COUNCIL MEETING

[ CALL TO ORDER ] >> Madam Clerk, please call the roll. [CALLING ROLL] >> Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Pineyro. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Today we have an invocation by our Rabbi Brushevitzky. >> Good morning. So I want to share with you something very special and base my prayer on that. A little less than just about two weeks ago, at least for me, I had the best experience I've ever had yet so far, the 20 years that I live in Doral. And that was the special concert, the prayer that we had, literally, and I'm not exaggerating, since the event, I've been literally thinking about it before I go to sleep and almost waking up with it too. But something very special happened that was kind of the highlight for me personally, right before I went back to my car, and that is I bumped into a Catholic priest and we were kibitzing. We started to joke around. I think, Marianne, it was great for you. Where are you? Well, needed laugh. He was joking about my black keeper. I was joking about his black coat, cloak. I don't know even know what it's called. Anybody know Kasuk or something like that? Right. Doesn't matter. But I said, wow, this is what it's about. Here we're able to find, you know, irrespective of the past history and the difficulties and challenges between, you know, Jews, Catholic, classic Jews, it doesn't matter. Here we are here together, able to see eye to eye, able to get, you know, even joke together, laugh together. And then I went home. So this brings me to my prayer. I say, almighty God, please bless us, give us the wisdom, give us the strength, give us the courage that even when we totally disagree, we should still be agreeable. Even when we do not see eye to eye on the topics, on the issues, we should still be able to look at each other. Even when we cannot listen to the others ideas, still we should be able to hear each other. And finally, even when our minds are totally closed, still our hearts should be open to one another. Amen. >> Thank you, Rabbi. And thank you for participating in the lovely event with us. Thank you. All right, we have the agenda. Order of business. We'll go ahead and start with the manager's office. Madam Manager. >> Yes, Mayor. We'd like to defer to June, item 6E. >> Okay, Mr. City Attorney. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to defer item 19A to no specific date. >> 19A. Okay. Councilman? >> I'm okay, Mayor. Thank you. >> Vice Mayor Porras? >> None. >> Councilwoman Reinoso. >> Mayor, I would like to defer item 9e. >> Okay. I need a motion on deferral for 9e. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Okay, we have a motion. A second. >> Madam Clerk, I have a motion to defer item 9e made by Councilwoman Reinoso. Seconded by Councilman Pineyro. [CALLING ROLL] >> Just a second. And what is the reasons going to be deferred. >> Through the mayor? I don't believe I have to provide a reason for the deferment. >> Nope. >> Does he have to. To. Through the City Attorney? Does he has to provide by our code a reason why it's going to be deferred? >> She does not. It's a. It's a motion. You can have. You can ask questions. I mean, if she doesn't have any answer and she doesn't have any reason for it, she doesn't need to. To provide any. >> I believe the motion's on the floor and we're calling roll at this time, so. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> Okay. Councilwoman Cabral. >> Yes. I would like to pull 6J and 6M. And I also would like to have discussion of 9D before 9F. >> 9D before what? >> 9F. >> 9E. >> She said. I mean, 9E. Sorry. >> Yes, it is in that order. It would. >> I want to have the discussion 9e before 9d. >> 9E. 9e was heard so that. That no longer. >> This was the other one that was referred to. Okay. Oh, God. >> So you would just like to pull 6J and 6M. Correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. I need. Okay, I need to defer item 6A, please, to June. Okay. Any. A motion on that deferral, please. Motion. Motion to approve by Council Marinoso. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Pineyro. Madam Clerk, please call the roll on the deferral for nine. >> I mean, for 6Amotion to defer item 6A by Councilwoman Reinoso. Seconded by Councilwoman Pinero. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. All right, well, now we're going to move into public comments. Anyone who would like to speak on anything on this agenda or germane. To this council may approach the podium. You have three minutes to speak in a respectful manner to this council. If you have not filled out a comment card, please do so after you approach the podium. Make your comments. Make sure you state your name and address for the record. We'll go ahead and start with those who have filled out comment cards. We'll start with Louis Mar Garza. >> Louis Mar is a Betty Garza. I have been gone away for quite a few months, still homeless. You've continued a few things, but I guess in my public comments I will just say can you smell the MK Ultra stench and pick out the jar babies as are the belligerent occupants behind the dais in these dank chambers. And to you, resign, resign, resign. And as Trump himself has disassociated himself of all Zionist Jews, you would all do well to do the same. You've apparently continued quite a few of the items on 6H. Are you over budget? Bad budget planning? They're always, always always asking for an increase in their bad budget planning continuing. You've apparently wanted continuous 6M. Regarding the EV electricals, I'm wondering how many EOs you might be violating if you do proceed with that. 9A. You still haven't mastered this simple formal notification system for upcoming road work. Check with Google, they seem to have a handle on it. And 9B, we have enough 5G towers in our measly 15 square miles for 9C. Really you need a sergeant at arms just for yourself, Mayor, Are you really just that handled? How much? And blink twice if you are being MK Ultra handled. And beyond that I don't see how much time I have left. Which I think. Oh, over there. I would like for each of you to understand that Sheriff Joe Arpaio is willing to sign one of these for each of you in that each of you have done in in the past few years as you've known me for 20 something years, that you are merely a center for money laundering. You're a much smaller one. And yes, I have been gone for six months because I've gotten a lot of training in Maricopa county for six months. I've been going to every single meeting for two years there. And I will grant you this. You grant a little bit more time for the public to speak. But I would like for you to put back into effect the webinar. You had it and I understand with Connie that you had it before and because of COVID we came along, used it and then we got rid of it. All the more reason to bring it Back. