in micromobility, pedestrian density, and unfortunately, fatal.

Miami Beach is known for its vibrant culture, beaches, lively streets.

The growing number of residents and tourists using micromobility as a preferred mode of transportation has resulted in transgression that impact their safety and the overall quality of life in the city, such as the following.

Riding and sidewalks.

Despite designated bike lanes on many streets, many riders up for riding on sidewalks, endangering pedestrians and violating city ordinances.

Many riders failed to stop at red lights and stop signs, changing lines in the middle of intersections to circumvent this signs.

Lack of proper lighting.

Riders often ride at night without adequate front and rear lights, making them nearly invisible to motorists and pedestrians.

Not yielding to pedestrians in shared spaces, riders fail to yield to pedestrians, especially in busy areas like Alton and Washington.

And riding without helmets, which already, which although is not mandatory, I'll be done in a second.

It would be good for them to work.

In conclusion, we need to educate the riders and importantly, enhance informs enforcement to help reduce these infractions and make Miami Beach a safer place for riders, pedestrian, and drivers alike.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning, uh Mr.

Mayor, Commissioners, Mr.

City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, my name is Adam Ganouza.

I'm here from the Rhythm Foundation, and I want to speak today in support of arts and culture in Miami Beach.

Arts and culture are a pillar of our local economy and key to our cities of uh ability to be able to attract new residents, visitors, and new businesses alike.

So any uh cuts to arts funding undermines our economy uh and the quality of life that the city uh so very much depends on.

Uh I also like to uh speak today.

Um we had the opportunity last month to host a town hall meeting at the Miami Beach Ban Show with respects to the Byron Carlisle Theater.

It was a very impassioned uh discussion.

And uh while there's a lot of questions remains around how people saw the fate of that space or what they would like to see with that facility in that space.

Uh it was was clear that folks are interested in a multi-use, multidisciplinary space that serves as broad a swath of the community as possible.

Um, and thank you to uh one of the commissioners of uh Commissioner Suarez for hosting that meeting.

Uh I believe there's video of it, and so I would encourage uh the commission to watch that video if you haven't already to get a sense of where the public opinions lies with respect to the future of that space.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, Mr.

Marin Commissioners at Chelsea Lawn, Florida Power and Light.

I want to speak clearly about what is and was not what is not before you today regarding the bridge and transmission projects, item R9AD today.

On February 5th, this commission voted to allow FPL to use existing easement, an easement for which we pay the city.

Based on that direction, we advance a critical underground transmission project that will serve to improve the reliability of the electric grid for Miami Beach businesses and residents.

Separately, there's a pedestrian bridge project.

From day one, FPL has treated that project as a priority to coordinate.

We've done more than what state law requires for underground locates on our feeder lines, which have been there since 1999 and serve over 13,000 customers on the beach.

A third-party organization, USIC typically provides locates.

At the request of the city, FPL conducted supplemental testing.

We purchased additional equipment to obtain more precise measurements, and we attended repeated site visits and coordination meetings.

We have dedicated staff and engineering resources for months since October to help the bridge team move forward.

We did that because we understand the importance of partnership, but coordination should not become leverage.

The underground transmission line project, a multi-million dollar investment benefiting the city, should not be conditioned on or tied to unrelated development commitments or third-party promises.

If there are outstanding issues related to the bridge, we remain at the table to work through them.

We've demonstrated that commitment consistently.

What we cannot support is delaying or withholding a previously approved easement in a way that solves critical reliability improvements for residents and businesses who have nothing to do with those separate matters.

These are distinct issues and they deserve to be handled independently.

FPL stands ready to continue collaborating in good faith, and we simply ask that the reliability of Miami Beach's electric system remain the priority and move forward as previously directed.

And I also want to share one more update that uh we conducted an additional site visit Monday with the team to offer to excavate the line uh cost to FPL.

So hopefully that will provide some more certainty to the team on whether or not they can move forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chelsea, this is an addendum item, so we'll hear it after 5 p.m.

Good morning.

My name's Carol Creams, I'm a resident at 1754 Miami Beach.

So, Commissioners and Mayor and everybody here, I rise in full support of the city's continued funding of Miami Beach Pride, consistent with the position of the Mariness Commission as reflected in resolution C 711.

You approved up to 250,000 in previously budgeted funds and the waiver of certain administration fees, the 2026 festival.

The action of firms, what we already know.

Pride is not a political gesture, it's a proven economic driver and a cultural institution that's celebrating its 18th year in Miami Beach.

It's a festival and parade which attracts more than 150 residents and visitors, and it's a cornerstone of our tourism strategy here in Miami Beach.

At time and proposed state legalizations such as SB 1134 and HB 1001 seeks to broadly restrict diversity-related programming.

It's important to be clear, and I know you've already said this.

Events like Miami Beach Pride with Jewish Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival are part of who we are in Miami Beach.

They fill hotel rooms, drive restaurant revenue, create jobs, and protect Miami Beach Global Brand and it's inclusive worldwide destination.

Byron Carlisle, the building has been widely documented as a multi-infested and unhealthy.

Protecting public health must come first.

We have an opportunity to replace an unsafe structure with something amazing and transformative.

Residents have called for vibrant multidisciplinary cultural complex with art classes, theater, music, dance, and yes to cinemas, a year-round asset that serves our local community while attracting visitors and nurturing creative talent.

I have 17 seconds left.

This is what I'm gonna say.

Opposing Gutting Arts funding to redirect it towards sewer or stormwater project does not bring in tourists.

I'm sorry, it doesn't.

We need to define what Miami Beach, it's about culture, festivals, and richness and diversity of our city.

As Mess said, Miami Beach Prime, Miami Beach is back.

Let's keep that momentum going.

Good morning, Commissioners and Mayor.

My name is Jack Klein.

I'm the community manager at uh Council Towers North and South for EDOC.

EDOC is committed to the principles of aging in place, ensuring commun opportunities for our seniors to live independently with dignity and self-determination in communities with their peers.

Residents in EDOC properties are provided with safe, affordable housing, supportive health, and social services.

We'd like to thank you for all your support that you provided us during our renovation process.

We've sent out invitations for you for our resident regrand opening event, which is March the 5th at 11 a.m.

And again at 1230 p.m.

at the North and South Towers.

Affordability is one of our, you know, we want to love those who loved us first, and that's our seniors.

And currently affordability is not something that you know is available to them.

And we need your support even further in loving our seniors.

So you know, uh, we have someone else coming up to speak on that, and I just want to thank you for your time and all your support.

And Gloria Campos has been so instrumental also in loving our seniors and giving us sport as well.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Looking forward to March 5th.

Good morning, everyone.

I am Manuel Del Valle.

I'm the regional service coordinator of EDA of EDA properties and coordinating in Council Towers North and South.

I'm here to uh also thank you and to ask for your help.

We are up and running, we're providing services, we have the inauguration, but we don't have a hot meals program.

Our seniors, some of them have a hard time cooking, some of them are isolated.

This program was it was established before, and it's crucial for their independence, for their stability, for their isolation, for to prevent isolation.

I can't express how important it is for them.

And the Little Havana Activity Center does not any doesn't have any fundings for this year.

Uh if you if you can please help us establish this program once again, we would appreciate it.

This program not only provides the hard daily meal, it provides transportation to the grocery store.

It provides events of uh linkage to to the community, to your to to your to your government and to your leaders.

It is in in crucial for them.

So I add we ask for your help, and uh I hope to see you on March 5th.

Thank you for highlighting this issue for us.

Please, thank you.

Hi, good morning, Mayor and City Commissioners and staff.

Hi.

My name is Linda Kolco.

I'm a small business owner, Miami Beach resident at 334 West 25th Street in the Collins Park neighborhood, a block away from the absolutely wonderful Bayshore Park.

Again, thank you all for that, and thank our residents for supporting that.

Apologize for my alpha, but I'm on my way to Pilates because we are a fitness city, right?

You'll notice here I've got my little um mirror for my bicycle.

I love the plot.

I like to ride around the city.

But what's important, folks, is we've I'm here to express my concern about C7U.

It's a consent agenda that would cancel the North Meridian Avenue multi-use path and the Chase Avenue multi-use path with no public hearing, no community input.

Really surprised these are priority projects in the city's by already adopted bicycle pedestrian master plan.

It's only six tenths of a mile along Meridian Avenue, but it closes a critical gap, I'm sorry, in Miami Beach's bicycle network.

It connects existing bike lanes.

Bicycle counters just south of this project already recorded roughly a thousand riders per day.

So I just think that's really important.

And the and also, Chase, I was shocked to know Chase Avenue is back on the agenda to be eliminated.

Matthew's gonna talk about that.

Also, RD R7D.

I am concerned about this resolution.

It maintains our funding for our cultural anchors and youth arts programs.

That's great, but I'm against the rate reallocation of the remaining city funding funds currently designated for arts and culture programs.

Our arts funding generates over 5,000 jobs, generates over 250 million for residents and 12 million in local taxes.

71% of the attendees of arts and cultural events are locals.

Average person spends over $56 per event.

We want to be known as an arts and culture and fitness city.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, mayor.

Good morning, commissioners.

My name is Matthew Goltanoff.

I live at 125 Jefferson Avenue, and I'm here to talk about C7U today.

I first ask that this item be pulled from the agenda.

It is, well, I've emailed you all.

I believe other people have emailed you all, so I'm not gonna uh go over why it's an important project, why this priority one uh project, which Linda just talked about, why it's critical, why adding at the last minute another unrelated project to it perhaps violates uh some of the ordinances, a red flag ordinance, the right to know the critical infrastructure.

Uh so I'm not gonna use my own words, but I want to read from an inspector general report about the 34th and Chase Avenue project, which which we worked in good faith with Commissioner Fernandez with the community uh to get that over hurdles.

And two years ago, January 31st, this commission, almost this full commission here, uh they approved the project.

So this is these are the words from the inspector general, these are not from me.

No IG has on two prior occasions raised concerns regarding the waste of taxpayer dollars as a result of efforts to re redesign this project after it had been designed, permitted, and funded.

It has been previously reported that in 2022 the design review review board approved the design.

The city applied for and was awarded an FDOC grant in the amount of 495,000.

The consultant completed 90% of the construction documents and continues to go on.

You can read it.

The report is dated April 2024.

Regarding the Meridian Avenue Shared Use Path, this is from a grant application that the city submitted to the Miami Day TPO for FDOT grant funding for which it was awarded.

Um identifying project stakeholders.

The Meridian Avenue Shared Use Path was presented to the community five times.

Mr.

Mary, could I have one more minute, please?

Thank you.

Was presented to the community five times during various workshops throughout the bicycle pedestrian master plan process.

Further, the project was presented to the neighborhood as part of the Bay Shore neighborhood improvement project.

That gives you one of those critical infrastructure key points.

The proposed path was adopted by the City Commission as part of the 2016 bicycle pedestrian master plan.

Three meetings were also held with the Miami Beach Golf Course Management Company to obtain their consent.

The project design accommodates their comments and their needs.

Your CIP director, David Gomez, during a recent meeting, you eloquently explained why this project is so important.

You have professional staff.

I ask that you bring them up here, bring up your IG to talk about what potential waste, fraud, and abuse.

Bring up your transportation department, your CIP, your neighborhood affairs.

This project didn't come out of nowhere.

There's a lengthy histories, and canceling it like this, and then adding one just 12 hours before this meeting would certainly violate many processes.

Thank you.

Our first virtual caller is Johan Moore.

Mr.

Moore, state your name.

And you have two minutes.

Good morning.

I want to talk about four issues.

Uh each of uh two of which uh are in a sense connected.

I want to express my support for Commissioner Fenn on this item C4H, which, if I uh uh am expressing this correctly, would um require developer contributions uh to municipal infrastructure.

And that in fact links to why uh cutting arts funding under R7D is a bad idea.

Uh we do not gain revenue by cutting services.

Uh the impacts of one thing on the other need to be considered.

Uh there is only a superficial savings uh to be uh had by cutting arts funding, and we lose those taxes that can then support municipal infrastructure.

I also am opposed to C7U.

Uh we need connectivity for our bike lanes.

Uh and I am concerned about C4O, as are many of my neighbors.

Uh we are very supportive of the Jefferson Avenue bike lanes and their traffic calming.

And I repeat uh that the only concerns that I've heard from residents are that both of the bike lanes are on the same side of the avenue.

So if that's the improvement that needs to happen to move one of them to the east side of Jefferson, then I would encourage the city to do that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Judas Judith Smeigle.

Good morning.

Jim Schmeichel of the Flamingo Park neighborhood of Miami Beach.

I do not understand the logic coming arts funding.

It doesn't make sense culturally or economically.

And I look forward to the discussion that I want to say in particular that the Sunday promenade concerts in front of the Betsy are some of the best things that exist here.

When I take out visitors who just blown away by the setting of music, live jazz.

It's wonderful.

And I wouldn't want any of you to have to do that.

We could bicycle around.

And I do lanes, and still it's still a very dangerous place to be a pedestrian or a bicyclist, or a driver here.

But anything we can do improve safety for bicycles, is only to the good, and I don't understand how this came in almost at the last minute, it seems.

And at first, we're going to be on a consent agenda now.

I understand what would be under discussion, which of course is much more delicate.

And I I really appreciate that we all think about getting residents input on things.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Sharon.

Sharon, state your name.

You have two minutes.

Hi, this is Sharon Weiss, uh 233 81st Street.

I'm calling today to strenuously object to C7Z, I believe, is the uh item.

Uh the butchery of the sea grapes, all along um are wonderful beachwalk.

Uh, I understand that this is uh being done in the name of public safety.

Um, not quite sure what that would accomplish.

Um the public has a right to be safe from sea level rise and dune erosion.

Uh, I don't know if anyone in the commission has bothered to come up to North Beach, but the area near the Carillon in the uh high 60s, low 70s uh area, streets of the beach, there's like no beach left.

It's it's ocean sea grapes, beachwalk.

So pulling the cutting the the sea grapes out of there is a disaster.

And it's a disaster, even in places where the beach is wide and that there's not uh residences, uh condos right close to the beach.

This is uh terrible.

We cannot be a green zone or a blue zone or whatever it is that's being proposed if we're actively cutting down trees.

Public safety is more than just uh reducing or eliminating the ability of houseless people to get shelter in the rain and the sun.

And by the way, I'm a marathon runner.

I run all up and down that beachwalk early in the morning.

I have never seen a homeless encampment.

Um we spend a hundred million dollars on our police force.

That's to compensate them for having to walk around in heat and hot weather and get out of their cars and deal with uh homeless folks and hostile people.

And is it pleasant?

No, but they're compensated for that.

And the answer is to ask them to do patrols and not to cut down foliage and greenery, which is critical to uh to protecting us during climate change.

So please reconsider this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is David Sexton.

Please state your name.

We have two minutes.

Hi, this is David Sexton, 1255 Marseille.

I want to start out by thanking the mayor and several commissioners for attending our hundred-year anniversary celebration for Normandy Fountain.

We had hundreds and hundreds of residents and visitors show up, and we were thrilled to have uh our electeds, many of our electeds there as well.

I'm here today to talk against two items that have been brought since October.

The first is to cut funding for 20 plus arts organizations, including the Miami Film Festival, New Deco Ensemble, and the Jewish Film Festival.

Uh we were all here during Art Week.

Yes, the city spent millions of dollars to support these organizations, and it brought in over half a billion dollars into our economy every week in the city of Miami Beach's Art Week.

We support our arts organizations and it generates economic development.

It's it's so obvious.

I I need I need us to address these issues and vote them down.

The other item is that to change course on the uh performing arts center at the Byron Carlisle.

Um, I want to thank Commissioner Suarez for holding uh a public meeting.

I was unable to attend in person, but myself and I know many of the other commissioners were there in the Zoom, and we were all thrilled with the overwhelming community support for a performing arts center.

The idea of reverting it back to a failed multiplex movie theater is not a good one.

That business model is no longer successful.

We've decided to incorporate a commercial movie theater into the project moving forward, which will make it even better.

Um I want to say that the community wants a performing arts center.

One item that was brought up repeatedly during that meeting.

I raised my hand but wasn't called on to speak, is pointing to uh a survey that was done in 2021.

Thank you, it said 60% of response.

Our next caller is Inez.

I state your name.

You have two minutes.

Yeah, uh, my name is Hunes Flax.

I'm at 1500 Ocean Drive.

I'm calling to remind all my two missions and mayor uh to urge him to please vote against RCU.

Um I um I I oppose this um this proposal because it will destroy the historical character of Ocean Drive.

And it will violate the property rights of every owner who has property on Ocean Drive, and it's against further restrictions to access their property.

And number three, it will create uh more delays in in time response to safety to life and safety issues, and also uh to uh the disabled uh handicapped population that we have in town, which I become very acutely aware today because my husband is in a wheelchair, and I know how important it is to be able to drive up to the front of any establishment.

Uh so I beg you to re to consider what you're trying to do uh to Ocean Drive, because it would definitely destroy the historical character of this very famous, which is being the most famous ocean drive on earth, and to make it pedestrian, you're gonna have to change the name to Ocean Walk.

Okay, it will not longer be Ocean Drive.

So thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Nicholas Duran.

Go ahead, please.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

My name is Nicholas Ludan, policy and advocacy manager for Transit Alliance Miami.

Uh, I'd like to respectfully urge this board to oppose item C7U, uh, which would cancel the North Meridian Avenue and Chase Avenue multi-use paths.

Uh so to be clear, this project didn't, these projects didn't appear overnight.

Um, they followed an extensive planning process, public input, and competitive grant applications.

So these are scarce infrastructure dollars that have already been earmarked for these corridors.

Uh if we cancel these projects now, we don't just pause them.

We risk conceding those funds and sending a message that Miami Beach cannot follow through on thoughtfully developed mobility improvements.

Um this is at a time when infrastructure dollars are especially scarce, and we're we're finding more and more that that city governments uh and even the county are finding it more difficult to pay for projects like this.

Um so it's seriously worth asking how this could impact the city's credibility in seeking funds for other projects or services, like the water taxi, for example.

You know, what what does it mean?

What type of messages is it send when we reneg on projects that have been thoroughly vetted and have been approved and where the studies are are valid?

Um I I just don't see what the benefit is on pumping the brakes on a project like this.

So the North Meridian and Chase Avenue multi-use paths are critical north-south connections for the city.

As bike usage continues to grow, we need safe protected corridors that give residents real alternatives to getting in a car.

Without connected infrastructure, we force cyclists into traffic.

We increase conflicts and we undermine our own efforts to reduce congestion.

To the comments that were made around safety earlier, it really proves the point as to why we need more facilities like this.

Now, if the city is serious about mitigating traffic, improving safety and promoting public health, then we must build infrastructure that supports those goals.

This pass is not a luxury, it's a necessary investment for safer, healthier, more connected Miami Beach.

So thank you.

I hope we move these projects forward.

Thank you so much, sir.

Our next caller is Josh Squire.

Please go ahead.

You have two minutes.

Hi, my name is Josh Squire of 47th Street.

I'm here to echo the other people who spoke about the bike lanes that are attempting to be canceled.

It seems like transportation in this city takes one step forward, two steps back.

The one step forward is the water taxi.

Great job on that.

Although it could use uh weekend service as well as um some shade and uh benches for people who use it.

Um regarding the bike lanes, it's critical to the network.

Um it seems like um, you know, the safety of micromobility users is is not as important as motorists or pedestrian, which is uh, you know, really uh not the correct way to look about it.

Um, you know, I've been using um Meridian for over 20 years, never got hit by a golf ball before.

I think that the the thing that that seems odd here is all the work that was done on this project.

It seems like uh there's something weird going on here.

