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.

But let's get let's get started.

Turn it over to our city clerk, Raphael Granado for any uh pertinent instructions.

Good morning.

The city commission is physically present in the commission chamber at Miami Beach City Hall, seventeen hundred conventional center drive, third floor.

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

If you're joining us virtually, you can log in using the Zoom app or visit the Zoom.

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Good morning.

Pursuant to section 286.011, subparagraph 8, Florida statutes.

As city attorney, I hereby advise the mayor and city commission that I desire advice concerning the following pending litigation matter.

Penrod Brothers, Inc.

versus the City of Miami Beach, and Boucher Brothers.

Case numbers 2023-16657, CA01, 2023-56 AP012, 2023 CV 23362, and 2025 13415.

These cases are pending before the Florida 11th Circuit, Civil Division, Florida 11th Circuit, Civil Appellate Division, Southern District of Florida, and the 11th Circuit, respectively.

Therefore, a private attorney client session will be held during the lunch recess of the city commission meeting in the city manager's large conference room on the fourth floor of City Hall to discuss settlement negotiations and/or strategy related to litigation expenditures.

The mayor will announce the commencement of the attorney client session prior to recessing the commission meeting.

Okay.

Thank you for being here and your lovely wife Dina for being here as well.

Before you start your invocation, I just uh have to say thank you.

Uh not just for me, but really Miami Beach.

You've I've seen the transformation that you have done in uh in North Beach and building a community there.

Also working together closely, for example, with Normandy Fountain Business Association and David Sexton and others.

It's uh it's a real true community, and we're thankful and blessed to have you here today.

Humbled by your words, and I thank all of you for all the support for the community.

And um, just share a few words of of thought and prayer this morning.

Um, in honor of um behalf of the commission and the mayor and the great people of Miami Beach.

We're sitting before an auspicious time in the Jewish calendar, which is the holiday of Shavuot, the holiday when we got the Torah, where we got the the word of God, as it were, um, right in front of Mount Sinai.

And something very special happened there.

The whole nation of Israel came together.

It says, as one people with one heart, as though they were just one person.

And we found that when that happened, amazing things happened.

That when they came together, God was with them.

And today I give a blessing and pray that God should give all of you and all of us that we should come together as a city, as one person with one heart.

And in doing so, what it shows is that we are of sound mind and and of togetherness, and when we're together, a purpose of mind, then amazing things happen.

Not just incredible things on our organizational side, but amazing things happens from God.

And today I give bless the commission that we should see all of that blessing and all the work that you do in bettering our city and helping us become the best people that we can be and becoming the best people that you can be.

May God bless.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you, Robert Ar.

Thank you, Dina Hadar.

Now I get to surprise someone in the audience to lead us in the pledge.

How about Herman Cardenau?

Hernon is our director of code enforcement.

We talk a lot about police, but code uh does an incredible job in code compliance, code enforcement, and uh welcome up.

Well uh good morning.

Please stand there for you're able to place your right hand over your heart.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Uh, before we start with the Stutnik time, um, wanted to recognize that there was an incident uh the other day in our city in which uh some tourists from uh out of out of the country came here and defaced with uh the words Adolf was here with a SWAT sticker on a on a bench and then up by a crosswalk that has been uh representative of our LGBTQ community.

Um I I want to open it up for everyone here.

It's obviously horrific.

And I was thinking about it.

Why did this happen in our city?

And I did some research and I was looking and I realized nobody's immune from hate.

It's how you handle it and how you address it.

And I'm so proud of our city of our representatives.

I know uh we have here council general of Germany, Christopher Berger, who's here.

I would like him to say a few words as well, uh, since they were German tourists.

I know Commissioner Bott, thank you.

I believe you were the first one that reached out to the council general immediately to notify him of this incident.

And again, I'm I'm appreciative of everyone up here in our city for condemning this immediately.

Our police department in from the moment they were notified of it, which was pretty quickly to the time of arrest was less than one hour using our real-time intelligence center camera systems.

And um I've been in communications with the state attorney's office, and and and I believe they will they are taking this seriously, and we're gonna prosecute this to the full extent of the law.

As I've mentioned many times, unfortunately, ultimately, hate like that ultimately and always leads to violence.

We've seen that throughout thousands of years of history.

Um very appreciative of everyone who took quick swift action.

Um I'd like to ask Council General to say a few words and thank you very much, Mayor Minor, for inviting me to speak here today.

Also, thank you again, Commissioner Bott for being the first to alert me to this incident um yesterday.

Um my name is Christopher Berger.

I have the honor of representing the Federal Republic of Germany here in the great state of Florida, and also of being a proud resident of this beautiful city of Miami Beach.

Um more than 300,000 German tourists visit Florida every year.

And I am happy to say that most of them are well behaved and well received here.

Um rarely ever get in trouble with the law.

And usually, if there's a case where tourists break the law, it doesn't really matter very much.

It doesn't make much of a difference what country they're from.

They're tourists, they committed uh some infraction.

But we immediately understood that in this case it does make a difference that these tourists came from Germany.

Um, because uh as a nation we bear responsibility for the worst crime in human history, the Holocaust.

And that is also why, under German legislation, uh public display of symbols of the Nazi Party is considered a criminal offense.

So when I learned of the shameful incident yesterday, I immediately reached out uh to the mayor um to first of all offer our support in um fixing the damage that was that was done, but also um to um offer our voice in reassuring our communities here in Miami Beach, the LGBT community, the Jewish community, which with which we're so grateful to have enjoyed amazing relations over many many years to reassure everyone that this is not representative of the German people or the German nation, that we as a nation do not tolerate anti-Semitism, we do not tolerate hate against anyone.

We stand united against bigotry.

And this also serves as a reminder that you are the work of combating anti-Semitism, of combating bigotry is never done.

It takes a continuous effort, most of all through education, but where education isn't enough, it also requires us to use law enforcement to enforce the letter of the law to draw the line of what is acceptable and what isn't in our community.

And I would like to thank um Miami Beach Police Department and everyone involved for having such a swift and clear response to this uh to make it clear that together as a community, this is not something that we will tolerate.

Thank you very much again, and if we can be of any further support in um giving that assurance to our communities, uh we will be happy to do so.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Council General, for being such a clear voice on this.

That's uh it's very meaningful uh to our city and to everyone.

Uh you are you were out there, you were seen in the media being a clear voice, and it's uh it's noticed, uh it's appreciated, and and it's impactful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bott.

Um Mr.

Council General, thank you for for coming here today, and uh obviously for your quick response yesterday and your responsiveness to the phone calls.

What you didn't mention um in in your remarks just now, which I think everybody should know, um, is that you were there was a big day at the consulate yesterday, where I think it was 20 14.

What you didn't mention um in in your remarks just now, which I think everybody should know is that you were there was a big day at the consulate yesterday, where I think it was 20 14 um uh people, Jews were reclaiming their German uh lineage and reclaiming their German nationality, um, which is a real testament to the work that Germany has done.

I I most people don't know this, but German was actually my first language.

I lived in Germany um from the ages of uh two to four, which I know is not a big deal, but you do learn to speak there, and I do have very um real memories from from there.

Um and you know, my my whole family is Jewish, and we lived in Karlsruhe, and it was not that long after the war, it was in the um in the very late 60s, early 70s, and um we felt pretty secure as Jews living in Germany.

And I I think it's um it's really a testament to the nation that of Germany, um the fact that they have taken so seriously this education process of making sure that people understand history so that we do not repeat it, and I think that is definitely missing in the world.

The other thing that I wanted to point out is that this was um an act of hate.

It was specifically directed towards the Jewish community in Miami Beach, but it was chosen to be done in just the most visibly proud LGBTQ corner of our community, cornerstone, foundational corner of our community, where Joe had just gotten a beautiful rainbow bench installed, and Alex has a whole um of memorial plaque history.

Explaining why this rainbow sidewalk was so important.

There are rainbow-colored bike racks, there are rainbow banners because Miami Beach is not perfect.

We have a complicated history, but we really strive to be open-minded and welcoming to to everybody.

And um, you know, it's bad enough that that graffiti was done anywhere.

Um I was hoping it was a bunch of idiot kids who were doing something with a Sharpie, but it was old men who knew better and were doing something intentional.

And it's it was just a slap in the face to so many residents, regardless of religious faith or anything.

It's just so many people who choose to be in Miami Beach because it's open and inclusive and welcoming.

Um it's it's even bigger than I mean anti-Semitism is big enough.

Anti-LGBTQ is big enough, but it was just such a perfect storm of nastiness and hate and bigotry and stupidity.

So I it's really I think um it's telling that everybody has jumped on this, and I want to commend Chief Jones.

I reached out to him, and I I want to also uh recognize one of our residents.

I don't know if he's here, but David Adams alerted me to this um yesterday and uh no two days ago, and as soon as I saw it, I sent it to the chief, and he and his team um jumped on it, and and as you mentioned, Mayor, um got these guys arrested and and sorted out right away.

And so it's a testament to how quickly people respond to um uh things that go against the green for the greater good.

So um compliments to everybody on that and uh onward and upward.

Thank you.

Um let's open up to the Sutnik hour.

Okay, so please Commissioner Fernandez.

Yeah, I was gonna I wasn't going to comment on this.

I actually I was going to uh comment on on something different uh because today today is Bente de Mayu.

It's Cuban Independence Day.

And my thoughts uh today are with the millions of Cubans uh both on the island and throughout the exile through throughout South Florida who have spent generations longing not simply for political change, but for freedom, for freedom itself.

And uh and and today is actually quite quite a unique day because all eyes are going to be in South Florida in Miami later this this afternoon at the Freedom Tower in Miami.

The Department of Justice is expected to honor the four innocent men uh murdered in 1996 brothers to the rescue should uh shoot down.

Uh and I think many of us who were living in this community at that time remembered that horrific act of of murder that was ordered under the Cuban dictatorship and to sent a shilling message to anyone daring challenge the uh tyranny of the Castro regime or seek freedom itself.

And as we were leaving, as we were leaving, um, as we were leaving that funeral home, we turned on 97th Avenue, and I look at the sign, and the street was dedicated to Mario de la Peña.

Mario de la Peña was one of the four uh four pilots who were who were shut down, murdered, executed by by the Cuban regime uh back in 1996.

And for so many of us in this community, this is deeply personal.

This morning my mind was going back to great leaders who have fought for for freedom for the freedom of the Cuban people, leaders like Jorge Mascanosa, leaders like Lincoln Díaz Ballard, leaders like religious leaders like Monsignor Agustin Broman, uh people who used the powers of their talents like Celia Cruz, who we have a street named after, or people like Marta Flores, people who fought for freedom in our community and who died, who died dreaming, dreaming of that day of freedom.

And my heart went directly to my family, my tio Alberto, my tío Enrique, my tía Mirta, my abuelos, my grandmother who passed two years ago, uh carrying the pain of ex-file of exile until her final days.

And so hopefully we might be at a turning point, but I would have been remiss.

I would have been remiss as a Cuban American born in this great country, whose parents uh whose parents dealt the challenges of exiles and whose families felt the atrocities of the Cuban government not to honor this day, not to remember the executed political opponents of the Cuban government who were killed by firing squads, uh the dissidents, the students, the priests, the journalists, those who were accused of independent thought, and all who were persecuted by the Cuban government in churches, who were persecuted for just being who they were.

It is an oppressive government that must come to an end.

And today I wanted to shed light upon that government because of the historic nature of what's going to happen today at the Freedom Tower.

And I thank you, Mr.

Mayor, for enjoying indulging me with that, because it represents so many in our community, represents so many of us on this dais, and represents so many of our workers whose families have uh have dealt with this for decades.

No, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez, for your words and for your really strong stand in taking the lead on uh on this very important issue for the Cuban people.

It's uh it's it's a sad situation, but uh but one that we continue to fight.

Thank you.

My name is Ken Barnes.

I'm a retired physician.

I live in Miami.

I would like to ask you some questions.

What if one of you hired video billboard trucks using pictures and videos of constituents, calling them anti-Semitic and Jew haters, in effect bullying them?

What if this was an attempt to silence, target, intimidate, and harass members of the Miami Beach community and a political organization opposed to the beliefs of said commissioner?

What if this was because you wanted these same constituents to become fearful of negative consequences because they spoke publicly, criticized officials, or exercise their free speech?

What if one of you made false statements that attempted to harm the reputation of these constituents?

Do you believe that the public officials should be held to a higher standard?

Would you think that such behavior is an abuse of office and against the public good, undermining the dignity, integrity, impartiality, and public trust expected of someone holding public office?

Rather than being passionate, was this a mean-spirited violation of norms of behavior?

And what if said commissioner did these acts while the mayor and other commissioners of that city remained silent?

Wouldn't you be obligated to call for his or her resignation?

This is why we are calling for the resignation or removal of Commissioner David Suarez, who with malice tried to intimidate and harass members of the community, as well as an organization, Jewish Voice for Peace, both being critics of Israel's genocide in Gaza and unrelenting attacks in the West Bank, which he vigorously supports.

At the very least, I urge you to put forward a resolution to censor him.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

You you you you try to deflect on the real issue.

Now you you had your piece, I said mine, and I said it in a lot less than two minutes.

Go ahead, state your name, address, and you have two minutes, please.

Go ahead.

My name is Shannon Busamante.

I'm from 316 Payne Drive, my uh Miami Springs, Florida.

And I'm here speaking on the shark fishing ban on Miami Beach.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Shannon Bustamante.

Though many of you know me as Seaweed from the award-winning film South Beach Shark Club on Amazon Prime.

The film was released in 2022 after being filmed over seven years because we knew back then and long before though that one day we would be fighting for land-based shark fishing and recreational fishing rights.

The documentary shows how beautiful South Florida cities built around fishing, diving, surfing, and skateboarding have slowly become controlled by foreign money and transient wealth.

While lifelong locals like myself, born and raised on South Beach since 1985, are pushed aside through quietly proposed bans like the one we are fighting today.

In the documentary, you'll see me at South Point Pier pointing out how certain peer rules and restrictions were already making fishing increasingly difficult long before this proposed ban.

But beyond that, the film exists because shark fishing truly saved my life and the lives of dozen of friends during a wild era in Miami, known for gangs and violence.

The same path eventually led to me becoming the assistant head football coach at Miami Beach Senior High School here in Miami Beach and the assistant commissioner at Northwest Boys and Girls Club.

One of the biggest traditions, something we do more than 30 times a year is bringing hundreds of kids back to South Beach to fish.

Many of these kids come from broken homes.

Many of these kids come from broken homes and are being raised by single grandparents or practically raising themselves.

Their sporting events and fishing trips are sacred to them.

Out there on the beach, they learn patience, discipline, camaraderie, respect for nature, and moments of peace away from the chaos.

Many of them face daily in Miami.

Most of the old timers who helped save my life through fishing have passed away.

And now I'm one of the last people still carrying the tradition forward more than 35 years later.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

I have a presentation.

PJ.

And while he's getting that, I just want to thank everybody who found the funding for the senior soccer group.

There was a little contention at the end of last year, but it was a hiccup with the funding.

And just want to thank you all because the group really appreciates that.

The presentation again was from the PJ.

This is a presentation that I sent you yesterday.

Understood one moment, bringing it up now.

I think this is a good president.

Go ahead, sir.

If you could start without the presentation or uh I'll start speaking, but the presentation kind of is coordinated with what I'm going to be saying.

So I just want to thank you all for all the work that you do.

My name is David Ballard.

I'm from 4217th Street.

I'm here on behalf of the residents and neighbors of Altus Del Mar area, which is the section between 75th Street and 81st Street between Collins and Dickens.

I'm here to speak about a public safety situation on Harding Avenue near 73rd, 74th, and especially 75th Street.

Currently, 75th Street is a primary route for emergency vehicles and all in our neighborhood, which now that it's being blocked on an almost daily basis in the morning.

Emergency vehicles, fire trucks cannot get through.

These intersections were blocked occasionally, maybe once or twice a month, usually tied up due to tied to a concrete pour or a broken down bus.

We as neighborhoods understood that.

But now the drivers are systematically entering this intersection without space to clear them, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of gridlock.

This behavior is no longer an occasional occurrence.

It has become normalized daily for the traffic on Harding Avenue.

Cars consistently block the intersection mid-red light, preventing lateral traffic from moving and creating dangerous blind spots and obstructions for pedestrians cross using the crosswalk.

And that's really why I was here is because one of our neighbors, a young, an older lady who's about this tall, had waited at the light two or three times, but it's completely blocked with vehicles.

Finally, she just she wanted to make it, she wanted to go up to surfside to get her, and she wanted to catch her bus.

And as she's crossing, she almost got clipped by another car blocking the intersection.

The law is clear.

Florida statute 3162.0.

Do not block the intersection.

The sign is posted at 7th Street, as you all can see.

Unfortunately, the sign is a fine for 133 dollars, where most of the other intersection blocking fines in the city are 500 dollars.

We're not asking for any kind of major program.

We're just asking for one or two citations a month at this at these intersections.

Visible enforcement would change behavior.

I believe that's all that it takes.

Blocking these intersections endangers lives daily.

And as it says very clearly over the intersection, do not block the intersection, we just ask that that be enforced.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for all putting the work together to do this.

You can definitely see on those pictures somebody that sent me something this morning.

And usually never happened now is happening today.

Thank you.

Good good morning, everybody.

Mitch Novick, 38-year resident and business owner.

For as long as City Manager Eric Carpenter has been with the city since the early days of the Morales administration, Miami Beach residents have faced annual water rate increases every October, along with additional fees created, such as the monthly fire sprinkler charge.

Previously, customers received notice about upcoming increases on their utility bills, but those notices disappeared this past November.

Today's proposed water rate hike was pulled due to lack of sponsorship.

And now you're being asked to approve item R5Q, allowing the city manager to sponsor items.

This is clearly an attempt to revisit this unpopular issue.

Residents reject these increases and approving more would equate to a political suicide.

My response is find solutions within the existing budget.

The city has added 500 employees and doubled its budget since Eric began.

It's high time to treat it as such.

So my name is Angie Zafadi.

Um thank you for having us here today to be able to talk about our concerns.

So specifically around the parking for years we had a hundred percent parking coverage.

We didn't pay a dollar to park at the 17th street garage, and then this parking was uh was taken away, and now we have to pay uh 15 50 percent of the cost.

Yeah, uh solicitude is so equal to uh retomar is uh beneficial, ya que tenemos un sueldo per ora de 20 dollars.

So the the goal here is to see whether through you all or if we can do a meeting to speak with you on Sedexo to get that benefit.

I currently make um 20 dollars an hour.

And this is something that's affecting all of us and it's affecting our pockets.

