Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners

>> MR. Chair: good morning. Good morning! >> good morning. >> MR. Chair: all right. Let's get our seats, please. The three gentlemen in the back that are having a good time, thank you. I love this job! Well, commissioner sosa, I saw earlier. Come on down. Get up here. I know the mayor is making her way down. Hopefully we can get more. There, MADAM Attorney. How are you? All right. We will start out with special recognition. This is the recognition or by commissioner cohen higgins. She is running late. Yes. She has asked me to go ahead and do her presentation, and I will do it with these two fine ladies next to me. So, you know, it all works out. Gervais, where are you? Back there. All right. We will do special recognition for the women history month. [Applause] That is all good! Now, we got some great directors in miami-dade county. Gentlemen, not turning in my man's card. [Laughter] >> let's be clear is in the back pocket at all times! But I recognize, I recognize talent when you see it. And they got us beat, guys. They are a lot more efficient, definitely a lot prettier, and they knew what they are doing because they are extremely smart. So recognize that, gentlemen, you will do very good in life! You know why? Because I even have on my boat, yes, my ladies. You know? Am I wrong, commissioner sosa? Okay. I have three daughters, beautiful wife and beautiful daughters. Even a female dog! So estrogen rains in my house. I just want you guys to understand that. So with that, let's start out. We have some presentations that we are going to do and we will go down the list. Eileen bouquet, MADAM Director from tpo. [Applause] MADAME? You guys, stand there. Generated bond song, our attorney is. Yeah! [Applause] Look at you! >> Female Speaker: [Indiscernible] >> MR. Chair: what a change. Let's keep it going! Market bruce ben, director of information of technologies. Brisbane, sorry. Brisbane. Look at views! These look great. Kathy berg goals, director of juvenile services! You guys got my back. I love it! Congratulations. Arlene cool our, cuellar, cuellar. This lady knows what she is doing. Trust me. She is awesome. director of human services! All right. Next one? Maria dreyfus. [Applause] Assistant director of the international trade consortium! Yes, our international person. No wonder, gervais, [Inaudible] Darlene fernandez, executive director, express miami dade, expressway authority. Congratulations, ma'am. >> thank you, thank you. [Laughter] >> MR. Chair: met the mayor, you want to read a couple of them? >> Female Speaker: sure! I appointed most of them. [Laughter] >> MR. Chair: I appointed the majority on my side. >> Female Speaker: all right. Elda green, executive director commissioners support staff division. [Applause] Bulotas gomez, director of regulatory economic resources. [Applause] Sonja grace, director of community action and human services department. >> MR. Chair: welcome everyone's standing in profile. >> Female Speaker: cassandra jones, interim director of corrections and rehabilitation. >> MR. Chair: the! [Applause] >> Female Speaker: here she comes! She is ready! Incident kim, director of communications and customer experience department. [Pplause] Mia lopez, director of government particle services. Laura maria, executive director of community advocacy. [Cheering] >> MR. Chair: yeah, baby! >> Female Speaker: maria nrte, director of parks and recreation and open spaces. Oh, my GOD. [Cheering] She brought the cheering squad! Okay. Broadman stand for, director of animal services department. [Applause] All governor baker, director of vcc communications. [Cheering] >> Female Speaker: excellent, excellent. Heidi web, director of court miami. [Cheering] >> Female Speaker: christina white, supervisor of elections. [Cheering] A point of personal privilege, we have elena hudak with us it was the first woman manager in miami-dade county. [Applause] Just calling her down because she -- >> MR. Chair: that was it, right? Then imagine also for kathy jackson. Kathy! Kathy cannot be here. Elena did make it. Jennifer moon, also, she is not here but did great job, jennifer. Elena gonzales, interim director of intergovernmental affairs also cannot make it. So mayor? I think between both of us, we got this pretty well set, don't we? >> Female Speaker: we are grateful commissioner danielle cohen higgins put this together when she will join soon. let's give her a big round of applause. >> MR. Chair: absolutely! Recognize my colleagues that are up here, the females that are part of this commission, thank you for what you do every day, commissioner sosa. Yeah! Commissioner higgins, yes! Commissioner cohen higgins will be showing up in a little bit. Sally heyman, she will be showing up in a little bit. Who am I missing? And regular auto. Of like the guy that hosts from the television show. Anyways, we are blessed. We've got cmmissioner monestime joining us too now. We are blessed beyond reason of miami-dade county. As you can see behind us, it's incredible, incredible talent that we have here. You guys provide excellence everyday in miami-dade county. MADAM Mayor, want to add something else? >> Female Speaker: I d. Miami was the first major city, the only major city founded by a woman, julia tuttle. So you want to make her proud. Of course as the first woman county mayor, I am so, so proud of the women leaders in our administration, and I have done a lot to promote them, as a method on the commission side. He has done as well. We are inspired with excellence everyday, the commitment, their ability to bring compassion to their leadership roles. So, ladies, we love you. Congratulations. [Cheering] >> MR. Chair: we do love you! so it's now picture time. This is going to be interesting. I love this. We got together right here. Let's get in some kind of group. Everyone is about you. So we will be seeing. That guy right there is in charge. >> MR. Chair: all right, guys. We can get the audio going so we can get the next presentation in. Let's go, let's go! The next one going. The aisle, surgeon in arms, let's move people. All right, guys! Come on, come on. You can sit down or just get it going. I you know you have not seen each other in a long time. Doesn't does look good? No more plastic up there, we are talking to each other, hugging each other. Oh, I love this. No masks. Not totally no mask, still got some masks. All right, all right. I will start calling names out. Start moving, guys. Let's go, guys. Start moving people, please. There we go. I did not want the air to get out, but it did. So with tat -- I don't know. With that, the famous, the famous, the infamous Mcgee. [Laughter] Good morning, everybody. A few minutes ago we talked about the structure of miami-dade county with the power behind us. now we talk about something that's very important also, which is food. Today, we are discussing the national agricultural day in miami-dade county. Annually, miami-dade county produces $837 million as relates to agricultural production. We are talking about as it relates to the payroll for miami-dade county, MR. Chime in. $187 million worth of direct labor that the producers here in miami-dade county give to our labors. Does not stop there, MR. Chime in, but currently miami-dade county has the highest total form payroll in the state of florida. If we were to continue bragging about why it's important to recognize our farmers, this is something that I think