I would suggest that the commissioners disclose who lives on that street or who owns property on that street and who parks their car or their pink Tesla on the proposed bike lane across from their house under a sign that says you cannot park there.

So I think you gotta set a personal example.

You gotta disclose what your real motives are with this uh ordinance and follow the OG's recommendation.

So please uh take two steps forward.

Don't take us back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Margie Smeiggle.

Please go ahead.

Mark, you unmute yourself, please.

Let's go to the next caller.

Can you hear me now?

Yeah, can you hear me now?

Yep.

Uh, my apologies.

Uh I'm a residence here since uh 2019.

I'm in the Collins Park area, and I have a car, but rarely use it because Miami Beach is a great town to be biking in.

And anything you do to enhance the bike lanes is essential to making it a more safe and welcoming city.

And people should be biking if they can because it's it's better than driving.

And we have, you know, now it's harder and harder to go into Miami because of all the traffic.

If you think that uh bike lane on Alton Road is a viable alternative for bikers, you're nuts because it's scary.

And you can't bike there.

So any bike lanes you can put in.

Um, I I heartily endorse also about arts funding.

The reason I came to Miami Beach is because the arts make it magical.

And the fact that the city supports art, outdoors, music, dance, um, the ocean promenade concert series, which that gentleman said in the beginning, is no nobody goes to.

You can't get a chair there.

You know, they provide chairs unless you get there before five when it starts.

And then people have blankets all around.

It's a wonderful, yes, it would be nice if another hundred people showed up, but the fact is that it's perfect the way it is.

The muke music is great, and any musical event outdoors makes this what Miami Beach should be.

A destination for culture, as well as for running.

Um thank you so much, man.

Our next caller is Lori Beckham.

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for your time today.

Lori Bacham, executive director of Power Access in the South Beach Jazz Festival, 1616.

Michigan Avenue, Suite 1, Miami Beach.

I'm here today in opposition on behalf of our organization for R7D.

Cultural Arts funding is the lifeblood of our city.

It is quality of life.

It is economy.

It is tourism.

It is multifaceted and includes organizations, both anchors and presenters from all over the area.

Power Access is a cultural presenter.

This allows us to work lean and mean, and we do activations throughout our city.

We just had the 10th annual South Beach Jazz Festival, which has become a world-class event that is recognized all over the country in jazz circles and more.

We are organically featured on CBS Sunday morning as one of the best things to do in the nation, the week of our festival.

That goes to show the presence of this festival and our full cultural arts programming that this city and community have created.

Our organization and others like ours would not exist without the support of the city of Miami Beach and its dedication to cultural arts funding.

So please continue on.

For all the presenters, it is an important tapestry of programming.

We all collaborate together, and each is important.

Our next caller is Alex.

Alex, state your name, and you have two minutes.

Please go ahead.

Hi, good morning.

My name is Alex Jimenez.

I live on Bell Isle, 13th Ferry Lane, and Miami Beach.

I'm calling to urge against item C7Z.

Um this idea to spend a quarter of a million dollars to cut back the sea grapes on the on the beachwalk.

I think the beachwalk is one of our best.

I think it's probably the best public amenity in the city.

I use it every weekend, every as much as I can, probably all the time on my bike, running.

And this just feels like another bad idea following a pattern of a lot of bad, ugly, sloppy decisions on the on the beachwalk.

You'll notice there they use asphalt, black asphalt to repair brick brick paved sections.

So where there's brick, they're putting black asphalt, the one you put on the street.

It's been there for years.

That's how they repair our beachwalk.

Concrete balls were recently installed to prevent people from sitting.

They look horrible, they look ugly.

And I think now the city that the same city that's that did these, you know, that has shown sloppy work, wants to cut back our native sea grape canopy.

And I think it's beautiful the way it is.

It protects sea turtles from artificial light and it creates tunnel-like sections that people actually like walking through.

The shade is very nice.

The legislation mentions that there's obstructive that these uh trees obstruct scenic views, which I find offensive.

Those views should be very low on the list of priorities.

Before any work is done on the sea grapes, two things need to happen.

One, the public needs to see a clear rendering of what the beach walk will look like afterward, so we know it won't be cut all the way back and made ugly, like other things are done on the beach walk.

Two, there must be a real scientific review and sign-off, including from Sea Turtle Experts and the Army Corps of Engineers, not just government officials.

If these two things cannot happen, this project should not move forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Alicia Casanova.

Good morning, I'm Alicia Casanova.

I am representing the Mid Beach Neighborhood Association.

Uh, the MBNA fully supports Commissioner Fernandez's resolution C7AB, opposing the amendment to House Bill 399, which would preempt and force local governments to approve certain development applications submitted by large design destination resorts, such as the Fontainebleau Hotel, thereby overriding applicable provisions of the city's land development regulations as well as the independent authority of the historic preservation board and other land use boards to review and approve such application.

And for close for closing existing opportunities for public input.

We really appreciate your help with this battle we're uh fighting right now with the state of Florida.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller has initials of WR.

Please state your name and go ahead, please.

You have two minutes.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Wayne Roberts out the fifth.

I just wanted to uh state that as you know, I'm a I'm a big proponent for um the ferry services that uh Miami Beach and the Barry Islands could have going forward.

Um high speed uh ferry services that are electric um that Seattle currently utilizes.

Um we have a much better weather, much better water system uh to enable it.

Um much better, bigger need, not just for Miami Beach, but all the Barry Island towns.

Um and it could uh connect uh all those towns to the city um in a in a high speed manner.

And uh whatever federal, state, and county funding that we can get from transportation departments would uh would have a major impact quickly on uh the residents of the city and anybody along the barrier islands that we're developing.

Um I applaud uh anybody that supports that effort.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Mark Gellman.

Unmute.

Okay, good morning.

Can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead, please.

Okay, uh Mark Gellman.

Um live on Prairie Avenue, have been here for almost 40 years.

Um here to speak against C 7U.

I think all of us would agree that one of the biggest problems we have here on Miami Beach is traffic.

And traffic comes from two sources.

It comes from people crossing the bridge, commuters, and the solution to that, the only solution will be mass transit, and I know we're not ready to go in that direction.

Then the other source of traffic is residents that have to move around the city, whether it's shopping or picking up their kids from school.

And uh one of the areas many people shop in is down by uh Sunset Harbor between Publix, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's, etc.

And many people like to use their bicycles to do their shopping.

The two streets that are being proposed to remove during the for this resolution are both streets that will allow people to get from Sunset Harbor area or South Beach area up to mid beach and further up, whether they're going to go up Prairie Avenue, they need to go along Chase, or they need to go along Meridian.

I've spoken to residents that live on Meridian, they are in favor of seeing a bike path along that.

So I don't know why, after years of working on this problem of of trying to close the gaps where there are gaps in bike lanes.

Why suddenly we've spent a lot of money working on this problem, and suddenly it wants to be these two streets, they want to remove what we've worked on so hard.

So I am against C7U.

I have no idea how this suddenly popped up.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our lax our last virtual caller has a screen name of Zano.

Please go ahead.

Hey, good morning, guys.

I live on Meridian.

Yeah, Zano.

Um I live on Meridian.

I own a house there.

Um I I think the I'm I'm in support of item C7U.

Absolutely against spending all this public funding on a net on the golf course.

I bike myself constantly there.

I take walks, have never once been felt threatened by a little golf ball.

I think um we could do a lot better to allocate the funds.

We have flooding issues, there's all sorts of structural issues across Miami Beach.

And I think spending money on this is absolutely unnecessary and not the right way to allocate funds.

Thank you so much, sir.

Go ahead, please.

Good morning, Ian Hendry, 1330 Ocean Drive.

I'm asking for a deferral on R7U until the following issues have been fully resolved, which haven't been proven during the previous street closure.

Uh the front door egress to the hotels and properties, Uber Rightshare pickup and drop off.

Okay, accessibility, the impact that the delivery drivers and trucks have if they're not going to be able to get to Ocean Drive, and they park uh in the middle of uh Collings Avenue, the life safety response times that were delayed during the closure, okay, an ocean court's inability to handle the extra traffic.

Uh there's been several times where basic service such as trash pickup has been impossible because ocean courts have been blocked.

Um I really urge you.

What was the first item you mentioned?

Sorry?

You gave a list.

I'm actually jotting it down.

You what was the one before Urban Uber ride share?

Uh before the Uber uh right share was the uh sorry, the the front door egress, the access.

Thank you.

You have everything, Callis?

I do.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh yeah, I I mean uh this has been an experiment that's been going on for six years.

Uh I can tell you now that our business is actually up 20% since uh you implemented the one way of ocean drive instead of the full closure.

Uh and I would urge you to reconsider before you just close ocean drive and just make it a debt sub.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Elias Hayan.

I'm with Associated Parking Systems.

I provide valet parking services in between 8th and 12th Street on Ocean.

I was recently advised by the parking department that we're not we're gonna be relocated to Collins Avenue for Valet Parking Services, but they're gonna leave Ocean Drive open.

I understand that, but what I'm asking is requesting is to keep to keep up the barricades.

That helps the traffic flow and prevents people from blocking the ramparents' loading zone and parting out of their cars.

So that's what I'm requesting.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

David Wallach.

I want to speak in terms uh to uh this R7U pedestrianization and the concept that is so half baked that it shouldn't be considered even yet before it goes to a full workshop.

First, I'm gonna I'm just gonna read from your resolution.

FDOT, Florida State.

Their feedback emphasize the need to understand how any proposed modifications to Ocean Drive would affect Collins Avenue, particularly at its interface at Fifth Street, and the potential downstream effect impacts to adjacent carters such as Washington Avenue, even to Alton Road.

Continuing on any reliance on Ocean Court, and for everybody's edification, Ocean Court is the alley.

It's not a street, it's the alley in between buildings from that back buildings up to buildings from ocean to Collins.

Just an alley with dumpsters, garbage trucks.

You want to call it a road?

It's not any reliance, and this is from Dade County, any reliance of Ocean Court would not result in a permit approval.

Because the east-west streets will result in dead end streets, turnaround cul-de-sacks will be required.

That will trigger a countywide referendum.

This option of pedestrianization would generate increased traffic volumes and queuing on Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue, adversely affecting levels of service and potentially requiring mitigation efforts, such as new signal timings and curbside adjustments.

The anticipated increase in parking demand along Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue may exceed available supply, forcing demand westward, potentially exacerbating spillover effects, increasing these constraints would require expanded transit service and investment in active transportation infrastructure to accommodate the modal shift away from private vehicle use.

One more thing.

Some of which would need to be absorbed by the dis which would have to absorb displaced traffic.

Delivery trucks would be parking for hours on Collins Avenue.

Thank you, sir.

I think F DOT would be extremely concerned with that, to say nothing of the massive litigation that this concept of pedestrianization would create for this city.

Thank you.

That concludes Subject Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Take it away, Ralph, on the consent agenda.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, everyone who called in and spoke.

The following items have been separated from the consent agenda.

Mayor Minor is separating C7R.

So Mayor Minor C7R.

Vice Mayor Matthil Salinas is separating C7U.

So Vice Mayor C7U and Commissioner Suarez is separating the following items.

C7Z as in C Zebra, C4C, C4E, C4G, C4T as in Tom, and C7L.

I'm gonna repeat them.

C 7Z, C4C.

Ralph, isn't C7Z an addendum item?

It is, but they want to make sure that it's discussed.

So it is uh C4C, C4E, C4G, C7T, and C7L.

And for the record, the mayor has not approved the inclusion of any of the addendum items.

Any such items will be heard after 5 o'clock.

These include C4L, C4M, R9AD, C4N, C4O, C7Y, C7Z, C7AA, C4Q, C7AB, C7AC, and C7AD.

Those are all listed on your time certain list.

Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

I make a motion on the consent agenda excluding those items that have been separated.

Second.

I heard Commissioner McDonald's.

I have a second by Vice Mayor Mattel Salinas.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Hearing none, the consent agenda excluding the separated and the addendum items are approved.

C'est okay.

We heard uh from our residents and businesses about a number of items uh this morning, but let's start with R7U.

R7U is accept recommendation configuration for ocean drive corridor, R7U.

Good morning.

Morning David.

David Gomez, director of the Office of Capital Improvements for the City of Miami Beach.

Um, this item is as you all I'm sure will be will recall, um began before February of 2022 when the commission adopted a vision plan created by Zuskovich that looked conceptually and at a very high level at potential reconfigurations for ocean drive.

Um essentially they identified three visions which included two-way traffic, one-way southbound, and full pedestrianization.

Following that adaptation or adoption in October of 22, the city contracted Calvin Giordano and associates to further examine each of those configurations and identify what could be done and how to move forward from there.

Uh coming back with a recommendation so that you, this body can decide on which configuration to further pursue.

Each of the three configurations poses uh benefits and uh detractions.

Um these things are evaluated and and presented uh in the in the memo, but for example, the vision plan in two of the three options occupied a portion of Lumis Park.

Both of those options, the two-way traffic and the one-way southbound, moved traffic into the park, required which would require a countywide referendum.

In the process of evaluating the options, Calvin Giordano identified ways to mitigate uh restrictions to permitting.

For example, the county's made very clear that we cannot rely on ocean court as an alternate traffic route.

Calvin Giordano has developed uh a scheme which which would eliminate the need of reliance on Ocean Court while accommodating turnaround traffic in the in the dead ends.

What Mr.

Wallach referred to earlier about the countywide referendum for the turnarounds is there was as part of the the study a look at how those turnarounds would happen and and they would occupy a large portion of the park again, triggering the requirement for a countywide referendum.

Calvin Giordano has developed a scheme which removes that portion from the park, eliminating that requirement.

We have met preliminarily with the county, and they are in agreement that this is a viable solution.

Um so that eliminates that requirement.

Uh back in apologies, I can't find the date.

In I'm sorry, in May of 2025, we did provide an update, and we heard very loud and clear from this body that the preference was for full pedestrianization.

So we've looked at the potential obstacles and potential benefits of that layout and are making the recommendation to proceed with the further development of full pedestrianization.

The things to consider here is that full pedestrianization will require two-way traffic on each of the side streets.

Um what that means is as part of the the master plan using bike lanes on those traffic on those streets would not be allowed just because they wouldn't fit.

However, they are small streets and Cheros could be incorporated.

We would lose some number of on-street parking on the side streets to accommodate loading zones for deliveries.

We have looked at delivery for businesses on Ocean Drive.

We could accommodate most of the delivery vehicles along the side streets through those loading zones.

We would have to restrict the very largest of vehicles, such as the 18-wheelers, would not be able to accommodate or or access the fronts or or even alting court of those businesses.

So we can do that either by restricting the size of delivery vehicles serving those businesses or setting up delivery times and utilizing Collins Avenue as a loading zone given the time slots that we could accommodate those vehicles.

Um and I do have our consultant here to answer any questions.

Should I have missed anything?

Mr.

Mayor, I'm happy to move staff for commentation.

Commissioner Dominguez.

I have a question.

Um you mentioned that uh on the side streets, parking would be lost.

There are residents and businesses that rely on the parking.

How much parking is going to be lost there?

I don't have an exact number of lost spaces.

Some spaces would remain just because we're we're looking to accommodate the turnaround as well as some loading zones.

Um, but I don't have an exact number.

I can give that to you.

If I could, um, that also could depend on where exactly the turnaround gets installed.

Umcean drive, so that there is a consistent pedestrian promenade along ocean.

Um, and so you would lose those parking spaces east of the uh alley.

Um but there is a version where those turnarounds could take place on ocean drive proper, which would reintroduce those parking spaces, but would then ultimately break up the pedestrianization of ocean.

But this is why we need to coordinate with DTPW.

This allowing staff to go forward and start negotiating with the TPW will determine where that turnaround would happen if it's going to happen on Ocean Drive or east of the alleyway between the alleyway and ocean drive.

And that by consequence will determine the loss of parking.

100% correct.

And I have another question.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Um other things.

Um the delivery truck impacts would be then from Ocean Drive to the side.

What about um the trash?

Ocean court, it can't be a regular corridor.

How is the disruption in trash collection going to work?

Thank you for asking.

Ocean Court would remain as is today, so the the trash uh services would still be provided on Ocean Court, as well as many of the deliveries and service vehicles that that use Ocean Court.

We just can't use it as a through fare.

And ADA uh accessibility.

ADA accessibility, we would obviously have the identified ADA uh parking spaces, but we would also incorporate drop-off at each of the turnarounds for not only ADA but all all drop-off.

And has life safety response times been reviewed?

Each of the turnarounds would accommodate a method for the emergency vehicles to access Ocean Drive.

So we're we're still working on the details, but yes, we would accommodate emergency vehicle access.

Okay, thank you.

I have a couple of questions, Eric.

Uh thank you, David.

Uh good uh in-depth summary.

If you can give us uh the other day, you gave me a 30-second summary, Eric.

I think it would be helpful to people to hear it.

So we've looked at all the different permutations of this.

Thank you to Calvin Giordano for doing such a thorough job.

They've articulated many of the the challenges that would exist in any of the different options.

Um but what we're recommending here is that we would fully pedestrianize ocean drive.

We would incorporate a turnaround close to the alleyway, just east of the alleyway in the 100 blocks, which would allow for a turning movement, a one movement turning movement for pedestrian vehicle, um uh passenger vehicles, trucks would have the ability to turn around using the alleyways, um, and ultimately we would have to get the county to buy into that and sign off on that.

If the county doesn't sign off on that, then this resolution recommends that we go with a secondary option of introducing one-way movements in um alternating blocks, eastbound on one street, southbound on ocean, westbound on the next street.

And so you would have intermittent pedestrianization blocks if we can't get the county to buy into the concept of full pedestrianization.

If this is approved, when when would it go into effect?

Right earliest.

The challenge would be in the permitting process just because the there is a current permit that's still open on ocean drive for the one-way southbound.

We would have to close that entire process before we can submit the new permit to the county for review.

So there's a little bit of a delay there, then it's the negotiations with the county on how we do it.

Uh then following that the completion of the construction documents, which I think we said eight months.

It's approximately eight months to complete the construction documents and then complete the permitting and and bidding and construction.

And what's the thinking from uh changing from the current iteration to what the proposal is?

So the thinking in moving from the current one-way condition to the full pedestrianization is that we believe that that is the long-term best solution for the city based on the analysis that we've done as well as some of the things that we think are are going to be the future of Ocean Drive and Loomis Park.

We think that this sets the city up to be in the best position for the next 30 years.

If I could expand on that, moving from the current condition to the proposed condition is what allows the city to expand the sidewalks and create better walking areas, more cafe space, etc.

So it is a change to the environment, not just the roadway.

I I've had uh a few stakeholders, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

They reached out, but also I want to ask uh I don't know they've they've said why can't we have the one-way but going northbound?

Did you ever now analyze that?

And what's the thinking?

So we did analyze that, and I see Jose Gonzalez is here.

Um my understanding is that you could possibly do both one or the other.

We believe and and we continue to believe that the southbound option is the better option, and it creates a situation where outbound flow of traffic doesn't get restricted the way you would have if you had northbound flow.

Fifth Street is a larger facility and is able to accept traffic as it exits Ocean Drive.

If you were to dump everybody onto 15th Street, I think you would have challenges.

That's exactly right.

Okay, thank you.

And in it, if I may not as a non-traffic engineer, uh one of the things I've learned during this process is that northbound one-lane traffic or one-way northbound actually increases the potential conflict points as vehicles need to turn left crossing the potential uh either pedestrians or other areas, whereas southbound has a fewer conflict points.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Some businesses rely on valet.

Uh, where will that be done?

Those valet spots will be at each of the side streets.

Not each, wherever they are now, they would we would accommodate on the side streets I know you touched on it.

Can you just address the emergency response times?