So the part also there's parking that's inside the garage.

Now we have to park in the 233rd Street parking lot, which is the difference.

But if there's some type of solution to be able to get maintain the free parking.

So if we can meet with you on figure this out, thank you so much.

Yes, I'm sorry, can you restate her name?

I didn't catch it.

Angie, A N Y, last name Safari, S-A-F-A-D-I.

Thank you.

Thank you for highlighting the issue.

Uh Alex Fernanda, Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes, and thank you for for being here.

Gracias por estar aquí en Taverun.

Uh we had been notified of this through unite here.

And we had, I think a number of us had been notified, and I believe from from what I'm gathering from the reactions of my colleagues, a number of us reached out to the city manager's office.

It was my understanding that this had been solved.

Commissioner, that is my understanding as well.

Many of you reached out to me, and I reached out to our parking department, and I was assured that the same offer that we had been providing at the 17th Street Garage was now being provided at the Collins Park Garage.

It was a different location, but it was supposed to be the same rate.

No.

Alright, and that's the problem.

They're not getting today, Eric, the same discount that they were getting before.

And so we need to get with Sodaxo because perhaps we might be offering Sodaxo what we have always been offering Sodaxo, but there's but Sodaxo is not continuing to offer the workers what they were previously getting.

Okay, I will happily dig into that with Sodexo and we will address.

Thank you.

And this is why at the public safety committee, we've been bringing up frequently over the past few months the issues of the parking at the convention center hotel.

That that building does not have sufficient parking for its employees.

And right now it's the workers from Sodaxo that are coming here.

And next July, when that building opens and it's operation, we're gonna be having here the employees and union members of the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel coming to us with the same concerns about the parking that is not being provided for them on site, and we need to get ahead of that, and we need to address that.

If not, the problem is gonna overflow into the residential neighborhoods, and it's gonna come before this days.

Go ahead, please.

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

Today I urge you to do the right thing and to condemn this action and all actions which violate the free speech and safety of Miami Beach residents.

And I urge the individual responsible for these egregious acts to step down from office immediately.

David Suarez, you have no place in public office.

You bring nothing but shame and embarrassment to our city.

And also one last thing.

And uh while you spew nothing but hate and target your own private constituents with hate and violence is not lost on me.

You surely have some nerve.

Do the right thing for once.

Mr.

Minor.

Commissioner Suarez.

I just want to call out some hypocrisy here.

I think it's really rich that the person that was crying victim for months about free speech is now trying to trample others' free speech.

I want to remind this room and those watching how insane the last speaker is.

PJ, if you could pull up the screen, please.

I want to show everyone that the comparison between this person and Nick Fuentes, who's a virile anti-Semite.

Uh it says the Zionist propaganda machine is full on, putting our tax dollars to work, comparing Israel to somehow the government spending and how Israel and Jews are.

Excuse me.

I had I gave you an opportunity to speak.

It's now my turn to speak.

Excuse me.

You excuse me.

You're mislabeling me.

You had your opportunity to speak.

You had your free speech.

I did not interrupt you.

Now it's my turn to speak.

I never said do, ever.

Not in one post.

I always say.

Can we go to the next slide, please?

So we have a government that's completely beholden to Israel.

And for those of you who are watching, I want everyone to know that the reason why people like the last speaker hide behind Israel is because they don't want us, they don't want to call a spade a spade.

They want to be able to say Israel and not Jews.

Because it's the same thing.

Because without the State of Israel, the Jewish people are destined to be wiped out.

And that's the reason why there is a State of Israel.

So we have complete government that's completely beholden to Israel.

Nick Fuentes.

Okay, but Israel controls America.

It's the same line of things.

Next.

Candace Owens, same thing.

A virile anti-Semite.

We have a government that's been completely beholden Israel.

And if you'll notice the pattern here, it's it's the same people online and in the world that somehow say that Israel is controlling the government and that there's this conspiracy.

It's the same ones that you saw here.

Next.

I want to go to the Ayatollah, who's no longer with us, thankfully.

There we go.

The US du the US is definitely the Zionist regime's accomplice orchestrating the crimes being committed in Gaza.

That's the same sort of logic that everyone just heard here from the last speaker.

I want to let everyone sink this in for a minute.

The Ayatollah of Iran who wants to wipe out Israel with nuclear weapons as the same line of thinking from some of these extremist activists.

PJ, you can put the slide down now.

Now, for the group here, JVP.

JVP is not a peace group.

It is one of the most cynical, dishonest, extremist organizations in American politics today.

They hide behind Jewish identity while giving cover to the same radical movement that demonizes Israel, excuses anti-Semitism, and cheers on the destruction of the world's only Jewish state.

And the only thing more hypocritical than JVP is queers for Palestine.

A group blinded by ideology that they march for people who would erase their freedoms and their very existence.

Let me be crystal clear.

This is America.

You have a right to say outrageous, hateful, crazy things, which you are clearly doing today.

And I have a right to call it out as exactly as it is.

No censorship, no intimidation, no moral blackmail.

We just had swastikas graffitied on our city in front of a Holocaust museum, in front of a pride bench.

We had Jewish school teachers spit on.

This is in our city.

Meanwhile, these lunatics come up here and espouse more anti-Semitism.

Miami Beach will not be bullied into silence by extremists pretending to be activists.

We will stand proudly against anti-Semitism, bigotry, hypocrisy.

And anyone who tries to normalize hate.

Thank you.

I'll just add there's only one country in the world right now that has to consistently defend its right to exist, and that's Israel.

It's the only country that when it defends itself from attacks against its civilians has to defend itself.

And not only does Hamas and Iran publicly state that their goal is to destroy Israel, but Israel then gets accused of that what they're trying to do just because it's defending themselves.

And that's the point here.

It has become to the point.

Everyone can disagree on politics and policies of a specific government.

We do that in America all the time.

They do that in Israel all the time.

Most countries in the Middle East, you can't argue the politics.

In Israel, they do.

It has become to the point where when you're questioning Israel's right to exist and defend themselves, yes.

It is anti-Jew.

It is anti-Semitism.

Because without an Israel, without an army to defend Jews, not only in Israel but everywhere in the world, Jews are vulnerable, and that's exactly what our enemies want.

I'm Donna Neville, and I live in North Beach.

Two quick points.

Anti-Semitism is discrimination against Jews, stereotypes of Jews, violence against Jews, or targeting of Jews because they are Jewish.

Anti-Semitism is not criticism, including harsh criticism of Israel or Zionism.

Period.

For hundreds of thousands of us, in fact, it is our Jewish obligation to speak out against injustice, apartheid, genocide.

To quote Jewish philosopher Brian Klug, and I quote, anti-Semitism has rightly been called a monster.

But false accusations of anti-Semitism are monstrous too.

Unquote.

Two.

That is why I am asking the city commission to censure Commissioner David Suarez for behavior unfitting for someone in office.

And with all due respect, if you remain silent, that ends up being a reflection on all of you because we know all too well silence is complicity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Hi, I'm Gregory Rogano, and just want to say this is like real democracy in action.

You know, even for people you disagree with.

Um so I thought this was a water hearing today, right?

So I'm I'm here to talk that.

Yes, I'm here.

I'm gonna bring it up now.

Um I'm here to speak exclusively about the water.

So I've been here before, I'm on a bit of a wild goose chase.

My background is as an environmental lawyer.

Um I used to work in New York City as a big law firm, represented like billions of dollars uh in various different transactions related to the sciences, specifically environmental law, including pretty high-end environmental litigation regarding forever chemicals.

And this is an announcement to everybody here.

So the Miami Beach drinking water is highly contaminated with PFOS forever chemicals at levels a thousand literally a thousand times higher than what the EPA says is safe.

I I brought this to the attention multiple times.

Really, so that's really bad, right?

But the single biggest issue is in the water report that is put out by the city of Miami Beach, which likely comes from Miami Dade.

It states that the water is safe and excellent.

So the water is at more than a thousand times higher than what the EPA says is safe.

PFOS Forever Chemicals, PFAS, and the City of Miami Beach Water Report says the water is safe and excellent with children drinking it.

Um speaking with my own personal urologist, this is anecdotal now.

She says that she's seeing a significant uptick in the diagnosis of testicular cancer.

According to the EPA, the two types of cancer that emerge from PFOS contamination that you get from drinking water is kidney cancer and testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is a rare disease.

So there's potentially an up an increase in this.

This is very bad.

It should be addressed immediately.

We shouldn't tell children that the water is safe and excellent.

Thank you.

You you mentioned your uh you used to work for a big law firm in New York.

What's your current employment?

I work at my family's law firm, Rodano LLC.

You have any other businesses relating to water quality?

I do not.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, we have John Norris who's also gonna come up and speak, but I was just gonna ask John to come up and also just for the record for people listening.

Um I believe you've met with John and and Amy Knowles, our director of sustainability.

So it this conversation is ongoing.

It is an issue that is um handled by the county.

Everybody knows and agrees that if I may finish my sentence, everybody knows and agrees with you that PFAS are a really big problem.

They are endemic throughout everything we touch and consume.

Um and John has great expertise, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

I I have to interject.

They're not endemic in everything we touch and consume.

They're not.

This comes specifically from the airport from fire fighting foam from plane crashes.

Specifically, the wells that serve Miami Dade and the city of Miami Beach come from the airport.

Okay, but wait, no, no, please.

I have expertise on this.

The wells to the west of the airport are uncontaminated.

John Norris, please.

Have you been doing this uh at having these conversations with the Dade County folks?

Yes, there's no response.

There's no response.

They are the ones who control the city.

So children and cancer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, Steve.

The county's in the morning.

Oh, let me see.

There's like national litigation.

John Norris, our public works director.

Good morning, John.

And a North Beach resident I have.

Yes.

So PFOS is currently identified as an emerging contaminant by the EPA and DEP.

This happens quite frequently in the regulation of drinking water.

They come up with emerging contaminants and they come up with future rules.

In that time, they're doing studies to establish what the maximum contaminant level should be in the future.

There is a rule that is being considered to be implemented in the year 2030, currently.

So Miami Dade water that we purchase currently meets or exceeds all maximum contaminant levels from the EPA and DEP.

All the producers of water are currently looking at their facilities and how they treat water to address the potential new rules that are coming in the future.

And that should that will meet or exceed all future maximum contaminant levels.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I respond?

It'll take 30 seconds.

No, we we we have to we have to move.

You made your points.

And he made his points.

No, I'm sorry.

We have to say it's safe and excellent, right?

So he's saying the water is not safe and excellent.

There's also a 200 million dollar lawsuit.

You're putting out to children that the water is the water safe and excellent.

Uh I'm sorry, sir.

We're not gonna have this debate.

It's not a debate.

It's not safe and excellent.

And you should warn children and their parents that this is cancer causing water that's a thousand times higher than what's safe and excellent.

You put in writing, no, it's a product liability thing massively that could wipe entire insurance of the city of Miami Beach.

It's not safe and excellent.

That's a product liability in writing.

Please adjust that and warn the children.

Is your family is are you or your family law firm involved in this litigation that you just we're cleaning municipal water supplies multiple places in the country?

Okay.

I don't understand what's it's it's not safe and excellent.

The water.

Thank you.

And you may you and and thank you for coming.

I appreciate it.

But you keep coming at me like my family has a conflict of interest in this.

I think it's important to know where we're important to know that the children are being lied to that the water is safe and excellent for industrial grade military cancer-causing chemicals, and they're consuming it.

Is there filtration on City of Miami Beach High School?

It's a simple thing, it could be done within 30 days.

Reverse osmosis and ion exchange.

You could literally call a company now to have it installed immediately.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Cancer, thank you.

Next, please.

Hi.

Good morning.

Um my name is Milagros Acosa Delgado, and I'm a resident of Miami Beach.

Can you move the microphone down?

Thank you.

So that's better.

Yes.

Thank you.

Hi.

So first I would like to extend my um special thanks to you, Commissioner Laura Dominguez and Elizabeth and Julian for giving us the opportunity to be here today and supporting the mission of the National MS Society.

So I'm here for a slightly different reason than all the other reasons that people here.

But I'm here just to bring awareness to the MS community and just bring light to this disease that affects like 30 million people in the U.S.

So I just wanted to share some light on this and what we do.

And I think that a lot of people would appreciate this information today.

And we have a table outside as well.

So this year, the National MS Society proudly celebrates 80 years of research, advocacy, progress, and support for individuals and families affected by multiple sclerosis.

Today, nearly 30,000 people in Florida are living with MS, and more than 2.3 million people worldwide are affected by this disease.

Over the years, the society has helped fund groundbreaking research while also providing vital local services, including support growth, wellness programs, educational resources, advocacy, community connections for individuals living with MS and their families.

We also bring the community together through meaningful and inspiring events across Florida, including Walk MS and Miami and Boca Raton, our MS Bike Ride from the Breakers to Key West, and several signature fundraising events throughout the state, including upcoming events in Boca, Jacksonville, Tallahassee.

Every event, every volunteer and every supporter helps make a difference in someone's life.

In recognition of MS World Day, we would also love to invite the community to join us for a special brunch gathering on Saturday, May 30th at Bernie's Cafe.

Whether you are personally affected by MS or someone who is simply wants to learn more or become involved, we welcome you to connect with us.

Please stop by our table to pick up resources, learn more about our programs and upcoming events.

Thank you guys so much.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but since the microphone was up, I didn't catch your name.

Oh, Milagros Delgado.

Thank you.

From the resident, um Miami Beach resident 5600.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Laura.

Thank you, everyone.

Please stop by the table.

Thanks.

Okay.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioner.

Eric Marshall, on behalf of the Waverley Board of Directors and residents.

I actually sent a presentation too.

It's under C7AGA.

It's just a couple pictures if you have it.

It's regards to the railings that were recently installed on 14th Street, 10th Street, and Lincoln Road.

I reached out to the mayor and commissioners.

I see there's a resolution to rescind it and remove them.

I really appreciate that.

Originally, I guess it was for the boats a couple years ago.

It was approved in 2024.

They put were put in last week.

Please, please, please.

If we can remove them before the 2028, that would be fantastic.

The sooner the better.

That that's the Bay Walk there where it's empty with the new fence.

And then if you do the next picture, that's them at sunset in front of the Waverly.

You know, it's it's a nightly occurrence.

Uh it's on the same side as the flamingo as well.

If we could just get those railings removed, really appreciate it taking the time.

You guys are always in responsive, so I just want to come down and say in person.

You put it right on.

Eric, I just want to let you know I I have an item.

I had it on consent.

Commissioner Bott pulled it, so we'll we'll discuss it after five o'clock.

Uh okay, I didn't know what time it would be, so I wanted to come down and just spoke with her.

And I actually spoke with Commissioner Bott earlier today, so I'm hopeful that we can have them removed.

Thanks so much.

Have a great day, everybody.

Thank you.

That's not on the polls.

Yeah, we're too late.

Hi.

Hi.

Dr.

Long.

I won't speak until the mayor sits down.

I can't.

I got I need his attention.

Mayor.

Welcome, thank you.

So to bring a little bit of hopefully some levity to this uh amazing occasion here.

Um we understand that uh there is a up for consent vote on the farmers market coming up today.

Um I won't be able to stick around for it because um we're in the middle of producing Miami Swim Week right now.

You guys are welcome to come next week.

Um but we're just here to lend our voice.

Um putting together, so the conversation started about the farmers market um at the Blue Zone meeting that Commissioner Joe Magazine and Commissioner Tanya Bott uh held almost a year ago now.

And uh my our partner Todd English, chef Todd English, who may be walking in in a minute now.

Um started talking ago, we need to bring in the farmers market to the city of Miami Beach.

We started the conversation with Commissioner Bott, and it just took off from there.

We've developed a wonderful community within our group to bring the farmers market to Miami Beach, and uh including Chris Roberts and Chef Chris Robertson here, Carolina's been amazing what he's doing.

And so we're just here to speak on its behalf.

It is a farmer's market for the community that brings people together, addresses some of the um some you know some of the food issues and organic and educational and the experience of it.

Um it's occurring at um Westlock 85th and Collins, and uh we're just here to say thank you.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to bringing something again that brings us together in a wonderful organic, no pun intended, organic way that we can enjoy from all walks of life.

Um that's what that's what the farmers market's about.

It's a labor of love.

And uh can't thank Commissioner Bosch, Commissioner Bott for leading the way on this uh charge, including including Cindy Cass and Over Parks.

But thank you, Chris.

Thank you.

Can you say your name again?

Oh, it's uh Rich Santalysis who asked.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience who wishes to speak?

If not, I'm going to go to Zoom.

Our first caller is Amanda.

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

Amanda is gone.

Next caller, Johan Moore.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Uh I will have a few comments on practical affairs, but as a queer for Palestine, who opposes Zionist genocide and attempts at eradication of the Palestinian nation, I will join in calls for the fascism supporting commissioner to resign uh from this commission.

I would like to speak in favor of C7AI, the water rate moratorium.

I think six months gives the city enough time to figure out a way to uh get the money it needs for water and sewer infrastructure improvements while finding some mechanism that would alleviate the burden on the most vulnerable.

And I believe that has to be attached to specific AMI brackets.

I also am objecting to R5T, uh the uh repeatedly appearing uh suspension of the color requirements for the historic district.

Um and I want to support uh C4 F uh Commissioner Mateo Salinas uh Affordable Housing uh Fund as well as express my support for pursuing the possibilities of a cable car system that could augment uh the uh water taxi and that specifically might permit for a much lower cost, in fact, extending such a service across both causeways and via City Hall and the convention center, uh, which uh has proven problematic and even objectionable on the part of some uh when we're talking about extending the metro mover.

Thank you very much.

I'm just gonna comment because I I can't let false narrative just go.

It's interesting.

I don't have the exact numbers, but we hear the terms we've heard it today about genocide.

Meanwhile, the pop Palestinian population has increased exponentially.

So uh it we talk about genocide, but their population is growing.

Israel, after it was attacked by Hamas and uh and Iran's uh proxy, Israel sent text messages out, drops flyers, announces in advance when it's gonna bomb and go into certain areas.

I mean, Israel's and its defense forces take extreme measures that very few countries would take to try to have civilians out of harm's way.

Mr.

Mayor, I also want to remind everyone watching that the last caller called for the nuclear destruction of Jewish cities across the world.

So again, these people are extremists, and they are the symbol of hate and bigotry.

Uh and it's it we of course they have a a right to say whatever they want, but we have a right to call it out every time.

And some of those on this dais may disagree with that, but I am not gonna sit here and let extremists drown out at least my voice and the voice of reason.

I think we learned the lessons from history that silence is not an option.

Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Bott.