everyone needs to get out of the 64. Talking about the pies, gloves, bananas, plums, mangoes, greenways, avocados, ogres, sweet potatoes for fascia, okra. Miami-dade county ranked number one in producing the items I just mentioned here in the state of florida. As relates to sweet corn and squash, miami-dade county ranks number two in a state of florida. When you are speaking in terms of farm, speaking in terms of agriculture, MR. Chime in, since 1933, with and celebrating the national agricultural day and now we will make sure it is proclaimed here in miami-dade county. Mdam mayor, what we are doing today is saying that MARCH. MADAM Mayor, what we are doing today is saying that MARCH 23, 2022 will be known as the national agricultural day here in miami-dade county. [Cheering] [Applause] MR. CHAIRMAN and MADAM Mayor, we have some guests with us who are here to make sure that south florida, particularly miami-dade county, represents when it comes down to our agriculture and we have MR. Patrol sifuentes he would support this form and also MR. Meek nag me it will also say a few words. Who is going to talk first? Me? >> Male Speaker: I don't know what to say. I'm humbled and pleasured. I have been in the business for over 40 years, and I appreciate the honor very much. Thank you all. >> Male Speaker: [Speaking spanish] [Applause] [Applause] >> MR. Chair: for all of you that don't know spanish, what he said is kionne mcghee is a really good looking guys! [Laughter] He said that he's part -- he and his brother part of the american dream, that they came from another country, came to this country and were able to do what he really and they really love to do with agriculture, and they've been very successful at it. They are blessed to live in such a great country. I did that really fast. Did you see that? >> Female Speaker: we can do it! >> MR. Chair: in closing, we can all do it. And that is important. That is the american dream, guys. [Applause]. MADAM Mayor? >> Female Speaker: thank you. I want to thank commission Mcgee for bringing this item. I stand with you toll on recognizing our agricultural industry. The number two industry in our economy after tourism. And we need to keep it and preserve it and make it strong. You have brought down some wonderful examples of our resilient farming community. 95 percent of these forms are family-owned businesses. These are small businesses that are working hard every day. It is really a difficult job to form. There are so many challenges. And -- but we are so grateful that they are there. If you have not spent time in rutland, you are really missing a treat. It is a unique, beautiful feature of our county. It is thanks to the hard-working men and women of our farmers, agricultural workers, and, you know, the story MR. Sifuentes tells coming at age 5 and learning how to grow by hand and working on horseback, he has gone on to be then a renter, farmer, and finally a major landholder himself. So he is truly the great american dream story. Let me just say if you did not know already that one of the great things about farming is you get to just like this! [Laughter] We do have an annual agriculture tour that's put on, that's really eye-opening. Recommend everyone to take it, and that is facilitated through our great agriculture manager, charles the pratt, who has been leading the way for many, many years. Thank you, charles. [Applause] He has been hiding, but he is tall. >> MR. Chair: do you want to say a couple words? This is your thing, man. You are out there making sure this happens. >> Male Speaker: these guys are making sure it happens, but we have a fascinating agricultural area. We grow more products than anywhere in the country and just this county. Nick was a little lax on what he said. He supplies a lot of our right-of-way transit in this county. We need to thank nick for that as well. He is also the PRESIDENT And local nursery growers association. So they do a lot of good work and spend a lot of free time. We provide them -- > MR. Chair: to close? We have seen powerful women, now looking at the powerful growers. Thank you. >> MR. Chair: that's why I kept my man card in the pocket, baby! Let's get to pick. >> Female Speaker: think you, commissioner sosa. >> MR. Chair: okay. last but not least, GOD bless you, there is a company, worldwide company. Several companies in one company. This company has been around with us for a very, very long time. They are our partner too. Commissioner sosa, where you at? Commissioner sosa and I, you know, the queen, the queen of cruising is right here. She is the bst there is. I asked her because this is -- I said, you know what? I said which is a good one. Shtick about a half-hour explaining each one and the details and what each one does indeed which where to go and how to do it! She had me more confused after we started. But that's what being a expert on something is all about. So to me, it's an incredible privilege to be able to have a company before us that this one that we respect and work with very closely. Police uses here to represent him, but we've got great pople. I want you to introduce all the people. The port people to, the port family. They are here for a reason, right? Thank you. I know there is a cake involved in this. That's great for my slimming process. Told on. Kelly, come on, kelly. Good to see you again. >> Female Speaker: think you also much, honorable mayor and honorable commissioners, for having us here. My name is kelly fenton, senior director of communications for carnival cruise lines and I'm here for large yarn was an executive late vice PRESIDENT And carlos estrada, director of homeport operations and jorge lopez who was work with us for many, many years, representing our company right here at miami-dade county. With that, with up to turn it over to lars to just say a few words. We are so excited to be here to celebrate 50 years of being in miami-dade county, born and raised here. And really proud of that. Turn it over to lars. >> Male Speaker: good morning everyone, good morning, good morning. Honorable commissioners and staff, [Laughter] , I will pull back a bit, just a bit. I will come on the side! Okay. [Indiscernible] >> Male Speaker: very good. I feel the joy and happiness here already this morning. I want to say I too report to a very, very strong female leader, women's leader that I'd like to recognize too. Unfortunately, she cannot be here this morning. But christine duffy is a big inspiration for me in the best possible overhead. I would like to say that. [Applause] The first sailing was 50 years ago on friday. We were aboard a conquest. Some of you know the first mardi gras on the first day outside of miami. It's been a long, long history. But we wound up being the world's leader in the company with 10 different brands sailing around the world. Today, we are the largest cruise line with 24 six we are the largest cruise line with 24 six 6 million passengers a year. Our biggest port is still miami. [Cheering] Cruise capital of the world. We would not have been here for 50 years almost all the great support you have shown off, especially last two years. It's been amazing what you have done for us and supported us from day one. It's been great during the whole covid crisis. We are back. I will say we have a last ship is carnival cruise lines starting in MAY. We are fully back in miami. I am happy to say that this week during spring break, we are officially sold out on majority of