Miramar City Commission Meeting - September 22, 2022
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Miramar City Commission Meeting - September 22, 2022
The Miramar City Commission met on September 22, 2022, at 7:00 PM. The meeting opened with a moment of silence and a passport awareness announcement. The Commission approved several proclamations, recognized police personnel during Hispanic Heritage Month, heard public comments, received a COVID-19 update, and unanimously approved a fee schedule for FY2023 and a conditional use application for a new Chipotle restaurant. All votes were 5-0.
Proclamations
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 2022): The Mayor proclaimed October 2022 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 21 as Mammography Day. The proclamation noted that 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer. Representatives from Memorial Health Care System accepted the proclamation.
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September 2022): The Mayor proclaimed September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month. The proclamation noted that more than 40,000 Americans die by suicide each year, with a Florida death every 2 hours on average; firearms are the leading method. Barbara Markley (co-chair, League of Women Voters of Broward Gun Safety Committee) accepted and highlighted the link between gun safety and suicide prevention.
- Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15, 2022): The Mayor proclaimed the month, noting that Miramar’s Hispanic population is 36%. Vice Mayor Colburn recognized Marisol Diegues, president of a Venezuelan humanitarian organization.
Police Recognition – Hispanic Heritage Month
State Representative Marie Woodson presented tributes to three Miramar Police Department members: Deputy Chief Jose Vargas (born in Puerto Rico), Officer Yesenia Diaz (first Hispanic female detective, Colombian heritage), and Mailyn Aguirre (department administrator, born in Nicaragua). All were honored for their service and dedication.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alison Adams (Miramar Park Homeowners Group): Thanked community officers Renee Montserrat (Police) and Olga Perriut (Code Compliance) for their support, especially during National Night Out. No concerns were raised.
- A second registrant (Bar Ali) was not connected; public comment was closed.
COVID-19 and Emergency Management Update
- Tim Roche (Fire Rescue Division Chief): Reported continued decreases in positivity and death rates in Florida and Broward County. No policy changes; Broward County still encourages face coverings indoors. School policies: students who test positive should isolate for 5 days. Flu season began; flu and COVID vaccines can be co-administered. The state COVID hotline is no longer monitored. Monkeypox threat is low and trending down. Hurricane season monitoring: storms Fausto, Gaston, and Invest 98 were not expected to impact the U.S. in the next 5 days.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously. No items were pulled.
Discussion Items
- FY2023 Schedule of Fee Changes (Item #5): Winsome Freeman (Financial Services) presented proposed fee changes across nine departments, including a 10.6% increase in fire fees (CPI-based), 3% water/wastewater rate increase (average bill increase of $2.58 for 5,000-gallon consumption), and various parks and recreation fee changes.
- Commissioner Davis queried employee gym fees; staff confirmed employees currently pay a 20% discount (not free, as previously thought). Commissioner Davis asked to review reinstating free gym access for employees. The City Manager agreed to look into it.
- Commissioner Davis also asked about service-disabled veterans’ park entrance fees; staff noted veterans already receive free entry. Vice Mayor Colburn announced he is preparing a resolution to waive all park and recreation fees for veterans.
- Commissioner Chambers asked about a state water assistance program; staff was unaware but Commissioner Chambers offered to share information.
- Quasi-Judicial Hearing – Chipotle Restaurant (Item #7): Presented by Eric Silva (Planning and Zoning). The proposal was for a 2,500 sq. ft. Chipotle with a drive-thru (online order only) on an outparcel at the Monarch Town Center (northwest corner of Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road).
- Conditional use required because of drive-thru. Variance needed for front setback (proposed 103 ft. vs. max 50 ft.) due to utility easements. Community Appearance Board approved.
- Commissioner Chambers asked about parking (28 spaces, meets code) and contingency for drive-thru backups. Applicant explained the “Chipotle Lane” model is used nationwide; no ordering at window, only pickup.
- Commissioner Davis requested an update on the Monarch Town Center build-out; developer reported 80% of spaces are open.
- Commission Reports:
- Commissioner Chambers thanked State Rep. Woodson for the police recognitions and noted the retirement of Deputy Chief Randy Gonzalez.