Um, I am not gonna get into foreign policy.

It is not my job.

I'm here to try to figure out how to fix our roads and prevent sinkholes from happening because our sewer lines fail.

Um I will say that as elected officials, we are very much entitled to have very different views on lots of different things.

We can vote our heart, our conscience.

Um, but our first job is public safety.

And I would just suggest that in our role as an elected official, it's a different thing than talking among friends about how we feel about people's actions.

And I think that is dangerous.

I think it's dangerous in the same way that posting things that are inflammatory can be dangerous.

And I think it is our job as public officials to not single out residents unless they are doing something illegal, in which case, by all means proceed.

But to identify a number of people by name repeatedly, and call them out for their views.

If they are not doing anything illegal, I think it is a heightened level of of attention that could result in tragedy.

And I I think we are being very cavalier about the um import, the weight that voices from a dais have.

Not necessarily today's conversation, although parts of today's conversation, but in general, I think it's bad precedent to target individuals by name from a sitting official, elected official.

And I think it's dangerous.

Commissioner Suarez, and then I do agree with your first part of your statement.

I'd like to get back to the order of business.

Just to let anybody know who's listening.

Uh none of us on the dais brought this up today.

We have members of uh some residents, some maybe not.

I don't know, I don't know where everyone lives.

But uh I believe when we hear uh narratives that are false and dangerous, they need to be countered, and that's what we're doing here.

And Mr.

Mayor, I'm not I'm not having an issue with that at all.

That's a discourse.

I I didn't say I didn't say otherwise.

I'm just I'm commenting for all the people who may be listening why we're having this discussion.

We didn't bring it up.

None of us here today brought these issues up.

We had individuals who came, as is their right, under our Sutnik hour.

Anyone can come in and talk about uh topics on their mind and their concerns.

But when when when we hear false narratives and what I believe is dangerous rhetoric that could potentially harm members of our community.

This is not this is not just about a conflict happening in the Middle East and in Israel 6,000 miles away.

This has a direct impact on people's lives here in America and in Miami Beach.

We see it throughout the world.

The violence that is happening because of this dangerous and false narrative.

And we saw it happen in our city, thank God nobody was injured, but we saw it happen on the rainbow bench by Loomis Park with Swat Stickers and Adolf was here.

It has an impact on the world, and that's why we must counter the dangerous rhetoric.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So I just want to be clear that I have free speech, just like anyone else in this country has free speech.

I like to use my free speech in calling out bigotry and hate, and those individuals pushing that extremism.

And I don't see anything wrong with that.

I don't think that that's a bad precedent.

I think that's a good precedent.

I think finally for once when we know who anti-Semites are.

And people who are pushing hate, they should be called out.

I I don't see anything wrong with that.

And you know, Commissioner Bott.

I respect you, but respectfully.

I don't need to take direction from you and and to tell me what a good elected official is.

I mean, we both have criticisms of each other, but I I don't I don't judge how you manage your your office or what you say.

I I I give you free reign because this is you got elected the same time I got elected, and you have every right to say whatever you want to say, but I will never criticize you for how you conduct yourself.

And that's that's on you.

It's not on me.

And so, you know, respectfully, I would appreciate if you keep your comments about how I conduct myself to yourself.

Thank you.

It's a public safety issue.

Okay.

Any more callers?

Uh our next caller is Tim Carr.

Mr.

Carr, two minutes, please.

Good morning, everyone.

This is Tim Carr's Joby West Neighborhood Association.

I just wanted to call out a couple of quick items, item C4A and C7R.

I know it was on the consent agenda at last month.

Mayor, if you could please call it today, it's very important to help move this process forward to help the residents during the West AB phase two construction process to assist with parking needs and also for staging uh construction equipment uh over on the Epicure site and to help move it off at some of the sites at the parking lot next to Trader Joe's.

Again, moving this board will also help the city with other construction project uh staging needs throughout the city as well.

Uh the second item is also C7AJ.

Again, Eric Marshall from the Waverley condo board just recently talked.

Again, this is really important to remove the fences at the 10th and 14th Street Bay Walls.

Again, we were not even aware of the design of those fences and that they were even going to be installed.

I wish we had known in advance so that we could have used those funds to help install uh railings along the Mirador Baywalk, which is currently still not open because it's missing uh Baywalk fencing in that area, which is critical.

So again, just keep that in mind.

I know you have a busy day of agenda items, but again, if you could please call and discuss C4A and C7R, and also C7AJ.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Karen.

Karen, state your name, address.

You have two minutes.

Can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead.

Okay, my name is Karen Rukis.

I am a Miami Beach resident.

I want to thank Commissioners Alex Fernandez and David Suarez regarding their support of a moratorium on the increase of water and uh sewer infrastructure.

Um currently, everyone knows that we're in a period of very inflated living costs, which is making it very difficult for long-standing residents to remain residing in Miami Beach.

It's Miami Beach, it's not a cheap place to live in.

But I what I do uh take exception with is that last year I think we had a surplus of about 11.6 million dollars.

And as as uh Commissioner Tanya Botts said, if we needed to prevent sinkholes and improve sewer infrastructure, why wouldn't that money be spent and and directed towards uh important infrastructure?

The second item I want to talk about is independent waste removal.

I think John Norris has corresponded with me.

We had a uh unexpected 30% increase uh from our independent waste uh removal company, and I think that's unreasonable.

And um I think what we need in Miami Beach is more competition.

I know that John Norris had suggested that uh we might get to get to see five companies coming in uh to Miami Beach.

That might be an answer.

Um otherwise for these smaller buildings, perhaps uh city removal as per paid through our property taxes might be another idea.

Anyway, thank you very much for your time and again thank you for your support on this commissioners Fernandez and Suarez.

Thank you so much.

Our next caller is Assel Middleman.

Go ahead, please.

Who's from Miami Beach?

This is Asa Middleman from Curious Yo.

Our community was recently shocked to see the CBS report on your commission sending out public hate messages to other Jews for supporting peace in the Middle East.

Saying for mobile signs with pictures of your perceived quote Jew haters.

Our rabbis take note that this is not the Jewish way.

In fact, this is the same guy that was caught stealing political science from his opponent with his family.

How can a city government support the hate this person creates while disrespecting the entire Jewish community, comparing residents who simply disagree with the Palestinian genocide to the Jew hater Nick Fuentes and others?

It's time you get commissioners who have the capacity to behave older than a 14-year-old.

Thank you and Sharon.

Our next caller is Jessica.

Jessica, state your name.

I'm also gonna intercede.

Uh obviously we're on Zoom, so I don't, you know, we'll take people's words who they who they are.

You're always gonna have a select few in any group who sort of turns against its own people.

Um so, but I I'm gonna be consistent when I hear the term people throw out lies and false narratives.

There's there's a one-way genocide attempt here, and that's against the state of Israel.

Um, and I gave I gave examples before I won't repeat myself.

Jessica, please unmute yourself, state your name, address.

You have two minutes.

Hello, my name is Jessica Pita, resident of Miami Beach 33139.

Vibrant meeting here.

I will speak quickly and get right to the point.

Although let me begin um addressing everything else that has been said, preservation, historic preservation has a lot of overlap with all of these issues in regards to the conservation of resources like water, the maintenance and repair of city infrastructure, and even the topic of of deplorable acts of hate.

When anyone sees a beautiful place or beautiful people, there will be negative players that want to you know take that down or have it as their own.

And I really see the threat of constant new development as that people wanting South Beach, Miami Beach Historic Districts as their own.

Now, to get quickly to my comment.

I recently watched the HPB Historic Preservation Meeting May 12th via YouTube, something architect Enrique Norton, who works for the landowner and developer said really stuck out to me.

He said that replicas of historic building facades have gotten so good that you can't even tell the difference between the original and the replica.

Then he added, this is not a hard building to replicate, referring to 1600 Washington Avenue building, which is proposed for demolition.

Quickly wrapping up, this comment requires pause.

If we are in fact so good at recreating historic building facades, buildings in general, then what's the point of preservation at all?

I mean, Disneyland's castle looks just as good and authentic as England's Winth or Castle, right?

Wrong.

We all know this isn't so because we can feel the difference between authentic original architecture and replicas.

This sense of place.

Thank you.

Our next caller is David Rowland.

You have two minutes, please.

State your name and address.

Hi, thank you.

Um David Rowland, I live uh 8th in Euclid.

Uh I I called the mayor's office about this recently.

There's been construction over uh overnight, all night very loud construction over the sewage of manuals.

Uh Commissioner Magazine responded to uh Facebook post about this, but I have I have not been given reason why I called the right of way.

I did not get a call back.

Why this sewer construction for these manholes cannot be done in the daytime?

These roads are not busy, but meanwhile, children have school the next day, parents and non-parent adults have work the next day.

Why can this construction not be done during the day?

Thank you.

Simple answer.

Maybe we could have our public works director, uh, because this has come up numerous times.

I appreciate you raising the issue, Dave.

Morning, John Norris, Public Works Director.

I'd like to look into this case specifically, but they are probably doing man-hole rehab work.

And you know, that is citywide, so what we might need to do is look at exactly where they are, a lot of areas within the city.

We do not want them doing manhole rehab during the daytime due to traffic concerns.

We try and balance the traffic concerns with the noise complaints, and it really is a difficult thing in the city of Miami Beach.

So, John, if I could, I know Dave specifically, just because I had corresponded with him has uh reached out.

Uh it's the manhole cover issue that we discussed, and and you replied back, I think in the middle of the evening.

I appreciate the time and dedication on that.

Um, but it is in the flamingo park area, and just off the top of my head, I would agree with the gentleman that it's not a very highly trafficked area.

Uh, if we would be able to have some internal discussions and consideration, does it make more sense to have that there during the daytime?

Absolutely.

We'll do.

Thank you.

Yep, thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, David, for the call.

Our next caller is Travis Spencer.

Mr.

Spencer, you have two minutes.

Please state your name and address.

You guys hear me okay?

Yes.

Okay, very good.

Uh good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

My name is Travis Spencer, and I'm speaking on ordinance 2026 4800, which is the shore-based shark fishing prohibition that was codified at Section 1021.

The city's attorney, I'm sorry, the city attorney's office has already concluded that this ordinance must be repealed.

Enforcement has already been suspended, and the legal analysis is finished.

What remains is just procedural.

And the law on this is settled by Article 4, Section 9 of the Florida Constitution by Amendment 2 ratified by voters in 2024, and also by the FWC's General Counsel April 20th letter on materially identical ordinances, which was essentially the Markle Island uh situation in Florida.

And today, my respectful ask is direct.

I am requesting that a commissioner make a motion today from the dais to suspend the rules and place the repeal of ordinance 2026 4800 on the next available meeting agenda, not June 24th, not July 22nd, but preferably now.

And here is my offer in exchange.

If the commission uh or commission moves to accelerate the repeal today, I will submit in writing before the close of business a formal administration request to suspend processing of all 10 pending public record requests I currently have on file with the city pending final repeal.

Now, this is a meaningful operational relief for your clerk's office and your city attorney, and I am prepared to put it in writing today.

Now, this decision will be watched uh because we're fighting ordinances, the same ordinance or similar ordinances in Indian Shores, Reddington Shores, Treasury, sir, you're out of the Delroy Beach, uh, and our next caller is I just want to speak to the last speaker through the mayor.

Um, we we are going to be issuing a uh reversal of that, but ordinance take two weeks of uh notice requirements, so we couldn't just put it on this agenda.

Um, but I believe one of my colleagues is going to be repealing this for the next June meeting.

Thank you.

Our next caller is Wayne Roberts.

Mr.

Roberts, you have two minutes.

Well, you you knew my initials, WRW Wayne Robert.

I know them well.

Uh good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Um, I am a Jewish voice for peace.

Um I find that uh that I wish these folks would focus on the real problem.

And the problem really is that uh uh the Iran through the IRGC and their proxies, Hamas Hezbollah, the Houthieves uh Assad has um annihilated uh over a million citizens in those countries of Lebanon and Syria and Yemen alone.

They've uh annihilated 30,000 of their own citizens that were rebelling against the the uh theocracy, and that uh this year alone uh uh that they turned off the internet so that that nobody could speak to the outside world, that um they have uh decimated the economic output in in the crown jewel of the Middle East and Lebanon that was number one in the world, uh in in the region uh to down to to uh $2,000 per capita, Syria down to $1,000 per capita.

Iran pre-war was $4,000 per capita, now it's it's approximately $2,000 per capita, and they they've ruined the lives of not only Jews, but Arabs themselves.

And these folks are opportunists that come into this this uh chamber in in such a uh nefarious way.

Um I know some of these people, and uh one I I was vehemently against uh her election uh because I knew what kind of person she really represented to me.

Um, and I find it offensive and the opportunists that that walk into this room.

We should just uh uh you know take it with a grain of salt.

But thank you very much.

Have a great day.

Thank you, sir.

Our next caller has a screen name of Miami Beach.

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

Good morning.

Um to Jamin.

8305 Crispy Boulevard.

Um speak about this topic, but I want to make it very clear that we are Americans, and we are protected by the freedom of speech and expression from any group, individual or elected officials.

As we know, Iran is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world.

They do not only go after or harm Jews, they also do that to Christians.

And I am a Christian.

They go after gays and any other entity that doesn't agree with their absurd beliefs.

Moreover, not to forget that they can't bet to America.

And that means all of us.

With that said, I would that said, I am opposing, also opposing item C2D.

As I send emails to all of you.

And I am sorry because I'm sick.

I'm also um in favor of the moratorium for the water utility hike.

And uh we need to really look at this hikes that are affecting us residents.

Um the water hikes, the uh the trash.

Uh it seems like everything seems rising.

Uh, without the proposed hike approval, we still see uh monthly increases.

I'm getting 800, 900 a month.

I'm forced to raise the HOA.

Please just our next caller is Lord Backham.

Good morning.

Thank you so much for having us here today.

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

I'm here in reference to R7K to speak our opposition of this item.

Power Access is a local nonprofit for cultural arts and inclusion in the arts for people of all the abilities.

100% of our programming takes place in Miami Beach.

95% of our programming is free.

A large portion is for youth programming, but that is not all the programming we do ourselves and organizations like ours in the arts that provide programming, contribute to the 1% resort tax that brings culture to our city and cultural tourism.

We are also well supported by the community and residents.

Quality of life is increased because of our programming.

The way this is written, we would be excluded from cultural arts programming funding, which we rely on.

We are a cultural presenter.

We perform all over the city, and I hope that you will not pass this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next caller has a phone number that ends in 5600.

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

Please go ahead.

Good morning, Mayo.

Good morning.

Unmute yourself, please.

You're muted.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Good morning.

Hello.

Uh good morning, Mayor and City Commissioner.

My name is Christina Vega.

I live in Golden Creek condominium located at 65 Washington Avenue.

I'm speaking today on behalf of Cyber Money Laundering and Real Estate Investigation Corps.

I'm here to put the city on notice regarding material representations of ownership and legal standing in development applications, specifically DRB 251159, DRB 251099, DB 220548.

This is a formal demand to avoid the development application to give you the city's lack of jurisdiction.

We conducted a forensic analysis into the documents submitted to the city related to 1790,000 votes, well city West Avenue and 935 Street.

We discovered forgery and material mispresentation regarding the ownership of the land to be redeveloped.

Under the city of Miami Beach Code Section, any application employing a device team or device to circumvent disclosure requirements must immediately be null and void without further force or ethics.

Therefore, the city lacks jurisdiction to proceed as the application.

Cyber money laundering in real estate investigation court is also filing a petition for the bank secrecy acting junction with the US Secretary of Treasury and the Office of Foreign Asset Control, along this notice of probable procedure for the computer fraud and abuse act violations report with the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service.

Either for the computer fraud and the use act violation report.

The Department of Home and Security and the We will send the demand to void letter along with our evident representation from 4G.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, you're out of time.

Our next caller is Amanda.

Amanda, please unmute yourself.

Thank you.

Can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead, please.

Okay, good morning, Commissioners.

I'm Amanda Fisher.

I'm a resident of Miami, and I'm a member of our local local Jewish community like yourselves.

I'm here today because I'm deeply disturbed and appalled by Commissioner Suarez, whose position uh is funded by the public.

He used his salary and his office to purchase roving billboards that circulated around Miami Beach that amplified a campaign that targeted two revered community leaders and Miami Beach residents, endangering their safety by publicly displaying their faces and calling them two haters.

Alan Levine is a civil rights attorney, and together he and Don Veneville have spent years modeling the very opposite of hate.

Their leadership within the Jewish community has created a space where many of us have learned to love being Jewish more deeply and to connect to our Jewish identities to justice to dignity and collective liberation.

The legacy of the civil rights movement that people like Alan have dedicated their lives to is what paved the way for you very people to be here today.

For there to be a Jewish mayor in a city that once was shaped by exclusion and redlining for there to be women, for there to be immigrants, differently abled people on this commission, uh to hold public office with dignity and visibility.

This attack does not simply offend or provoke disagreement.

It places both both of their lives at risk.

No elected official should be able to use the power and visibility of public office to target elders in our Jewish community.

I urge this commission to censure Commissioner Suores and to call for his resignation because the people of South Florida and Miami Beach deserve leaders who protect our safety and dignity and not endanger our lives with hate.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor, that concludes everyone.

We want to clear the record that all of my salary from commission goes to charity.

In fact, for the first two years, it went to Pelican Harbor, Seabird Station, 100% of my charity, or 100% of my salary.

Uh and then unfortunately, when officer Cahuso passed away.

My salary now goes to his widow and three children.

So I want to make sure, make the record clear that none of the money that I get from the government is accepted by me, it goes to charity.

And I also want to make a final note that one thing I've learned in history and experiences when the people who when there are people out there who hate Jews and hate everything that you stand for.

And they're against you.

You're on you know you're doing the right thing.

You're on the right side of things.

And that doesn't just apply to anti-Semitism, that applies to anti-LGBTQ.

Correct.

Anti-black, anti-Asian.

When you are the one being criticized for defending the minority.

You know you're doing the right thing.

You know you're on the right track.

So today I learned one thing.

I'm on the right track.

And I'm very proud of myself.

And I think there's more than enough on here that are proud of me for what I've been doing.

So thank you for reminding me, everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I agree.

And I'm I'm very proud of everyone on this day.

Uh, and the leadership that we've shown, whether it be anti-Semitism, racism against the LGBTQ community.

We have stood united and not divided uh in saying that bigotry, hate, racism has no place in Miami Beach.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh everyone who was originally aligned to speak has spoken, so we may close subject at the time.

Okay, thank you, everyone.

Uh, let's get to the consent agenda.