Okay.

The the emergency response times uh obviously there would be a gate or bollard system where we're actually looking at active vehicle barriers, which are the ones that drop into the ground.

Um so that is an impact by fully pedestrianizing ocean drive as the emergency vehicles approach, those bollards would drop, they can drive onto Ocean Drive.

They obviously have to be careful with pedestrians, but there should not be a big difference in response times.

Commissioner Fernandez, Mr.

Mayor, I think of um when you go to any major destination.

You go to Barcelona, uh, they have Las Rambolas.

You go to New York, they have Times Square.

And you go to Paris during certain times of the year, Chomps Alissa is completely or at least partially pedestrianized.

Um, you know, we have friends on both sides of this issue and important stakeholders and beloved stakeholders on both sides of the of the issue.

But the future, the future of prospering cities is accommodating pedestrianism, uh, accommodating a vibe for for our health and wellness brand, and it's also good for the economy.

We know that uh that that prospering cities offer pedestrianization so that restaurants can expand so that so that businesses that have limited indoor real estate can prosper and people are truly able to not only enjoy the environment but also enjoy more closely our our architecture.

Um I think this is the future, and I think that this will actually support and help the economy of the businesses along this road as it has and all of these other tourist destinations where they have proven its success.

Commissioner Magazine, Commissioner Fernandez, agree wholeheartedly, uh wholeheartedly.

Uh that is the long-term vision, that is where the world is going.

If you look at some of the most special places in the world, that is what it looks like.

I do have a caveat or a reservation though, in that.

Um I think we need to look at um and sometimes what we don't get right in the city is a comprehensive plan or vision.

So I love this vision for Ocean Drive, but the fatal error is if we don't do comprehensive urban planning in the surrounding areas.

What we need to make this vision feel activated, and I'll steal one of David Wallach's words that add that oxygen is people, right?

So if we're going to be taking the cars away, which I agree, is that vision and and it what's what makes places special, especially a beachfront uh plaza, we need people.

And in that area, it's one of the least uh I hate to use the word dense, but there's just not a lot of people around, right?

If you look at the businesses on Collins Avenue from 5th to let's call it 12th Street, that corridor is died.

Died, right?

Because if you go stand on fifth and collins, the bank just went out of business, the gym's not doing well, the retail on the ground floor is not doing well.

If you look around, you say, where are my customers going to come from?

Right?

Whether you're a gym or a sandwich shop or anything else, you do a 360-degree spin.

You say, where are my customers?

Right?

And that's I don't mean to harp on this Washington Avenue thing, but that is the comprehensive plan.

When I think about pedestrianizing Ocean Drive, it's because at 5 p.m.

I want to go there after work or after school and see thousands of people out there rollerblading and running and jogging and enjoying the most beautiful natural resource that Miami has to offer.

But we need the people to be able to do that, so we need comprehensive planning uh around that.

If we don't get that right, we're gonna have some of the issues that we're facing on Lincoln Road.

I took a picture of Lincoln Road, and I I wish I had it in time for the two-day rule for the presentation today, but it was from Alton Road looking east.

We're talking about 8 a.m.

And this is our major downtown, if you will.

There wasn't a single human being on that road, right?

Because there's not a lot of human beings that live in that immediate proximity.

And that's kind of the comprehensive vision that we need to fill in uh to make ocean drive pedestrianized successful in the long term.

Uh David, I have a question.

The longer term plan, I don't not even longer term, but in the near to medium term.

Is Ocean Drive just going to look as it is just without cars?

Is there still going to be the sidewalk?

And then we're going to have the street.

When I think about doing this, I I want to do it right.

I want to do it comprehensively.

I don't want people to feel as if we're in some sort of temporary purgatory of, oh, this could be a road one day, this could be a street one day, this should be a beautiful pedestrian plaza.

If we're going to go, let's push our chips all in and go all in.

It shouldn't be a sidewalk, yellow paint, and then a street.

Let's push our chips all in and make this one of the most special places in the world.

And I'll I'll let Giano explain a little more about the vision.

It is not just sidewalk and then other areas.

It's a pleasure.

The ultimate vision for Ocean Drive would be to create it more like a linear plaza.

The intention behind the initial visions and the ADCD plan was to create a curbless street.

So you wouldn't have a vertical separation of that curve between the roadway and the sidewalk.

And the idea would be if you've been to Clematis Street up in West Palm Beach to have that sort of storefront to park front continuity and that seamlessness between Ocean Drive and Lamas Park.

That is the overall intention.

And when do we get there?

Well, we have to go through that permitting process.

I think that that's the critical component to make sure that we get the buy-in from uh from the business.

I believe you mentioned something about a midterm or a or a near-term change.

There was an item discussed, a commission about potentially upgrading some of the sidewalks, lighting, et cetera, on Ocean Drive.

We did go out to the community and we and we presented some options in doing that.

There was considerable uh pushback pushback.

Um it was not received well by the community, so it it stopped at that point when we didn't.

And I'll tell you, in some of these kinds, and I'm not talking about the spics of this, but in some of these comprehensive plans and visions, there's going to be people that agree, disagree for anything.

And where we've really erred over the years is the city is some of these projects.

We get to the one-yard line or the 10-yard line, and some people say, oh no, no.

And we all of a sudden get cold feet, and this is how West Avenue doesn't get done for 20 years.

Right?

This is how Lincoln Road doesn't get done for a long time.

So uh I don't want 20 years to go by or 10 years or five years.

And we've made this commitment to pedestrianize ocean drive, but we're still sitting around and it just looks like any normal street and sidewalk.

We need to push the chips into the middle and really go forward with this.

Commissioner Bott, then Commissioner Suarez, then Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Um I want to build on what my colleagues have said about this being a transformative project for the future of the city.

I know change is hard.

Um it doesn't um come all at once, and it's complicated.

But in addition to what my colleagues have already said on this matter, we know from the reams of data that that are out there.

I brought a bunch of examples when we talked about this last year.

I didn't bring them again today, but the data quite conclusively shows that pedestrianized plazas and streets increase retail business, increase dining business, um, because people stroll through, they wander in, they have a cup of coffee, they go out, they do some shopping, they go and and go to the beach, they come back, they go for lunch.

You know, it is not the same.

If you're using Ocean Drive as a thoroughfare to get from point A to point B, that is not the same experience.

Um, I I recently re-watched um Birdcage, which is if anyone hasn't watched it recently, I highly encourage it.

It is awesome.

But that is not the Ocean Drive we are anymore.

It was jam-packed with cars, people in you know, 80s, Jane Fonda workout out outfits and rollerblades.

And that's that part still holds true, David.

David does still wear that occasionally.

Um but that that's not that's not where we are as a city anymore.

Yes, to fitness, clearly, but not weaving your way through cars to do so.

I think this will be such an upgrade to what is already an amazing public amenity and a world-class destination.

And I think we're gonna look back in 10 years, even those who are concerned about how it's going to impact their business.

We will look back in 10 years from its its opening and say, I can't believe we ever resisted this.

I do I'm not being cavalier about the concerns that are being raised about how do we address our hotel guests, how do we address our dining guests?

We will work those details out.

We will make the experience a welcoming one from the point of departure from their vehicle to the point of entrance to their destination.

One second, please, David.

Um and get it right.

The other thing, Joe, you mentioned the meeting, or David, you mentioned the meeting actually last year, where there was very strong pushback about making changes to the sidewalks and lighting and to the park in advance of this.

I think that is a correct assessment, but I believe that that was before we had made a decision and there was a lot of um concern that nobody wanted to spend money on something that would just be ripped up again.

So if there is a way to, as we're working on the permits, start also developing the cosmetic part of this, knowing that what we're aiming for, and we can start to make those um improvements that will not then be ripped up but will be incorporated into what is to come.

That would be, I think, a great way to move forward to um uh elevate the experience as we're transitioning, as you suggested, Joe.

So um that's what I would like to encourage.

Thank you, Commissioner Suarez.

Um I'd like to invite our chief of police.

Uh I had a couple questions.

Good morning, Wayne Jones, please chief.

Morning, chief.

Morning, sir.

Um I remember I believe during COVID, there when we did go full pedestrian for for a period of time, there was unintended consequences such as well stampedes, overcrowding, especially during the high impact periods.

If we go through with this, does the police supportive of this measure where you can effectively manage crowd control on ocean drive?

Yeah.

Um well, COVID, as you know, is problematic on all hosts for host reasons.

Um I don't I don't think the issues associated with COVID was simply limited to the closure of Ocean Drive.

Uh at any rate, I I think from police perspective, whether ocean drive remains open as it is today or closed permanently at some point, uh, will police as best we can.

Um obviously this decision is a policy decision to be made, but uh we're communicated to policing it, whether closed or open.

Okay.

I just want to I would just want to hear from the police if it's if it's something you can do.

Is it possible to do crowd control and management again on Ocean Drive if you needed to?

Yes.

Okay.

That's a charge, we'll make it happen.

That's it.

Thank you.

So I have two questions.

Um this plan will include the sidewalk cafes will still be able to operate because we won't have ocean drive anymore at theoretically.

There would actually be more space for the sidewalk cafes.

Okay, so those businesses would be able to expand and have more restaurant space to increase their revenue.

Okay, and then my second question is have we figured out yet addressed what would happen to our premier events, our parades that we have on Ocean Drive, like Pride, Veterans Day, even Art Deco weekend.

Have we thought about if those would be moved to Washington or Fifth Street or if there's a cost of less businesses?

So I've thought a little bit about that.

Um we would have the option of continuing to do the parade on Ocean Drive because you have to keep a 20-foot clear path for emergency vehicles, um, and we could activate that uh it would be similar to um having a parade on Lincoln.

Which we've done on occasion, not as frequently as with Ocean.

So even when the plan is all said and done in 20 years or whatever, it's rebuilt and there's technically no street on Ocean Drive, it's we're still gonna be able to host our events, our parades.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Commissioner Commandes.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Uh PJ, um, do you have the image I just sent to you?

There we go.

This is what we're talking about with the uh staff recommendation that we just moved.

Uh we're talking about an elevated uh an elevated street, in essence, um, the the area that today is asphalt, uh, would be rebuilt as one continuous uh sidewalk that goes all the way pretty much to Loomis Park.

So really enhancing the pedestrian offering.

I believe uh that's about 55 feet, Mr.

Director, is that correct?

I think it's actually more than that.

It's more than 55 feet.

So that's what's so it's pretty significant, uh, pretty significant pedestrian space we would be adding there.

Clearly, there you you see in the in the middle of it, um, you know, much more expanded uh space uh for our businesses for our restaurants to really be able to flourish.

And we know in this area of the city that's so critical and important because the indoor real estate of these businesses is very limited, and in order for them to flourish and really make financial sense is by offering them this expanded outdoor seating area.

And then furthest to the east, um you see when it meets uh Loomis Park, you have that um that that lane there that's for emergency vehicles, and as the city manager was mentioning, uh that would be the area that you would be able to use to continue hosting um incredible events like pride that sustain our economy and attract to tourism.

This is this is such a beautiful vision, uh, where people get to not only enjoy the park and the businesses, but the architecture and the events that we host in in our city.

And so I just wanted to share the visual of it uh because this really would be taking, I think, the ocean drive experience to the very next level.

Thank you.

Uh public comment.

Let's uh Mr.

Wallach, I know you've been waiting patiently and Ralph.

I don't know if anyone's on Zoom.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I don't think you people are understanding.

It's unbelievable that you don't understand that 5th to 15th Street is not Espinola Way, it's not Miracle Mile, it's not Lincoln Road, it is not a retail center.

It is small hotels.

Each of these have multiple small rooms with small bathrooms, no swimming pools, no parking.

The only amenity that they truly have is their front door access to Loomis Park, and you want to take it away.

You're making a totally non-competitive depression will follow year after year, and it will be dead.

You have not planned ahead.

What will replace these beautiful little beautiful deco hotels?

Because you're gonna kill them, just like the 1970s.

None of you are here for that.

You have no idea when what went on in the 1970s, but you're gonna create the same thing.

Darkness, emptiness.

Why not look at Loomis Park and all the hurricanes that have depleted it and redesign it and redesign it all the way to the to the to the beach mound as uh the architect designed?

Magnificent.

Light those trees incredibly like they do in Whistler.

We have Ocean Drive lit like a dump.

Meridian Avenue is is more beautiful than Ocean Drive at night.

And yet you want to destroy it.

You don't realize you're talking about life safety.

Yes, Chief Jones will do the best he can to get there.

Even if it's 10 minutes late.

You don't realize that trucks have to service every one of these hotels.

Everyone.

And if you say, well, we'll use smaller trucks, then you need four trucks for every one big truck.

Those then have to walk on hand trucks and deliver one by one every block five days a week.

You think police and fire vehicles can get through all those multiple trucks parked on each street.

They won't.

You're dreaming and creating this facetious lie to the public of access when you're removing all the access.

It is impossible for these small hotels from 5th to 15th street to function if you close that one way.

One way is like one lung.

You've already taken away the other lung.

During the six-week closure that Mayor Gelbert instituted illegally, but it happened, and Judge Buchko then ruled and open, but six weeks.

But it gives you a scale, even to Collins Avenue of what would happen incrementally to every building.

Mango's Tropical Cafe in six weeks dropped $770,000.

Thank you, sir.

And recovered when the street was reopened in one lane.

Don't kill Ocean Drive before you fully plan what the recovery would truly be, because it is not pedestrianization.

Increasing the size of cafes with no one there means nothing.

That's right.

And I just thank you.

If I could just Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Um because I mean the this is the same conversation we've been having for years.

And it's advancing this from conversation to actual discussion with DTPW.

But this is not set in stone because if DCPW were not to approve either of the turnaround designs with a full pedestrianization, then we are recommending the through the motion that we did supporting staff's recommendation, the hybrid design with one vote way uh with a one-way traffic lane uh blended with pedestrianization along Ocean Drive.

So the door here is for both options.

We're telling DP D we're telling our administration to work with DTPW on our preference of it being pedestrianized, fully pedestrianized, uh consistent with all the conversations we've had for all of these years.

But if we are unable to fully pedestrianize it, we're simultaneously giving the ability to then work on a hybrid design with a one-way vehicle lane uh blended with pedestrianization along Ocean Drive.

So just so that there's clarity on that.

Thank you.

Mitch, would you like to speak?

Uh I'll be I'll be brief.

Mitch Novick 901.

Collins.

Whenever the 100 block is close to uh vehicular traffic, the 100 block outside my building becomes a traffic sewer, which include deliveries which are lined up along the curbs with their condenser units, uh, the noise, the vibration, the uh the fact that it's just total gridlock is really problematic.

I think if you go forward with this kind of plan, you know, you're really gonna essentially kill my business because it's uh severely impacted whenever uh ocean drive is closed to vehicular traffic.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

If not, let's go to Zoom.

First caller has a screen name of call-in user one.

Please state your name.

You have two minutes.

Please unmute yourself.

Let's go to Daniel Soraldo, please.

You have two minutes.

Yes, hi, Daniel Seraldo, resident of uh the Arteco District.

And as far as ocean drive pedestrianization, I just want to make sure that if that is done, that the businesses which already have huge indoor business uh within their property line, like Mango's or the palace, should not be able to expand so much more outside.

It should be proportional.

There are so many hotels that stayed hotels, unlike these other buildings that adapted to a new use.

And so we need to help, as Ms.

Wallace said, the smaller hotels that don't have that having converted their inside to an all-night party, and we need to look at protecting them.

I haven't heard any of them speak, but I am aware that the smaller hotels like the idea of the pedestrianization.

So please uh stick to this and keep it going forward.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Inez.

I know state your name.

You have two minutes.

Yes, Ines Plax uh here again.

I just uh want to stress the importance that the residents and the businesses who are here full time, okay, like David Wallach, like Mitch, like myself, okay.

I've been here in Ocean Drive for 26 years.

And um and the so-called experts that you pay, okay, they don't have the daily experience of the people who are here full-time.

Even those nobirds who come here in the winter, yes, they want to have a park behind their or in front of their condos, and they're only looking for themselves, selfish.

If I was like that, I will also want to have you know a pedestrian there, right?

Because I mean, if I was selfish, but I'm looking for the um for the community, not just our local community, but the world community.

And it will be a shame to completely change uh the character of Ocean Drive and what it has been and how successful it was with and the reason that no one's coming here because we don't have parking.

Parking became so unaffordable.

People stop coming here.

I hear this from many of my friends who live in Coral Gable, who lives in Boca, and they start coming here because, first of all, unfriendly, second, no parking, and then parking, you know, 40 dollars for valet is unaffordable.

And Miami is a car-driven community.

The you know, pedestrianization, like many people explain.

Where are the people going to come from?

They have to come here by car before they even get here, and where are they gonna park?

Your problem is parking, not parks.

So you spend a lot of time over the last 20 years creating more and more parks, but not parking and not affordable housing.

So your your priorities have been not in the right place.

So I hope that you at least do a comprehensive plan of the entire CD before you move forward with anything.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Jane Krupp.

Good morning, everyone.

Um, and thank you all for finally speaking about this really important iconic street that I've lived on for 20 years, and um I'm down here in the trenches on 14th and Ocean.

I watch the trucks, I watch the pedestrians, I watch the tourists, the events, everything.

And I've got all the data in my head.

I would love to share with Calvin Giordano.

I'm happy they've started to do a plan.

And uh, Mr.

Magazine, you're right.

We need a man, a comprehensive master plan thought out, and we need to start now, uh, designing it, thinking about it.

Um, I'm on the executive board and and uh founder of ADNA, Art Deco Neighborhood Association, and I was on the ADCD mayor's panel during the Ziskovich discussions, and we need to continue a dialogue with the residents here and the businesses.

Um all these problems are solvable with full pedestrianization, which we support completely for many years.

For 30 years, we've had residents that have wanted this vision for the city.

Um, I'm not in total agreement with that diagram that was shown.

I believe that the restaurant should be elevated because this pedestrianization and we should put the bike lane back in.

I don't know why that was taken out.

I don't think the Lincoln Road model is correct.

I think the restaurant should be attached to their balconies and um extend the sidewalk, keep it elevated, and then do a beautiful paver and a bike lane.

It all can be done uh without infringing on the park, leave the park a beautiful green space and coconut grove, like it is, doesn't need to be touched.

We have a 20 million dollar geobond that just this repaving and reconfiguration and the turnarounds will probably um solve.

But also let me just address the truck issues.

We have plenty of parking on 14th Street and the side streets in the 100 blocks.

And I just had 30 seconds.

We have plenty of track, we have plenty of, we have plenty of parking and loading zones.

The problem is the oversized trucks who can't make the turnarounds, these are old streets.

Let's design it for smaller trucks, put the bigger trucks on Collins.

It all can be done in the 200 blocks.

It we need city planning, and let's get it done.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Monica Anton.

Ms.

Anton, you have two minutes.

Good morning, Commission Monica Enson on behalf of Mango's Cafe at the Colony Hotel.

Uh this commission is concerned about the impact that historic buildings are going to have if the state takes certain actions against it.

But at the same time, you're not, you don't have the same concern over the historic hotels that are located on Oak Shoot Drive.

The Colony Hotel is uh mid street.

What would happen to those people that want to go to the colony hotel?

They would be walking half a block in high heels, rolling their suitcases with umbrellas in the ring.

How many more of those customers will come back?

I bet you not very many.

What will be the long-term effect on these smaller historic district hotels?

I think that the vote on this item is premature without a further study of the impact on your historic properties, as well as on these side streets.

I hear a lot of the dates are happening on these side streets.

These are very narrow two-way side streets.

You are now indicating you're gonna have two-way traffic, you're going to have parking, you're going to have loading, you're going to have ride shares, you're going to have ballet.