cruises. [Cheering] And we have ships with 115 percent occupancy on board, which is amazing. I also like to report that we do have big plans for this year. We are bringing the carnival celebration for our 50th celebration to mami, which is the second of the lng ships into the next generation for our ships which we will bring to the new terminal, which will open terminal f 471,000 square feet of terminal, which we had the honor of doing the groundbreaking. Even forgot how long ago it was, but it was the middle of the pandemic. So with all of that, a big thank you to all of you. We did renew a cake. I think kelly has a cake for you. >> MR. Chair: before the cake, have a porch director that needs to speak! [Laughter] >> Female Speaker: thank you and happy birthday, carnival! Wonderful couple months of celebrations. We look forward to culminating it with the opening of the new terminal in NOVEMBER. Lars, he forgot to say nothing. You said miami is the number one portal will continue to be your number one port, right? We get a lot of exciting things ahead of carnival cruise lines. We want to say thank you from our port family. >> MR. Chair: commissioner sosa? >> Female Speaker: MR. Jerry, thank you. I have to commend carnival. Happy birthday! But I have to commend the port family and all the cruise line did that during the pandemic, you all came together to join forces to defend your industry and to continue what you were doing today. I have to commend carnival because I remember the day they came with the plan for the terminal to my office so I could sponsor the iem and I look at it and I'm not going to say much. I'm going to say no, no, no. not our box. You have to compete! . Miami is the best. You have to do the best because you are one of the greatest ones.2 weeks after, everything was set, everything was ready to go, professionals, that is what you all are. Now we are going to see a beautiful terminal with your beautiful ships so you can bring happiness to the families in the world that we need that more than ever. Thank you, mayor, for always, my colleagues, you have been there back for you support all the time. Is not and I think lagoa say, it's a way. Nobody can just build a big house on one column. They have to be many of them joining forces tgether. A pleasure. >> MR. Chair: MADAM Mayors. >> Female Speaker: this is a great birthday celebration, and I was so happy to join you on the ship for really quite the celebration. But the chair, julie, brought us here. That's a good thing because we celebrate you. The support of this county commission, of this county government, for the cruising industry, has really been a beautiful thing. Of land from the best. Just to say also that you are leaving on the shore power, which is a great initiative to reduce our carbon footprint and avoid pollution. We want to thank you for that. We went to thank our workforce and the ila for standing strong. We support you. It's a big, beautiful family. Of course today is a day that heidi will be officially recognized by the commission as our first woman park directors. So she can share the special birthday with you. Thank you so much, everyone. >> MR. Chair: thank you. Rpresentative, you want to say something? >> Female Speaker: on behalf of my PRESIDENT, MR. Toren raegan, who was on travel, I was asked to come and thank the carnival team for your continuous service to the port of miami. We are the first port of contact and we promise to continue to deliver excellent service, and my grandfather worked on the very frst ship. That was 50 years ago! Thank you very much for all you do! >> MR. Chair: you said a lot, a lot! I like that pillar. Really, so commissioner sosa has a lot better voice than I do. Commissioner -- warriors commissioner monestime? Get up here, buddy. Between these two, we got it covered. Come on up here, it's a little happy birthday song that we want to do for the 50th year of carnival. Here you go, guys. >> Female Speaker: happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear crnival, happy birthday to you! [Cheering] >> MR. Chair: that great, manly voice is mine. Hope everyone heard it! Now the proclamation. We forgot the other part. On behalf of the mayor of miami-dade county, myself as the CHAIRMAN Of the board, my colleagues that are here today, and some that are making their way down here, in about two point, longer two, but three. Something, 3 million people in miami-dade county, we want to wish you, carnival cruise line, 50th anniversary day. On behalf of all of us! There you go. Ready for a picture? >> MR. Chair: MADAM Clark, start calling rule. >> Female Speaker: communing, commissioners. Commissioner cohen higgins, commissioner garcia, commissioner hardeman, commissioner higgins -- >> MR. Chair: let's get quiet, guys. We are calling rule. >> Female Speaker: commissioner martinez, commissioner mcghee, commissioner monestime, commissioner regalado, commissioner sosa, commissioner >> Female Speaker: my name is DR. Leo blumenfeld, I'm here is culture of the single and legislative, she along with my cochair sequeira. Two of our student volunteers, olivia and isabella, and csw appointee from district for sarah sable. We are so peased to have the opportunity to present our feed of recommendations to the body. These recommendations are called from the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, and they reflect the international standards our county should be striving towards for gender equity. We want to first thank mayor daniella levine cava for introducing let's see the ordinance and reaching out to >> we've made significant strides in terms of women enter entering these career opportunities, business, we're talking about computer science, architecture, all of these high earning occupations. So our women's representation in them is expanding, but regardless we still see disparity ies in pay in these occupations. We still ee a lot of women who are not participate ing in the labor force. We still see a lot of women that are living in poverty. In particular women in color as it relates to what the commission for women highlighted who are experiences these adverse health outcomes because of lack of economic mobility and these economic challenges. With that said, there are significant improvements again, I should say that have happened over the last two decades and over the last decades since we started looking at these numbers. Particularly in the area of safety. We've seen declines in domestic violence calls and domestic violence offenses in sexual violence offenses. We see n the area of health more women with health insurance we see improvement gradual improvement although too slow for us still in terms of health outcomes. But disparity ies again exist across based on race and ethnicity. So highlighting these issues in the report and continuing to talk about them, continuing to monitor how we are progressing, how we advance ing is important for us to identify solutions and for our great non-profit community to continue to working with you and with each other on addressing them. One of the very important actually a couple very important sections in the report actually look inward at our county how in terms of how our female employees are paid compared to our male employees overall gender representation for -- among county employees and we continue to see the ersistent gaps there. They haven't changed much since we started looking at that data, generally there is a two to three ratio