Yes, Mayor.

Couple of announcements.

Uh the following items have been separated from the consent agenda.

You have a list that has been provided to you.

Mayor Minor has separated C7AE.

Again, C7AE.

Commissioner Bott is separating C2D as in dog, C7X, C7AG, C7AI, C7AL.

Again, C2D, C7X, C7AG, C7AI, C7AL.

Vice Mayor Dominguez is separating C7AL.

Commissioner Fernandez is separating C4O and C4R.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas is separating C7AH, C7AI, and C2D.

And for the record, Commissioner Matthias Salinas is separating C4.

I'm sorry, is withdrawing C4C.

So if you can make that notation, C4C is being withdrawn.

And just on the days, you have two items.

First, you have a revised resolution for item C7AQ, which is accept donations of approximately 200,000 for artificial turf.

That revised resolution is on the dais.

And a new item was added, C4T, which is a referral to Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, fund critical resiliency and neighborhood infrastructures through dedicated capital millage.

That was by Commissioner Suarez, and I believe Commissioner Fernandez is co-sponsoring that item as well.

So the mayor has not approved any of the addendum items to be included on the agenda.

So if any of those will be heard after 5 o'clock.

If possible, if I could have a motion on the consent agenda excluding the separated and the addendums.

I'll second.

That is the companion item to C 7AS, which is an addendum item.

When you call the time certain, can those be called together?

Yes.

Thank you.

With that, I'll I'll second the motion to approve the agenda.

Okay, give me one second.

I have a motion by Commissioner Sore, seconded by uh Mayor Minor on the consent agenda, excluding the separated and excluding the uh the addendums.

Uh well, with one amendment that C7AS, which is an addendum item, is gonna be heard with its companion item R 5D.

So we're gonna separate C7AS as well then.

Right.

Okay.

Um so all in favor of the consent agenda as stated, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed, hearing none, the item it the consent agenda is approved.

So one item that just got approved, but I want that a highlight is that we have just approved Debbie Tackett becoming our new planning director.

Yeah.

Congratulations, Debbie.

I I've told Tom, who's stepping down.

It's it's big shoes to fill, but I know you can uh you will absolutely do it.

I think there's complete 100% universal confidence in you.

Yeah, literally big shoes.

I told Tom we got to retire his number.

We gotta figure out what that number is.

33, right?

33 years with the city of mine beach.

So maybe that's the number we retire, but congratulations.

I just want to thank all of you.

Thank the manager and of course Tom for your confidence in me.

I very much look forward to our continuing uh working relationship.

So thank you.

Same here.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor Mason.

Commissioner Bach.

I'll make a quick.

I know we've got a lot of catching up to do from the last couple of months, but Debbie, you know, you and I first met when I was in uh nascent preservationist, and your knowledge continues to dazzle, and it is so timely now as we fight to keep what we love about our city and also not um uh let it run amok.

And so I am so thrilled, and Eric has um, you know, it was a really nice problem to have because I also love Rohelio, who I've gotten to know from my days on the planning board.

So to me, you guys are the dream team.

I can't wait to see what you guys are doing together with the rest of the planning department staff, and um I am here for it.

So you go girl.

Well done.

Thank you.

Let's call R9AG.

R9AG is discussed, take action, comprehensive citywide water taxi programs, R9AG.

Thank you, Jose.

Um sponsored, thank you to my co-sponsors, uh, Commissioner Dominguez, Commissioner Bot, but I know this has universal support in our on our commission, and really wanted to thank you, Jose, because uh we've been working on this a couple of years, and uh I I've been pushing and you've responded.

It's been an incredible success.

We have the water taxi, which is free every day, weekdays, not yet on weekends, um, going from our Maurice uh Park to Venetian Marina.

And uh it has received uh wide claim uh support and success.

Uh everyone's noticing the state, the county.

I've presented recently at the downtown development authority, TPO, you were there with me, transportation planning organization.

But really, I brought this item today is because I know um you are working actively and um a couple of things.

One trying to get funding for weekend service, try to increase service right now.

We have once an hour, literally 12 hours a day, but starting at 4 30 p.m.

we have uh every half hour, try to increase that so we have that all day.

Also increase the number of uh pickup and drop-off points.

So we have South of Fifth, which is uh which is a very interested in one, and North Beach as well, um, potentially going to Mount Sinai, other areas potentially going to the Casaya Center, but also going north and south throughout Miami Beach.

I mean, think of that, that you can hop on at first or 87th and go throughout our city to Midbeach, South Beach, North Beach.

Um but I wanted you to give an update what you're working on because now you're working so hard on this, uh, and I think it's it behooves all of us to be involved because um getting funding is not always the easiest uh thing, but the the opportunities are there, not just from other agencies, but potentially private partnerships that have expressed interest.

Um so tell us tell us what you're working on, what next steps you can use from us as a commission.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Good morning.

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

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor, for the opportunity to talk about our water taxi.

We're extremely excited about it.

And a growing success, as as you pointed out.

Um average daily ridership is about a thousand uh passengers per day.

And it it start even when it started, it was at about 800, and then it's grown to about a thousand, and that's where we are now.

Um we are working on multiple fronts uh on different aspects of the program, both the current service as well as trying to expand on it and you know looking looking forward.

I'll start with the with the uh with the current service.

So the um with the current service, as as was pointed out, it it operates between Maurice Gibb Memorial Park and Venetian Marina in Miami.

Uh at the Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, there's some challenges there with the space, particularly that the Marine Patrol building will start uh uh being reconstructed uh very very soon.

And so there are challenges with just a lot of construction that's gonna be happening there for uh several you know, several months, probably about a year.

Um we're trying to work or we're working with the contractor to identify the optimal space for some amenities for the passengers, including restrooms.

It's very important to have uh restrooms that are a little uh fancier than just porta potties, which is what's out there today.

So we have a vendor that's prepared to deploy a restroom.

It's an upgraded restroom facility.

It also has for ADA uh accessibility, and we've identified a location for it.

It's in the parking lot, unfortunately.

Let's talk more about the how we increase the uh services like weekends, uh weekend services.

I mentioned North Beach pickup and and uh to two Miami, uh one in South Beach, and also the interconnectedness north and south.

How do how do we get there?

Sure.

So well, the as you know, Mr.

Mayor, the the the most uh the biggest challenge right now, right now, the the biggest constraint is the funding.

If we had more funding, we'd be able to deploy a second vessel, the the entire hours of operation.

Um but unfortunately, because we've got that budgetary constraint, we have one vessel in service for the majority of the day up until 4 30.

At 4 30 p.m.

we kick in a second vessel to accommodate that PM, you know, uh peak hour rush.

Uh and that operates till about 7 30 p.m.

Um so what we're doing to try to uh at a minimum maintain the funding that we have, which is 50% from FDOT and 50% city funds, is that we've reapplied um under the FDOT public transit service development program, and that's a program that funds 50% of the annual operations and maintenance of a transit program uh up to three years.

So we're actually coming up on our third year.

It'll be fiscal next fiscal year, fiscal year 28 will be year three of the service, and we've already applied for uh fiscal year 28 funds.

Uh we applied for half of the cost of the service.

The total cost of the service, by the way, is about 1.5 million dollars.

And that's really our our biggest constraint at this point.

Um there is a lot of interest on behalf of Miami Dade County, the TPO expressed some interest in this.

However, they they're of the opinion that the city would need to charge a fare to at least subsidize part of that operating cost of the service.

So I mean I I I presented there, and obviously Commissioner Suarez is the representative there.

I think there was some dispute.

There was a couple of county commissioners that mentioned that.

Then Commissioner uh Lopez, God bless her heart, uh, was sort of was on our was taking the position that we have been espousing that we should do everything possible to keep it free.

To keep it free.

Is anything we can do as a body?

Do you think there's uh additional efforts that we collectively can make uh for example resolutions to a particular body to uh enhance funding?

Um Mr.

Mayor, there have been several city commission resolutions already adopted by you know by this body.

Uh they've been transmitted to FDOT, they've been transmitted to Miami Dave County, to um the TPO as well, to the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust, the CITT.

So there have been um uh more than two, um two or two to three resolutions already adopted by this body that have been transmitted to the agencies to essentially we're just asking for support, primarily financial support from these entities.

And I'll turn it over to my colleagues.

But what's amazing about this is that one it's been incredibly successful.

I think the the numbers are that eight percent of passengers are being turned away, which shows you the the success.

I can't I went down with my family recently and we actually could not get on, uh which shows you the the interest in it.

It's for one flex.

I'm the mayor, let me on.

You should know the captain actually, because they I I take it enough, the captain came or someone working uh came over to me and said, you know, you're not gonna get on.

Do you want to like he didn't know what to do, which was nice of him.

I said, no, no, no, I'm standing here in line.

Uh the last thing I want to do is cut the line.

So we uh we ended up not getting on.

Um we were actually the cutoff this 55 passengers and we couldn't get on.

But what's amazing about this program is uh we talk about the uh congestion and the traffic.

Um this is an incredible efficient way to get across in 18 minutes to get across Biscayne Bay.

And we're doing all this, it it really shocks people when you tell them we're doing this for close to a year every single day during weekdays for 1.2 million dollars.

It's it's an incredibly efficient monetarily option, and of course it's it's fun, it's scenic, and uh people really enjoy it.

But let me turn it over to my colleagues.

Uh first we'll start with Commissioner Monica Mattel Salinas, then Commissioner Suarez, then Commissioner Bott.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So this is a great item, and the water taxi is excellent, and I'd like to co-sponsor this this item.

In terms of funding, again, I'm sure we can find some type of business that wants to sponsor the water taxi, either putting advertisements inside the water taxi, or even you know, if it was like a restaurant or something, they could pass out little food.

I I want to encourage us to look at advertising.

I don't know how my colleagues feel about this.

I don't know if wrapping the outside of the taxi would be, you know, there's just so many ideas to partner with private businesses, you know, that might want this water taxi that how many people ride it again?

About a thousand a day.

A week a day.

A day.

A thousand a day.

So a thousand people a day.

I mean, that's some serious eyes on these brands that might want to come in.

And it could be local brands, it could be a business opening that's um, you know, maybe one expanding going from Miami Beach to Miami or Miami to Miami Beach.

There's just so many opportunities here for for private um sponsorships.

And so I wanna, and and just a question for the city manager, who would be in charge of that?

Because I know it's probably not Jose.

So it's a combination of our transportation department and our marketing and communications department.

Umsportation, believe it or not, actually has the most history in working with advertisers through our bus shelter contracts and our static signs.

But um obviously we're we're constantly trying to work collaboratively to figure out ways to increase the revenue stream on that side.

Lovely.

Thank you.

I also want to give a shout out to Mikhail Rybov, who's uh done a lot of work on this as well.

Melissa, did you want to comment?

Because we are we are actually actively looking for a private partnership.

So how it would peer we don't want to make it too much where we're changing the look of the water taxi, but Melissa.

Sure, good morning, Melissa Berthier, director of marketing communications.

Um we actually did have a conversation with Outfront uh to explore it, and they weren't as interested because the volume wasn't there.

So I'm just sharing it.

Well, that's the issue.

It's not there yet.

Sorry, sorry for interjecting, but it's not there yet, and we need to find partners who understand the value of getting in early because it's going to expand.

So out front, maybe they don't get access to this.

Well said.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And Mr.

Mayor, you were at the TPO meeting where some of the concerns were raised by other county commissioners.

And I think there is there is certainly a propensity for funding from the county for this program.

But one of the concerns that was raised was at least if we're gonna if they if the county's gonna ask for money from the state for funding, there has to at least be the appearance that we're trying to make it self-sustainable uh as far as funding as far as maybe perhaps a fee.

Um it doesn't have to be a very expensive fee, but I just wanted to see and uh look, I understand the the concept that if it's free, people are gonna use it.

But if we have the possibility of going to the county and expanding this if we were to charge perhaps a small fee, maybe a dollar.

Um and that would open up two, three different routes.

I don't know how my colleagues would feel about that.

Mr.

Mayor?

Members.

Commission did you did you want to say um so I I think that's an interesting um uh uh way to approach it.

We could also do sort of charge for tourists versus charge for commuters.

Maybe there's a monthly pass for $15 for uh you know, but I think there are ways to look at it.

Um I would I I think a lot of us are working on um finding private funding.

Um I know I am working with one of our largest employers trying to do that.

Um I also know that Blue Zones, um, which we are very close to pushing play on officially, which I'm very excited about, but that's for another time.

Um, is you know, this is exactly the sort of thing that Blue Zones will help us get funding for because it addresses one of the quality major quality of life issues, and they can help us um expand our pool of potential grants, uh private philanthropy underwriting.

So there's a lot of um different ways to do it.

So I I would be interested in seeing if we could find private funding first to try to keep it free, um, or maybe explore it concurrently and then not you know decide once we have more information.

Um so that's that's to your question.

The other things that I was going to um ask.

Jose, one of the the opportunities that we're really excited about is um having go north and south.

And so I know we've had conversations about where the landing spots would be from you know 71st Street down to um the Miami Marina, uh, Miami Beach Marina.

I don't want us, I I think what happens a lot of times is that when we have an idea, we wait until you know everything is set before we start doing the work to make the idea happen.

Um because we're all running around doing lots of other things at the same time.

I what I want to make sure is that when we do get the funding to expand, because we will, that it's not a question of if it's a question of when and how quickly, that we are ready to go with we have the sites identified, we know where they're gonna go, we know what it's gonna take, we've got the permit applications ready to go so that we can just hit pr you know, press play and go ASAP.

Um because it will really stink if we've got funding identified and then it takes three years to start the permitting process or figure out where it's gonna go.

So I know you guys are understaffed.

Misha, I'm sorry, that's probably gonna fall on your shoulders, but um so I just want to put that out there so that we don't lose sight of that and get caught short short-sighted if all of a sudden we get a windfall.

The other question um uh I my understanding is that currently bikes are not allowed on the ferry.

Is that correct?

Or is that increased?

They are allowed.

They are allowed, okay.

And e-devices, might be scooters as well.

Everything is so it's not an issue.

Is there a limit on how many can fit?

I believe there is a limit of four devices.

Okay.

Four four devices per per trip.

And that's just because of the capacity constraint within the So I wonder if you know, down the road once we get this up and running and it becomes more of a commuter thing, and I know Commissioner Lopez was working on trying to find parking on the Miami side, so it can become more of a commuter thing, but that last mile connectivity, so that maybe we think about um at rush hour at rush hour times.

Um do we allow you know maybe fewer people or run two boats at the same time so we can get more e-devices or bikes going back and forth so that people can use it as a true commuter um vessel, no pun intended, um to to address that need because again, the more people we get off the roads, the better off we'll be.

So just food for thought as you keep moving with this really excellent initiative.

Thank you, Commissioner Magazine.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor, for your leadership on this.

And Ralph, please add me as a co-sponsor for this.

Um in terms of uh charging, and I don't know the dynamics that were discussed at TPO, so perhaps it's uh to get federal or state funding, we need to show uh progress towards it being self-sustaining.

So this comment is kind of absent having that background knowledge.

But um it's actually there's a fascinating interview just this morning on CNBC by Jeff Bezos, and he advocated for reducing the taxes for uh people making $75,000 per year less.

But he said it's not reduced them to 3% or 5% or 10%, should be free.

And he goes, There's a reason Amazon charges free shipping that we don't charge a dollar.

So if we're discussing price dynamics, perhaps we kind of do something that's going to make it self-sustainable, which will probably decrease ridership but raise a little bit more money or free, right?

So maybe three or four, no, four or five dollars per ride or free.

I think if we go with something ceremonial, like two bucks, we're probably not going to generate much revenue.

But we'll lose a lot of ridership just because there's some people where if they have to pay, whether it be 10 cents, a quarter, or a dollar, they're not going to ride it.

Um you're going to get your core rider, so I think we just decide do we make the decision to get on the path towards it being self-sustaining?

And if that is, then we actually have a tangible amount there uh or zero.

Um it's just kind of my initial thoughts.

So I'm not dogmatic about it, but that interview this morning just seemed uh pretty relevant.

Yeah, my thinking on this is that we had in the past, our city has tried paid for services via private operators, which I uh voted against because they fail.

They charge too much money, and there are people are not going to use them.

So maybe in sometime in the future, there's a place to charge a minimum amount, but this is still in its infancy.

Uh as you say, the ridership keeps increasing.

There's an excitement level to it.

We want people off the roads.

It's uh it's incredible because we talk about I mean, my when you look at the state of Florida and FDOT does studies, we're code red in South Florida.

It's not just Miami Beach, it's South Florida, we're code red.

This is for literal what they were talking about doing a a bay link, and that um that's not this discussion, which would cost over a billion dollars.

This is one million dollars.

We are providing a service literally almost every day, I mean every weekday, and for 10, 15, 20 million dollars, we can have a whole network going.

It's it's it's it's it's literally peanuts compared to a bigger picture and other options.

I mean, they're talking about big building highways uh over the MacArthur or the Tuttle.

We're talking billions and billions of dollars and years.

This is a water taxi that we could get literally up and running in in a matter of weeks, if not if not uh in literally in the matter of weeks.

And we're talking in the in the low millions of dollars, 10, 20, 30 million dollars to run a whole network.

So um I I don't get why it is even so difficult to get that funding.

I've had conversations and I'm actually working with some uh some senators in in uh Congress to try to get federal funding.

One of the obstacles we had getting federal funding is they want to see a level of success before that they will provide grants.

And they're more the infrastructure, which is necessary, but we've we we now have that success, which we never had before with any of the operators.

So there's a lot of uh movement, but I uh I I wanted to bring it up because I I I know we have buy-in from our entire commission.

I know our we're we're completely supportive, and we need to just keep pushing this forward together.

Mr.

Mayor?

Commissioner Bach.

Have you has there been outreach to find because it's a water aren't they the the people who helped us with the marine with the um mooring field?

It's water transportation, it's ecologically sound.

Um it might maybe this falls within their purview of of funding.

Um I just want to chime in for find that's they're morally responsible for one time uh projects.

I don't think they're I don't think they fund ongoing.

No, but they could fund the building of the docks, for instance.

Yeah.

That's correct, uh Commissioner.

Uh we have had uh discussions with one of the representatives uh from FIND.

And one of the things we learned, which the mayor uh touched on is that in order to apply for federal funds, we need to show success.

We also need to show that we've done our due diligence and our research in terms of where the dock will be located, what will it cost?

And so that's gonna require, and it's something we're working on now, is taking the initial the initial feasibility study that we did that was done by a water taxi national water taxi expert, KPFF.

We're taking that analysis and you know, drilling down.