How many things can happen on half a block on each side?

This is going to have an impact going down Hollins, going down to Washington, and even possibly into the Flamingo Park neighborhood because these side streets cannot handle the amount of items and things that you are proposing that are going to happen.

We believe that this is premature.

And I think what Commissioner Magazine said earlier is very important.

You are going you're moving forward with this, but what are you?

Are you going to have a plan so that it's not just an open street as we had after Phil Creek?

You have one of the best police departments in the state, not the country.

They will always respond.

But what will they be able to do it safely and sentence?

I believe that you need the additional time to actually get this correctly.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next virtual caller is Susanna Santoro.

Please, you have two minutes.

Go ahead.

Good morning, Commission.

This is actually not related to the matter.

I just wanted to thank Commissioner Alex Fernandes for advancing item C7AB opposing HB 399 and the rest of the commission.

Uh placing this position on the background is important not only from an historic preservation standpoint, but from a broader principle of fairness, infrastructure concurrency, fiscal responsibility, and most critically life safety.

Thank you.

In a concept buried island environment like Miami Beach with limited evacuation routes, chronic corridor congestion, and documented emergency access challenges, preserving meaningful local review for high-intensity development in a matter of public safety and equity of governance, ensuring that all property owners are subject to consistent evidentiary standards and that impacts traffic, emergency response, water, sewer, and store and water systems are properly evaluated before approvals are granted is fundamental to protecting residents, visitors, and the long-term financial stability of the community.

So, commissioners, mayor, thank you again, in particular, uh Commissioner Fernandez for putting this forward.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Andres Ocion.

You have two minutes.

Go ahead, sir.

Good morning, everyone.

Um, you know, if it's not gonna be two lanes going um north and south, the most logical thing is to have traffic flowing northbound.

It's just common sense that you drive down Fifth Street, the major most largest artery to get to Ocean Drive and make a left when you get to Ocean Drive and drive up the street.

Many times, if you take an Uber and you're gonna go, for instance, to Mangles, and you put 900 Ocean Drive, if you don't have that flow of traffic, you're gonna go up Washington, come down 9th, stop on 9th and Ocean and get out, versus going through the flow of Ocean Drive and enjoying all the beautiful businesses and restaurants that there are to offer there.

It just makes common sense to go up north, pull your car up to the left.

You don't even have to change the lanes the way that they're painted on the street right now.

All you have to do is turn the traffic lights around to the other side.

It is simple, it is easy, and you don't want people parking or getting dropped off a block away, especially if they're elderly, especially if they're you know have impairment in walking to walk over a block over to get to a restaurant.

It makes no sense.

It's not Lincoln Road.

Lincoln Road does not have hotels that are on Lincoln Road, it's not the same vibe.

And another thing is if you would put some beautiful signature art, like there is in the design district around the park, three or four or five pieces and make it a free public space for art.

Many people using the power of marketing that the city is doing a great job with, would invite people to come over and see that free art sculpture in the park, and it'll attract more people to come to Ocean Drive for different reasons.

Put marketing, put art, and have proper flow of traffic on Ocean Drive, and it won't work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

There are no other Zoom callers.

Uh some of you were here when uh you decided that there would be a pedestrian zone on Ocean Drive, which is between 13th and 15th Street.

During that presentation, you presented several things that would expand ocean drive for the cafes and make it a lot better for us.

We went through four years of closure with zero being done.

Absolutely nothing was done to improve ocean drive in the pedestrian area.

We died.

Okay.

And I'm afraid, and it's been bought up here that we're gonna go through the same thing.

You're gonna push something forward because that's the agenda.

You're gonna close Ocean Drive.

Where is the money coming from?

There's 20 million in a bond right now for Ocean Drive improvements from everything that I'm hearing here.

This is hundreds of millions of dollars.

Where is that money coming from?

When is it gonna come?

Are you gonna close Ocean Drive in the meantime and put it the same way that it was for those four years in the pedestrian zone where we were just dead?

Please put some thought into this.

Okay, come up with the funds.

Come up with the proper plan.

But don't kill Ocean Drive and close it to traffic right now without those plans in place and the funds.

I'm sure there's gonna have to be another geobond run around in order to try and obtain these funds, because from what I'm hearing, again, I'm looking at this.

There's hundreds of millions of dollars that are gonna be required to do all of these improvements, these side streets, the front street.

Where's the money coming from?

Please good morning, Vice Mayor and Commissioners.

Uh Matthew Galtanoff again, 125 Jefferson Avenue.

Uh in principle, I'm in support of pedestrianizing Ocean Drive.

I've spoken on this many times, and many others in the community have.

I do think at this point, though, this might be kind of premature.

This it's really it's a visionary idea to pedestrianize it to build out the infrastructure, but you really do need the buy-in of the adjacent property owners and uh the adjacent operators.

So that because you can do it without them, but if you really want it to be a success, they should really be on board.

How can we we should be asking a question?

How can we get the neighbors who operate these businesses, uh the property owners who own these properties?

How can we get them on board with this idea?

And if we do that, perhaps it will be a really well, I think we all know it will be successful.

It was successful over Christmas and the college football game.

And if we build up that infrastructure and that community support, I think we can get there.

Uh, I do want to ask one question.

I know that previous ideas for pedestrianization included the bike lane, which is currently there, and I think we can all agree that it's super successful.

There's a counter that was installed on there, and that shows again tremendous use.

I don't know the exact numbers, but tremendous use of that bike lane.

Uh, people from all around the country are riding it, the workers are riding it.

Uh if it is pedestrianized, I think it's important to keep that in the plan because it does take a lot of pressure off of the serpentine pathway along Lemmis Park.

And then finally, it's my understanding that that um the city's close to getting the permit to keep the current condition that's in place that uh uh someone mentioned was ordered to be removed.

So I think having an update on that and where that stands, what um you know it would be important for a lot of people in this community because I think that right, Mr.

Manager, the city's close to getting um permission from the county um on what we have today as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, yes is the answer.

Okay.

That concludes public hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's vote.

Um I think it's go ahead, Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Um I'm struggling with this because I like I walk two miles every night.

And uh some of those nights are on Ocean Drive.

Um, but you know, uh there is something to say that a lot of the businesses that have come reached out to me and are here today, I have a real issue with this.

Um, Mr.

Wallack bring up brings up a good point where some of these delivery trucks will be congested at these if we do the roundabout option.

Um that's gonna cause a lot of backups, especially for uh the hotels that are needing it service with their linens, food, etc.

Um I mean and not only that, but I think one caller mentioned that you know someone might have to walk half a block uh to get to their to their hotel.

Yeah, these hotels are historic, the rooms are historic, it's very small.

I mean, there is something to say that if we if we go ahead with this, how are we going to accommodate the businesses there that do rely on a front door and drop-off pickup and not have to walk uh half a block to get to the room because you know I I the experience for that is I I don't I don't know if that's gonna be something where that visitor's gonna wanna come back to that particular hotel.

So, you know, I I don't know.

Um I'm um I'm struggling with this, and you know, I'd like to see, I'd like to hear some more of my colleagues on uh on um and how are we going to get buy-in, as Mr.

Goltenov has mentioned from the local businesses.

Let's see how we can make this work and and we can have you know a a unified front uh on this um plan.

Thank you.

If we're gonna ask what is the timeline for implementation?

Uh we've got about uh eight months of design work to do.

Um, but I I want to clarify what we have today is a feasibility study.

What we are requesting is the commission's direction on which option to pursue.

At that point is when we begin developing all of the design.

What we have is identified the challenges, pros, and cons of each option.

We've not developed solutions to each of those challenges.

That's what comes next.

So reaching out to the community and the business owners, that's what comes next.

So if we went forward with this, it would be a conceptual plan and design, it would give at least eight months for the businesses and for the community in general to develop some sort of comprehensive plan for the delivery schedules and more of your supply chain and logistics.

Okay, we have a question on that.

I have a question on that, and I'm sorry, because it's eight months for design, but that design period happens after working with the county and DTPW and determining Mr.

Manager which option is the one that works fast.

So we need to get clarity from the county before we can move forward with a design so that we're not doing double work.

Right.

The preliminary input from the county is that the full pedestrianization will work.

They will not give us a formal response until we submit for permit, and we can't do that until we close the pending permit and actually develop the drawings a little further.

As part of the process, we still have to go to the historic preservation board and present to them as well.

So all that and what does all that time equal.

I mean, I think what you're hearing from us is it's gonna be at least a year.

Yeah, that's correct.

Conservatively.

Conservatively.

David, have you met the local businesses?

We have had preliminary meetings.

We've had a couple of uh organizational meetings and then with individuals, but not at the point where we can begin showing them uh development solutions because we're just not there yet.

So, you know, some of the points brought up is that they're gonna have to, you know, if you're unfortunately if your hotel's smack dab in the middle of a street, you're gonna have to walk.

What what what is what is the city's solution for that?

I mean, because that's I understand it's preliminary, but I mean, you know, that's kind of a through the chair.

Yes, Mr.

Major.

One of the things that we've been doing during closures at New Year's each year is piloting the freebie use on Ocean Drive because we think that that might be a viable option.

It may not be a freebie, it may be um some sort of miniature trolley.

Um could be um even, you know.

Yeah, I don't think using taxpayer funds to subsidize a business uh for transportation like to a valid for a valet pickup is is really a good use of funds, Eric.

Uh no.

Um there's got to be a more concrete plan for that, besides using freebie, because then you're gonna be taking freebie from other people who need or like seniors to go other places.

I mean, so is there any other ideas than using freebie services to get people from these uh roundabouts at the end of each intersection to their destination hotel?

So just to be clear, and I'll ask the transportation director to stand up and confirm.

I don't believe that we were charged anything for those freebie activations over the holidays on Ocean Drive either of the two years that we've done it.

It was able to be done through an arrangement with the businesses, and they were able to work out something with freebie where Freebie was getting, you know, the exposure and the advertising and that's not a long-term plan.

I mean, let's be honest.

I mean, that's sure that's that works for the holidays, but that's not a 365-day year plan.

Listen, I'm not trying to be difficult.

I'm just saying it certainly seems that this is very half-baked on on what the plan is.

I I like pedestrianization, like I said, but I think we really need to have a serious plan before kind of just you know, just going forward with something without buy-in from the local businesses that are you know are obviously struggling still.

So I just have a question.

What plan are you looking for?

Because I think you know, there was the AC DC committee.

There was this Golvich that was brought in to put together a master plan.

Then Cordino and Associates, Cordino, I think.

Yes.

Came in and did explain the additional work that Corradino did.

So they got the master plan that the that's the skovic put together.

I mean, going back even further, we had the Schulman plan, which was came back and said you need to level the street with the sidewalks and put in bollards so that you have the ability to expand the pedestrianized use of the street.

That was back in 2016.

That fed the geobond in 2018.

Then following the geobond, we had the um the mayor's blue ribbon panel for the Art Deco Cultural District.

That was visioning exercise that ultimately ended up in the hiring of Zaskovich to do a master plan that included Ocean Drive, Loomis Park, Collins, and Washington.

And then we hired Calvin Giordano to flesh out that vision plan into something that could be executable, and that's where we stand today.

Um are all of the nitty-gritty details ironed out?

No, not at this point.

But I think we have a very solid framework based on the amount of outreach that we've done, the amount of engagement we've had with the community.

Are there some folks that are still adamantly opposed?

Obviously, you've heard that today.

Um there some folks that are adamantly in support, absolutely.

Are there some folks that are still kind of on the fence and want to see some more detail?

Absolutely.

And we will continue to engage with everyone to make sure that everybody has a seat at the table.

Um, but there are some folks that are are just dug in in their position and are not going to move as long as there's no vehicles on the street.

And so, and just as a follow-up to that, because it's part of the work that Coradino did.

There are certain legal and regulatory requirements that Corordino had to abide by.

Um, you know, and and if the representative from Corardino could approach the podium, you know, things that he took into consideration, crowd management, public safety, ballet operations.

Can you walk us through what are you know the things that you had to consider as you went about your study?

Sure, and for the record, Calvin Giordano Carardino is a different firm.

I don't want to misrepresent uh them.

Um, as part of our work.

Leave it to me to mix up names.

One of the one of the critical things that we wanted to do was to make sure that we avoided the triggering of the county charter.

That was a huge component of this project.

We also looked at the safety requirements that will be implemented given the speed volumes that we're seeing on the corridor to abide by the green book, which is a regulatory component that requires certain separations between pedestrian use objects, artifacts, landscaping, and the vehicular roadway.

Um we have discussed extensively with staff about uh uh operational factors such as where do we convert existing parking on the side streets to be able to accommodate short-term parking for ride chair, short-term parking for um uh delivery box trucks, and uh we are ballet operator.

The valet operator as well.

Stacking.

Correct.

We have in the in the diagrams that we've provided, I believe that some of them were in the attachments to the to the member.

There are uh diagrams that show how we've preliminarily allocated designated spaces for each one of these uses.

Understanding that these are operational challenges for the corridor.

How about business deliveries?

Has that been incorporated into the material that you've provided the city?

Um not so much beyond where the box trucks would park.

Um a lot of the deliveries for um a lot of the case studies that we've looked at with regards to roadways that have been pedestrianized, is that you have sort of a two-step process.

The truck does not drive up to the front door of the establishment, they get to a designated parking spot, and then there is a uh handheld delivery at that point.

Um it's an inconvenience, but it's some it's it's something that has been worked out in a lot of different things.

So, but these are all things that as when when you went about your study, these are all things that were considered as part of the study that you were contracted to do by the city commission.

Right.

Madame Pfeitzer.

Yes, Commissioner Bott.

Um, you know, we have time to finesse these details, and there are super high-end destinations throughout the world in Europe and in cities in South America and Asia that have really beautiful hotels on pedestrianized streets.

I would like to engage our economic development director to spend some time doing some research to inform our decisions on how to best manage this.

I can tell you that if I were paying um to stay in a historic hotel someplace, I would find it much more appealing to have it open up onto a pedestrianized street across the way um to the park and the beach than to have a traffic trafficked street.

Um I think that we I know that we can get to correct answers that will accommodate everybody's concerns.

And like I said before, change is hard and you have to figure it out.

We're not saying tomorrow Ocean Drive becomes 100% pedestrianized.

We are starting the process.

It will take time, which gives us the flexibility and the latitude to do really deep research, not just of what happens in South Florida, but what happens in destinations that are comparable to ours around the world.

Um we could conceivably limit deliveries to before eight o'clock in the morning or before nine o'clock in the morning, and um have them come up on the pedestrianized um right of way, potentially.

We can look at all kinds of different things.

Um Orleans doesn't come to a grinding halt because deliveries can't be made in 18-wheeler truck into um the French quarter.

There are solutions to these problems that other cities work with very, very well around the country and around the world.

Let us find those examples, let us choose from the best of them, and we will adopt them for our community.

Anyone else?

Are we ready to vote?

Call the question.

Call the vote.

So I have a motion by Commissioner Fernandez, a second by Commissioner Bott.

All in favor of our let's go, let's call.

You want a roll call?

Okay, I'm gonna go alphabetically, Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Matil Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yeah.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved 7-0.

That was item R7U.

Uh let's call R7Z.

Thank you.

My colleagues.

R7Z.

R7Z is a recognized sunset all fundraising event in honor of Sergeant David Kajusha.

Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I know oftentimes we have a dedicated meeting for awards, presentations, recognition, and it's something that uh I actually don't participate in too often.

Um, and there's a time for that, but today I want to bring up uh one of the greatest things I've seen in the city for some time.

Uh I often say we're blessed with so many things here, our natural resources, our beach, our weather.

Uh, but what makes Miami Beach special is the people.

It's community.

And our community as a whole faced a tragic time at the end of 2025 in November, where we lost the family member unexpectedly, Officer David Cusso.

And it was something that impacted our entire community.

And oftentimes in life's most strenuous and challenging moments are when you often see the best out of humanity and the best from a community.

And one of those things that really allowed our community to come together was a small business that operates in Sunset Harbor.

It's called Sunset Paddle.

It's owned by people that live in our community, that raise their families in our community, send their children to school in our community.

They really stepped up to the plate and they hosted a fundraising event for the officers' family.

And I'll let them come up to the mic and give an overview of what they did.

But they in life's toughest moments for Officer Cuhuso's family, they raised a significant amount of money that will be there to help and support their family.

So while it's a unimaginable tragedy that this family has went through, if anybody's going to go through it, I can't think of a better support system than the special community that we have here in Miami Beach.

So not only did our City Hall community and the police department step up, but we have uh private members of our Miami Beach community step up.

And I'd like to maybe call the owner of Sunset Paddle, uh, Rafi Gibley, Chris Picello, up, and maybe you could just give an overview of what you all did and uh what you raised and what you did, and Chief Jones, if you want to accompany, because I know you're there on that special evening, and just give your thoughts on uh what this did for the family.

Raffi.

Um good morning, uh Wayne Jones, uh Chief of Police.

Um it was really touching, emotional Sunday evening.

Uh you know, there's so many things about this city that makes it special.

And the reason I think it is a capital world because this is about business owners and residents like Rafi and Chris, who weren't asked to do something like this for the widow of uh of David and his his young children, uh, took it upon himself to do it.

I imagine many of the friends and colleagues they had in the room that evening never met David.

But they understood how important it is to care for those who sacrificed so much to make the city great.

Um his wife was so grateful to the point she was too emotional to actually speak, I think.

And so from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of uh grateful Miami Beast Police Department, um and the widow and the family of David Goose so thank you so so very much.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you, uh Mayor, thank you, commissioners.

Um I would like, you know, nothing more than for Chris and I to take all the credit, but it really wasn't us.

It was every single person that entered the club that heard about it.

Obviously, we were just the messengers.

We just uh explained to them about the story of how unfortunate it was that a young officer that was healthy was was driving on on a on a highway, either on the way to work or or something in those uh and and lost his life with three young kids.

Um and that pretty much was our story.

Of course, we we gave uh our facility, which we always do, but this was something really special that every single person that walked in and heard about the story really opened up their hearts and and gave as much as they could.

And we're happy to do this.

Uh Miami Beach Police has always been there, obviously protecting us, um, protecting our families, our schools, our community, our businesses.

And um again, this is not something that we we were just the messengers for this.

This is the entire community.

People that lived everywhere in Miami Beach came out that night was probably the most we've hosted maybe 200 events.

That was probably the most you know incredible event, uh most touching and an emotional event we've ever, or maybe we'll ever have at the clip.

So I want to thank you guys for obviously uh recognizing this, but it wasn't it was wasn't us, it was the community that really did this.

And Rafa, I know you're very modest.

Uh maybe you could start with when you presented uh the widow of Officer Cuhuso with the check, what she originally thought it was for because she was in such disbelief in what it was actually for uh yeah.

Uh she was as the chief said, she was extremely emotional.

We didn't know if she was gonna attend uh she was going through a lot with three young kids.

Uh we had the event early on so she could still get home and put the the kids back to to bed for school.

And it was more than we ever thought.

We really, you know, we had an amount that we wanted to wish for, and and we exceeded it by by a lot more than that.

And uh we'll continue doing it for her, for other officers.

Hopefully that never happens again.

But if we get the call, we'll we'll be there again and again.

And uh we're happy that at least we were able to to raise uh a really significant amount of money that could really help her.

And just uh help the community quantify the impact that you had.

Uh I believe it was 165,000 that just your small business, your community was able to raise that went to directly at Officer Cruz was fabric.

Yeah.

And uh when she was presented with a check, she was in such disbelief.

She thought it was sixteen thousand dollars, and she said that was amazing.

Uh, but then to realize it was 165,000.