of women to men in our county. And disparities are double digit for our county employees. They're present overall but present when we look in terms of educational retain am, in terms of different types of supervisory positions in terms of tenure even in the county. All these metrics that were made available to us by the human resources department. And in terms of county contracts we see a significant improvement actually increase in the number of contracts county contracts awarded to women-owned business businesses. That's a very positive trend. We hope to continue reporting on that trend in future reports. As well as in the value of contracts awarded to women-owned business businesses. The report is very detailed. I hope I know the commission for women is looking at it in detail, and we certainly want to implement some of the data related recommendations in future reports but I also with a like to offer myself and again to emphasize that I want to continue working on this with you and to thank the commission and the whole community or paying attention to these issues for working on them and really striving to make the lives of women and girls better in our county and to reduce disparities across not just gender but ration and ethnicity, age, and all other types of disparities that exist. Thank you, commissioners, and I'm here to address any questions or to speak with you later on. >> thank you, doctor, thank you for your report. >> the second report that we have before you is the director's report. As you probably know our office is required through resolution to provide quarterly reports that this board has verbally given to administration or through a resolution. In the past a document report was provided to the board. We sought out to improve that process by create ing a dashboard with the purpose of having commission and commission staff having more visibility into the status. The report in front of you today is the current status of all directives. In that report we highlight that we'll be looking - forward to working with this board to enhance ing some of the policy on how to deal with former commissioners directives. As you notice on the report, a large quantity of directives came from prior administration and also prior commissioners who are no longer here. We would like to work with the commission, like I said, to plan a policy around those directives. So that way administration could determine whether they should prioritize them or should in case this commission wants to continue with those requests we will pursue them. Ur objective obviously is to be transparent, create more visibility on the directives but also more importantly help prioritize and follow-up on them when need be. I don't know if you have any questions, chairmen, I think the report speaks for itself. And if any of the commission has a request or question for us we'd be available. For right now this is the report as of last week. >> thank you, MR. Auditor. Let me tell you something. That dashboard is inn credible. I'm very proud of the work that you did along with your people and staff to create such a tool. Commissioners, this is a tool that you need to use for you and your staff. It actually enhances something that took us the ones that have been here a little longer a long time to be able to sometimes get that information. Now, you have t and -- at your fingertips with this dashboard app, I guess or whatever you want, is that the proper phrasing or no? >> [Inaudible]. >> whatever, feature. There we go. It works out. So with that, MR. Auditor, thank you so much. >> thank you. >> all right. Moving on reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. I only have I think two people. If there's anybody else please make your way to a sergeant at arms could fill out you a form and bring it forth. Okay hold on one second. Commissioner cohen-higgins. >> looking over the fantastic report prepared by his group I heard him say he wants to create a policy as it pertains to directives to the administration from former commissioners, is there currently not an existing policy on that issue? And my question is: with so many pend pending directives with commissioners that no longer sit on this board can we create a positive that says those should not be prioritized over the ones coming in now because imagine the administration has quite a few direct actives that are pend pending and I'm wondering how is the prioritization currently taking place? >> you know, that the something I have to look at very closely because a lot of those reports have taken a long time but the information doesn't mean it's not valuable. >> right. >> and since it's been worked on we want to see about finish finishing them maybe that information can be given to any one of you to move forward. Now, as these reports are done, priority has been asked and that's the reason that the auditor came forth because you know, he is doing his best. I know the mayor and her side is trying to get out ny reports that are requested and so on and her part but we need to improve the time ing on these. It doesn't mean we don't have the people to do so because we do. So I'll look into that part of it and probably come up with something very fast and put a memo out and see what we could do. >> thank you. >> so with that commissioner regalado on the reports. >> really quickly I want o thank -- and his office. Great work. Really an interesting read. As to what happens with the pending reports and the relevancy, I think it's I think it's an interesting question. Ideally we would have these reports done before members leave, but since there's so many of them that are lingering, maybe you could consider like an adoption process. Right. So if folks want to kind of like pick them up and have them prioritize prioritized and then the ones that aren't picked up are kind of like you know, left for informational purposes when we get around to them, or you know, and I think it's -- I think it's understandable if no one ind of adopts them or is interested in them that they just kind of go away. You know, because why are we going to keep wastes resources on something. Because at the end of the day the report it needs it needs a sponsor, it needs someone to bring an item, it needs someone to take some sort of action. If no one is interested in that then they should probably go the way of the dodo bird. Thank you. >> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, just quickly. I agree I think we have to be careful when e look t it and the reason why when reports requested if they're requested pursuant to a legislative item it's no longer the property of the person who sponsored it. We passed something we voted so we gave directive as a commission. See the attorney nodding once we give a directive as a commission there's no -- someone's going to have to create a positive and say you don't have to do this any more because otherwise the expectation is that it's going to be done and it going to be done in due term. >> and that the correct. And that the reason why because these reports most of them are almost finished a lot of them and those re man-hours and people that did this. And you know, we don't want the together away the dodo bird gets it and stuff. But we do want to make sure that is finished r if nobody wants to adopt it we'll take a closer look and see if they're still relevant at this time and I think that the what you're trying to say. >> thank you, MR. Chair. When I look