And as a matter of fact, this item, the mayor's item lists uh several locations and uh all of these locations are on either the KPFF feasibility study or the TPO's feasibility study.

But those are high-level feasibility studies.

We need to now take those and drill down on these locations to see exactly what it will take and what it what it will cost to build a dock at that location, and then we'll be better positioned to be able to apply for the capital of funds that are provided by FIND and by the Federal Transit Administration.

And is the drilling down in those locations that have already been identified?

Is that covered within your department?

Or is that something that we also need to find funding for?

We are in the scoping process, so I don't have a cost for you yet, but we may need uh uh influx of funding in order to get to that next phase, that more detailed phase that looks at all of these locations and determines feasibility, determines where the dog would be located.

Will you have that information so that we can figure it out as part of our budget process for 27?

I can certainly have a cost, yes.

Yeah, okay, let's make sure that that is something that we capture.

Please thank you.

Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I I'll just be quick.

There is one thing that I do know, just having observed government for a long time.

Free transportation is successful transportation.

When you look at the Metrorail, the Metrorail has had great success because it is fare-free.

When you look at the trolley services, the trolley services are successful throughout all the municipalities because in the large part they're there are free, especially when you look at our municipal trolley.

Uh and I think that that's part of the success of this iteration, Mr.

Mayor, of the water taxi that you've led on and that you have successfully implemented.

And I do think that putting a user-free on it will hurt ridership and ultimately the success of the program.

I'd like to propose, Mr.

Mayor, that we consider hiring a lobbyist that specializes on county government for this specific issue.

Uh, because I do I do think we need someone that is dedicated on advancing this.

This is transformative, uh, a transformative mode of transportation that's gonna cost a fraction of any other mode that has ever been proposed.

And so I just want to put that out there as a suggestion.

I'm gonna turn it over to Eric.

I I like that, thank you.

I mean, I'm wondering if uh the and the city administration come back with a proposal.

Yeah, we can certainly take a look at that and see what makes sense, and obviously we would want to make sure that they were bringing in more than they were costing.

Right.

That's always the uh I figure with your county connections, Commissioner.

I know.

Commissioner Magazine I like the idea, Commissioner Fernandez about having a lobbyist, but I not but um this isn't the butt isn't towards you.

Of all the lobbyists that do business in front of us in the city, are you telling not you?

Um just there none of them.

Yeah.

For the good of the community, for the good of the city, the city that they live in, the city that they make a living in.

That they get stuck in traffic.

I'm looking around for our hands.

Um, I I think I I agree with that, and I think this ways to do it.

Um I I love the fact that you're mentioning it, Commissioner Fernandez, because you're you're you're highlighting it for people.

Um, but it it I guess it behooves us to take a look at what's potential.

I think the concern is how much we'd be spending on it.

Yeah, we'll we'll take a look at different options and and maybe bring back a couple of different ones.

Great.

Thank you, Jose.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

That's yes, sounds like a good idea.

Let's call um R5 F.

Let's call um R5 Five F is the Norse of the Mayor City Commission of City of May Beach, Florida amending chapter 46 of the City Code and Title Environment by amending Article 4 entitled Noise by amending Section 46-152 and titled Noises Unnecessary and Excessive Prohibited.

But amend subsection B to reduce distance to establish prima facile evidence of the specified noise violation during a specified hours providing for repeal or subbility calification and an effective date.

And move the item.

Is that second reading public hearing is item R5F?

I see no one on Zoom and no one use the sponsor.

I see no one on Zoom and no one in the audience requesting to speak or adding Commissioner Magazine as a sponsor.

I believe I heard a motion by Commissioner Bott.

And second by Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Okay, so I have a if there's no discussion, I'll call the roll.

So motion by Commissioner Bott, seconded by uh Monica Mateo Salinas, uh co-sponsored by Commissioner Magazine.

Commissioner Mateusolinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Vice uh Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez?

Heard a yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion is approved 70.

That was item R5F.

Let's call R5A.

R5A is an ordinance of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Ivy Beach Florida, amending chapter 78 of the Bible Beach City Code, and titled personnel by amending Article 5 and title classified employees leave by amending Section 78-282 and title definitions clarifying the definition of immediate family by eliminating duplicative language by amending Section 78-285 to allow service members to cash out on hours accrued in excess of the carry forward cap, otherwise forfeited as a result of the active military duty by amending section 78-286 to increase the cap of the maximum amount of annual leave hours that may be accrued from 500 hours to 600 hours retroactive to December 31st, 2025 by amending section 78-290, subjecting paid holidays to collective bargaining provisions governing holiday pay if applicable by amending section 78-29292 to authorize transfer of part or all of accrued leave to an employee's 457 B account upon retirement resignation termination or death and authorize the use of accrued leave to be used to extinguish a debt owed by the city, such as reimbursement over repayments through payroll or unpaid insurance premiums, repeating all ordinances in conflict with this ordinance and further providing for several ability codification and an effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing, and it's item R5A.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mateasalinas.

So hi Marla.

This is a uh item that we're doing that will benefit our employees.

So this is something that will help them feel a little bit better and appreciated here working for the city of Miami Beach.

And Marla, if you'd like to explain the details, that'd be great.

Through the chair.

Marla L.

Pizar, Human Resources Director.

Um yes, Commissioner, thank you.

Um this is a uh ordinance.

Uh this and its companion item for unclassified leave as well.

Will um allow us to align with our collective bargaining agreements and raise the uh the amount of leave accrual uh to remain constant between years from 500 um maximum to 600 maximum.

Um that is the uh proposal before you play in English, please.

So when you accrue vacation, um you can get to a maximum of uh right now under the ordinance of 500 hours.

This ordinance will change the maximum every uh before uh that can be carried from year to year to 600 hours.

So essentially if you're working really, really hard and you never take days off and you love your job and you love this city and you bust your bot and you don't take your time, you can now roll over to more time to the next year.

That is correct.

How does that ultimately impact pensions and I always hear these infamous stories of the Long Island Railroad, right?

These guys will just stack vacation days and then when they go to retire, they'll say, Well, I uh have all these vacation days, I'm working this extra overtime, and that's essentially in their last years what they base the retirement off of.

Whether it be that or other financial implications, what are the financial implications of this?

There are no financial implications to speak of because the cap for when you're paid out when you leave the city is remains the same at 620 for vacation.

So there's no change to the final payout cap.

This is the amount of leave that you can roll over from year to year.

So not to name names, but you know, there are individuals that can't use all their vacation and they lose it every year, unfortunately.

Does this pay them out their vacation?

I I didn't I can you repeat the question?

Do they get paid out their vacation or they just get to take more of the next year?

Neither.

Um when it this when you leave the city, you're paid out up to a cap of 620.

That remains constant.

But when you're working here and you have a lot of vacation because you don't use all your vacation, from year to year, you can only carry over 500.

500 what?

Hours.

So uh translate that for me.

So if I've been here for a long time and I have 520 hours and I can't take time off.

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you said per year.

Okay.

Right.

And that year we would have to swipe 20 hours from you so that you could only carry from year to year 500 hours.

But when you leave the city, you can be paid up to 620 hours.

So this brings the cap to six hundred, so that from year to year the cap can stay constant at 600.

When you leave the city, you may be paid up to 620.

So there could be significant Jason.

There could be significant financial implications of this.

So there the city books, the the and I don't want to speak for the finance department, but we we maintain our um liabilities based on the cap when you're paid out, which is 620.

Use just me as an example or or Joe employee.

If I can, uh Jason Green, Chief Financial Officer, to just answer directly the question about pensionable.

It says never.

Okay, I just forget it.

Include that, but don't make it exhaustive of just pension.

Sure.

So this would have no financial impact because uh two things.

You when your your payout is not pensionable.

So your pension is based on what your annual salary is.

So if you have an annual salary of $80,000, your pension would be based on 80,000, regardless of if you got paid out on unused vacation of 20 hours or 500 hours.

And you only get paid out the payout amount of the cap of 620 doesn't change in here.

It's just how much rolls over from one year to the next, so that has no financial impact to the city at all.

But individually, while that cap remains the same, if we're rolling over more and more, let's say 100 people now.

Well, the cap doesn't go up, but let's say we roll over an extra how many hours per year per individual.

The cap was is proposed to be raised from 500 per year to 600 per year.

So you have to use that hundred hours during that year, you wouldn't get paid out.

So again, the financial impact I'm writing a check, the amount I would be writing the check will never change.

So there would be no financial impact to the city.

It would just allow the uh employee to take a little bit more vacation the next year.

And I think is uh said, you know, oftentimes, especially longer term employees uh accrue a certain amount, and because of just the the our jobs like myself, uh when my family's out during the summer, you know, if the teachers, you know, I can only take a few uh about a week uh after the July commission meeting.

So I don't have an opportunity to uh I don't have an ability to take all these take off my vacation.

How many I I guess I'm getting confused by these number of hours per year.

We're raising the cap that you can roll over per year.

It it's not cumulative.

So it's not 500, then another 500, then another 500, then another 500.

It's just a max of 500.

But why are we saying per year?

Because at the end of the at the end of each calendar year, uh the amount that we rolled over uh would be safe.

You roll over every single year.

So okay.

How much could you accrue in any given year?

Oh wow.

Um I'm not good at this.

Um I believe that commissioner, if I could, um, when you start working for the city, you get a uh up to two weeks vacation, so that could be the equivalent of 80 hours.

After you get to 10 years, it goes up to to three weeks that you could acquire.

So you're looking, you're looking at about 120 hours that you could gain at that point in time.

This was throwing me off, because if we have to move 100, so anyway.

Every year every year when December comes, if up to 500, you can roll it to the next year and you don't lose it.

If you have 520 hours, as Marla was saying, then when we roll over, 20 hours drops off and you only take 500 forward.

All this does is allow you now to carry over the maximum of 600 hours.

It still doesn't have any impact on that final maximum payout that you could get of 620.

So it just it it doesn't if you're it doesn't force you to take that vacation at the end of the year just to be able to burn those hours, which is what one of the issues that we have is that you know you get to the end of the year, you had thought you were going to be able to make take a vacation, you couldn't for whatever work reasons, and now you have this time, so it's not forcing people to take that time off in December where everybody starts taking off.

So it just can't allow you to carry it over, and then you can use it in January or February or any time during that next year.

But once you get to that 600, now you that's that's the max.

You you so it's not there's no cost impact.

It's just what you can carry over and use it in the beginning of the next year.

I'm having a hard time uh making logic of that, but I'll take your word for it.

Thank you, sir.

I hope it's not the the Fox Gording the in-house, you know, telling them.

Uh but no, I I say that in jest.

Um okay.

Uh there's no financial impact.

Uh I'll I'll take your word uh try and make logic out of that later.

If no, do I have a motion?

Um second hand.

I mean motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez.

It is a public hearing.

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

I'm gonna call the roll.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yeah.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez, yes, Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries item R5A is approved.

Mayor Do companion item R5B.

Yes.

R5B is an order to the mayor, so the Commission might be sword.

Amending Chapter 78, it might be City Code and title personnel by amending Article 4 and title Unclassified Employee Leave by amending Section 78-181.

Entitled definitions clarifying the definition of immediate family by eliminating duplicative language by amending section 78.182 to allow service members to cash out on hours accrued in access to the carry forward cap, otherwise forfeited as a result of the act of military duty by amending section 78-183 to increase the cap of the maximum amount of annual leave hours that may be accrued from 500 hours to 600 hours or attractive to December 31st, 2025 by amending section of 78-189 to authorize transfer of part or all of accrued leave to employees 457B account upon retirement, resignation, termination, or death, and authorize the use of accrued leave to be used to extinguish a debt owed by the city, so owed to the city, such as reimbursement of overpayments through payroll or unpaid insurance premiums, repealing or ordinances in conflict with this ordinance and providing for several ability codification and effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5B.

I'd like to move the item.

Motion by Commissioner Monica Matel Salinas, seconded by Commissioner Suarez.

It is a public hearing.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott?

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved.

That was Adam R5D.

Yes.

Yes.

R7AE.

R7AE's approved second amendment to Lincoln Road bid MOU, R7AE.

Thank you, John.

First, I want to thank the Lincoln Road bid and Annabelle.

Lopez is here and all the work they did.

You see when you come down the Lincoln Road, there's a lot of activations.

Just opened a FIFA store the other day, which was a nice addition.

And uh I gotta tell you, hopefully we're all seeing it.

When I walk down Lincoln Road, it's pretty uh it's pretty busy.

It's it's robust, it's alive.

Take it away, John.

All right.

Um we're here today to um to extend the city's funding for the for the environment, the maintenance, the hospitality, that the work that they do block by block um on Lincoln Road.

A second.

Hold on, I heard motion by Commissioner Fernandez, secondary by Mayor Minor on item R7AE.

All in favor?

Thank you.

Can we can we just specify what this is?

I mean, if I'm the public, I'm just sitting here watching this.

Oh, what's the second amendment to the Lincoln Road bid MOE?

I know you have some staff out there, you want to explain what they do, or you want to make it a good idea.

Yes, absolutely.

Okay.

Annabelle Yopies, executive director for the Lincoln Road bid.

So I think everybody knows what the bid does.

What is the amendment?

So the bid and the city has had an MOU since I think 2017 to go in partnership with really cleanliness and an ambassador program on Lincoln Road.

And right now we have a company called Block by Block.

They do a lot of the urban um districts around town and across the nation.

So if they're really our eyes and ears of if there's a house situation, if somebody broke into a store, we had a situation not too long ago.

They are constantly walking around Lincoln Road, uh doing light cleaning, uh working with the tenants, working with the visitors who come to Lincoln Road and they want to know where to go.

Um but they are really a liaison with the city as well and support the public sanitation program on Lincoln Road.

Why do we not do that?

I I Well, it's a partnership there.

Yeah.

I sent an email.

I walk Lincoln Road every single day, every single day, constantly just looking what is good, what is bad, what needs to be fixed.

And I said, We're in like peak season here.

We paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for new pressure washers.

And like where are we getting banged for our books?

So who cleans Lincoln Road on various departments?

Maybe if we could have John come up here as well.

Various departments are out there.

You have um you know facil facilities out there, you have doing painting and whatnot.

You have sanitation out there, you have green space out there, we're taking care of the fountains, and then we have this this additional service, almost like ambassadors and additional cleaning that that's out there as well.

Um I see them with their pails and their t-shirts and whatnot.

But does various departments do the individual shop owners have or stores have any uh requirement for the public rights of way in front of their buildings, or is that all the city and these partnerships?

No, there is the the private sector doesn't have any responsibility in cleaning anything beyond their lease line.

That is all public right-away.

And how about for these deep cleanings?

Uh tell me, maybe John.

Uh the heavy-duty pressure washers.

Heavy duty pressure washing uh city does handle that, and we also have sanitation crews, hand crews working the area all day long.

They're emptying trash and assisting and picking up, but then the bid also has uh litter pickup as well.

And we do have an effort right now regarding the the world cup where we do have all teams got together, they did a walkthrough, all city teams, and we are working through the road right now, doing exactly what you're talking about, the painting, the deep pressure cleaning and preparation.

I I request that we all do a walk through tomorrow morning.

I do one every single day.

Uh, I'm not happy about having to have the World Cup as a catalyst for the gum, the dirt to look world class, right?

It shouldn't just be because of the World Cup, and I want to make sure that I'm not off in my analysis.

So I I'd request that at some point uh maybe tomorrow morning, Friday morning that we all kind of take a walk before the crowd sit in.

If you could Friday morning, I'd be available.

All right, just for the record, Friday morning is the Jewish religious holiday of show out, so I won't be able to do it Friday morning, but uh if you do it tomorrow morning, I'll I'll be there.

And does this increase funding?

The amendment.

So yes, it incorporates the CPI.

The CPI from what was agreed to last year.

And this is a partnership.

They are funding a portion of the Black by Block Services, the city's funding a portion, and this is one of the fundamental reasons for creation of a bid is to give them the ability to tax themselves additional.

I get all of that part.

I just wanted to know what was being amended from the original agreement.

So just CPI and create it.

Perfect.

Uh I appreciate you and the bid.

Uh the recent activations have been great.

Um you had thousands of people uh there for the ping pong puff.

My daughter knows better than I.

Yes, my teenage daughter uh told me and and we I actually took her down there.

It was incredible.

It was it was we probably had close to 9,000 people come for that activation.

The swatch was interesting.

It was yes, global lease watch was an interesting uh drop.

So thank you for the work you do.

Commissioner McCassalinas.

Um I'd actually like to co-sponsor this item because I I'm actually I see the black by block folks that walk around and they have the shirts on, and um they always smile at me and they are very friendly and helpful, and so it's a great program, and I appreciate the fact that you're also investing in this program.

So thank you very much.

And please listen to the sponsor.

Invests over 221,000 a year in this program, in addition that we cover the cost of the rent for the office that they have to be housed out of.

So there is a lot of of support and contribution on the private side, and that's why it makes a great partnership with the city.

Um it's much needed because we can react to things a lot quicker.

Um they tell me they call us and we're able to call the city if it's something bigger than that we can handle.

So those are our immediate eyes and ears, you know, that we can react quickly to things.

And Commissioner Magazine, I'm available Thursday and Friday morning for the walkthrough.

Happy to do that with you.

Depends on how early though, but I'll do it.

6 a.m.

Mr.

Using Commissioner Bott.

I think if I'm not mistaken, um they were actually memorialized in Lincoln Road Hustle, right?

Weren't two of the characters talking about their jobs and what was going on and so it was yes.

They are now part of Miami Beach Lore.

And in addition to being uh very helpful in providing a useful service, um it's that's a pretty cool thing too.

Yeah.

Through the chair, if I may, uh the amendment is extending the agreement for an additional year.

So that is the reason for the amendment.

Right.

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Annabelle.

Thank you for working with me on this.

Uh thank you very much for supporting Mayor and Commissioner.

Absolutely.

Thank you for your work, Lyle Stern, who uh we love working with.

I'm also gonna give a shout out because I've actually heard recently um a number of residents commend us uh as a body, our our police, um ALBA, because uh it's it's a constant effort, but um there used to be uh a pretty large issue, especially early mornings with with homeless population on Lincoln Road, and number of people commented they walk out there every day early and they do not see those same issues.

We have definitely seen a positive change on that.

So thanks.

Thank you to all involved in that.

Great.

Thank you.

So let's take the vote.

It uh motion by Commissioner Fernandez, secondary by Mayor Minor.

All in favor of R7AE, please say yes.

Yes, yes, aye.

Any opposed, hearing none, the item is approved 7-0.

That was R 700.

Rafael, I emailed earlier that I want to be a co-sponsor on this as well.