That's something that is uh goes a long way to helping the family.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

And I don't want to turn into an award ceremony, but maybe we could go down and take a picture with uh Rafi Chris and the police.

Yeah, and thank you, Rafi Chris.

Uh I was there tonight.

I was a lot of events that night of Hanukkah, but the you could see the outpouring of affection and emotion and caring.

Um so kudos to you and your and your and your business.

And the entire city of Miami Beach.

There's that's a special family, and I hope, and and I know they see the the love.

I I honored them and uh his widow at my state of the city, and we've done other it's just you just have to.

I I I I actually have told her the speech she gave at his funeral, literally single-handedly.

I I don't think I've ever heard a better speech.

I mean, she did not shy away from the issues that confronted her and her family and her belief in God, and that's uh it's a testament to her and her family.

Her his dad, uh retired fire fired her.

Uh it's just it's it's a it's a tragedy beyond tragedies, but it's incredible when our community can come together and support um uh a family that has dedicated so much to our city.

Thank you.

So, Mayor, for the record, R7Z is being adopted by acclamation.

Yes.

It's called um R7 Q.

R7 Q is renovate, reopen Byron Carlell Movie Theater Family Entertainment Complex R7 Q.

Commissioner Suarez.

I'm gonna defer that.

Okay.

So we're gonna defer that item to the uh March meeting.

So it happens to be the next item on my list.

I think coincidentally is yours as well.

So um R7 F.

R7F is request Miami Dade County to amend code to provide city with traffic signalization authority R7F.

That was um pulled by Commissioner Fernandez, who was um it was um I'd like to see well, yeah.

It was on consent at the last agenda.

Yeah, I just pulled it and if if I could throw the mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um I love the idea.

I think I think it's it's is a great idea the more that we can handle our our signalization.

Uh and Commissioner Smart, you've worked tremendously uh with our transportation department.

Um I just you know I want to understand do we have the staffing, the technology, and the resources to be able to handle this.

So today we do not.

Okay.

And how long do we anticipate it's gonna take us to negotiate with the county?

I mean, Jose, we've been working on this in smaller pieces over the years.

Okay, the county has been hesitant to relinquish this control.

Can we, you know, can we re-engage these conversations and see if there's any appetite to go further this time?

Absolutely.

Uh good morning, Mayor, Commissioners, Jose Gonzalez Transportation and Mobility Director.

Uh, if this resolution passes, if it's adopted, we'll certainly re-engage the county.

We've had just preliminary uh conversations, high-level conversations with their leadership.

Uh just also want to mention, and my understanding, and Commissioner, correct me if I'm wrong, but the idea with uh with this item would be that we would have autonomous control of the signal timing changes, not to necessarily install signals, maintain signals, which would require a lot more resources.

This is more tapping into having complete autonomy, I should say, in terms of tapping into the county's signal timing changes and have the authority to make those changes without having to go through the county.

Yeah, and and that's good.

I'll second your motion.

Okay, thank you.

Can I motion magazine?

Jose, are there some areas that we have pinpointed as more problematic than others?

One that stands out to me just because of my experience uh traversing this road several times each day is Alton Road.

And I live on 6th and West Avenue, and it quite literally takes me longer to get from there to City Hall than it does from my house to the heart of Brickle.

And has nothing to do with the traffic because this can happen at any time during the day, even in the early mornings.

Uh and I'm not an expert on what traffic lake signalization looks like, but I can just look uh north up an empty Alton Road and just see the staggered lights with no rhyme or reason, doesn't seem timed that I know something is off and something is problematic.

Uh so are there certain and that has impacts on traffic all across the city, right?

Especially in the Sunset Harbor area where um the ingress egress from the city uh connects with the Venetian.

That is kind of like the bane of our uh overall traffic problem, that artery right there in the evenings.

Could we not identify some corridors that are more consequential than others and really put a full court press on the county to say, oh, what gives here?

What why can't we simply work together for this, right?

Like, and that's why we essentially have this where thing about asking for our control is because what we can't get cooperation for the county to work together.

And I get if they don't have time to look at every single street or whatever it may be across the whole city, but if we identify some core arteries where signalization is just off, and I'll put Alton Road and if I'm wrong on that one, tell me.

Especially now with our our new rep in the county.

Um because it concerns me about the resources that we would need to uh make this happen.

So, Commissioner, we have we've we've identified 10 to 15 critical intersections where you know they're on our list every morning.

Our traffic monitors are looking, there are cameras at those intersections, they're looking at those intersections to see if there's anything that's that's off.

Um when you refer to the timing being off, what may be happening along certain corridors is that the to tech the vehicle detection devices are faulty.

And so when that happens, even though the signal programming may be optimized, it just faulty detection throws the entire signal timing plan off.

And and uh and Joseph.

If I can if I can tag on to that because this is what sponsored this uh this item is remember the Meridian 15th and 16th Street.

Yes.

I I first went to the county.

I I went well, I went to you, right, Jose.

And I said, hey, look, the these signal timings don't seem right.

Um it it took like 90 seconds and at like one o'clock in the morning to cross 15th and 16th, and they weren't even synchronized.

You didn't get a response.

Then I went to our state representative.

And remind you, this is not a major intersection.

This is just a small little intersection in the core of Flamingo Park.

Didn't get a response.

Or got a response, but say, hey, we're working on it.

Two months go by.

I had to call the county mayor to get them to address this concern that I had.

And at that point, I'm realizing that you know Miami Beach is a unique place where we we really don't abut any other municipalities other than Surfside.

And surfside is only connected by two streets, Harding and Collins.

It's the perfect sort of petri dish of of a municipality that we can control our own traffic signalizations.

Because like what you mentioned, we have a broken uh crosswalk detection, which happens a lot.

That completely throws off the signalization.

And by doing this and having more control, at least we can then alter the signalization timing, regardless if the button thinks that it's getting pressed every single time.

Correct.

And from what we've discussions we've had, we have the staff to do that.

Currently, we have a traffic engineer on staff.

I don't know, I think you have a d over a dozen people in your department.

Um time and time again, residents email us and complain to us about uh traffic when in reality I you know I think that we can alleviate most of our traffic concerns with much better signalization timing.

20, 30, 40 percent.

Uh, and that's a huge win for people commuting to work, commuting from here to City Hall, as Commissioner Magazine said.

Um and it just makes sense for our city to control our traffic signalization.

It would allow us to make changes much quicker.

Correct.

Having to go through Miami Dade County to make the changes in the case of Meridian 15th and 16th, we actually developed a signal timing plan to mitigate the fact that the detection loops were faulty, and even then it took over a month for the signal timing plan that we had developed to be reviewed and implemented.

So certainly the turnaround times are uh will be much quicker if we have that direct access, that control to make the changes.

Um I will just to be clear, it will require additional resources.

I only have one traffic engineer in charge of the entire county.

While the county has much more staff available to us, I would need probably two, three more traffic engineers to make sure that we're on top of uh all these intersections that have faulty devices and there are dozens and dozens of the city.

Okay, and considering that the number one issue in Miami Beach is traffic, that's like by far the number one issue.

It only makes sense that we dedicate our city resources to to addressing that problem.

And even if we can alleviate the traffic 20, 30 percent, that's 20, 30 percent of people's lives that they don't have to spend in the car commuting to and getting very frustrated on the roads.

So and I also understand because I'm on the TPO that um that the it wouldn't be we wouldn't be the first city to do this in the tri-county area.

I believe Boca Raton also has full control of their traffic signalization.

So there is a precedent uh set here.

Um a couple of questions.

If we know that we have faulty mechanical devices, um have we done a full citywide sweep of which do we know every single one that's that's faulty?

We do up we do um receive a list from Miami Dade County that has all the intersections with faulty detection devices.

So wouldn't the first thing to do be to replace or repair those?

Yes.

And the county currently has a backlog, some have been damaged for over a year, some for several years, some for three days.

It depends.

Uh I mean several years.

Is it is it a supply chain issue?

What is the problem?

Is it been a good thing?

They obviously you know have the entire county to uh to to repair, and these issues are happening all throughout the county.

We have approximately uh about 200 traffic signals more or less.

We're only a small fraction of Miami Dade County.

So would they could we not do it ourselves and then just charge them back?

I mean, this seems crazy to be uh held hostage by the county when we are a very small priority for them.

And I understandably they've got a whole county to take care of, but you know, we are very population dense area.

Could is there not a way for us to make the repairs or make the replacement and then charge them back?

So it we've done that in very rare cases, Commissioner.

I think since I've been here, probably just about two times that we've done that because the county was just not re um getting to the repairs uh quick enough.

So we went in and and we did that.

They are they are costly repairs to do that.

We don't have the budget in to do that throughout the entire city.

But this time okay, so we could prioritize the most egregious ones, the ones that affect traffic the most and get reimbursed by the county or withhold, you know, like if you are renting an apartment and your landlord isn't fixing the sink, you make the repair and you just withhold the 200 repair cost from your landlord in the next month's rent check, right?

Like I I would like uh the administration to look at doing that to the most egregious, longest most egregious and and most impactful um signals that that we've identified that haven't been addressed.

Um the other thing is you and I have talked about the adaptive um signalization study that we're undertaking at one of the really bad um intersections or series of intersections, North Beach, and you've mentioned that sometimes they do better when actually the traffic is a little bit lighter.

Could we expand that that research to the intersection that Commissioner Magazine mentioned where you know, even when there are no cars, the the pedestrian has to wait for a couple of minutes to to cross the street?

Um Commissioner Suarez identified another one.

Like are there a couple so we can do sort of you know it might not work in this area, but it might work in that area.

Is that something we can do?

Absolutely.

Uh the the North Beach signal timing optimization analysis that you're referring to uh clearly, it focuses on on North Beach, the 71st Street corridor, Indian Creek, and Abbott, that's our first phase.

If it works there, the plan is to expand that to other intersections throughout the right.

But when we talked about it yesterday, you said that sometimes it has shown in the past that it works better in less densely trafficked areas.

Adaptive.

Yes, adaptive.

So can we do a dual path analysis?

Because if there are other areas that have different kinds of issues but still signal related, uh I don't want to throw out a potentially really useful technology because it doesn't fit into one area, but it could be really great in other areas.

Yes, yes.

Okay, so I would like to amend this to include um a directive to explore identifying and prioritizing the signal boxes that are faulty and have not been repaired uh or replaced and um are especially impactful to our residents of the city.

So what exactly is the amendment?

It's to just identify faulty intersection boxes or pedestrian crossings and prioritize, but that's already been identified.

No, and to for the city to repa repair or replace them and then charge back to the to the county.

Well, Mr.

City Manager, is that how come we don't do that now?

So my understanding is in instances that we've done it in the past, the county is not reimbursed.

That's correct.

Well, can we have that conversation with the county?

I I just because it's something that happened that didn't happen the way we wanted it to 15 years ago for two incidents is not a good enough answer to say we're not going to look at this again.

If we have, I don't know, you said 16, I think.

10 to 15.

10 to 15.

Um, and let's say five of them are really screwing up traffic in the city.

Why could we not go back to the county and say we understand you've got a whole big county to take care of?

Let us take care of these five.

This is what it's gonna cost, and we'll charge you back.

But I mean, why wouldn't we have that conversation?

Just because it didn't happen 15 years ago, that's crazy.

I I'm fully on board, but I think we can bifurcate the two.

I think we can do an after-the-fact resolution.

I don't want to commingle um these ideas.

Uh it's already going to be a stretch asking the county for control of our signalization.

I don't also want to say, hey, by the way, we're gonna fix this and we're gonna give you the bill.

Because I don't think that's gonna go over well.

I mean, I totally get the intent.

I understand that, but there's a probably a reason why that's not a uh standard operating procedure for between the the county and the local government.

Um I'd be more than happy to co-prime that with you, Commissioner Bott, and and work together on that with a series of sunshine meetings, but at least for the traffic signalization uh item, I'd like to keep that clean and uh make sure that you know these two items are are handled separately when we do go to the county.

If we could Commissioner magazine.

And Mr.

City Manager, um not to get off track here, but perhaps we should work on putting together an analysis of services that we're dependent or relying on the county for because as we sit here and contemplate um how we're going to be the impact on our own city budget if the homestead exemption passes in Tallahassee.

Uh the county did an analysis, and I think they will be much more impacted uh than Miami Beach, and we should expect that that will mean uh greater delays.

Greater delays, but less reliance that we're able to have on county services.

I don't want to misquote, but um I believe they did a recent analysis that their commission meeting, and the impact is about a third of their budget uh could be impacted by this.

Uh I think ours was somewhere around 10 percent.

Jason, am I getting these numbers uh correct here?

1520.

Okay, and and the county's was about at a third.

So when we take a look at some of the things that we're relying on the county for, would be why is this start baking in expectations that we should probably rely a little less understood?

So uh Commissioner Butter, are you okay with my forgetting to sure?

Okay, and then great.

So we'll do an after-the-fact.

This is great.

I'll go sponsor.

Both ideas are great.

Three sponsors, beautiful.

Thank you.

Okay, so I have a co-sponsored by Commissioner Magazine.

Also, anyone else was Commissioner Bott?

Sure.

Yeah.

Everybody in support.

All in.

Got it.

Uh motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez, all in favor, please say aye.

Uh aye.

Is it anyone?

And you got all these co-sponsors.

And we got another item.

So that was on R7F as is, plus an after-the-fact resolution regarding the identifying and repairing and obtaining uh cost from the county.

I think also Commissioner Martin mentioned engaging the county for the most critical intersections.

So starting that discussion.

So both items are approved.

R5U.

R5U is the north of the mayor, city commission of the city might be fortable amending parts one subpart B, Article 9 related special acts of the Miami Beach City Code entitled Pension System for Disability and Retirement Members of Police and Fire Department Amending, Section 62 definitions, adding definition for police management employees, amending section 79 and titled Deferred Retirement Option Plan Drop related to the maximum drop participation period providing for the repeal of all ordinances and conflict to earth qualifications for mobility and providing an effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5U.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'm so proud to introduce this ordinance today in first reading to extend our police chief Wayne Jones' participation in the drop program and to ensure the continuity of his exceptional leadership in our police department.

Uh extending Chief Jones, I believe, offers stability and above else.

It continues to very measurable to very uh real progress uh in our police department in public safety at a time when public safety remains the top priority of the city of Miami Beach.

And I think we can all agree that under Chief Chief Jones' uh leadership, uh our city and our police department has delivered some some extraordinary results.

Uh we've all been seeing the numbers that have been uh put out by by our city manager in the past year alone, violent crimes declined by I believe nine percent.

Nineteen.

Nine well there you go.

Uh we've seen uh we've seen a decline in property crimes, we've seen a decline in homicides, and all of this reflects the importance of focused leadership and a department aligned around clear priorities.

Um and also equally important, and I think this is worth to highlight.

I think we're all very proud of the fact that at a time when law enforcement agencies around our country, around the nation are struggling to recruit and retain officers.

Our Miami Beach Police Department has achieved full staffing, a very budgeted, swarm police officer position, and that is a remarkable accomplishment because at the end of the day, full staffing, full staffing means uh better response, stronger neighborhood presence, and improved uh services for the residents and the taxpayers of the city of Miami Beach.

So, with great gratitude for the incredible work of our men and women in the Miami Beach Police Department.

Uh, I don't think that there could be a better message as we approach the month of March when we face some of our most complex high-profile uh events.

Uh there could be no greater signal of support for our police officers that ensuring continuity and their leadership and supporting our chief uh is a way to support the men and women who stand in the front lines of our city every single day.

With that, Mr.

Mayor, if you allow me, I'd like to recognize our city manager Eric Carpenter, who has been working on this item as well.

Thank you through the mayor.

Um I am I am firmly in support of this item.

Thank you, Commissioner, for bringing this item forward.

Um I believe that our police chief is the best police chief in the country.

Um he has done outstanding in multiple areas, whether it's looking at our crime stats, whether it's looking at the um implementation of technology as a force multiplier to be able to deliver best results based on the budget that we have available, whether it's dealing with the promotional process, building a command staff that is meeting the needs of our community, or whether it's dealing with the rank and file of the employees.

Um I believe that the morale of the department is as high as it's been in the entire 13 years that I've been here, and I think that that speaks volumes to how the chief handles his business.

And I am firmly supportive of giving him an opportunity to have two more years.

I am excited to see what he will accomplish in that time.

I move the item.

Yeah, thank you.

Um very proud of our police department.

As you mentioned, Commissioner Fernandez major crimes down 19%.

Spring break, the last two years, very peaceful and calm.

Uh, we had a great press conference yesterday, sending out good messaging.

Our homeless numbers, the lowest count we've ever had, obviously, uh, in large part due to the work uh of our police department, certainly uh Alba Tara and her team.

But uh we lead with compassion because we do offer services that no other city in South Florida offers offers, but at the same time we enforce our laws, and we're not compromising on that.

And um, you see, it works.

That's how we get the numbers we do.

So we're helping people at the same time, helping our residents.

So, really appreciative uh of the work that we're doing, the full staffing, as we've mentioned, first time you said first time in your 30-year career that's that's happened.

Um, and I'm proud.

We we do push up here, and we're gonna continue to do it.

Uh, I know there's other items maybe as well.

Have have an item today on the modified mufflers uh that I know that we're we're trying to uh to to address.

We hear a lot from our residents.

I will say uh you've done an outstanding job.

The difference um we we I became mayor around the same time you became police chief a little bit before me.

I think we've seen a significant improvement in the police presence.

Uh there's no question our residents say it all the time.

Um, but there's always areas for improvement.

I know you're on board with that, and and we're gonna continue to to work with you uh to push on that.

Uh the officers out of their cars, I think is is one that um we we see some improvement.

I think it's a little bit slow, and we're going to continue to to try to address that.

And certain visibility points, there's always I think it's one of the exciting things about this Axe and Fusis program that's going to come online.

It's going to be able to pinpoint areas, it's going to help you, I think as well to pinpoint areas.

So I think what's uh also important, and I've heard our officers mention this to me.

I don't specifically do it because uh our officers uh have mentioned it to me, I do it because it comes from my heart.

I say all the time that we offer great training, we offer the best equipment, we offer the best technology.

And not only makes our police department outstanding, it only not only helps our residents, but it also helps our officers to be able to do their jobs and also feel safe.

But that fact that we have their back and we do, it's not just me, it's our commission.

And it's important, and I've had officers tell me a lot.

Like, thank you for saying that.

You know, there's a lot of places in this country that um the leadership does not say that to their officers.

And um they they know it, they should know it, I'll continue to say it because we do.

And uh I'm sorry to pinpoint on New York City, but this is you probably saw that viral video of snowballs being thrown at the officers.

And uh, at least based on the video I saw, those officers are just doing their job, just walking them down.

And that the lack of respect shown to them.

I mean, I just I I I would I would literally go, I would I I just couldn't imagine being the mayor of the city if that god forbid ever happened here.

No officer should have be ever treated like that for doing a job that is um it's an important job, it's an incredibly important job, a very difficult job being a police officer.

And uh, and that's why I tell our officers I respect the work that you do.

Um you should be treated with with dignity and uh continue to follow your training and expertise, and we will always uh have your back.

So thank you, Chief.

Thank you for leading this force and looking forward to continuing working closely with you.

Mr.

Mayor, if and and you know, you you touched on the measurable outcomes, um, and just as important uh, and you mentioned it is the stability and the confidence that Chief Jones has fostered within the within the police department itself.

I think we can say confidently um that the men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department who put on this uniform every single day.

Um our police force, they trust Chief Jones' uh leadership, and they know he supports them, and they know he holds the department to the highest of standards.

Um and that's based on what we see and what we hear on the streets about his leadership.

Uh, and that is perhaps the most important thing, as the manager mentioned, morale morale.

I've never seen morale amongst our officers be so high.

