And then have not been addressed to make it easy for everybody to get to the doctor and get these screenings.

And what screenings are there?

Good evening.

The meeting of the Mirmar City Commission is now called to order.

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 the city commission, unless modified by the chair.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel Seventy-eight and ATTU versus Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers.

As of March sixth, twenty twenty four, at five fifty-six PM.

No members from the public have registered to participate virtually in this meeting.

And at the appropriate time, our IT staff will unmute their mic to allow them to speak.

I'll move out to the front.

If you all want to come forward, our first proclamation is in observance of social work month, requested by Vice Mayor Davis.

And like to invite Saran Earl Cunningham from Miramar Police Department, City Social Worker, to accept the proclamation and observance of social work month.

Are there any other social workers in the city of Myanmar in any department?

If you're here, you can also come up as well.

Whereas the social work profession is dedicated to improving human well-being and enhancing the basic need of all people, especially the most vulnerable.

And whereas this year's National Social Social Work Month theme, empowering social workers, encourages support of the profession, uplifts social workers, and celebrates their contributions.

And whereas social workers have been available in times of crisis and helped people overcome issues such as death, grief, substance abuse, and mental illness, along with assisting communities with recovering from natural disasters such as fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

And whereas social workers have helped this nation live up to its values by successfully advocating for equal rights for all people, no matter their race, gender, culture, or religion.

And whereas the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, with nearly 800,000 people expected to be employed as social workers by 2028.

And whereas social workers are employed in all parts of our society and empower people to live to their fullest potential.

And whereas social workers will continue to stand ready to assist our nation in overcoming present and future challenges.

And whereas the City of Miramar, superheaded by Vice Mayor Davis, took a step to help combat mental health issues by hiring the first police social worker in Broward County.

And whereas the job of the police social work it worker is to help with crisis intervention and de-escalate situations that are non-combative.

And whereas the City of Miramar commends social workers throughout our city for their contributions to our community and for their dedication to improving the quality of life of all people.

Now, therefore, I wane mess, mayor of the city of Miramar, and on behalf of Vice Mayor Davis and the City Commission do hereby declare March 6, 2024 as social work month.

So we'd like to thank all of our social workers in the city of Myanmar and in all of our departments for all the work that they do in our community.

Thank you.

And social work month, we are very blessed to have not only our police social worker, but entire social services department, of which there are several social workers there.

But it's important to note that just as we have police officers, I think it's time to ensure that we have more police social workers.

Why?

Because a lot of the calls that come through to 911 are calls that really are of a social nature, meaning that a social worker could intervene and help out the police officers more so that they can do the heavy lifting of more crime types of uh violent types of crime, put it that way.

And I think as far as I remember, statistics shows that a majority of the calls to 911 are not really calls for a police officer to go out.

They're actually calls for help.

Maybe it's homelessness, maybe it's mental illness.

And so this police social work is very vital.

And I'm hoping that we can get more social workers, just as we have police on the force to really assist with some of the social ills that are occurring, not just in the city of Miramar, but around the nation.

So I'm gonna allow for our police social worker to give a few remarks of her own.

Good night, everyone.

I just want to say thanks to the mayor, the vice mayor, the commissioners, city managers, assistance to the managers uh for putting this position.

Since I've been here, it's been over a year since I've been here, and I've seen the the help, the knowledge, the increase of the calls of the non-emergency calls.

Most of the calls that I've handled so far is mostly for social service issues, but they call the police office for this.

So I am happy to be a part of the solution, and I'm hoping that as the vice mayor stated, we she's looking forward for more, and I want the help.

I've seen about 67% increase in calls since I've been here.

I have a I keep a log, and you'll be surprised to know that the people are calling for assistance from the from the city.

So I'm thankful and I'm grateful also for the officers.

I cannot do it by myself.

The officers are the one who takes the report, they refer it to me, and we work together as partners.

I am the liaison between the police officers and also for the red for the for the citizens.

So I'm thankful for this position, and I'm looking forward for it to move further.

Thank you.

Thank you.

For our next proclamation, we invite the fire rescue team Chief Perez, Kathleen Perez, Carol Vegara, Carol, and Glade, Olga Flores, and Tara Smith.

Everyone come forward and rec and um to receive proclamation requested by Commissioner Colburn in observance of COVID-19 victims and survivors memorial day.

Hi, how are you?

COVID-19 victims and survivors memorial day.

Whereas the first Monday in March has been designated as COVID-19 victims and survivors memorial day.

And whereas COVID-19 is an illness caused by a virus that can transmit from person to person and has spread across the world, creating a global pandemic that is having catastrophic effects on human life, our community, and our economy.

Sacrificing their own health and safety.

And whereas the symptoms and severity of COVID-19 can vary dramatically by individual and the long-term health implications for survivors is largely known as many survivors suffer with lingering side effects of the disease long after they no longer test positive.

And whereas each life lost to COVID-19 mattered and leaves a hole in the hearts of loved ones, family members, and surrounding community.