Okay, so this is we're adding you and we're adding Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Oh, we actually have one more HR item, R5C.

R5C is an order to the Mayor City Commissioner of City by Beach Fort Amending the Miami Beach employees retirement plan created by ordinance number 20, like ordinance number 2006-3504, uh subsequently amended by amending sections two, three, four, and five to correct errors in the internal cross-referencing to increase the drop participation period for members in the AFSME bargaining unit from five to eight years to allow for the re employment of retirees after a period of separation of at least six months, continued receipt of re retirement allowance during the employment and a foregoing eligibility to rejoin the plan and by creating a new section 16 of the plan to allow employees participating in the defined contribution system to join the plan and invest in the current schedule of benefits after five years of credible service, repealing all ordinances and conflict there with and providing for an effective date.

That is item R5C, it is second reading public hearing.

Since uh Commissioner Magazine is gonna ask you to explain this in plain English, I'll ask for us for a simpleton like myself.

Good morning.

Thank you.

Um Marla LP SRHR, and I'll do my best to be in simple English.

This ordinance does three things.

Uh, one in it uh extends the drop from five years to eight years for AFSME that has no fiscal impact.

Um we have an actuarial statement that was attached to this item before second reading.

The second thing that this ordinance does is it allows the city to rehire individuals that used to be employed here, have been gone for more than six months.

They may or may not have a pension, but it allows them to come back and be right rehired with a um not with a pension but with a um 4018.

And the third thing that this allows us to do is to um there are a group of employees who many years ago did not opt into the pension, they have been employees here for a long time.

There's about 12 of them, and this allows them to opt into the plan uh on a go forward basis, which is a normal cost to the system, just like we would hire a new employee.

Commissioner Nathalie Salina.

So I have a couple questions.

Um I've received some communication from employees that want to opt into the system, but they don't want to start off at zero.

So can you address that, please?

And apparently when in twenty two thousand six, when this was offered, they were allowed to buy time, but now it's not being offered.

That is correct.

And is there a way that we can allow employees to buy some time, or is that gonna tell me a little bit about the financial impacts that might have?

So I'm not an actuary, but I understand that if you were allowed to buy time, um, it could create there's two two issues.

If it's their own funding that is being brought into buy time, that doesn't have an immediate fiscal impact to the city because allowing people to buy time using, for example, their leave does have a cash impact to the city.

Um but if you buy time into the system, it creates an additional um uh unexpected liability on the pension system, which would be factored in to the cost.

So each individual person is buying service hours basically, and so that means that their pension benefit would be higher.

So and Commissioner, to answer your question, the um in 2006, what happened was we had two systems.

We had a 401 and we had a pension system, and people were given an option at that point, whether they wanted to continue on in the 401 or they wanted to join the city's pension system.

And we had a group of individuals that that decided that they wanted to stay with the pension system for different reasons.

Sometimes people thought I'm only gonna be here for a couple years, I don't want to worry about a pension.

I just want to put it in something I can easily get out.

But people had a choice to make.

Um there were a group of employees that we still have, I think it's around 10, that didn't migrate over, they chose to stay in the 401, and now years later, they've maybe stayed longer than they thought would like to be able to be a part of the pension system.

What's being offered to them at this point in time is the ability to at least get in on a go forward, and you know, we've discussed with the manager there may be something in the future where where we have an opportunity for them to maybe get some of the credit if they you know at a cost to them, but right now it was just to be able to at least get them into the system because those individuals that have been in the 401 for a number of years, um all they have is basically a uh a sum of money, but they also will have no Social Security.

So in their retirement years, they won't have anything coming in.

They won't have a pension and they won't have any Social Security because they've worked they've been here for a number of years.

This at least gets them in where they're they're starting to gain on a move forward, and we're not ruling out the possibility that there may be some opportunity for them in the future.

That's kind of where we're at right now.

I just want to make sure that you I thank you, um Mark.

I appreciate that.

I just want to make sure that we do have that opportunity for those folks if they do want to buy in with some of their own money and they can have that opportunity as well, and we're not closing the door on them.

So how do we make sure that that happens?

Because there are number a number of folks that have reached out to me and they're very panicked about this, very worried.

So if I could um, you know, there's multiple conversations I feel like that are going on simultaneously.

Um is if they move from the 401 to the pension system, they're not losing their 401.

They get to keep the entirety of the nest egg that they've built up over the time that they've been here.

Um they are entering the pension system as if they were a new hire employee, and they do have to go through five years in the city to vest in that program.

But that gives them the opportunity to start building an additional nest egg on top of the one that they already have.

Um if we were to do a buyback, there are many um bargaining units across the city that are very interested in having these buyback conversations.

Um there are instances where people can buy back former military service, uh, former municipal government service that doesn't have an associated pension.

These are these are not uncommon things, um, but it's something that we would want to do holistically and and have a conversation amongst all the groups rather than just these individuals.

So we're but we're gonna we're gonna have those conversations as as it comes up.

Yeah, we have them every bargaining session.

And the unclassified unclassified employees too.

So we typically try to give the unclassified similar opportunities to the folks that are in the bargaining units so that we don't create um a situation where people feel like they have unequal benefits.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

So I need a motion on R5C?

I'll second.

Uh motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Mayor Minor.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one on Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Um Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Matil Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yeah.

Commissioner Bott?

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries those out of R5C.

It is approved.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mahler.

Mark?

Thank you.

R7Y.

R7Y is ID location to replant oak trees removed during construction on First Street.

I'm sorry.

Nope.

Settlement agreement with Marina Association Amendment 5 lease agreement amendment three.

So R7Y is the settlement.

Mr.

Mayor, I don't believe this item is ready to be heard.

So I think we're going to ask that it be withdrawn.

Deferred.

Deferred.

Deferred to next month.

So R7Y is being deferred.

Okay.

Let's call uh that was easy, Mike.

Mayor, can I make two withdrawal announcements then?

Commissioner Suarez is withdrawing R9N.

If you can list that as a withdrawal, R9N.

And he's withdrawing.

You want to say which item that is.

So yes, R9N.

Short title.

Yes.

And the public.

R9.

Okay, so I'll do it that way.

R9N is discussed, take action.

R Basel license agreement.

R9N is being withdrawn.

And we're and Commissioner Suarez is also withdrawing R9G.

Discuss action, recent uptick in car thefts within the city, R9G.

Commissioner Suarez, thank you for your efforts in uh moving this meeting along.

Hold on.

Let me let me let me have some more.

So if anyone else wants to withdraw, this is the time.

R9As, Commissioner Magazine is withdrawing R9H.

Discuss municipal uh prosecution program.

So R9H is being withdrawn, and R9P is also being withdrawn.

Discuss take action, maintain house party ordinance to allow city manager discretion for event permits, R9P.

So where we're drawing right now, R9G, R9H, R9N, and R9P.

Great.

Thank you for those announcements.

Let's call R5 D.

Uh along with, as we discussed uh during the discussion, the consent agenda C7AS.

Yes, sir.

R9D is R5, R5.

R5D, sorry, R5D is an ordinance of the mayor, City Commission of the City of Ivy Beach, Florida, amending chapter 106 of the code of the City of Bay Beach and titled Traffic and Vehicles.

Article 2 entitled metered parking.

Division 1 entitled generally Section 10647 thereof entitled Freight Commercial and Passenger Curb Loading Zone Hours Deliveries to modify and clarify requirements applicable to the use of freight commercial and passenger loading zones and providing for repealer qualification servability and an effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5D, companion item C7AS is C7S is identify areas near blind corners in need of vessel speed reduction.

C7AS.

Commissioner Fernandez, we have a few co-sponsors.

Commissioner Dominguez, Commissioner Bach, Commissioner Suarez, Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

And I believe you're yourself on the end resident toads.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor, and thank you to this city commission for unanimously sponsoring uh the end resident toast reform.

Today we're considering two items that work together to achieve strong enforcement where public safety requires it, but smarter and more proportional enforcement where compliance and um where compliance can reasonably be achieved without unnecessarily punishing our residents who have placed their trust in us to serve them and improve their quality of life.

The first is our item that we've collectively sponsored to end resident tows.

This is one of the most common frustrations that I hear, and I think we all hear from our residents.

People come home from work late at night, they circled the block trying to find parking.

They finally find a space and wake up the next morning to discover that their vehicle, their vehicle has been towed for a non-safety violation, something innocent.

Maybe you know, you parked a few feet into the yellow curb.

You parked in the wrong residential zone.

You misunderstood the confusing signage, or you didn't realize that a uh that a spot was painted yellow, but the yellow is now faded, and you ended up getting towed.

These violations should absolutely still be enforced with a traffic ticket, a citation.

But towing is often excessive when the compliance can be achieved another way.

And that's why this proposal creates a smarter uh driven enforcement framework that based on current city data could eliminate the majority of immediate resident tows on public property.

Under the framework that we have before our commission today, residents would still receive citations and accountability measures, but would also receive up to three courtesy tax uh text messages per calendar quarter before being eligible to have their car towed on the fourth violation.

Vehicles uh remaining in continuous violation for more than 24 hours would also remain tow eligible, and that was a recommendation that came from Miami Beach United that has also endorsed uh this reform.

And let's just put this into perspective uh because this year alone, over 1,181 resident vehicles have already been towed in Miami Beach.

And under the reform framework before all of us today, roughly 62 percent of those resident tolls would likely have resulted would not have resulted in an immediate tow and could have instead been addressed through a parking citation, through a warning first uh enforcement, and through graduated compliance measures.

The remaining violations uh involving genuine safety hazards, obstruction of dumpsters, your blocking uh driveway, you're blocking emergency access, or you're a repeat violator, then in those cases, you are still eligible to get towed.

Also, if you're blocking a fire hydrant, if you're parked in a handicapped parking space, shame on you.

You will get towed.

The change in in the reform here, even for those is that to try to achieve the quickest compliance possible.

Now, even those violations will also get a 15, it would get a text before tone notice because oftentimes people are close by and they can quickly correct that that violation before a tow truck gets there.

But unlike today's uh system, residents would generally receive one final text before tow notification, giving them an opportunity to probably move their car before the tow is complete.

The companion item uh also is important because it talks about freight loading zone.

Freight loading zone abuse is an issue in our city.

It creates traffic on our roadways, it creates congestion, it impacts businesses and it and it affects public safety.

And the companion item and enhances the penalties on freight loading zone violations, but it also creates a much needed consistency and clarity on freight loading zones city citywide, because right now freight loading zones operate under a mismatch of different schedules and rules that can be confusing for our residents.

You have freight loading zones that end at 11 a.m.

You have others that end at one, you have some that end at 3, you have some that end at different times, and it becomes a guessing game for our residents to know where they can park and at what time.

So this companion ordinance it creates a uniform citywide operating schedule for freight loading zones that pretty much says when you see a freight loading zone, you know that you can't park there between the hours of 7 a.m.

and 3 p.m.

No more guessing.

You know that that is the schedule for those freight loading zones.

So together, these items create a more balanced enforcement mechanism, more fairness for our residents, navigating everyday challenges in our city, stronger enforcement where public safety and mobility are impacted, and a clear, more predictable rule system for everyone using our streets.

With that, I like to move these two items and open the the uh the um the floor to discussion through you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

Commissioner Suarez.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor, and thank you, Commissioner Fernandez, for bringing this forward.

It's I mean, it's almost like a right of passage getting your car towed in my beach.

I think everyone up here has got their car towed.

Um, and I'm supportive, obviously, I'm a co-sponsor.

Uh the only one thing I want to caution, um, and I don't know if this was thought about, but the North Beach is going to be going through serious parking constraints with the uh parking lot 92, right?

Um where it's going to be under construction for the foreseeable future, maybe three, four years.

And we're gonna have again many shows at the band show, many events in North Beach.

What I wanna what I want to avoid is residents from South Beach or Mid Beach going to North Beach parking in the residential areas there and just saying, well, it's only a $30 ticket.

It's almost like a ballet.

Um, you know, it's it's easy for me to do that.

Is there a way we can come up where we prevent that?

I would defer to our parking director.

So uh we can from an enforcement aspect, Commissioner, Will McDonnell, director of parking for the city of My Beach.

Uh we can create different enforcement rules for different in zones if that's what we are directed to do.

We absolutely can do that.

Right.

And again, I mean uh look, I I'm supportive of the idea, but what I what I don't want to happen is there to be because they're gonna be bad app, there's gonna be that bad.

There's people are gonna take advantage of this and say, well, you know, it's only a $30 parking ticket, and I want to go see the show, or I want to go to North Beach, or anywhere, you know, vice versa.

And you know, it it's it it's not it's not a big deal for me.

I know I'm not gonna get towed because I'm part of the registration program.

You know, how do we prevent that bad behavior from happening?

I think one of the things that we could do, because a lot of this I think is giving the benefit of the doubt to the residents that we serve.

I think people that are coming into our city that abuse us, they're gonna get towed.

First violation.

They're still eligible to getting towed.

This is about those who have placed their trust in us, us trusting them back and giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Now, if they abuse the system and and we see that there's a problem, I think we can always come back.

We can always make an amendment and say, you know what, it's on North Beach, you know, the issue that you're mentioning.

Um and we can always amend it, and it's a simple resolution, so it's always uh easy to to amend a resolution.

Um but I think I think we should give our residents the benefit of the doubt.

Um I think that you know we're we're we're ready to put on on the table an enforcement mechanism, and if they are repeat violators and they do abuse the system, then they'll still get towed.

Um and they're also upon the first violation, they're getting a text message.

They're getting a text message that tells them, hey, you're illegally parked.

Second sentence, please move your vehicle immediately.

Um and that's and that's that's within the the item that that's before us.

I don't know if you have any other suggestions.

Let's you know, how about since North Beach parking is so limited and it is it's gonna be even further limited once we remove this parking garage.

How about we do specifically for uh zone 26 a one-time courtesy?

Okay, I think that's fair.

The one-time courtesy non-tow.

Um text message and everything, but after that, you know, there really should be some sort of protections for the residents of North Beach and their parking.

And and um let me hear from my colleagues uh on on that because we're all sponsors on this legislation.

Thank you.

Um through the vice mayor.

Laura, you're Laura, you're leading the meeting.

Through the Vice Mayor.

Um well, I saw your face when I and I thank you for just give me your give us your thoughts on how that works.

I like the idea um because it is gonna be a little bit of a cluster up there for the next few years.

Um is it viable?

Is there any issue with that?

Um I like the protections that are already built in with it.

The text, I would suggest please move your car within 30 minutes of receipt of this message, because as soon as possible, you know, like is that immediately creates a well, whatever it is, but I think we need to like you know, whatever.

But um that that's nuance.

Is this doable, practicable, a nightmare, completely unenforceable, all of the above.

So it's absolutely we can we will we will execute it.

I want to make that very clear.

Um we employ human beings, um, just like everyone else in the city.

There may be some mistakes because right now the technology isn't there to immediately say build an algorithm that says, oh, we're in this zone and this zone, we only do one in this zone, it will be three.

Yeah, so that's my concern.

It does get challenging.

Um but um we have some stop gaps in place right now before our team performs any toes.

There's uh, for example, uh one of our team members will call into our dispatch, they'll re-replete uh repeat the plate phonetically.

Uh the dispatch will also then check the plate.

We do these things to try to stop mistakes now.

Um so we can build policies and an SOP that can state, you know, if we're in this zone, these are the guardrails that we're looking at.

If we're in, you know, this zone, these are the guardrails.

Um, and we will absolutely execute it to the best of our ability.

Um I will say by the way, I I and just just to be clear, you know, I'm not trying to single out just North Beach.

I mean, there's also South of Fifth, right?

I mean, you you you have a very limited residential on-site parking.

There's a lot of restaurants in South of Fifth, and if people from anywhere else on the beach wanted to just come and take over the parking there that are residents, it could possibly happen.

Um so look, again, I'm of course I'm supportive of this item.

I think it's I think it's a great idea, but it it it we just have to have some protections because it is ripe for abuse.

And so if I if if I could just chime in there, those weren't the same concerns that we had when we initiate that when we initiated the text before tow program.

We had the same concerns um that the residents were going to abuse it.

And to the contrary, you know, the residents haven't abused it.

I think it's broad awareness.

You've informed someone that that they're in violation.

And and from one and and I've heard from from people that you know they've received those text messages, they've been able to correct the violations before a towing truck got there and they were aware now of something that they shouldn't be doing that they weren't aware of before.

One of the other tools that we have is that we have uh the ongoing reporting that we're going to be getting as as a commission, we're gonna be doing the monitoring of this.

We're gonna get weekly LTCs summarizing the towing activity, the citations, the enforcement metrics, and perhaps we could get uh specific, you know, as part of that LTC, get a weekly update there, okay, and what's happening in zone 26 that that's a concern, so that if we need to correct course, we could do that.

Um but I wouldn't I would like for us to consider adopting it um uniformly throughout the city.

Uh and then and then if we see that there is an abuse somewhere, we can go back and and fix that.

But I do think we should give our residents the benefit of of the doubt.

Um because I think for the most part, people make innocent mistakes uh when it comes to parking, and that's been my experience.

People generally they're not looking to purposefully uh violate our parking regulations.

And if I may also just jump in, um, Ralph, since you're here, gentlemen, um, if if you don't mind approaching for a quick second, um, you know, part of the issue with towing is the residents being knuckleheads or forgetting, or sometimes both at the same time in my case, certainly.

Um part of it is our policies and our staff doing the best they can with challenging circumstances, and part of it is our partners in towing.

And I would suggest that it is going to be um very important that our partners in towing understand what we're doing and do not get trigger happy with their towing vehicles.

Because once a car is on the tow truck, it becomes a whole different conversation.

And I know I have been towed when I was not supposed to have been towed years ago, and they did not want to hear it from me.

Um that is an operational thing for the business owners.

And I think there's going to need to be uh a very clear set of policies and procedures that is understood by the ownership and the staff who are enforcing it once it gets handed off from the city.

Um because we've heard we've all gotten these emails from people who got towed when they shouldn't have been.

And if we're making it a little bit more complicated anyhow, we're gonna need to make sure that the tow operators know what they're doing when they're doing it.

Uh thank you, uh Commissioner Bott for inviting me up.

Uh good afternoon or good morning, uh city manager, commissioners, mayor, Mr.

Delpico.

Um that's why they're here.

I I asked them to come so that they can hear directly from the commission regarding any concerns related to towing and the direction that this is all moving in.

Um so I think they can both acknowledge uh what they've heard.

Um we will absolutely do our best uh to meet the city's expectations.

Um and certainly if uh I can tell you from my perspective and their perspective.

If we never tow another resident again, we're thrilled.