Um, and uh these are the type of things that we need to continue because their morale is high, they'll love doing their job, and the more that they love doing their job, the safer our city and our residents will be Commissioner Bott, and then Commissioner Suarez.

Um, I I think that the change that I've seen in the police department over the last few years is um a small P progressive one in the best possible way.

And I think that is um largely in part to Chief Jones' vision, and I look forward to him continuing that forward march into progress for the next two years because his legacy will be predicated on that.

Um whoever takes over from the chief will be standing on a foundation that the chief and and his his colleagues have built.

Um and that to me includes, in addition to all the things that my colleagues have said um about training and morale, which I echo and applaud you for, um the increased embrace of um technology to make policing more responsive, faster, and safer for everybody involved.

I mean, just as a small example, the fact that you can send a drone out within seconds to a call for service so that by the time the police officers get there a minute or two later, they already have the area lit up, they've been able to identify where the person may be, and they know what they're walking into.

I mean, that makes it safer for everybody, and that is incredible.

Um that kind of um embrace of technology as the technology involves and evolves rather um is is great for everybody.

I mean, the reason why you guys put on the blue uniforms and we don't is because you guys actually run towards danger while we're taking cover.

So um, you know, we want to make sure that everybody who is protecting the city is as safe as they can be.

The other um value that the chief has brought, and I know diversity is a bad word these days, but the fact of the matter is that more that it police department can reflect the residence of the community that is policing, the more effective it is.

So if that's more people of color, if that's more women in leadership positions, it is imperative that that progress continue.

Diversity is not a dirty word.

Diversity means that everybody has a shot to do a great job if they are up to the task.

And so I I applaud the progress that has been made so far, and I would encourage um more progress along that line so that our police force reflects the community that it is a part of.

Um I think it makes all the difference in the world when you have a police officer that you feel comfortable speaking to about something that might be your most horrifying, terrifying moment in your life.

And so I applaud that progress and I implore you all, Chief, with your leadership, but the command staff to continue embracing that progress and not letting it be undone when leadership changes in a couple of years.

So keep up the excellent work and you know um you look at where we were 10, 15 years ago and some of the things that happened in the in this police department, in the Miami Beach Police Department versus where we are now.

It is night and day.

The things that happened 10, 15 years ago were hair-raising, horrifying, wildly unacceptable, and we as a city and the police department as an organization face the consequences, not to mention the individuals, face the consequences.

That has to be a distant, distant memory and a and uh a lesson that is not forgotten.

We can never go back to where we were.

I don't care who's chief, we can never backslide even an inch.

It is damaging to the community, it's damaging to the organization, it's damaging to the reputation, it's damaging to the morale of people who serve, and none of that is okay.

So keep up the great work, double down on it, and let's go.

Commissioner Suarez.

Chief, I'd like to invite you up to the podium.

Hey, Chief.

Morning, sir, morning again, sir.

Um you know, full transparency.

We had a meeting, right?

Um and we we discussed uh at least some of my priorities.

And um I have to hand it off to you.

Um one of my biggest issues and priorities was Marine Patrol.

Right.

Um before I got elected, you know, not to throw in anyone under the bus, but I don't think Marine Patrol was run with with uh the best personnel.

Um I made this issue very clear to you and your staff.

And lo and behold, it's rubbing like a perfect engine right now.

Um that's thanks to you.

I think you heard my concerns loud and clear.

And it's it's it's better than ever.

And if you look out on the bay, there's almost no more boats.

Um the if there's speeding on the waterways, it's being handled.

If there's noise complaints, it's handled.

Um some of my other concerns were you remember speeding tickets?

Okay.

Remember the easels.

Okay.

Umlessness enforcement.

And when we have this discussion, I said, look, I'm gonna support uh this extension.

I go I'm I'm gonna want to see measurable results in uh speeding down, for example, Collins Avenue.

I mean, every day we probably get emails for loud mufflers, speeding down Collins.

Um, you know, I think just the other day we saw a big a big accident on Collins.

That's gonna be one of the priorities that I'm gonna hold you accountable to over the next year, two years.

Uh and I think that's important, right?

Um I want to see a much better improvement for uh these issues that can continue to pile up, no pun intended, uh, over these years.

Homelessness enforcement, uh another issue that we discussed.

Um, as it relates to homelessness enforcement, you know that also trickles down to uh these petty theft crimes that people get their bikes stolen, their scooters stolen.

And that's I believe in large part a criminal homeless population that really preys on our our residents.

So over the next year, two years, um, and you know, through the chair of the public safety committee, Commissioner Fernandez.

Um, we're you know, we're gonna want to hold the police department accountable.

And you know, because we know what the data is now.

Uh we know what the metrics are.

We're gonna want to see a significant increase in these priorities moving forward for the next couple years.

So I just want to hear from you.

It's okay with you.

I'll get you on the record.

And uh and hear you commit to that.

Sure.

Uh happy to Commissioner, and the conversation you and I had the other day, I thought it was a very uh positive conversation.

Uh I think we're aligned in uh what needs to be done in the city to continue our forward momentum, making it better, safer for residents and our visitors.

And so I'm committed to it.

Um, like I said to you then, I'm committed to making a difference, making a difference in the context of lowering those numbers, um, if you will.

Um, say that you privately then I'm saying to you publicly no.

Thank you very much.

Uh Commission uh Vice Mayor uh Monica Matthew Salinas and then Commissioner Magazine.

Hi, Chief.

Morning, then I was present when you were sworn in as chief, and that's a moment that will stick with me forever.

We were at New World, and you we had all the police chaplains lay their hands on you, and there was a rabbi and there was a priest, and there was a pastor, and everyone came to pray over you and the work that you would be doing in Miami Beach.

And you've done a terrific job, truly.

We all know it.

We all thank you for it.

Thank you for your leadership.

And I'd also like to say that I called you and I said, Chief, are you sure you want to be extended for two more years?

Are you sure you want this?

And without hesitation, you said, Absolutely.

I love Miami Beach, and I want to continue to make a difference.

There's no hesitation in your voice.

You are committed to our community.

We all know it, we all see it, we all feel it.

Our residents love the Miami Beach Police Department.

They know a great job that they do every day.

We thank you for everything for your hard work, your diligence, everyone in the department.

We thank you.

And it all really stems from leadership, and that's you.

So thank you very much, and I'm proud to support you today.

Welcome, thank you.

Thank you, Chief.

Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Chief.

Uh, you don't need many words from me because the results speak from themselves uh compared to where we were five years ago as a city.

Uh it's night and day in different place, and the police department is a large reason uh why that is.

I truly believe we have the best police department in the world.

I've often said up here that culture of any organization is set from the top, and it's hard to have the best police department in the world if we don't have the best police chief in the world.

And I'm firmly confident that we do.

So thank you for your work.

I'm proud to support you, not only as a police chief, but a tremendous ambassador to our city, and uh hope you continue doing the same job that we've put our trust in you that you've already done.

So thank you for everything.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Dominguez, and then Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Uh Chief, you have done an outstanding job in tackling our high impact weekend, starting with spring break and uh Memorial Day and any other event that we have.

Uh but the month of March was really the hot button for us, and you have delivered.

You also take care of the neighborhood associations.

You speak to the residents, you're out in the community, you're accessible, you're available, you respond.

And that is so important and appreciated.

Thank you for your service, and I'm happy to support you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So there's gonna be a second reading for this for this ordinance.

Um, but uh Chief Jones is the chief of the Miami Beach Police Department.

He brings great honor to this city, to the city that we all collectively, as one body have the privilege of of serving and and representing.

So while I brought this ordinance as the chair of the public safety committee, I welcome anyone who wants to join me in co-priming uh this this ordinance as a sign of support and backing to the chief and to the incredible men and women who are gonna be keeping this city safe as we head into the month of March.

I will join you.

I'll do that.

Also, yes.

Yes, yes.

So everyone or did I miss anyone?

Everyone, okay co-prime.

No pressure.

Let's call the question, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes.

Although it is a public hearing.

I see no one in Zoom.

And I see Mr.

Nobich almost fell.

It's trip over yourself.

It's day and night in my neighborhood.

It's a pleasure for myself, my hotel guests to be able to utilize the poor my front porch and not be inundated with drug dealers.

They're no longer loitering outside my building.

Mayor and uh commissioner bot, you uh stole my thunder regarding that incident last week with the drone.

Fascinating.

That the drone was the first responder at the scene.

And it's fascinating and captivating that the uh our police officers were able to uh uh make an arrest uh in that uh terrible incident.

Thank you, appreciate you.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mitch.

Uh there is no other individual on Zoom or in the audience requesting to speak.

Uh the motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Dominguez.

Uh roll call, Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bottom Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Monica uh Mateo Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carry second reading, public hearing is scheduled for March 18th.

That was item R5U.

Congratulations.

Let's call uh I know someone has to leave for this item.

Our representative from Oolite, so let's call R7i.

R7i is reinstate South Florida Arts Center, Oolite Arts Grants Agreement Rated Grant Disbursements.

Um Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, the reason I pull this from uh the consent agenda is simple.

When we allocate taxpayer dollars even uh a small amount deserves scrutiny.

Um30,000 may seem insignificant, but collectively, these decisions add up to, as we all know, a billion dollar uh budget.

Every dollar deserves accountability.

Um this is not whether Oolites uh contributes to our cultural fabric, they do.

Uh the question is whether taxpayer dollars should go to an organization with over 120 million dollars in assets and more than 109 million invested in securities.

Um according to their Form 990 of for the fiscal year ending in September 2024, Olight reported approximately 4.78 million dollars in investment income, which nearly equals their entire annual operating budget of 4.8 million.

And that same year, their net assets increased by roughly 16 million.

That is not a that is not a non-profit that is struggling.

That is a well-capitalized institution with endowment level resources resources that can sustain itself.

In that same 2024 filing, Ulite's CEO earned 345,000.

In 2024, the city manager of Miami Beach, who oversees a municipal government with an operating budget of 1 billion dollars, earned only 332,000.

So the head of a roughly $5 million nonprofit was paid more than the city manager responsible for running our entire city government.

More than 30% of Olight's operating expenses go towards salaries and compensation.

These are non these are nonprofit organizations.

Public funding should not be reinforcing top heavy compensation structures, particularly when the organization has the financial capacity to fund itself through investment income.

And yet, in fiscal year 25, the city budget budgeted $30,000 in arts cultural grants funding Oulite.

When an organization can effectively sustain itself, our limited tax dollars should be directed toward neighborhood initiatives, public safety, infrastructure, and services that more directly benefit our residents.

This is not anti-arts.

I want to be clear about that.

So it's not anti-arts, it's about stewardship.

It's about prioritization.

It's about ensuring that taxpayer dollars go where they are needed the most.

For those reasons, I am asking that we permanently remove Oolite from eligibility under our arts and culture grant funding program and more closely scrutinize funding organizations with large endowments or substantial net worth before public dollars are spent.

We owe that responsibility to our residents.

And PJ, I I have a short presentation I'd like to show.

Go to the next slide, please.

So like I said, the Oolite's art financial snapshot.

This is for the fiscal year 2024.

Their total assets are 120 million dollars.

Net assets 119.7 investments, publicly traded securities, 109 million dollars.

Annual expenses, it's 4.8 million dollars.

My key question is should the city subsidize an organization with 120 million dollars in assets.

Next slide.

So the city of Miami Beach, our total operating budget, $829 million.

Highest compensated city employee.

Well, I mean, it's it is uh supposed to be our city manager, uh, gets $332,000.

That was for fiscal year 2024.

Oolite total annual expenditures of $4.8 million, and the highest compensated employee, which is their CEO is $345,000.

CO of a $5 million nonprofit earned more than the city manager of a billion dollar budget.

Next slide.

So in fiscal year 24, investment income $4.7 million, total expenses $4.8, NASA net asset growth in one year, $16 million.

Investment income alone covers nearly the entire operating budget.

This organization is self-sustaining.

Next slide.

Total compensation and benefits.

The top executives, the top three.

The CEO, the VP, and the former CFO.

Topic executive total, $651,000.

Next slide.

So for fiscal year 2025 and the cultural grants to Oolite is $30,000.

In the context, $11, $119 million in net assets, a self-sustaining investment income.

$30,000 can be better directed to, for example, resident focused services, public safety or infrastructure, community program, or perhaps even another nonprofit that is struggling that could use the money to uh bring talent to Miami Beach.

Next slide.

So again, this is not anti-arts, it's just prioritizing taxpayer dollars, you know, supporting organizations that truly need assistance with uh with a subsidy to to get off the ground, maximizing community input, and you know in reality we're practicing responsible stewardship.

Uh so look, when an like I said here, when an organization can fund itself on investment income alone, public subsidy should not be considered.

So you can close the slide, PJ.

Look, uh I'm I think it's I think it's uh I just think it's wrong that you're you're asking for a recurring $30,000 from taxpayer-funded dollars when you you're your organization clearly does not need the money.

I think if we're going to use taxpayer dollars for arts and cultural organizers, let's give it to let's give it to groups that actually need it and are struggling because I think this is a waste.

I think this is also I think if most people in the public knew that we were giving away money on a yearly basis to an organization that is 120 million dollars and their top CEO makes more than our city manager, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I think most people would be very upset about that.

I'm upset about that, and that's why I pulled it.

And you know, I think about Commissioner Magazine, I think you have an item pending uh at FERC where you know we're going to highly scrutinize any sort of nonprofits where the top brass CEO makes over a quarter million dollars.

Certainly this would qualify.

Um, from now on, I you know, at least for me, I'm going to really scrutinize every dollar that's spent uh on uh with with taxpayer money.

And and sure, look, I mean, what things are gonna get thrown at me.

I'm gonna say it that people are gonna say, call me anti-arts, anti-gay.

You know, I I think it's I think it at some point we just have to have an honest conversation about you know where is our best use for taxpayer dollars.

So I welcome the discussion from my colleagues.

I I certainly can't support this, given the fact that this is this organization has over 100 million dollars in assets.

So I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.

Commissioner Dominguez.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

So I have some questions that I'd like to hear from the city and from Olayate Arts because during my briefing, the city was supportive of this.

They the city is ready to move forward with Olight as a partner.

And um the grant is a matching grant, and uh there's criteria involved, and having an arts organization as a partner like that shows that the city has skin in the game and is working with the arts and helping.

So I just want to understand more uh why the city's recommending it and uh more details.

Good morning, Lisa Rogante, Director of Tourism and Culture for the City of Miami Beach.

Um, thank you, Commissioner.

And and you stated it well.

Uh we are supportive of this.

Uh this is an amazing organization, and we get by sponsoring it.

We our logo is on all of their their marketing, and it showed it promotes the City of Miami Beach as a leading arts and culture destination.

It is a matching grant.

Uh, so the 30,000 um that is through the grant process, they do have to have matching grants for that.

And I also want I want to introduce we do have the Olight uh CEO, John Abadili here with us today.

Yeah, I'll share that.

Um, of course, it is a match and grant requirement.

We also spend uh a good deal more per year on our Lincoln Road activation.

So we own a building on Lincoln Road that we've been in for almost 40 years.

Um it's a historic building, it's about a hundred years old.

We house 13 artists, we give them free studio space to make work for a year as well as career development services.

We host about um but around 50 art classes every year for local folks.

Actually, folks drive in from all over the region for these classes, uh figure drawing, digital media, things like that.

We have four exhibition openings every year because we have a gallery space on Lincoln Road in that building.

So tonight, for example, we have a free opening where everyone can meet the artists in their studios and see the work we're presenting from among our alumni.

We have about a thousand Miami Date alumni who've come through our services over the last 40 years that we've been on Lincoln Road.

Um, and so we are dedicated to community activations.

I'm very proud to say that I'm new to the community.

Um, but I can speak proudly for Oolite Arts that we were part of the revitalization of Lincoln Road.

We've been around since 1984 and played a key role in um a transformation that took place, of course, in the 90s and the 2000s, economically and culturally.

Hey, John, uh, first of all, I know we've we've met several times.

Um I'm gonna start off really commending you.

Uh we had, I won't rehash, but a couple of years ago there was some issues.

Uh you came in, a new board, you really revamped that organization in a in a positive way, so uh in a short period of time.

So very appreciative of that and your partnership with our city.

And uh I've been to your to the gallery at the on Lincoln Road.

It's uh it was impressive.

It was quite a quite a crowd that night.

Um I hate to put you on the spot, but could can you comment on all those numbers that we just saw from the presentation from Commissioner Suarez is all that accurate?

Sure.

Um I can say that the endowment that we have, we've owned several buildings on Lincoln Road in our 40-year history.

And the endowment that we have today, um, I can say 100% of our money goes towards our mission, which is to support contemporary art and support artists.

Um that money came from the sale of a building.

It's actually where the restaurant Mila is now in the sketchers.

We own that building and activated that building for many years at the very height of the real estate market here in town, uh, about 15 years ago.

The board members led a sale of that building and it led to the endowment.

Um, it transformed the organization in a couple key ways.

One is we were very much a shoestring budget.

You know, there was a lot of spit and gumption and volunteer hours that were being put into supporting the artists that we we gave studio space to at that time.

Um, and it really transformed us into an organization that was able to professionalize to hire professional staff to um write size and fix and get right our systems, our financial oversight, our transparency, and things like that.

And so we've been making that move over the last 15 years since the money came in.

We also began to provide um all of our services essentially for free to the community.

Um we do charge a small fee for our arts-based classes, but we do not collect money from any artist or any participant in any of our programs in any other way, and that was an important transformation because we were able to really begin to better launch artists' careers for Miami Dade County.

Now we've expanded to a four-county footprint in recognition that many of our artists have been forced to move to other counties because of the housing affordability challenges.

Um, and so in that way, we become, I believe, a much more generous and impactful organization because of that money.

And uh and I would I I risk respectfully, Commissioner, if I may, I do think that having a financially sound and um stable nonprofit is good for the community.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your salary?

It's about the same as what you reported when I came in a year ago.

It's what they brought me in at.

I mean this is ridiculous.

You're making over $300,000 and you're asking for taxpayer subsidies.

I mean, I understand it's a matching grant, but look, you know, you guys sold your building at the height of uh of the market, you are flushed with cash, you are personally making over $300,000, and here you come to us asking for money from taxpayers.

I mean, this is I'm offended.

I I and and Lissette, I'm I'm I know this is very passionate for you, but I think this is ridiculous.

I mean, how dare you come to us asking for money when you have all this all these assets and all this cash?

I mean, I think it's just it's just frustrating what when I see this.

We this look, we have real problems in our city.

We have people who can't afford their special assessment that are getting priced out of the market, and here we are just giving money to organizations that have over 100 million dollars and CEOs that are getting over 300,000.

I'm sorry, I think that's just I think that's just wrong.

And for you to come ask us our taxpayers to to fund this, I think it's ridiculous.

And you know, look, I mean, I understand you do a lot of good in our community, but you don't need money from the taxpayers to do that.

I I think if you're gonna you're gonna do good for the community, do it because it's good for the community, it's not because we're giving you money to do it.

I I again, like I said, I think if most people saw this, they'd be they'd be very upset that this is where our money's going to.

So, you know, I I I just I I it's just frustrating to me for you to sit here and tell me that you're making over $300,000 a year, but you're asking us, you're asking taxpayers who are struggling for all sorts of fiscal issues to fund this on a yearly basis.

Commissioner Bott.

Um, you said we are doing an activation with Adidas this year.

That's correct.

How much have we funded them?

$600,000.

Um, so we funded Adidas $600,000 for an activation.

Their CEO makes between eight and eight and a half million dollars a year.

Um they have over $25 billion in revenue, and they rake in about $13 billion in profit.

So I'm curious.

Uh I'd love to respond to that.