at the pending directive that I have there are some here royal caribbean campus lease amendment for example the drain, the pay isparity between ladies and those are things that we only need an answer and we only need to make sure that they give us the analysis every time we ask for one. Msc's finance ing time, those things already you know, it's something very easy. And at the same time let me remind you when the new commissioners come in then you're going to face the same thing because force then you're going to have pending issues because you have been here longer time. And they will like to -- so if anyone want to adopt any of the issues that exist over there but MAY be a review to update to the things that are necessary to answer and the oregons will others will eliminate from a list. Because some the things that are here for example from MARCH 13th, the accounts receivable for miami-dade fire department force for [Indiscernible] Regarding the covid, that is something that already happened. And it looks here like a pending thing. But it's really not a pending thing. So we need to review that to make sure that the important things whoever wants to continue or we can push before the end of the term. And that we can do very well. >> all right. So with that, I think we had enough on the report. Anybody he is? >> MR. Chair. >> MADAM Mayor on the reports. >> thank you. So I think this is a very helpful report for all of us. And just to say we have closed out almost 400 reports since I've come to office. And it will be very hell to get prioritization from each of the commissioners as to any of the pending items and some of them as the commission sosa just said MAY have n fact already been completed because the information has been received. So we want to work with you to make sure that we can get these to you timely and also that we don't focus on those that are no longer relevant or of interest. So including myself I have 20 pending from when I was a commissioner. So just so you know commissioner edmonson and I both topped out at 20 reports from the prior administration. >> so got some of your own reports. [Multiple speakers]. >> prioritize mine try to support you. >> so with that said, I know pba is not only reviewing them but it's also got a ticker on it. They're actually monitoring the time that each report is taking, and I appreciate their work on that. So we move forward. Anybody else? I think that's it. MADAM Attorney reasonable opportunity time, am I correct? >> yes, sir. >> all right. I have the names of two people. I have derek [Indiscernible]. Okay. And there's no address so is he here? >> yeah I'm present [Inaudible]. >> okay. I'm sorry I could not hear. >> we're good >> we're good, okay. Laurell arscott. State your name and address for the record, ma'am. You have two minutes >> yes, good morning. It's loreal. >> all right. >> my address is 18135 northwest 18thth avenue in that great city in the city of miami gardens. I'm here before you on behalf of the independent panel. I'm standing in support this morning of item 6a1 the panel has thoroughly vetted several applicants for the position of executive director and we're honored to recommend to you the appointment of MS. Nicole barton. MS. Barton is present before you. I understand you've had an opportunity to review her background and meet with her so you can see from her resume her qualifications, her experience in law enforcement as well as oversight makes her background unparallel in all the pplicants we saw. It was a no-brainer for us and we know that you will support our decision an we are hopeful that you'll support our decision of ppointing MS. Barton has our executive director so that the panel can get to work for the residents of miami-dade county. Thank you. >> thank you, ma'am. Anybody else at this time? All right. Please come forward. And the other person got the other mic. >> yes. >> please. Good to see you. Please state your name and address as you well know, that you. >> commissioners, my name is brad brown. I live at 1126 southwest 166th terrace 33157. And I'm currently the secretary of the south dade branch of the naacp and formally PRESIDENT Of miami-dade but this morning I'm also substitute ing for jean baker and speaking on behalf of the over 30 organizations that came together in a coalition to work for the icp including groups such as [Indiscernible] Haitian grass-roots coalition and the league of women voters. First I want to thank the commission for appointing an excellent icp panel. And that panel having done an excellent job of select selecting a candidate for you to vote on today nicole barton could be the director of the icp. We and the coalition have also done our due diligence on the candidate. And we think that the -- that she is an outstanding individual with extensive experience both in police ing and in civilian working for police. So I urge you to on -- to vote to unanimously to accept the recommendation of your panel for nicole barton to be the new director of the icp so it can get up and running. Thank you. >> thank you, sir. Sir. >> good morning. Kenneth kill killpatrick, 29th avenue. I too am here in support of item 6a1 the appointment of MS. Nicole barton to the icp. I just wanted to thank you for establishing the icp in 2020. The first icp established n 1980 after the mcduffy riots by leadership of commissioner barbara jordan. We thank you again for that you know, for doing that on behalf of the community, the icp is very -- very much needed. The brownsville civic neighborhood association is also a member of the coalition in support of re reestablishing the icp, the [Indiscernible] Programs which was mentioned before catalyst miami just a large number of groups the south dade and miami-dade branches of the naacp. So on behalf of those groups and jean baker as brad mentioned we are in support and we urge you to move forward with that appointment of MS. Barton this morning. Thank you. >> thank you, sir. Anybody else? Let the record re fract flecked that no other person came forth at this time. The reasonable opportunity for public to be heard is now closed. So with that, MADAM Attorney. >> good morning. >> good morning, again. >> we have some preliminary matters with respect to your agenda. Item 8h1 commissioner monestime is adding his name to the pull list that's item 8h1, 11a1 the sponsor's requesting deferral of this item to the APRIL 5th commission meeting the item is also on your pull list. So you'll need to decide how you wish to proceed with item 11a1. 11a4, commissioner sosa and senator garcia are adding this item to the pull list. 11a6, senator garcia is adding this item to the pull list. 11a13, senator garcia's is adding the item to the pull list. And 11a14, senator garcia adding this item to the pull list. 15b1 commissioner monestime is adding this item to the pull list. I also have some requests for a co-sponsorship. 