We we don't want to tow residents.

I'll move that motion.

Yeah, there you go.

So um we're here to cooperate with you and help the city however we can in whatever challenges you all face.

So thank you for inviting me up and anyone else sitting right here if you have any other questions.

Just to be clear, I mean, is there an appetite for zone 26 to have a little bit more protections?

Because you know, they're gonna be it um when that parking lot is demolished, it's it's gonna spill over to the residential parking lot.

What why don't we look at the metrics?

Let's see when when that's the problem is it's it's different when it gets demolished, right?

And so we kind of want to be ahead of the curve for the process.

But it's gonna be a long pro that's gonna be a long project.

If people start abusing it, we'll be able to notice it immediately.

I mean, the moment people start abusing that, and you're gonna be giving us weekly LTCs, and in that LTC, you can tell us specifically what's happening in zone 26.

The moment we see that, we can put a resolution.

With all due respect, yeah, that in in that sounds great, but you know, from my experience, the parking enforcement on zone 26 is abysmal.

You know, when we had an issue with this one block on zone 26, there were 26 citations given.

When I when my aide and I who raised the issue, they gave out 26 citations on one block because I asked them to uh to to start enforcing zone 26.

And so, you know, I I'm sure we can certainly wait, but that's assuming that we have a robust enforcement system on parking, and I don't think we have that right now.

Well, and one of the items that we've adopted uh as part of of the consent agenda specifically speaks to enforcement and enforcement in in North Beach uh about allocating resources for enforcement in in North Beach and enforcement in South Beach, where we know we have challenges to make sure because what you're telling me is that is that even the the problem isn't even towing, the problem is that there's not even citations being issued.

Correct.

And one of the policies uh that we've put forward uh that got adopted uh with this agenda, uh, and I'll give you the item number in just a second.

Um it established a dedicated parking enforcement pilot program C7AN.

C7AN addresses specifically what you're asking, the violation of the resident parking in North Beach, the violation of the resident parking in South Beach, and making sure that we have the sufficient personnel available to be doing that enforcement because you're right.

Um, you know, oftentimes, you know, people get home from work and they can't find parking because you have people even from outside the city, from outside the city that are going in and parking and parking spaces that belong to our residents, and who is being affected are are those who we are actually trying to protect.

And so and so we've taken that concern that you have into consideration, and we've created this detail that we approved as part of the consent agenda.

Okay.

I'm I'm okay with just waiting for the data to see if there's but again that's only as good as the people taking and you have my commitment.

You have my commitment uh that um that you know, as part of this of this detail that's been created and the LTCs that we'll be receiving that.

If we see abuse, listen, at the end of the day, that abuse, who does it affect the residents in North Beach.

The residents in North Beach who won't be able to find parking when they get home from work, and we'll we will work together on addressing that if that does happen.

This is a good this is a great item.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez and everyone.

Um, this is a perfect example of what our commission is doing for residents' quality of life.

Redical vote.

Uh motion by Commissioner Fernandez.

I need a second.

Motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by uh Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one on Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

It is uh a motion for both item R5D and C7AS.

Commissioner Bach.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Both motions are approved.

Item C7AS and R5D are approved.

While we're on the general topic, R9Z.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So I was brief that the city administration was contemplating scooter motorcycle permit fees without putting it to on the agenda for the seven of us to vote on.

I don't think that this is an operational issue.

And I certainly don't think that the city administration should be unilaterally applying fees to our residents.

But I think our scooters being uh throughout the city.

However, I don't think we need to require a fee for that or a permit.

Um I think we can I think the city administration can do that without that.

Uh so Mr.

City Manager, uh, is this program still being contemplated by city staff?

So yes, this program is currently scheduled to roll out on June 1st.

Um my understanding is that the ordinances that are in place for parking allow us to implement this.

Um and based on the recommendations of our parking department, we felt that this would help um bring some order to some of the challenges we've been facing with the motorcycle and scooter parking, and I would welcome our parking director to add any color to that.

Okay, before we do that, I just want my colleagues to know.

I have a big problem with the administration imposing fees on our residents without our input.

I I don't I think that at a very minimum should never happen unless it's put on an agenda by us from one of us to decide that.

I don't think city administration should be imposing fees.

And so I think the city administration respectfully is completely out of line on this.

Second, the whole reason why scooter and motorcycle parking was when I did the research, was to is because they're more efficient when it comes to parking.

You can put seven or eight, ten motorcycles or scooters in a single parking spot and then for a car.

I understand there's a lot of challenges when people leave a motorcycle or a scooter in a parking spot in the middle, and it doesn't prevent anyone else.

But we can address that easily with just dedicated scooter parking spaces, uh and having an ordinance that says look, you go if you have a scooter or motorcycle, you have to park in the scooter motorcycle designated parking spots, not take up a whole lane.

But at the very minimum, I I'm wholeheartedly against this city administration imposing fees on our residents and unilaterally deciding that we're going to upend a tra a tradition that encourages smaller uh transportation devices uh on the city uh in parking infrastructure.

We don't want to make it harder, we want to make it easier.

So um I want to see how my colleagues feel about this.

I mean I uh we can certainly accomplish what the the intent of this without having to raise any fees or create a bureaucratic process to get a permit for some of these um these these transportation devices.

Commit Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Mayor, Commissioner Suarez, I agree with you 100%.

Um right now there's a citywide um motorcycle decal that that I know I have it on my on my motorcycle and it's like 134 dollars a year, I think it is, or something like that.

You can park citywide.

And those are that is a metered, so those are citywide in any metered motorcycle area that's meant for the general public.

Right.

And so and so to the people who are purchasing that, I mean, if you if you live in a residential zone, you're probably purchasing that already um to uh to park in in one of these metered spaces.

When the person goes in and they buy the citywide motorcycle um pass, it should also include as part of that the residential zone that they live in, and and maybe and maybe that's something that that can be done and and they can um and and they can park um in those designated in those designated uh motorcycle or scooter areas to your point so that okay, so the people are not parking a scooter or a motorcycle in a full parking space that could be used by a vehicle, you still direct them to scooter or motorcycle designated parking, but you're not adding the fee.

But people are already they're already registering their motorcycles with the city through through this annual pass, and maybe when they buy that passage just also include as part of that the residential zone that they live in.

Is that possible?

Yes, 100%.

It is 100% possible.

100% possible.

And we would be full support of that.

Is there a vote you want to?

So well, the vote is I I don't want the city administration imposing a fee.

I agree with you.

And we're open to a fee-free just way of registering vehicles so that we know who has what where.

Yeah, but I don't think I think his point is even when when something is not fee-free, when there's a fee to be imposed on the residents and the taxpayers of the city of Miami Beach, that should be considered, debated, voted on, and approved by those who have been elected by the residents, not by the city administration.

And I would welcome the attorney to just weigh in on what the ordinance allows or doesn't allow under that particular.

I mean, I think I think that was your point, Commissioner Swartz, right?

I uh and that's what I brought this ordinance, or that's why I brought this uh uh discussion item is to prevent that from happening June 1st.

Because I don't think you I don't I certainly don't think you guys should be imposing any fees before a discussion happens.

Um and so where does that leave us right now?

I think I guess I would make a motion to not allow the city administration to impose a scooter parking fee for um for residents in starting in June.

Um Rick, I I think you're gonna answer the manager's question, but I also have a question that's kind of a corollary since I don't have experience of how other municipalities do this.

Um, in other cities where you've been the director of parking, what is what is the typical best practices of when the administration can um institute fees versus when they become policy decisions done by the um electives.

So I will so the administration uh from best practice, a registration, especially on our residential zones, is going to be a best practice and full stop.

Uh the reason so under the ordinance it talks about automobile and motor vehicles.

And motorcycles under Florida statute are already included under automobile and motor vehicle under the definition.

And so I understand that this was a past practice from uh previous directors that really wanted to focus on the sustainability efforts of motor scooters inside residential zones.

Um the challenge that has been presented to me over the my last year is uh simply without registration, it's impossible to control.

And so, for example, our team started when I first got here, they were already in the process.

I'm sorry, I just got pushed back on that.

Why is it impossible to control?

So if we don't require registration, and let's say we go, there are certain places I'll I'll use Flamango Park where you can see 25 scooters lined up in a row.

We don't know if they are workers going to uh uh the entertainment district, or we don't know if they are residents that actually live there because we don't require registration, even though well, how hard would it be to just have dedicated parking spots for scooter and motorcycle?

So and having us pass an ordinance that says you can't park a motorcycle or scooter on a regular motor vehicle car parking spot.

So we actually w when I first got here, the team had started painting those uh spaces in certain areas of the city.

The challenge was because there was no control if somebody was parked outside, and and we had heard it when we had given citations, they're like when I got home, all the scooter spaces were full, and there was an over for me to park, so I had to park outside the scooter space.

And we had no way of knowing if the people that were inside the scooter space were actually residents or they were supposed to be there.

And so what we are hoping to accomplish by having two-wheeled vehicles register is to be able to now we have the data to say we know that 15 two-wheeled vehicles exist on this block.

We can say two and a half feet per stall, we can create a space that exactly aligns with the resident needs so as not to now take up unnecessary space by blindly going out and painting a motorcycle or scooter parking stall and taking away from vehicle parking.

Um wouldn't that wouldn't that be just part of parking's job is to know exactly where the hot spots are?

Because I can I can't imagine there's more than a few hot spots of not enough scooter parking of those designated areas.

I don't it's just it just seems too much of a shock and approach to require a fee and make everyone register because of maybe a few problems.

Well, why don't we here and there?

I think we were we're in agreement that we're not going to charge a fee.

So let's I want to get to the solution of because I we're in South of the Fifth, there's there's plenty of spots where motorcycles just park on a parking spot, and they should be parking in the scooter zone.

And there's plenty of parking in the scooter zone.

They just choose not to do that.

So does that require a commission ordinance for that to happen?

It does not.

My only request is that if these scooter zones become unregistered areas, so any scooter can park in any residential zone in these scooter areas, and it displaces a resident, and then we cite a resident for not parking in the scooter zone.

It does become an enforcement challenge.

Let me make a recommendation.

Eric, we have your commitment, you're not charging fees, correct?

Correct.

You want to come up with a proposal that we can consider at the next meeting?

And if I may, through the chair.

Um we've heard you loud and clear, Commissioner.

We will hold off on implementation of the program until we've had a robust conversation here at the commission and we've decided on what's the appropriate next step.

Well, I'd still like to make a motion to ensure that we don't impose any fees for a scooter motorcycle deep.

We have a motion and a second by Commissioner Fernandez.

On R9Z, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, R9Z, the motion is adopted.

And in the meantime, we'll work on crafting a better approach to the scooter motorcycle challenge.

Parking challenge.

Thank you, Commissioner Smorez.

Good discussion.

Um R5H.

R5.

R5H is the orders of the Mayor City Commission of the City of Bay Beach, Florida, amending chapter 10 of the code of the city of Baby Beach and Florida and title animals by amending section 10 2 thereof and title fines for violations of animal control ordinances on paid fines to constitute lien and basis for revocation of city parking permits, decals by amending and identifying those sections of the city code to which the general penalty provisions set forth in section 10-20.

And by amending section 10-11 thereof entitled running at large prohibited exceptions, but providing enhanced civil penalties for animals running at large and providing for repealer submobility codification and effective date.

This is a second reading public hearing.

It is item R5H.

Commissioner Bott.

I move the item.

Okay, one second.

I heard R5H.

I heard a motion by Commissioner Bott, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one in Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Uh there's no discussion vice mayor Dominguez.

Commissioner Fernandez?

Yes.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

This item is approved.

It was item R5H, it is approved 7-0 with no one requesting to speak.

R5H.

R5K.

R5K is an order to the mayor of City Commission of City Baby Beach, Florida, amending Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Baby Beach and titled Building Regulations by Amending Article 2 and Title Construction Standards by Amending Division 4 thereof and titled Entitled 2017 through 2026 building permit reprieve program to extend the duration of the building permit reprieve program for owners of single family residential, multifamily residential mixed use for commercial properties who have failed to obtain a building permit or who have or who hold expired permits through December 31, 2028, and to amend the definition of existing buildings as used therein and providing for repealer qualifications or mobility and effective date and a sunset provision.

This is item R5K.

It is a second reading public hearing.

I move the item.

Second.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Swarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries.

That was item R5K.

R5L.

R5L is an order to the mayor of City Commission of the City of Bay Beach, Florida, amending chapter 82 of the code of City of Baby Beach and Title Public Property Article 7.

Entitled R to Public Spaces Division 1 and titled generally Section 82-537 thereof and title definitions to create certain definition defined terms amending division two section 82-562 thereof and title powers and duties to modify the powers of the art in public spaces.

AIPP committee amending division three entitled fund second fund section 82-587 thereof and title appropriations by the city to fund to amend requirements for an AIPP allocation to be implemented on the site of a city construction project of providing for repealer codification servability and an effective date.

R5L is a second reading public hearing.

Commissioner Bott.

I move the item.

Second.

Motion by Commissioner Bott, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez.

It is a public hearing.

May I call the roll?

Yes.

So Commissioner Matthias Alinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved.

That was R5L.

R5S.

R5S is an ordinance amending the city by a beach year 2025 comprehensive plan pursuant to state coordinated review process of section 163.3184 subsection 4 Florida statutes.

By amending goals, objectives, policies, and document titles of the comprehensive plan, including the following elements: resilient land use and development, transportation, housing, public school facilities, and capital improvement and pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 73C-49 and Section 163.3191, Florida statute and title evaluation and appraisal of comprehensive plan, incorporating necessary amendments reflecting changes in state law and updating the comprehensive plan based on changes in local conditions since the last updated based on evaluation and appraisal report updated adopted on October 16, 2019, and providing for inclusion in the comprehensive plan, transmittal repealer servability and an effective date.

This is item R5S.

It is a second reading, public hearing.

Commissioner Fernandez.

I move my item.

Second.

Motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Suarez.

Public hearing.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Matil Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Last Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved 70.

That was item R5S.

R5AC.

R5AC is an order to the Mayor City Commission of the City of Bad Beach, Florida, amending chapter 70 of the Bag Beach City Code, entitled Miscellaneous Offenses by Amending Article 1, entitled in general by amending section 70-1.1 thereof.

Entitled Habitual Municipal Ordinance Violation Offenders to include additional criminal municipal orders violations within the habitual municipal offender ordinance and providing for repealer sub ability codification and effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5AC.

Thank you for bringing this item.

Commissioner Matthias Salinas.

Proud to co-prime with you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And thank you for your co-prime as well.

I appreciate that support.

So this is tightening up our municipal uh habitual offenders ordinance.

Um it used to be in the past that someone could be um convict if they were convicted four times in the previous year, they were um considered a habitual offender, and now we're doing we're tightening up a little bit to be three times in two years because we have so many um folks that out are out in the street that um you know commit crimes and they're convicted time after time after time and then sent to jail and then let let out and then they come right back to my beach to prey on our residents and our visitors.

So this is just tightening this up a little bit.

Um and uh I would appreciate everyone's support.

Thank you.

If I may if I may through the chair, I just want to make one one clarification.

The tightening up applies to certain municipal offenses, which are generally quality of life issues, smoking cannabis, urinating or defecating in plain view, public camping, uh, park after hours.

The um the other ordinances that we have in our code uh relate to state law um offenses, and those will remain with the four strikes.

Um so we are not able to change that until unless and until the state changes its um habitual offender statute, Mr.

Mayor.

So just to I'm sorry, just to be clear.

So even if it's a municipal ordinance, you couldn't change it if it's considered it's similar to state law.

If it it's something that we adopted pursuant to state law, then it has to stay at the four strikes in one year, um, unless and until the state changes uh do we have a separate item to uh legislative priority?

Do we have a separate item to uh legislative priority?

Yes.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Uh Commissioner Mateo Salinas, thank you for for bringing this item and Mr.

Mayor for co-priming with the Commissioner.

I'd like to join us a co-sponsor.

Excellent.

I heard Joe Magazine, Commissioner Magazine as well.

Call the vote.

It is a public hearing.

I have a motion by Commissioner Mateus Salinas, but no second yet.

I'll second.

I heard Commissioner Bott.

So motion by Commissioner Monica Matthews, seconded by Commissioner Bott.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one in Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Matthias Alinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

David.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries R5AC is approved on first reading.

Second reading public hearing is scheduled for June 24th.

We're listing Commissioner Magazine and Commissioner Fernandez as co-sponsors.

That was item R5AC.

I'm sorry.

I was listed yesterday as a co-sponsor on this.

I think.

Okay.

We'll verify that, so we'll add you also.

Right.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

I'm there.

Okay.

It just wasn't called in the record, but it's there.

Oh, I was just adding the ones that said now.

Oh, gotcha.

Okay.

Thank you.

R5AD.

R5AD is an order of the mayor of City Commission of the City by B Florida amending chapter 12 of the of the city might be city code entitled Arts, Culture and Entertainment by Amending Article 2 and titled Special Events by amending section 12-5.2 entitled special event permit required for large scale residential parties and events to provide for recovery of city costs for violations providing for repealers of ability qualification and effective dates.

55 AD is a first reading public hearing.

Commissioner Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioner Bott.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Residents have been uh raising concerns for years about large unpermitted house parties and the strain they place on surrounding neighborhoods.

And the truth is that enforcing these events isn't isn't easy.

It requires a great amount of resources from our city administration, whether it be code, whether it be police, fire, parking, sanitation, uh to step in, and sometimes in significant numbers just to keep everyone safe and maintaining order.

Right now, when a homeowner hosts a large-scale party during a certain high impact period without a special event permit, the city is the one that is absorbing the cost.

Every law-abiding resident, every law-abiding homeowner, Eddie, every law-abiding resident taxpayer of the city of Miami Beach are footing the bills for the personnel for the equipment for the emergency response uh triggered by these illegal events.

This ordinance has a straightforward cost recovery uh process so that when the violation occurs, the property owner, not the public, covers the city's expense.

It establishes a new subsection in our existing code that allows the city to bill for enforcement costs, and if those bills go unpaid, then place a lien on on the property.

Uh is simple.

This is about fairness and ensuring that one person's abuse of their neighborhood abuse of the city code doesn't end up costing the rest of the law-abiding residents of the city of Miami Beach.

And with that, I'll move the item.

I'll second.

I love this item.

I think it's great and long overdue.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It is a public hearing.

You see no one in Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Uh Commissioner Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carry, second reading, public hearing is scheduled for June 24th.

That was item R5AD.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

We'll call another one of your items uh R5W.