I'm could I ask a question, please?

I'm curious to um know if my colleagues, any of them, are equally outraged about that as we are about this.

Sure.

I I'd love to respond to that.

I think what you're referring to is the programming that we used to have for spring break, where the city would spend 3.2 million dollars on a failed concert program where we brought Alanis Morris set here.

Okay, and we ended up having shootings and stampedes.

So the fact that we're now spending a quarter of that for a spring break uh refocus on our branding as a discount.

I don't expect to pay $600,000 for uh this programming every year.

But when you look at what we did for March and what we're currently doing for March, we filled a void that certainly didn't work, okay?

Um I'm very supportive of the Blue Zones initiative that you have, Commissioner Bott.

It's gonna cost us eight million dollars to get certified.

Excuse me, let me know if you're sorry.

The city is a lot of people.

I'm speaking, I'd like to I'd like to I'd like to finish.

I'm very supportive of it.

Okay.

We are funding certain things for a vision of Miami Beach and recreate and making sure that March doesn't lead to bloodshed and literally cleaning blood off of our streets.

Okay?

So when I look at an arts organization where the CEO is making 300 over 300,000 a year, okay.

And are we supposed to fund this forever?

And not ask any questions?

So I think we can certainly bifurcate the that two ideas.

We can have a philosophical discussion on that.

But at the end of the day, I'm simply asking a question.

Is should taxpayer dollars be used to continuously fund this?

Without have any questions for an organization that is completely flushed with cash.

Is that something that you want to do?

Commissioner Bott.

So to correct the record, the city is not paying $8 million for blue zones.

The city taxpayer dollars will not be used for blue zones.

That is a miss an incorrect fact that you're promulgating, which is false.

Second of all, I am not debating the merits of one or the other.

We all are enthusiastically welcoming the multiple activations for spring.

This is the Adidas activation is one.

So you know, I'm just saying it is a little bit interesting to me that one is okay and one is not okay, especially as the scheme of the the order of magnitude is quite different.

The $30,000, John, that you get from the city, um, it becomes 60 with the matching grant.

And what is it used for specifically?

Um the presentation of artwork in our free gallery on Lincoln Road, as well as the activations we do around that artwork.

Uh we'll have talks with the artists, talks with curators, tours.

Uh we have a free event tonight with um hospitality sort of welcoming anybody that wants to come from about six to nine.

Um we also have um activations that we do in our empty spaces on Lincoln Road, so we have additional exhibition activations.

Of course, the free artist studios we provide several times a year are open to the public so they can meet the artists, talk about artwork, purchase artwork if they wish.

Um, and then in addition to that, we have um partnerships around the city that we also activate.

So, for example, we might co-present artwork on Lincoln Road in a vacant space as the BID invites us to do.

Um we have partner, we've held partnerships with other nonprofits, of course, in Miami Beach as well as throughout Miami Dade County as well to provide additional public and free access programming in the arts.

And if if this grant were not given, what effect would it have on what you offer?

Yeah, so a hundred percent of our money goes to our mission.

Um, and so if we lose a grant, um whether it's from a public sector grant or any other source, then we'll we'll have to right-size the budget in a particular area, so that might mean you know, it it could just mean um uh delaying a program, suspending a program, things like that.

And could the money be allocated to you mentioned that you have the summer art classes for students and and residents um well for anybody in the people come in?

Could you offer um a fee waiver for Miami Beach residents and students using these funds?

Yeah, we easily could do so.

We we offer discount for repeat class purchasers, so we have folks who we have people who've been taking classes with us for decades.

Um, and so those folks oftentimes sort of earn a discount by just because they're repeat purchasers, so it would be an easy extension, yeah.

Uh Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Magazine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um at the time that that I brought the resolution to suspend the funding, we asked that all current and future grant agreements with Olight uh be positive until there's a new executive director, and that there was a statement uh provided to the city reflecting the internal controls uh established um regarding offensive artwork.

Has that been met?

Yes, yes, sir, and it's in your package.

Uh Ulite submitted that in October.

Thank you.

Um, you know, there's been different numbers that have been tossed around, you know, some people were talking about Adidas, the $600,000 that they got from the city.

Uh other people were talking about blue zones, whether or not it's gonna cost the city eight million dollars or or not.

I was talking to the city manager, art bossel about how much um in fees and waivers and stuff does art boss, which is a for profit entity.

I mean, our basel is somewhere between one and a half and two million dollars.

Okay, and with Olight, how much money are we talking about right now?

We held the payment of the final payment from the fiscal year 25 grant, so it's fifteen thousand dollars that we're pending, and then to reinstate them to continu to be part of the cultural arts funding.

Okay.

So we're talking so there's a second payment of fifteen thousand dollars.

Correct.

And so this is part of the broader um a broader, I think it's about a million dollars of cultural art funds that we make of investments in cultural arts.

That's correct.

We funded.

And what's the economic impact?

Do we know what the economic impact to the city is of that one million dollars?

Thank you for asking that.

So we fund uh from the 1.25 million, about 57 organizations that bring annually to the city of Miami Beach specific, over $330 million.

So $330 million economic impact.

And so I just want us to be careful because yes, each one of these entities, some might be for profit, and they might get support from the city, but they still do a very important job to our brand, to the quality of life of our residents, to the type of city that we want to position ourselves to be.

Um, and by the way, with with spring break, you know, actually we defunded all those activities.

And when we defunded all of those activities, and we directed all of the three million dollars to the men and women in the in the in the police department to support law enforcement, that's when we fixed up spring break.

But we defunded uh the concerts, we defunded the programming, we directed those three million dollars to public safety, and that's when we restored uh order on on the streets.

There are at times private entities who do come forward.

We had it recently with uh with a company that was coming to Lincoln Road.

Um and we and we and we provided them with subsidies.

We've had Charlies uh from Spain that opened up a vacant storefront on Lincoln Road.

That is a for-profit company that got dollars and opened up and they were coming from from Spain, and we do it through our commercial lease subsidy program.

There is good precedent established showing that yes, you know, these might be profitable entities, and they might not be charity or nonprofits, but the public's investment in them do generate a significant return.

In this case, we know that investing in cultural arts organizations through the Cultural Arts Council and the grants that they receive do have a significant economic impact in our community.

That one million dollar investment, we get it back in $330 million of economic impact.

And so just how Art Basel is a private entity, and we subsidize them in different ways, and just how blue zones is a private entity, and we might or might not be providing public dollars, and just how Adidas is a private entity, and we provide them support.

This is what we do to support our community and help our community thrive.

And so I'm I'm going to be supportive.

We we passed the funding contingent uncertain changes within the organization from the very top down, and that was delivered upon, and now we need to go back and deliver on the commitment that we made at that time.

And so I'm gonna be supportive of the item before us today.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yeah, thank you, John.

I I guess where I'm getting torn is and and I agree with all of your points, Commissioner Fernandez, and agree with a lot of the points that uh my colleagues have made.

When I think about this in supplying taxpayer money for any organization, it's okay, why are we doing it, right?

And I want to try and separate the merits of your organization because it it is tremendous with the need for it, right?

And yes, does Adidas need money?

No.

Right?

Does the company uh publicly traded company uh I supported for providing economic development incentives need money?

No.

There was another entity that came to Lincoln Road.

Um Edgelord that was supported for economic development incentives.

Did they need money?

Probably not.

But it was a competitive advantage.

If we didn't provide that, those companies would have gone elsewhere.

Or I don't know if the Adidas event would have happened without that.

Here we have a great operator that is long standing.

And I just I'm getting this from a PowerPoint presentation, so correct me if I'm wrong.

When I talk about the need for it, right?

So we're not getting anything above and beyond incremental.

We're not attracting something new.

We're not making something happen that wouldn't happen without this funding or grant.

When I look at your operating budget, and again, I'm just going off a power PowerPoint presentation I just saw for the first time.

About 110 million dollars.

And just without doing anything, just the income you make off of those, right?

Not charging money for anybody, not raising private funds, you entirely cover your annual operating budget, about 4.8 million dollars.

Right.

So that means without this grant, without going to raise any other money, without charging a single dollar for admission to any of these studios, you're already covering every single dollar that you're spending each year just on the investment income that you hold from those securities.

And God bless you that uh your real estate experts maybe uh expand outside of the arts world to uh investment advice as well.

You know, it seems like you did well there.

Um but kudos to you for that.

I guess where I'm struggling is what do we get out of this, right?

Yes, you you have a great organization, but that doesn't mean we should just give you money for those economic development incentives.

What we got was bring these jobs to the city, and they're not gonna last forever, right?

There's a reason why we only have four years that they're available because then it allows the company to get established.

And then also to the flip side, if you would come and say, you know what, we have a four million dollar operating budget, but we're only raising a million dollars each year, and we have to find a way to plug a gap, I'd say we have an incredible organization, and without our money, there might be things that they can't do.

But I guess where I'm torrent here is without our money, there's really nothing you can't do because you're covering your entire, and you could say, well, we wouldn't have this show.

I'd say, well, maybe reduce executive compensation or something like that, right?

But just point being every single dollar you spend each year, you're actually getting that from your organization just by virtue of holding those investments that you have and the investment income that you're making off of that.

That's without raising any outside money, without really charging emission or things like that.

So I don't want to put you on the spot and full disclosure.

I can't vote yes today.

I could ask the defer to have more time to talk with you.

Uh I'm leaning towards perhaps not.

Uh so I'm gonna put you on the spot.

If you'd rather have this talk in private, I'm happy to do so.

But it's like if we don't do this, tell me how you wouldn't be able to do something else beneficial to the community because you already have money that's coming in that covers your entire operating budget.

And cutting that would be what, 0.01% or something like that of your annual operating budget.

So I'm just hard-pressed to see what the need is, right?

If the need was, if we don't do this, we're going to lose Olight.

Or Oolite's uh working in another city, and if we provide this, they're gonna come to Miami Beach.

Or if you came here and said, you know what, we're just not making as much money as we once were, so we need this to continue providing those programs, I'd be all in, right?

Because you're a great organization.

But I want to separate you being a great organization from what the need for this actually is.

Yeah.

I will say in a general sense that um, so currently the financial profile of the organization is that we bring in most of most of the up annual operating budget is funded as you saw.

We bring in around another million dollars a year in private fundraising, so that might be individuals or grants like any other nonprofit.

And we're working very hard to build that up because the more donations we can receive, the more we can activate on our mission, support artists and activate with cultural programmings.

Um you are correct, you know, in the context of a five million dollar budget, a $15,000 payment has not necessarily derailed what we would like to do.

Um, but I will say that you know, the the budget is put together obviously in large part with the endowment, but like any nonprofit, that extra million dollars or so is cobbled together with hundreds of different grants and donations.

And so I it it when something is lost, something must change from management, as you say stated.

Um and so I I I want to be honest with you.

Like if if the city of Miami Beach um didn't contribute a 30-30,000 to a uh five million dollar budget, um, we could find ways to absorb that, and we could also direct you know our funding towards where the other grant makers were supporting or were um activating our our um where they're supporting us, where they're sort of pushing our programming and asking us to do work.

Um but I will also say, you know, I've worked in the nonprofit field for nearly 30 years, and um there was always like you guys, we we have um a calcul, we have a certain amount of money to spend every year.

We have to decide on what priorities what we are going to do and what we're not going to do, which is just as important.

Um and we're committed to Miami Beach.

We love Miami Beach.

This has been our home for 40 years, and this this is what made Ulight who it is.

Um so I I'm not going to stand here and say I I'm gonna cut our Miami Beach programming.

Um I also And I appreciate that.

Yeah, I mean, uh you know, and and then I'll just sort of generally leave it that we have to make decisions where when we don't have enough money to accomplish, we do not have enough money to accomplish all of our dreams and our aspirations and our ambitions.

And so we also make choices.

That's the management process.

It's my job and the board's job and the job of budgeting every year.

I have a question, follow-up question.

Uh well, Commissioner Bott and then Commissioner.

I just want to restate for the record because now it's been said twice by two different people, and I want to make sure this is crystal clear.

Blue zones is not getting funded by taxpayer dollars.

And I really do not want to put that out into the public because it's not accurate.

So let's separate that from this discussion or any future discussion of funding, because it is not a government resident taxpayer funded project.

Period.

I don't think it was me, but if it was, I apologize.

Okay.

Yeah, I I believe we made an upfront contribution of a few hundred thousand, but I know right?

Uh yes, and that was done, it's paid for.

We have a hard deliverable from it that gave us the feasibility study and a ranking of out of from zero to five, five being the most likely to be a very successful undertaking.

We are at 4.5, which gave us the green light for this body to unanimously proceed with the undertaking of transformation into a blue zone city.

The fundraising is happening separate and apart from uh any government tax dollars.

No, thank you.

I'm sorry, who was next?

I believe it was Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioners.

Let me just understand something.

And and by the way, Commissioner Bot, I apologize because I referenced you know, and I'll instead of using that as an example of reference Formula One.

I have an item um about Formula One and ways that we can support Formula One.

Formula One, it most certainly is a private entity.

And and and that's gonna generate great economic impact for our city.

But let me just ask uh the CEO um a question.

Last year, when the $15,000 were withheld, what programming was suspended?

Was there any programming suspended?

Yeah.

So the $15,000 was withheld from 2024, and then there was no grant given in 2025 because this ordinance was passed in 2024.

Um what was suspended.

Um I can speak to that generally, that it was before I came on.

Um there was a brief suspension over summer of a couple of our public programs over the summer of 2024, or around that time frame, summer fall.

Um and then there was kind of a as I mean, as this commission requested sort of a uh deep dive reflection and um some changes in policies and practices were made and programming was resumed.

Well, but when you say public programs, when you say public programs were suspended, explain to me um what that means.

Yeah, gallery shows and the activations associated with those gallery shows.

So for example, retail, retail galleries shows.

Yeah, we don't we don't sell the work, but yes, it's a nonprofit gallery, we don't sell the work, but yes, it's a it's a it's retail as in activation, yeah.

Activation, like we bring the artists in to talk about their work in the space, we have we welcome an audience.

And where does this happen?

What's that?

Where does this happen?

Um at 924 Lincoln Road.

On Lincoln Road, yeah.

So you bring in artists and you do activations where you bring people in to Lincoln Road to listen to these artists and and and provide for arts and culture and that type of activity.

Meet meet the artist, talk to the artists, see their artwork, tour their studio, see the artwork that's up in the gallery.

Were you still able to do some of that stuff?

Some of that stuff, yes.

Use you just not to the extent that you would had you had the grant.

Correct.

I'd like to speak to that question.

As far as I don't think you have the full context.

Why did you do that?

And I from what I understand was you had an artwork on Miami Beach.

Well, I have the full context.

I sponsored the resolution.

I'd like to update the public.

Yeah.

You had an art piece of artwork that showed from the river to the sea, which is the Palestine will be free, which calls for the genocide of Israel or the destruction of Israel.

And let's let's put that into context.

And that's why that resolution was passed.

So to say that because we're not going to give grant funding, these pop-ups are not going to happen, I think for that particular period in time.

And by the way, you weren't there.

I understand that the whole organization went through a change.

And I'm not even I'm not even as you can tell, none of that was even my presentation.

Okay.

Um one other thing I want to bring up is when Commissioner Fernandez, you said that you know we give our basel a million, we don't give our boss a million dollars.

It's a fee.

We help them.

I didn't say we give them, we help them.

Okay.

So I think we we we give and we don't help through fee waivers.

Now, if Ule came to us and said, hey, we want some fee waivers for certain events, I'd be like, okay, you know what?

Fine.

But to give cash, taxpayer cash to an entity where they clearly have no financial hardships.

Okay, and this is not necessarily creating a program that we we desperately needed, such as spring break.

I have a big problem with that.

And so, you know, look, I mean, we're we're unfortunately we've been fighting for like 45 minutes over 30,000, but again, it adds up over the course of years.

I just think if we're, you know, we need to be honest with each other and say, what are we gonna fund taxpayer dollars with?

I'm okay with I'm okay with giving arts organizations grant funding.

But let's give it to organizations that actually need it, that need to that need the funding to get up and off the ground instead of someone or an organization that clearly doesn't need it.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Um and and by the way, you you know, when we talk about the semantics of fee of fee waivers, fee waivers, it might not be a cash contribution, but that's dollars that ultimately don't make their way to the taxpayers.

Uh so you know, whether whether it's a cash contribution or a fee waiver, at the end of the day, it's the same thing.

It's it's dollars that are not going to be coming back to the public's domain uh to the to the taxpayers.

Um I also want to highlight, you know, I think the precedent that we set is very dangerous.

Um, is I think you know, the same that is being said uh with this entity that's before us could be said for so many other um valued and important organizations in our community um that that receive funding from the city, and so that precedent I think is also very important.

And lastly, you know, we asked Ulite to make a change, and they made the most significant of changes.

We told them we're gonna pause your funding and we will reinstate your funding after you address the issues that led to the violation of the organization's policies that led to to the offensive artwork um that led um and and that then because of that there was this change of the CEO, there's been change of policies, there's been systematic changes in the organization.

And when we tell organizations, hey, listen, we want you to work with us so that we can put in there the controls and the protections that we need in place to make sure that your organization upholds the values that are important to our city, and that once you do that, we will reinstate your funding, and then we come back and we say, you know what, just kidding.

We're not gonna keep our word, we're not gonna give you your funding back.

Why am I gonna change my CEO?

Why am I gonna make changes to my board?

Why am I gonna make changes to to my policies if at the end of the day the city of Miami Beach might not keep its word and do to my organization the same thing that you did to Oolite?

And so I think it's it's important.

Do I like the fact that uh that I'm finding out now that Ulite has this big budget?

No, but I don't make those budget recommendations.

Those are budget recommendations and funding recommendations made by the Cultural Arts Council.

These these recommendations are made by the Cultural Arts Council.

And if we want to go back and say, hey, listen, we want to change the vetting criteria of how the Cultural Arts Council administers their grant programs, well then that's a separate conversation to be had so that there's parity and fairness amongst all grant recipients and amongst all organizations that that apply for for for the public dollars.

Well, then that's a separate conversation to be had so that there's parity and fairness amongst all grant recipients and amongst all organizations that apply for for the public dollars.

But when we make a public commitment to an organization that we ask them to work with us to fix problems at the organization, and they come to the table and they work with us, then we have to keep our word at the end because then in the future, organizations will not work uh with us in the same way.

Can that happen?

Oh, sorry, Mr.

Yeah.

Were you commenting on the Yeah?

I was asking, did that actually happen?

I'm sorry, I didn't know that was gonna be my backstory.

So maybe we could tag Twitter.

Go ahead.

I think it might have been before your time on the commission.

Um I remember the incident well because I was involved behind behind the scenes, as were others.

Um it was before your time, John.

I'll I'll give you make that clear to everyone as well.

But there was an unfortunate uh unfortunate piece of artwork that that was uh anti-Semitic that went in a Walgreens uh storefront that violated there was certain controls that weren't in place and violated policies and procedures, but um and and uh it I think it it it highlighted some issues with the organization uh just generally.

But I guess the question for Eric, if I may, if I'm gonna direct this to you, was the changes that we sort of worked out and then held off on the funding contingent on that making all these changes, or there were two separate things that we wanted to just see whether they would make certain changes before we would consider uh resuming the funding.

So I will read the resolution.

It says, whereas the mayor and city commission would like to suspend all current and future grant agreements with and distributions to Olight until Oolite hires a new executive director and provides the city a statement reflecting the internal controls to be established to prevent a recurrence of the incident involved in the offensive artwork.

And the administration is hereby directed to suspend the grant agreement and all related funding disbursements between the city and oolite and pause the execution of all future grant agreements between the city and oolite until otherwise directed by the mayor and city commission to allow OLite to hire a new executive director and enable the city commission to review and approve Oolite's statement of internal controls.