11a 3, and 11a9 senator garcia wishes to be listed as a co-sponsor on those 11a3 and 11a9. Can additions, [Reading] [Indiscernible] Item 6a1 consideration and approve of the independent review panels appointment of nicole barton as the executive director, 6a2 and its supplement the selection of members to the miami-dade county women's hall of fame, or the instances set for second reading and the following pull list items: 6a2 and supplement, 8g1, 8h1, item 11a1 is pulled by commissioner regalado but the sponsor is requesting deferral. >> I release the differ. >> okay, will be deferred to APRIL 5th, 11 a 2, 11 a 4, 11 a 6, 11 a 8, 11 a 12, 11 a 13, 11 a 14 and item 15b 1 -- >> moved. >> the agenda is in order. >> I have a motion by commissioner sosa. >> second. >> second by commissioner heyman. >> all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Commissioner mcgee. I'm sorry could you repeat that. >> yeah, I would like to bifurcate. >> yes I have some requests to bifurcate when we get to the second readings. >> okay. >> some items. >> all right. Anybody want to release anything? Do anything? >> MR. Chair, has the agenda been set? >> we're going to -- we're about to set it, yeah. We set it actually. We already took the vote, yes. >> okay. >> go ahead, what do you need? >> in that case 8g1 which is the cra with miami beach and 11a12 which is also another cra issue we'll vote no on them and maybe the mayor and everybody he is can get back to their job. >> second. >> I didn't move it. >> I'll move it. [Multiple speakers]. >> move. >> move it. >> I don't go over the sponsors. >> all right. The sponsors have moved the item, could you say it again, please? Commissioner higgins. >> I'll move 8g1. >> second. >> and if commissioner regalado wants to move 11a12. >> yes, I'll move 11a12. >> okay. So I have a motion and a second on both. I think they're both resolutions, right? >> yes. >> all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> any opposed? >> no. >> no. >> one opposed. >> all right. Recorded. We move forward. Caution monestime first. >> MR. Chair, I don't have a big issue with 8g1 but on the pull list so -- on 8g1. >> the golf carts I think the matter. >> I mean 8h1. >> 8h1. >> I move it. >> hold on. Yeah it's been clarified by staff that there is a provision as needed and that was my concern. So with that I have a motion by commissioner sosa, seconded by commissioner monestime all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> any opposed? None. Commissioner monestime you have more to go. >> you had me second it? basically I just -- >> okay. [Multiple speakers]. >> heyman second for the record. >> yeah, second by commissioner heyman I just want to vote no on the bid waiver. >> okay. On the bid -- well there's two parts to it. Now, you opened up a can of worms. >> no, I did not. [Laughter]. >> we could open it up again but staff is chief we'll address this when I get back, but I want to look at that and make sure because I was towed and -- told and I'm respecting what I was told that the bid waiver is also that we could pull out of hat contract at any time. You know what we need to understand that. >> I'll withdraw my second. >> yeah, please need to -- the second has been withdrawn on it. And this item is before us. >> we already voted on it. >> all right. Then I need a motion to bring the item back, please. >> move to reconsider. >> motion to reconsider. Second? The item -- all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> all right. The item's before us. All I need is clarity on that. >> what I'm told jimmy [Indiscernible] I'm told that my procurement yes we have the termination for convenience at any time we could end this contract. >> and before we move forward on issue ing new contracts we will look in and we'll shop around again based on the way things are right now. >> absolutely. >> am I correct. >> absolutely. >> thank you. >> move the item. >> so it's been cleared. >> commissioner sosa has moved the item again. Second by the vice-CHAIRMAN. All in favor say aye. >> aye. >> any opposed? One. All right. >> MR. Chair. >> MADAM -- >> if you want -- >> commissioner sosa. >> I was the only one who pulled item 11a4 from commissioner garcia and all of you have received a friendly amendment that if you want to take that item we can -- if he approve if the attorneys can read the amendment. >> yes. The amendment would be to amend sex 2 of the enacting clauses to urge PRESIDENT Joseph r. Biden junior in the united states congress to keep existing sanctions against russia in place until russia recognize ing ukraine ian soft severe tee. >> if the sons or exception that friendly amendment. >> absolutely. >> I'll be more than glad to co-sponsor with you. >> and if you'd like senator, would love to be a co-sponsor too. >> absolutely. >> I second the item. >> MR. Chair. [Multiple speakers] [Technical interruption]. >> I don't think that's a friendly amendment. You have to understand putin's never accepted their svereignty. >> I don't think the united states should risk itself to continue doing business with a country that is ready to send people to kill others and we have to protect this country. So -- >> yeah -- >> I will stand by my -- >> that's fine. You know something, I don't support the war. >> okay. >> and our engagement, my concern is bringing it to the point of ukraine sovereignty when putin and russia -- so that -- in essence it says never do business with russia, period. [Multiple speakers] [Indiscernible]. >> commissioner heyman, please. >> when we release an item we release an item and that's it. If we're going to get in discussion I will not release the item and we'll go for full discussion on the item. >> but this is. [Multiple speakers] [Indiscernible]. >> the problem is now everybody wants to speak on the item. So I'm going to do -- this is the last one we do this before now, we're going to go in order. So now I have to allow since I allowed commissioner heyman to speak vice-CHAIRMAN Followed by commissioner souto. >> thank you, MR. Cairman quickly to the sponges or sor of the item do you accept the amendment I'll vote for it you're the sponsor right >> >> I'm okay with it. >> I think that russia's invasion of ukraine is [Inaudible] But I also want to note that some of the images that I've -- that have been coming across my time line the news feed about how ukrainians are treating black people in ukraine as they tree y to flee at the same time is equally disgusting. While we're talking about equality and safety it needs to be for everybody. I support the item. >> all right. Next commissioner souto. >> good morning, my dear colleagues. We -- we're engage engaging now in some very interesting items. As you all know, as you all know the russians and MR. Putin they are being helped by other country ies & here around us. Hello. >> go ahead. >> yes. They're being held by other -- helped by other country countries here close to us. Such as cuba, venezuela, boliva and others. People that are so close to us. People that deal with us every day. People that are when I say people I don't mean the people of those country countries because those country countries have very nice people, all of them but it's the government of those country ies. And I think that if we're going to look at the condemnation of russia the government of russia not he people of russia we meet to look at the whole ball of wax. Because these are people that we deal with them every day, governments that engage in business with us every day, every single day. Every single day. We engage in business with venezuela, nicaragua, cuba, - boliva and maybe others doing the -- like the spanish like they say in spain [Indiscernible] The people who really help these guys doing business with miami and florida. So if we're going to look at the things are russia, I think we need to look at the whole picture and not a part of the picture. I, of course, that's why I have an american flag on my lapel here today because to me, this thing has been a combat taint fighter of the cuban