R5W is an orders of the mayor, so the Commission of the City might be through amending chapter 82 of it might be the city code in titled public property by amending Article 5 and title in general by amending section 82-441 thereof entitled fishing from vape viaducts and bridges in the jetty area between 29th and 33rd Street and in and in restricted swim areas by providing definitions amending declarify amending and clarifying those areas in which saltwater fishing is prohibited for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, providing for repealers of ability codification and effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5W.

I move the item I through the chair.

Commissioner Bott.

Um I actually actually would like to understand this a little bit better.

Um I definitely don't want fish guts and um and fishing hooks lying around where um you know it can cause trouble for pets and children.

That's not the goal.

I my concern is, and so I'd like you to explain it a little bit better.

My concern is that for we live on a barrier island, and for people who don't live on a waterfront property, this may be their only opportunity to go fishing with their kids or their parents or by themselves.

Um we have lots of um public parks along the water that have benches and seawalls where people can avail themselves of the beauty of living on an island without having the you know it's it's very a very self-limiting, self-selecting for people who are able to afford to live on the water.

Um I myself am not a fisher person, it's not something I enjoy.

Um, but I am concerned about making it illegal for people who do enjoy it who don't have any other access to it, unless you're a shark fisherman and you want to go fish sharks on the beach, which is a whole other disastrous conversation.

But anyhow, um so help me understand, because I don't want this to be a city of haves and have not.

So, Commissioner, if if if I could just answer you regarding the uh the this is about our Bay Walk at the street ends of 10th Street, uh 14th Street and Lincoln Road.

We're not talking about our parks or or any other areas.

This is you know, the Bay Walk, 10th Street, 14th Street, Lincoln Road, these are some of our most cherished spots along Biscane Bay where our residents are walking their dogs and uh and and we want to keep them safe.

So this is specifically in those areas.

And Mark, I don't know if you want to expand on that.

No, that that's exactly correct.

Just for those three designated city-owned street ends along the bay walk, which is obviously heavily utilized and quite crowded.

You've already eliminated all uh motorized and unmotorized means of transportation, except for of course wheelchairs when used by disabled individuals.

But moreover, this ordinance would actually provide more opportunities for individuals who do want to fish, because aside from the city-owned designated street ends that the commissioner mentioned, 1014th and Lincoln Road, this would remove the prohibition on fishing from the jetty area between 29 and 33rd, and also remove the prohibition on fishing from the restricted swim areas.

So this actually opens it up more.

So removing it from restricted swim areas, does that cause a potential damage of if you've got people out there swimming and they don't see somebody fishing and all of a sudden they get a hook in their bathing suit?

I mean, yeah, and clearly not a fisher person.

Well, and the reason why we're doing that is because we don't have jurisdiction in those in those areas.

We can only do it in the cities right-of-ways.

Is that correct, Mark?

Uh not exactly right-aways, but city-owned properties, you know, city-owned real properties.

And and the fact of the matter is, Commissioner, you're you're you're you're correct.

I mean, it is certainly possible, but you know, I I think it rarely happens.

I think oftentimes these fishermen are out there not when swimmers or bathers are there.

I think they're out there in the early morning hours in the you know, mid to later evening hours when it's better fishing for them.

They're usually not standing there, you know, while people are on the beach.

I don't think that's something many of us see.

So can I respectfully ask that um we somehow communicate this to our residents?

Because I think I I know I've heard from people who are concerned the way they're reading it, is that they are not going to be permitted to to fish places, and you know, it starts here, then it moves other places, and I I get concerned with that.

Um so is there a way to, you know, through our social media, whatever else.

Um I don't know if people need to apply for a fishing license, I have no idea.

But um, so that people know you can't do it here, but all these other places now you can.

Because again, I you know, we're an island.

People move here because you're surrounded by water.

Can't afford to live on water, you should still be able to enjoy it.

And that's something that that I want to make sure people understand.

Yeah, Commissioner, I'd be happy to work with there.

She is I'd be right.

Happy to work with Melissa, and I can provide her the substantive message.

She can clean it up and make it marketing friendly.

Um, we can put it out and let the residents know that while these three city owned property designated street ends, 10 14th and Lincoln Road, fishing is prohibited.

However, we're opening up the jetty are again between 29th and 33 and restricted swim areas.

We could communicate that.

Sure.

Okay.

Thank you.

Great.

Any action, Commissioner Fernandez?

Um, I move the item.

Sorry.

Anyone second?

I'll second.

Uh push by Commissioner Fernandez, second by Mayor Minor.

Uh it is a public hearing.

I see no one in Zoom, no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries item R five W is approved.

Second reading.

Public hearing is scheduled for June twenty-fourth.

That was R five W.

Great.

So before we break for lunch, uh, we have a working launch, an attorney client session.

Um I am required to read into the record.

The attorney client session shall commence and will be held during the lunch recess of the City Commission meeting in the city manager's large conference room regarding the following case.

Penrod Brothers Inc.

versus the City of Miami Beach.

The following individuals will be in attendance.

Commissioner Alex Fernandez, Commissioner Bach, Tanya Bach, Commissioner David Suarez, Commissioner Joseph Magazine, City Manager Eric Carpenter, Assistant City Manager Mark Taxes, City Attorney Rick DePico, Chief Deputy City Attorney Robert Rosenwald, Deputy City Attorney Henry Huntenfeld, attorneys Eric Hockman, and Flanagan of Weiss Sorota Healthman Cole, and Beerman and Beerman.

We hopefully will be back by one PM to continue with our Subnik time.

Thank you.

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.com.

The EPA also says water at these levels is cancer causing and inhibits development of children.

Now there's simple solutions to this, including reverse osmosis and ion exchange.

And instead of telling people that the water is safe and excellent, we should be telling them about these simple filtration solutions like reverse osmosis and ion exchange.

From what I have seen in my research is called Culligan.com.

They've been around for almost a century.

And they offer a product with financing for less than one dollar a day that you can have reverse osmosis uh installed in your home to have 99% less PFOS in your drinking water.

Additionally, there's a famous movie based on this chemical and all the litigation into it called The Devil We Know.

I highly recommend it.

Um and and thank you for your time.

Really, we need strong leadership here, especially to protect the children.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, and future generations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience who wishes to speak?

Seeing none, let's go to Zoom.

Lilia Bobik, please state your name, address, and you have two minutes.

Lillia, please unmute yourself.

My name is Laila Bovick, Laila, L I L A.

I want to express my deeply concern about a news that I read today regarding the approval of the demolition of the building in May 6, 17th Street in Miami Beach, to give a space to build two towers.

We don't need more towers.

We don't need more apartments, and we don't need more cars in the city of Miami Beach.

The soul of Miami Beach is the Ardeco District and their old constructions.

And I expect the mayor and the commissioners to work to save it.

That's what I wanted to express.

And I thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

There is no one else wishing to speak, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Uh not as lively as this morning.

Yeah.

Let's get down to uh let's get down to business.

R5 AH.

R5AH is an order to the mayor, city commission of city by beach, Florida, amending chapter 30 of the My Beach City Code entitled code enforcement by amending Article 2 entitled Special Magistrate by amending excuse me, Section 30-37 entitled terms of office compensation.

By amending the compensation of the special magistrates providing for codification repeal or civility and an effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5AH.

Second.

Can I just make one suggestion?

Yeah, let's let's linger.

Also, if you want to take the liberty of describing the item, even though it's not your item.

It's not my item, but I think what it does is that it amends the uh special magistrate the special master's uh compensation by ordinance.

Uh right now I I believe that the city manager has the authority to amend the chief special masters compensation, but the others uh that serve under this chief special master has to be done by ordinance of the city commission.

And what I would like to suggest um to the sponsor and to the city attorney if it's possible, is in the ordinance to put their provision that perhaps in the future the salary can be amended by resolution, which is much easier.

It doesn't you don't need to do the two readings and it kind of cuts the bureaucracy a little bit in that process.

I'm fine with that.

I don't know that's that's possible.

Um let us look into it, but it we can consider bringing an ordinance to grant that.

Or maybe between first and second reading if if that can be looked into.

Sure.

And and I believe the sponsor of this item is Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

Would you be willing to include that as part of the item?

Yes.

Yep, that's a good idea.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So as amended then.

Well, we we I need to look at the title to determine whether we can add that into this.

If not, we'll bring a separate item.

Okay.

So motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by uh Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one in the audience or no one in Zoom requesting to speak.

May I call a roll?

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Salinas.

Mateo Salinas.

Air Minor.

Yes.

Motion carries the item is approved 7-0, second reading public hearing schedule for June 24th.

That was item R5AH.

R5Y.

RFY is an order to Mayor City Commission of the City by Beach Florida, amending chapter two of the code of the City of Bay Beach and Title Administration by amending Article 6 in title procurement by amending Division 3 entitled contract procedures by amending Section 2-367 and title for rejection of bids negotiation of sole source purchase waiver of competitive bidding to establish new procedural requirements in connection with waivers of competitive bidding and amending section 2-369 entitled award of contract to include additional factors to be considered when determining the lowest and best bidder and providing for repealers of ability qualification and effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5Y.

Commissioner Fernandez.

There's a public hearing.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Bott.

Yep.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Mayor Biner.

Yes.

Motion carries second reading public hearing is scheduled for June 24th.

That was item R5Y.

Commissioner Fernandez, I like the example you used in the memo of the no bid and the Poseidon Ferry one, which I voted uh which I voted no to.

So thank you.

Yeah, and and that's and and that's a whole reason why we're doing this after reviewing the uh no bid contract with Poseidon Ferry, the Office of the Inspector General identified gaps in how competitive bid waivers are handled.

And so this ordinance now uh now steps um adds new steps uh before any waiver of competitive bid can be approved.

And uh and this is something that the office of the inspector general brought to our attention because it broadens how we define the lowest and best bidder.

So it's not just about the price tag, it's also about risk, it's about the responsibility and whether the vendor is truly prepared to deliver for the city.

And I want to thank uh the office of the inspector general and Joe Centorino who's sitting in the audience uh for these recommendations that bring transparency to our government.

Yes, thank you, Joe, our inspector general.

We actually have a couple of um what animal related items.

We'll do those together.

Uh well not together, but we'll call each in turn R5G.

R5 R5G is an ordinance of the mayor, city commission of the city of my beach Florida, amending chapter 46 of my beach city code entitled environment by amending Article 5 entitled Turtle Nesting Protection Ordinance by amending section 46S203 entitled Prohibited Activities Disruptive to Marine Turtles by amending section 46203C relating to special events to establish rules for special events between April 1st through April 30th and May 1st through October 31, including lighting prohibitions, time limitations and penalties providing for repealer servability qualification and an effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5G.

Commissioner Suarez, co-sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez.

Yeah, thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.

Turtleman.

Um Amy, can you tee up the uh the highlights, please?

Sure.

Commissioner, I'd be happy to.

Good afternoon.

Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer.

Um so the item before you is for approval of an amendment to our existing sea turtle ordinance.

Uh you may remember we recently amended it a couple of years ago, actually.

And now this is a further refinement.

Um turtle season begins April 1st and it goes through to October 31st, and we have many protections.

Um but one of the things we also have here on Miami Beach are a lot of events, and what this item does is it allows events in April and allows them after 9 p.m.

They still have to meet our sea turtle ordinance, which means they have to minimize light and follow all of our rules.

Um, but it would not allow events from May 1st through October 31st, um, after 9 p.m.

Because of the lighting um issues and impact on the turtles, really the nesting season really gets going in May.

So it really from the science perspective, it is important as well and should really help us with our disorientation rates and and better uh nesting as well.

Okay, thank you.

Uh so colleagues, you know.

I wanted to bring this forward because I noticed that there were a lot of events in April that um very disruptive with a lot of lights, a lot of uh machinery on the beach, and I think there should be a definite cutoff time uh in the evening to prevent uh you know uh any sort of uh disruptions to our our wildlife and Amy you could also explain that since our ordinance we passed a couple years ago for sea toll protections, the disorientation rates have dramatically improved.

Yeah, so we saw an improvement in 2025 uh by nine percent, which means nine percent of our nests uh our our nesting hatchlings um didn't disorient, which is great.

We recently got the news from Miami Dade County, so it was at about 50 percent in 2024 and it went to 41 percent in 2025.

Right.

So um I would like to hear from my colleagues uh on this.

Uh I know there might be some issues with some of the events, but I think we can find a middle ground to um to work on this.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

I just have a couple questions, and overall I'm supportive of this.

Um so if this passes first reading and then second reading next month, will that affect the um Memorial Day weekend concert and the concert that we're having for FIFA or does this kick in later?

So this um this would come into effect next year.

Okay, yeah, January of 2020.

January of 2022.

Or well rather, I guess May, wouldn't it be right?

Right.

It would be May 1st, 2027.

Okay.

Thank you.

And again, it would still allow events, they would just have to stop um with the visible lighting after 9 p.m.

Thank you.

Laura.

Yes.

I'm back.

Um anybody else want to uh Commissioner Bott.

Um does this allow I I love this idea.

I'm delighted to hear about the the improvement.

Um does this give the city ability to use the really unsightly floodlights in case of a public safety issue?

Um I can't, I don't know, like if God forbid a crime seat needed to be established.

Um this is for special events.

No, I I understand it's for special events, but like i is there any sort of um does this give the city uh the ability to to do what it needs to do in case there's a public safety issue?

So our ordinance already has that on public safety um is important and it is a consideration.

So yes, if there's a situation where you know flood lights are warranted and and there's something horrible happening, of course.

Should it be sustained at all times during turtle season at night?

No, we'd rather that sea turtle lights are used.

I mean, that then we have a bigger issue of that four months of floodlights, that's a bigger issue.

Um and a question I've never asked in all of the turtle stuff.

Do they I know they get disoriented by light, but does noise and the vibration from noise affect anything within nests also?

Well, it's not within the regulatory standards.

So we've wondered the same thing, but it's not built into the the standards are really focused on lighting, and that's coming down from FWC.

But just for my own curiosity, is it some anecdotally have we observed?

Um we we haven't observed or I think we're not quite sure on that one.

Okay, it's not something that uh we've we've studied here.

Okay.

Well, just I I think there's a lot of noise somewhere.

I don't think a turtle's gonna nest there if it looks too um disruptive.

I know they might like house music.

Yeah.

Maybe not maybe not to lay their eggs, but it's supposed to be very calming.

There's like all this research now.

So Steve, that's right up your alley.

House music being super calming and good for everybody, like motion.

I'll move it.

Second.

Uh motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Bott.

It is a public hearing.

I see no one, hold on for a second.

I see no one in Zoom and no one in the audience requesting to speak.

Commissioner Bott on R5G.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yes.

Commissioner Mattel Salinas.

Yes.

Commissioner Magazine.

Yes.

Commissioner Suarez.

Yes.

Commissioner Fernandez.

Yes.

Mayor Minor.

Yes.

Motion is group 7-0.

Second reading public hearing scheduled for June 24th.

Mayor, I have two announcements.

R5AE.

R 5AF open and continued to June 24th.

So R5AE, R5AF, open and continued.

And that's the Lincoln Road West Residential Use Incentives.

Yes, sir.

Items.

Okay.

R5I.

I just A E A F R five.

A E.

What?

Oh, equal R5I.

No, no, but Commissioner Magazine was about asking me which ones were open and continued.

Okay, R5i is an ordinance of the mayor of City Commissioner City by Beach Florida.

Uh amending chapter 10 of the code of City Valley Beach, Florida entitled Animals by Amending Section 10-11.

They're often titled running at large prohibited exemptions by providing a grace zone extending from the perimeter of the area designated by the city manager for the benefit of an owner of an unleashed animal who inadvertently allows his or her animal to stray outside the approved perimeter and providing for repealers of a built calification and an effective date.

This is a first reading public hearing.

It is item R5I.

Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I don't want to take too much time off of this, but the idea is South Point Dog Park.

Unique to any other dog park in the city is not gated, and we just passed an ordinance increasing the fines for off-leash, and I wanted to just be mindful of the residents in South Point who do bring their dogs and sometimes they do run out occasionally.

If any of my colleagues have any more questions, I'd be more than happy to answer.

But uh other than that, I'd like to move my item.

Second.

Call the vote.

Uh motion by Commissioner Troy, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez.

Wait, wait, Vice Mayor Dominguez.

Yeah, I just wanted to check on this.

Um we've had people get mauled and attacked.

I looked at the memo attached to this, and there is no city recommendation.

So the city doesn't matter either way, whether we pass it or not.

Um we don't have a strong recommendation on this.

The uh the number one thing is dog owners at all times need to be under control of their animal.

I understand the intent that the commissioners, the sponsors trying to make with this with the fines, and that that this is our only unfenced dog park.

Um so dogs may wander.

Um, but it is very important that all dog owners keep their their animal under control.

Correct.

So, like even if we didn't do anything today, like it's still a possibility because it's not a fenced in dog park.

Correct.

And it opened that way.

It's never had a fence.

But the majority 99% of the time when dogs do leave the that little park, there are no maulings.

It's just um it's just them straying out briefly.

Right.

To my knowledge, we haven't had an unfortunate incident at that specific dog park, to my memory.

Commissioner Mateo Salinas.

I just have a question.

John, so that's the only unfenced dog park in the area, and why is it unfenced just because it would it was there a when it was created, it was the could you explain to me the history of that?

Absolut absolutely.

The r the residents came out, this was during my time, it was created, and the residents came out at that time, they felt very strongly about not having a fence at that specific area that called and just created an off-leash area during certain times of day.

It came from directly from the residents of Celtifift.

We typically would not do that for dog parks, but that was a specific ask and a specific commission resolution at the time, um, based on the residents in the area having what they felt were some uh extraneous circumstances.

Correct.

Thank you, sir.

When I think it was 2014.

I believe 2014, yes.

And um, do we have a written resolution from Selfness supporting this ordinance?

Um, no, I do not this was discussed at committee, is that right?

Was this discussed at committee?

I should maybe the sponsor can help me.

I don't remember speaking about this to committee.

I no, I think what we did was we discussed this here and uh when the possibility of uh which was just I guess pass in first or second reading, I'm not sure.

Uh the ordinance to increase the fines of off-leash uh dogs in the area uh or in any area.

I I mentioned that South of Fifth is a dog park, has a dog park that is not fenced.

And so I don't want to be in a situation where residents bring their dog, they go out for five seconds, and they get cited five hundred dollars because their dog went out to you know uh on unknowingly with the owner.

So that's that's where we are today.

So I on one hand we're increasing the fines for off-leash dog park, but on the other hand, in South Point, there's a dog park that doesn't have any fences, and you know, you can't control your animals if they're off-leash there, and they run out.

So I think a grace period is a good compromise.

Mr.