The Tree Advisory Committee held its inaugural organizational meeting on July 13, 2026, from approximately 9:00 AM to 12:18 PM. The meeting focused on committee member introductions, process overview, sunshine law training, a high-level overview of Miami's tree regulatory framework, and planning for public workshops. Six members were present, establishing a quorum. No formal votes were taken.
And drainage to resolve flooding in the area, which is actually part of a larger project in the Albany area. Neighbors in the area had said the roadway really needs to be repaid, been torn up for a long time, and there's a lot of speeding on Thirty Second Avenue. So we went ahead and we did a raised intersection. So you've got beautiful new roadways behind us, you got paved brick walkways, you got things that slow you down and keep the street looking beautiful, and residents could not be happier. Good morning. Um, my name's Patricia Arias. I'm a senior assistant city attorney for the city of Miami. Um this is the first committee meeting for the tree advisory committee. And because technically we don't have a chair, I'll need everybody to say their name and say present, right? So that we could do a quorum. There's something that I have to state before the meeting begins, and then I can the presentation can start. So we'll start on that end and get to me. No, obviously once they say their name. Ian Wogan. So that we have six, so we have a quorum. Okay. So let me go ahead. Any person who's a lobbyist pursuant to chapter two, Article Six of the City Code must register with the city clerk and compliment with related city requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the tree advised ordinance advisory committee. A person may not lobby at a city official board member or staff member until registering. A copy of the city code section about lobbyists is available at the city clerk's office or online at WW Municode.com. Any person may be heard by the committee for not more than two meetings on two minutes on any proposition before the committee, unless otherwise allowed by the committee to speak for the have them speak longer. Additionally, the city will accommodate any speakers desiring to appear in person when addressing the committee. Um the trees, presumably. But if at any point in time there are different matters, that's why we set it out as items. A video of this meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications or viewed online at WWMIGov.com. Please silence all cell phones and any other noise-making devices, and any person with a disability requiring existing auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may notify the city liaison. Please know committee members may have generally been um briefed on the items on today's agenda. Today the agenda is in essence a meet and greet. Hello, how are we? How is this all going to comport? In order to ensure that the public has the ability to view the meeting, the city's communications department will broadcast the meeting. The meeting can be viewed on Miami TV, MiamiGov.com backslash TV, or Comcast 1077 within the city of Miami. The broadcast will also have closed capsiding. With that, I have finished my preliminary notes. No. Um we'll review the agenda and the process and give you each a chance to formally kind of introduce yourselves in just a minute, but I think we're gonna turn and let was gonna do a welcome first. Good morning all. With that, I turn it over to the next person on the agenda. Thank you, Ed. Uh, and again, before I go into more detail, those of the public, I think who may have arrived after I said this, there is a sign-up sheet over here if you would like to say something at the end of the meeting. There's also agendas over here uh as well. Um we're um we're gonna do some introductions. Let me start off by pointing out, especially since there are some here who may not know and had alludes to we're with the consensus center. Rafael and I are based uh with a consensus center that's based at Florida State University. We're not subject matter experts. We're not here. That's what your your role is to be. Our role is the facilitators, we're the process guys to help you have as constructive and effective conversations over a series of meetings that we've designed for you as we can. So uh Rafael, do you want to add anything to that before I move on to them? No, I think you'll get to Rafael and I will be tag teaming uh kind of things.