things founder of [Indiscernible] Part of the american army, my friend I was taken as a second lieutenant in the american army so you know commissioner diaz, my dear friend commissioner diaz. So if we were to look at the whole thing -- really it gets to me every ime I see the news when I see these kids suffering, these people running away is because I was part of that one day. I was part of that one day. When I had to leave my country of birth cuba and I had to leave everything behind and then I went back and then I had to leave everything behind and I had to run way and leave people behind, [Indiscernible] Behind and I run away with nothing in my pocket and people helped me and here I am with you today. So I think I talking about experience and things that I lived and we have to take all that in consideration. We're living in very, very grave moment. I think I've said here and you have some of you have listened to it, that years ago [Indiscernible] Was little in la because he did it with me. [Indiscernible] And I and fiu we did the [Indiscernible] He port of odessa, sister port of ours, the port of odessa is a sister port of ours of the port f miami. We are the port of miami. We were celebrate ing here the port of miami today. The port of miami is a sister port of the port of odessa. Odessa is being occupied today by these forces. The people of odessa are suffering incredible things these days. I have no words to express how you feel and what you go through when you go through things like that. I think we have a tremendous responsibility these days with the sister port agreements and all that because we have in the old day commissioner mcgee were talking about that about the south dade and today we have -- here and we are agriculture county. Tourism and agriculture are the main things for this county business wise. And we have fruits and we have tomatoes and we have avocados, maybe the people in odessa will learn to eat avocados, commissioner mcgee which very good for your health, by the way and things like that. I think we have a tremendous & responsibility in miami-dade county as a county with our sisters and brothers in odessa today and with ukraine. So this I think it's a very serious thing. I think that we are here -- we're -- regardless it doesn't matter if we like it or not. We are engaged in this. We are on this. And all of us, i think we have watched enough videos and things of the suffering of these folks what they going through and they are hard people they're taken the people around there and maybe you've been around -- I've been around there several times in that area in central europe, odessa they nvited us we never went. They came here, they came here to sign the agreements, a woman, by the way the transportation inister of the ukraine came here. To sign the document. So we have a tremendous responsibility with the odessa people and the ukraine people. The odessa people are sisters and brothers of ours. And we should help them in which every way we can. And of course we should condemn MR. Putin, the russians, - communism in any way shape or form. Bad news, all liars, they're bad people. Let me tell you a little story, when I was a little kid an unankle of mine was the mayor of that town, there was a black leader, a black labor leader y the name of [Indiscernible] That's in book, [Indiscernible] Was tall lanky good good guy who was a communist. He went to russia, 1944. He saw the war, he came back and said this thing of communism is no good and went all over the island of cuba giving speeches about that alert alerting the people to what was coming. My uncle gave him invited him to have a celebration with the people in the chambers that have city. You know what happened? Another communist killed [Indiscernible] Right next to my uncle. They almost killed my uncle. My uncle was saved by -- jumped on top of them nd threw him to the floor and almost killed him. So [Indiscernible] Was killed that day in my hometown because he had detected from communism and alerting to the world about communism another white guy, white cuban guy communist in front of a hundred people or 200 people. People were jumping from the balcony ies because there was a shooting. It's like having a shooting here now. So I think we need to be tough on communism. I think we need to be really tough on communism. Unfortunately they are all over the place. We need to be tough and not only the communists but anybody helping the communists we need to be tough on them. They MAY call themselves other things, they MAY call, I don't know, this or that. But anything that smells like communism, whatever it is, wherever they come from it's bad news. We need to be tough on them. We need to be really tough on them on them and anybody who helps them. Always. If not this thing -- if not we're doomed totally doomed because I live the problems in cuba ith the [Indiscernible] Mountain the russians were directing all that. The destruction of [Indiscernible] & the russians were directing the fight against the landing at -- I was there. I can tell you that. So if you think that these russian commit -- communists -- lt's. [Multiple speakers]. >> I appreciate t. >> we need to be sure of helping the odessa people and we need to make sure that we on this resolution and on these things that we recognize the fact that they are -- there are others who perhaps they don't say our communists and they are. And they create troubles and by the way, miami-dade county the majority of the people here is as you know hispanics, latins, and hispanics are cubans and of the cubans they came here I want to know -- I want to believe that most of us are very adamant about going against the communists. And putin is nothing but another one of them recycled, you know, a guy who just -- >> okay, thank you. >> just -- [Multiple speakers] >> and that's it. So we need to -- we need to be with your friends and no who our friends are. Okay. >> all right. To wrap up real fast, and to finish because we did to hear it obviously because it was brought out. So for that reason senator, before you say anything, look, the bottom line is there's oppression no matter how you look at it, who's doing it or what, unprovokedness and is killing women, children, peep and there's to disparity when a missile falls on a maternity hospital or all the things that are going on. Please pray for these people because we live a life here thank GOD very protected. And they're going through hell right now. So senator, so close. >> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> and motion your item when you're ready >> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. And I want to thank senator souto for his words because if anyone in this room has faced the evils of communism and dictate or ship is this gentleman right here who fought against it. So I that you for your words an your bravery, my friend and esteemed colleague. And a lot of us think why do we get involved, why do we say anything? We're a county commission this is a federal issue, but we must be very mindful that the world order is in jeopardy with what's happening in ukraine right now. An unprovoked war of civilian are being killed day by day. Day by day civilian are being killed. Meaning of all of us to think that we're all okay, everything's going to be fine and dandy here what's happening in europe right now is going to have ripple effects across this world. If putin is not stopped. Senator hey, you're absolutely