And those are the statements that are the statements of internal controls are on our agenda.

That's correct.

Those are the ones that we have with the agenda item uh page 868 through 870 uh included with our seven hours.

If I could Commissioner Magazine.

Can I ask uh maybe Lizette or Mr.

City Manager?

Uh, because John, I'm asking what it was before your time.

How many years has Oolite uh received uh grant funding before it was suspended?

It goes back.

Um I don't have that information with me, but beyond 2013.

And so what you brought up, Commissioner Fernandez, that that weighs on me heavily that we made a commitment that we should uphold.

But also, and this isn't unique or specific to Oolite whatsoever, I think we have passed uh a resolution of somewhat saying this, that our grants and our funding can't just be evergreen infinite for any organization.

Right.

I believe that is specific to special event sponsorship, not cultural arts funding.

Right.

Um, but when I think about giving grants or economic development incentives, it's not forever, right?

It's to help the company get established or the arts and culture, and if it's needs-based, then yes, we can continue giving it, but this obviously isn't needs-based.

Um while that changes how I was thinking about this for this year in particular, to have any organization where we just give for decades when it's not needs-based, I I don't think that's good policy.

Um, I guess maybe I'm foreshadowing my support going forward if it's not needs-based.

I do want to honor a commitment and a promise that the city is seemingly made and not pull the rug out on that.

But on a go forward basis, if it's not needs-based, uh, I think you know, taxpayer support just can't be this evergreen promise that goes on forever.

We need to use it to help get either a special event off the ground, a new business into town and get them set up, or cultural organization time to establish themselves.

Like Oulai did, right?

You should say, wow, we we actually did it.

We got to a point where sir where we are self-sustaining.

Miami Beach, thank you so much for helping us get to this place that is no longer needed.

That's where I think we need to uh start directing our financial policy.

So I guess long-winded way of saying I'm not going to pull out the rug on a promise that was made.

And you did your part on your side, but for don't expect it'll just be this evergreen ongoing support for me.

Um, and that's not specific to Ulate.

That's going to be for a multitude of things, whether it's special events or um for-profit, not-for-profit companies, uh taxpayer money is going to be finite and only needs-based.

And Mr.

Suarez.

Look, I just want to make a final point.

Okay.

Um I think it's important, like what Commissioner Magazine said, give an opportunity for other cultural organizations to have an opportunity to get their start.

Oohite is at the penthouse.

Push the push go to the elevator and push one and send the elevator down for someone else.

Because they need the help.

You guys don't need the help.

I'd be much more happy with giving taxpayer money to an organization that is that that actually needs the help to get off the ground.

I mean, let's be honest, Olight wouldn't have such a large endowment if it wasn't for Miami Beach, right?

Because you sold all your properties at the height of the market.

And that resulted in over 100 million dollars in assets, which, if you were to do that today, it'd be like a fraction of that.

So look, I uh again, colleagues, I'm I'm simply saying, let's give an opportunity to another cultural arts organization that could actually use the money and and and uh and benefit uh our community.

Maybe it could be a cultural organization, you know, that is uh you know that that primarily deals with children uh of Miami Beach.

I mean, there's a whole other litany of of things that we can do to to kick start a an organization that actually needs the money.

So, you know, obviously I'm not gonna be supportive today.

I I am fully supportive, sorry, Mr.

Mayor, fully supportive of that concept, and with this organization in particular, I will be supportive and adhere to that uh going forward.

I am very sensitive to we we made a promise.

And to that, I forgot to mention, yeah, Commissioner Fernandez, you you just said that you had no idea about their finances up until today.

And and I think that's a valid point, because I think if you did, you know, we wouldn't be having a discussion right now.

I think that things would have been a little different.

And um when you do take into consideration how much the CEO is making and the next two employees, and that 33% of their operating budget goes to three people in the organization.

I think there is something to say that you know when you look at the full picture, is the money to this organization the right best use of funds.

And if if I may, Mr.

Mayor, you know, you bring up good points, but I think cherry picking which organizations we apply that to, it's not the right it's not the right way of going about a very good and valid point.

I think that's the one.

Well, respectfully, this is on the agenda.

I'm sorry, I'm speaking.

We left that line.

It's good to laugh amongst colleagues, especially when you're sitting up here.

Um, it's it I think it's it's important to get this very important concept that you're saying, and making sure that it's applied evenly amongst all grantees.

For example, you look at the Tourist Development Council at the county, the Tourist Development Council, they don't let people to continue getting them the maximum amount every single year.

It every year it substracts and it lowers and it lowers every every single year.

Um, you know, maybe we want to look at something like that so that organizations don't in perpetuity get this amount of funding.

Maybe we want to look at what assets they own, you know, what's you you know, I don't know, I don't know what type of statements we get from them.

So if we're gonna do something where now we're gonna start saying we're gonna apply our grants differently and handle them differently, well, let's do it in a in a way that the rules apply evenly and fairly across the board with all applicants.

And I think that there's an avenue through which to discuss it, and maybe that's something that Lasset can look into, uh, the grant criteria, because that's a separate conversation.

But this conversation on this item is closing the loop.

Something extremely offensive and horrible happened that should have never happened, an anti-Semitic uh occurrence due to the lack of certain controls and policies that weren't properly implemented.

And we asked this organization to take the most extreme at the strictest of measures to correct that before they could get more funding.

And now that they've corrected that, to tell them afterwards, hey, listen, you did what we asked you to do.

We're not gonna follow through with our word, we're not gonna give you your funding back.

I think that that would send a very horrible precedent when we might have to deal with the same thing with other organizations in the future, and then will they trust our word?

Would they trust our commitment?

And that's why I think it's so important in a situation like this to follow through our commitment that we made while we look at the separate issue of the criteria for grantees and evening out that playing field so that everyone is treated equally.

Commissioner Bott.

So um, you know, we we all are very um aware of the threats to our overall budget going forward, and I think it is a very valid conversation to have about our grant making process um for this and for other things going forward prospectively and re-evaluating the criteria and the guidelines and the time frames.

Um and so I don't know if that's an administrative thing that happens or if that's something that needs to be uh initiated legislatively, if the latter uh Commissioner Fernandez, I'd be happy to co-prime with you on that initiative because I think it's a useful conversation to have.

But I am not a fan of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown every time, or changing the goalposts in the middle of the game.

So I I would suggest with all due respect that we bifurcate the items, we close the loop on this, we honor our uh our word, which matters as a city, and um we look forward uh with fresh eyes as to how we want to use um our our funds going forward for maximum impact and um have a have that conversation, which is very valid.

But it's a separate conversation than this.

So item just to Commissioner Swaran.

Just to clarify, I think respectfully, I wasn't on the commission at the time when this resolution was passed.

You were the co-sponsor.

Really?

When we what was you were the co-sponsor September 17, 2024, sponsored by Vice Mayor Alex J.

Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez.

It was resolution number 2024-33265.

The issue that happened was in March, April.

Yeah, the only person who wasn't on the commission at the time was Monica.

Okay.

So it's funny you a couple of people referenced, but you referenced uh Commissioner Suarez.

We've spent a lot of time on a $30,000 item.

But I actually look at the bigger picture, I think it's an important discussion that it's gonna apply to a number of items.

So I think it's uh it's a healthy discussion that we're having.

Um not that long ago, the this commission before the election, the only changes, congratulations, Commissioner uh Mateo Salinas, but uh the the six of us and now all with our colleague.

Um we we were slashing our budget, right?

We um we reduced our tax millage for the first time since 2018.

All our homesteaded property owners just got a check for $500, uh first time in 20 years.

So we we you're welcome.

So we're uh we're certainly we're looking with a with a fine-tuned comment.

I think the presentation is is very good.

It's uh I think I think all of us uh appreciate uh the work that went into it and we want to know that information.

So it's uh it's it's healthy.

But I I guess a question for you, Commissioner, because Commissioner Fernandez kind of makes an argument.

I I I I was and I still might be, but I was with you actually.

But then I got, and I think Commissioner Magazine's in the same boat, like I guess the question in my head is did we make that commitment?

I'm trying to read this resolution, and if we did, I'd want to honor it.

But is is that condition of their making the changes was by all measurables they have?

Was that a was that a continu were we promising them to give them this grant if they did these things?

Do you have I mean what's I mean to Mr.

Mayor, if I may, I mean the resolution says the mayor and city commissioner would like to suspend all current and future grant agreements.

I'm sorry?

Can you tell me exactly what you read?

Uh page 862 uh and uh we're asked clause, not the last grass clause and one before last.

The mayor and city commission would like to suspend all current and future grant agreements with and distributions to Ulite until Ulite hires a new executive director and provides the city a statement reflecting the internal controls to be established to prevent a recurrence of the incidents involving the offensive artwork.

We would like to suspend a current and future suspend, not revoke, suspend.

That was the commitment that we did until they hired a new executive director and provided the internal controls that are provided in our agenda in page 868.

And now that we've done that, it's time to remove the suspension and keep our word on what we committed to.

Otherwise, in the future, it's gonna happen with other things.

Um with you know, in the future might be an LGBTQ thing that an organization might do something that's offensive, and we asked them to correct it and take and take measures to correct it.

And why would they why would they listen to us and work with us in correcting it?

They're gonna say, well, listen, there's no guarantee you'll give us our money back the moment you suspend it, or it might be on some other thing in in the future.

Um I think so to me it's pretty clear in the language what our intent was.

Yeah, and I think when we pass this resolution, like you said, the full scope of it, the sc the full scope of their finances wasn't really readily available to us.

And I think their tax returns literally came out I think around the same time.

And so look, you know, I I understand we we made a commitment.

However, with new information on the financing of this uh organization, you know, I I think uh the idea has shifted to say, like, look, do we really need to to help an organization that is has over a hundred million dollars in cash or or in assets and where a CO makes over $300,000?

I again I just I understand we made a commitment to this, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's still the right thing to do moving forward with taxpayer dollars, considering the fact that we now know what their finances are.

I'm sorry, you know, it's just that's that's just that's a philosophical decision.

I I understand that.

Um, look, if they were if they were struggling, if they didn't obviously have the finances that they do now this wouldn't obviously wouldn't have been pulled from consent, and we wouldn't be having this hour-long discussion on it.

Okay.

Um so I think that's where we fundamentally disagree, right?

I I completely understand and can see the point that yes, we did make a commitment.

At the time, I don't think any of us knew really the full scope of the finances in the situation.

I'm simply bringing into question the organization's uh financial capacity.

And I don't disagree with you because I think something good will come out of that, which is looking at all grantees and how and making sure that we do consider those financial capacities, what is what assets they have, what what uh what liquid assets they have uh in in the bank.

Um right now we're not doing that.

Or I don't know if we're doing that.

Are we doing that?

No, we do we do see that uh as part of their grant application process.

There are other organizations that are making that and above so it would impact other organizations.

And so as so that's where like the moment we establish this precedent and we say organizations of you know having having this amount of funding or having this net worth um that um that now we're gonna start changing how we apply the grants, that's a broader conversation.

I don't disagree with a lot of what you're saying.

You have raised some very good and relevant points, but we didn't say in this resolution we would re-implement the grant based on your tax return.

It was we would, you know, re-emplate.

What's that?

We didn't know.

We didn't know.

And I and that's why I think what you're saying, what what you're saying should be part of a broader discussion where we should let Lissett uh and the city managers team look at the requirements of these grants, especially in light of the potential changes in revenues uh that we may be facing.

You know, what reforms based on on this presentation that you've made, what reforms should we be making to the grant process?

But I think that that's independent of this item here uh right now.

And uh just the final thing in the resolution, Eric Lissette, we're comfortable with the internal controls.

That was part of can we can we can we have an after the fact resolution to to do exactly that?

You know, um let's uh let's let's have the administration set of criteria.

So I have an item in FERC.

Uh and perhaps we can expand upon that because right now it just centers on executive compensation, but perhaps we can make it needs based for the entire organization and like I said if it it's one thing if we're trying to entice somebody to get here, but it can't be just evergreen infinite.

So we would expand upon that.

Yeah, because it it's it's a fur, right?

If if the organization CEO makes X amount of dollars.

Okay, we're gonna call the vote.

Thank you, uh, Commissioner Soros.

You've highlighted some very important issues.

I think you got all of us uh thinking.

Um thinking hard.

That's I mean one second.

And Commissioner Fernandez, you kind of put us a little bit into a box by bringing up this resolution that we had and uh quite quite honestly.

We I mean it's easy to say in high site.

We uh we were trying to we were trying to get an organization to to make some changes that would better themselves and our city, which actually has been accomplished.

So uh for that for that end, but we did we would bind ourselves somewhat.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I just want to clarify that the fiscal year twenty-seven Cultural Arts Council grant application closed on February twentieth.

So I just want to share that for awareness.

So that means that all organizations have applied, so any just to keep that in mind for any future legislation or policies that for fiscal year twenty-seven, we have just closed the application process and the cultural arts council will start reviewing them in April.

I need a motion.

Moved second I'll second.

It's contingent upon expanding upon this legislation.

This is a resolution plus direction plus a referral to FERC.

Um there's already an item in FERC.

But expanding the referral to FERC, having administration work with us to expand it.

So all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

No.

So I have one no from Commissioner Suarez.

The item passes six one.

That was R seven I.

It includes an expanded referral to FERC.

Um we actually have a review that we gotta do now during our lunch break.

So it's a working lunch break, but uh let's reconvene at one thirty.

Where we where are we doing it?

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, one.

Thank you.

Welcome back.

Uh we're a few minutes late.

We had our um annual review of our city managers.

That's what we're doing during the uh lunch break.

While we were having lunch, but uh let's have our subject hour before we start uh continuing with uh with our items.

So please, anyone welcome to speak.

Thank you, Mayor.

Anyone who wishes to speak, please approach the podium, please.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

Uh good afternoon, all mayor, commissioners, uh Demian Gal here.

Uh all of you know I'm the permit doctor.

I've been uh a tenant uh for the city of Miami Beach for the last 20 years.

Uh I feel part of uh big family of the Miami Beach family.

Uh I went through many, many, many years of building department.

I pulled thousands of permits licenses.

I know the city very well.

And through the years, I've been getting new leases in my space.

And uh this year they want to go for a betting after 20 years without giving me the opportunity of negotiation or anything.

So they went to a process of betting process, and uh I did everything they asked for, all champ all the hoops, and today in the consent agenda, C2B, uh that item was pulled out the betting.

So no chance to talk to anybody or no chance for me to tell them how important it is to be in the city, uh, have the space.

And I help a lot of people in the community.

I I do pro one, a lot of pro honor.

30% of my courts appearance uh for people on Miami Beach that cannot afford an attorney or come and talk to the judge or the special mass magistry.

And I represent them from free because I know that they need help.

Some of them they can get the permit, and that's what they get paid for, but I do it with goodwill.

So I'm uh important person for the community and and and this in the city.

And I I feel bad.

I feel bad, and like the rug was pulled out of my feet after 20 years.

Um yeah, just one more thing, please.

Uh this item was approved this morning.

Somebody can just reconsider and pull this item out for this question.

I will appreciate that.

Mr.

Mayor.

This is Madame Vice Mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Uh Commissioner Mateasolinas.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Oh, sorry.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Manager, with this item.

It's just we're just talking about the lease of space, but but the permit doctor can still leave space in the city and still do work with the city.

Absolutely.

Okay, so this is not uh this barring him from doing work in the city.

So just you know, you can continue the same services you've been providing to the residents to the businesses.

You can continue providing it, but the city needs the space, so this is my understanding.

There are essential services of the city, which if not, we need to go lease space somewhere else.

We would have to go lease office space somewhere else, and obviously we have this space available.

We've come to the end of the lease.

We issued a six-month extension on the lease so that they could have a transition period.

Um and we will be using that space um for one of our city services.

So I mean, you're you're you're still more than welcome to assist businesses in our community, deal with the building department, but the city is cities city real estate, and the city needs it for its departments.

I understand that.

I understand that, but the type of service that I provide is so unique.

There's no other company that provide the same service as at least distance or the city hall.

And the so many years in business, everybody, everybody knows the permit doctor.

So they come to us directly to that location.

Now we don't know where we're gonna go.

It's uh it's uh very important delocation.

It's only 400 square feet.

I don't know which other service the city can provide in such a limited space.

That's why we can reconsider maybe we can talk to somebody on so far, not too many months ago, actually weeks ago, we were under the impression that we got him for a betting process.

And that stops.

That was what we removed this morning out of the agenda and C2B.

It's no it's not gonna be betting.

It's removed, completely removed.

Uh, was approved in the consent agenda.

Somebody can just reconsider there and give us an opportunity to see if our service is more important than any other service that can be provided in those 400 square feet.

Thank you, sir.

Is there anyone else who wishes to speak?

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everybody.

Sarah de los reyes as a resident of Sansa Harbor.

Uh thank you, Mayor, for the taxi.

It's been very successful.

And um, I just want to bring uh to attention that I wrote an email to Colette, which she left the city and I gave it to Lauren.

Um you're gonna you know that they're going to do the new building for the marine patrol, but the people stand out there in the sun in the rain, and sometimes it's more than 15, 60 people.

So I think that building needs to be looked to a design on that area to have an area that people will be waiting for your water taxi, because I think it's gonna be with time, it's gonna be even more and more of the taxis coming in that area.

So I think the redesign or something to shelter them from the sun or or the rain will be really good.

They all stand in there for one hour.

So no, thank you, Sarah.

And uh yeah, I was actually out there this week, and we were looking at options of providing shade and making it uh the most comfortable experience for command.

Thank you for the pictures you sent from your uh yeah.

I'm it's right from my terrace, so I watch it and I watch it all the time, and I'm here to support the seven R7B, the mooring field that I'll be here to provide a speech for you.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Is there anyone else here who wishes to speak?

Go ahead, sir.

Uh wait, oh there we go.

Uh good afternoon, uh Mayor, commissioners.

Uh my name is Bruce Horwich, and many of you know I am the chairman of Miami Beach Pride, and I appreciate you letting me speak this afternoon.

Uh Miami Beach Pride is considered by many to be the best free, free, underline the word free, annual event in the city of Miami Beach.

It attracts not only local residents from South Florida, but all over the United States and from countries all over the world.

International travelers go home telling their friends it was one of the best prides anywhere ever.

Miami Beach Pride has that kind of reputation, which enhances the city of Miami Beach's reputation.

The city prides itself in being a city where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of your skin, your religion, where you come from, or who you love.

Man Beach Pride delivers that message directly.

So much so that the city has an excellent reputation among the LGBT plus community.

And it's a safe event that over the years has had little to no incidents.

From what I've been told, the police sign up sheet is filled within hours.

It creates jobs.

It is estimated that brings in over five million in revenue.

It has a great return on investment.

My guess the best one the city has.

But most importantly, it is great for the community.

It is free with world-class entertainment, a fun parade, which many of you have been in, uh, tremendous exposure to what the city of Miami Beach has to offer.

I've been asked why we don't have it in a park or over in Miami, that we could save money by doing so.

The answer is very simple.

Our pride, unlike many others throughout the world, is held on the sands of Miami Beach.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Again, thank you, Mayor and Commissioners.

Thank you.

Bruce, I think proudly uh just doing a scan of the uh days up here.

I think we've all uh we've all been so testament to a great event that you have.

I'm sorry.

Uh uh just doing a quick uh look at the day.

So I I think proudly I can say that we've all uh over the years participated in the event.

So just a testament to uh the great event that you have.

Giving you a compliment.

Yes, yes, you said most of us have uh been in the parade as I scan the uh the days.

I think all of us have.

I I appreciate it.