- Commissioner Davis reported on a community meeting at Sunset Lakes regarding traffic (Pembroke Road extension, speeding on 186th Avenue near schools). He raised concerns about the Western substation not being used for its original police purpose. City Manager and Police Chief responded: the fire department’s logistics is being moved to a new warehouse, after which the substation will be renovated (roof replacement needed) and then staffed with traffic, investigative, and community resource units. Commissioner Davis requested a comprehensive school traffic report.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Unanimously approved.
- Police Recognitions: Accepted.
- Consent Agenda: Approved 5-0.
- FY2023 Fee Schedule (Item #5): Motion to approve passed 5-0. Direction given to staff to review employee gym fees and veteran fee waiver.
- Item #6 (unknown): Continued to November 22, 2022, by unanimous vote.
- Chipotle Restaurant (Item #7): Five separate votes (conditional use, variance, site plan, Community Appearance Board, overall project) each passed 5-0. All approvals are subject to staff conditions.
- Commission Reports: No formal votes; directives given to staff to report back on substation timeline and school traffic plan.
Meeting Transcript
I don't know. Yeah, they're thinking of it. If I could have everyone to get in your respective places, it's seven o'clock, and we have to start the commission meeting, please. We'll be starting momentarily. The meeting of the Myanmar, an opportunity was given to the public to register to participate or email the city clerk twenty-four hours prior to the commission meeting with any questions, comments, concerns on items we will hear on this evening's agenda. Any person may be heard by the city commission through the chair and upon registering, pursuant to the published notice for not more than three minutes on any proposition before this city commission, unless modified by the chair.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel Seventy-eight and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for all City of Myanmar subscribers. As of September twenty second at five PM, three members from the public have registered to participate virtually in this meeting. Ricardo Collins, police department, niece. Let's keep our fellow colleagues and our thoughts and our prayers, as well as the city of Myanmar for any members of our community that may be experiencing grief or loss in their families. Let's have a moment of silence. Thank you. Before we start the presentations, we just we would just like to acknowledge that September is Passport Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of State wants to motivate everyone to apply for their U.S. passports in the fall or winter when demand is down. This year, they are also encouraging people to routinely check their passports expiration date and remember that many countries require a minimum of six months of passport valid um validity. Our city clerk's office staff are all certified passport agents, and we offer U.S. passport services by appointment here in the city of Myanmar. For more information, please visit our website at MiramarFL dot gov. And I'll take this moment to ask the public to please refrain from calling the city or passport requests that you need to travel within a month or two weeks. I know we get those requests all the time. So I would like to make that that notice. Whereas October 22 is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and whereas National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. And whereas National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer with national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families. And whereas the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about one in eight. And whereas death rates from breast cancer have been declining, and this change is believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening, increased awareness, and improved treatment. And whereas NBCAM recognizes that although many great strides have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there remains much to be accomplished. Now therefore, I, Wayne Mesa, mayor of the city of Miramar, in behalf of the City Commission, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2022 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 21st as National Memography Day. This is being presented in advance so that the hearers of this message themselves as well as your loved ones and your families can plan and make your appointments for your mammograms and make sure to encourage your loved ones to make to know their status and to get the screenings. At this time are the representatives from Memorial on the line. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much. Thank you. Oh I don't know if you can see me. Yes, we can see you and hear you. Oh great, thank you. It's a great pleasure to accept this proclamation and representing Memorial Health Care System, Memorial Cancer Institute. We are committed absolutely to our community, and it is really a great pleasure and honor to accept this proclamation. Thank you so much. And thanks for visiting us virtually, and we look forward to our community using the resources of memorial for their screenings. Thank you. At this time, I invite Barbara Markley, co-chair of gun safety committee, the League of Women Voters of Broward to join me on the stage for the presentation of the proclamation in observance of suicide prevention awareness month. Let's give her a round of applause as she comes forward. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2022. Whereas the City of Myanmar is firmly committed to raising awareness about suicide prevention, and whereas the month of September is nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. And whereas more than 40,000 Americans die by suicide each year. In Florida, a person dies by suicide every two hours on average. Suicides in Florida far outnumber homicides. And whereas suicide is a national epidemic costing the lives of 6,000 veterans each year and is a leading cause of death for first responders.
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