right, it's no just russia, it putin. And this administration has to do everything in its power to make sure that we put an end to pretty much I don't want to say the genocide but it's close what could be coming down that path. And for all of us that say you know, it's history doesn't matter, history does matter. Because if we don't pay attention to what happened in the past it could happen again and that that's what is starting happening in europe. If ukraine goes down my friends which it seems like MAY be going down who knows I pray that it doesn't, this is going to be the beginning of a very un uncertain time not only for this county, for this country and for this world. And this is why us freedom loving individuals who believe in freedom and fight for freedom and believe in capitalism fight for capital limit must stand together hand in hand with the people of ukraine and people all over the world because if we don't keep our eyes on this we see what's happening in our back doors down here, boliva, argentina, brazil almost. >> peru. >> and peru. So folks this is why these urgings are that important. And we must all stand together whether -- and you know what with the russian people, the russian people who care about freedom because this is a certain group of individuals communism that are fighting this unprovoked war. So with that, MR. CHAIRMAN, I appreciate you allowing me the time to have this. And I do usual our private businesses in this community to shy away from doing any type of business of any form of any purchases with any russian products. So with that, MR. CHAIRMAN, I -- >> second. >> move the order. >> second. As amended. >> the urge ing. >> I really really appreciate and once again I do want to be showed as a co-sponsor. I don't know if anybody else but I dell do. So with that thank you I have a motion by senator garcia, second by commissioner sosa, all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> any opposed? None. All right. With that -- . >> MR. Chair. >> MADAM Mayor. >> I want to make sure we're doing a review of all of our contracts to see if there are any potentially benefitting any interests in russia. >> thank you the mayor and I have already gone to some of these protests against the russian invasion but there's a lot more that we need to do so with that commissioner souto on the item and we need to move toward. >> on the issue, on the issue. I want to tell our lawyers to start looking into ways of expanding this into all the other people as we said before senator garcia said that, I'm saying that. I've hit on this item many times those all other country ies helping cuba, nicaragua, venezuela and all that, and yes, we're not congress in washington dc, but we are a part of the usa. And as part of the usa and also a special part of the usa where all these people running away from communism and people who have fought communism, people who have died because of -- >> all right. >> brothers and sisters. >> yeah. >> we need to expand this to all these people. And it's not nice to do business with nicaragua or nice to do business with venezuela, nice to do business with cuba, nice -- it's not nice. It's actually very reprehensible. >> and I believe you had an item that you had done before on this and the expansion of that item is properly what you're trying to say. >> exactly. This item has to be expanded and on top of this issue. >> thank you, sir. Thank you so much. >> MR. Chair -- >> release. >> yes. >> not like the last one. >> hey, don't looking over here. It wasn't this area. >> release it, come on. >> 11a2 a quick question. I know you all were negotiate ing is this the end result or still the problem. I'm the only puller. I tried to get an update but the newspaper -- >> we're not going to release it. We need to discuss this moving forward. >> all right. >> I have a discussion on it. >> so you're pulling it too then. >> yeah. >> that was my question, what's going on. >> based on what happened and I'll discuss it real fast. >> okay, never mind -- >> yes I have to unfortunately. >> okay. I thought maybe things were going to get done but they didn't. [Multiple speakers] [Indiscernible]. >> first reading. No, before we go to first reading I know the mayor has somebody that she wants to introduce to us that I think we like very much and there's something we need to do and then I have a second person we got 2b1 and 6a2. Mayor. >> yes, MR. Chair and to commissioners. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you someone you already know very well our next port miami director heidi webb but she's anything new to the port. A seasoned veteran worked her way up since her first job at intern at the port. Public relations, cruise development business development and assistant director of business development and marketing and deputy direct director she served before I tapped her as interim director. So we conducted a national certainly we received resumes and conducted interviews and we realized that the most ualified individual was right here in our own community at our own port. She has nearly 30 years of experience in cruise and car go management and served as well in those roles, negotiated long-term -- international partnerships delivering world class service. I have to tell you I received many, many letters urge ing her appointment. Throughout the community and the industry. Everybody was asking for heidi. She is beyond qualified to take over operations at port miami and I am very proud to have her take the reins as our first female port miami director as well. [Applause]. >> thank you, MADAM Mayor, I'm truly humbled, really humbled. MR. CHAIRMAN, vice-CHAIRMAN And fellow commissioners honest ored to be standing in front of you today [Indiscernible] Female director of the port of miami. [Applause]. >> yeah. >> thank you thank you. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for entrusting me. [Applause]. >> [Inaudible]. >> I'm sorry. >> [Inaudible]. >> [Laughter]. >> no, no, no, I'm truly humbled and really want to take this opportunity to thank you all for entrusting me to lead one of the county's most economic vital economic engines here in the county and cruise can't tall capitol of the word. MADAM & mayor already just said it I have grown-up here at the port been here for 30 years and really worked my way up the ranks and truly honored. Mayor when you made the surprise & announcement on thursday at the groundbreaking truly surprised me and I think a lot of people and I was very very humbled so thank you or that. I attribute me standing up here today for many of the great mentors in my life. [Indiscernible] I've really been surround y the great mentors in my life great cruise partners, car go stakeholders, great government officials, ila shuns chambers of commerce and really been blessed. >> great men. >> great men. >> and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the great men in my life my husband my rock and true supporter he's enabled me to show to our two girls that you can really do anything that you want to accomplish in life if you just put your mind to it. [Applause]. >> but I'd be remiss if I could have the port of miami team to stand up for one quick second. I know some of them have gone back to the office already this is really what makes the county tick every day. [Applause]. >> thank you for everything that you have given to the county and for the encouragement that you've given me. Jerry thank you for allowing us to have them,