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is Louar. Next we have Carmen Jimenez. I believe Carmen Jimenez. I believe she's. Gibson, can you do me a favor? Can you go out and ask if car. If Carmen Jimenez is in the lobby, she's up for speaking. Thank you. Okay. All right, we're going to move on then. Anyone who would like to speak for public comments, now would be your time to come up to the podium and speak. Any additional public comments? No. Thank you. All right, this will conclude public comments. Madam Clerk, I have the right to reflect. No one else has chosen to speak at this time. And now we will move on. I need a motion on the consent agenda. Madam Clerk, can you please read items that are in consent agenda? >> It'll be all of the Items on section 6 with the exception of 6a, 6e, 6j and 6m. >> We'll hear 6j and 6m after all the discussion items have been exhausted. Madam Clerk. >> We'll do. >> All right. I need a motion. >> Motion. >> Motion to approve by Councilman Pineyro. >> Second. >> Second by Councilwoman Reinoso. All in favor say aye. Aye. Madam Clerk, like the record reflect that the motion has passed unanimously. I now need a motion on the minutes. >> Motion. >> Motion to approve by Councilman Pineyro. >> Second. >> Second by Councilwoman Reinoso. All in favor say aye? Aye, Madam Clerk. Collective I reflect that the motion has passed unanimously. We'll now move into presentations. >> Item 8 A keep draw beautiful Business award. >> Good morning, honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the city Council, Madam Manager, deputy city manager, Mr. Attorney, Madam Clerk, members of the audience, Edgar Estrada, co compliance director. This month we are pleased to recognize Russo Tires for their outstanding commitment to keeping Doral beautiful. The property for which they're being recognized for is located at 8300 N. 58th St. Russo Tires has been in the city of Doral for 18 years. This property is approximately 75,000 square feet and the business has 11 employees. Russo tires is a tire shop that was founded in 2007 in the city of Doral with the vision of serving the community with the best services and tires. Some of the ongoing maintenance efforts to keep the property with a clean, professional and inviting appearance include routine trimming of trees and shrubs, seasonal planting of new landscape, regular inspections and pressure cleaning of the building exterior. It is with great pleasure that we name Russo Tires for the Keep the RAO Beautiful Business Award for their continued efforts to keeping the Rao beautiful and Madam Mayor and Council, here to accept the award on behalf of Russo Tires is Pietro Russo, Ignacio Russo and Paolo Russo. >> The Russo brothers. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. Would you like to say a few words? >> Good morning. On behalf of my family and everyone at Russo Tires, we thank you for this Keeping Doral Beautiful award. We take pride on the work we do and also in the way we show, you know, everything that's good in Doral. And we'll keep doing our part to make Doral a place we're all proud of. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate your investments and commitment to Doral. Would you like to come up for a picture? >> Yes. >> All right. >> Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. >> Next items we're now going into Discussion. Items Item 9a, a resolution of the mayor and the city council of the city of Doral, Florida, directing the city attorney and public works director to initiate coordination and discussions with the appropriate Miami Dade county departments to develop a formal notification system for upcoming road work closures on municipal roads within the city of Doral boundaries in order to enhance communication and public awareness, providing for authorization, incorporation, recitals, implementation, and a reflective date. >> All right, Councilman Pineyro, this is your item, sir. >> Thank you, Mayor. First of all, the. The reason why I decided to bring this forward is because, as we all know as residents, the road work performed by Miami Dade county on municipal roads within Doral frequently leads to traffic disruptions and resident inconvenience. I mean, it's not a secret that sometimes you're driving around and suddenly you see a lane closure and you don't know what's going on. And we don't even know what's going on. Unfortunately, this is something that the county passed back in 2021, where pretty much take all that power from municipalities or actually communication, which is what I'm trying to accomplish with this resolution, which is the lack of communication, has been something that has been going on for the past years. So my take, and I would like through the manager to see if we can bring Mr. Carlos Arroyo from Public Works to the front so that he can give us a little bit of the background as well. Because the idea will be to see. I mean, we're going to give it a try to see how we can establish a communication with the county, at least for us to be notified, and we send the notification out to the residents. When it comes to the closure of lanes. I also am aware that when it comes to utility companies or like AT&T, for example, if they're doing a work out there, they don't have to notify anybody. So for me, that's an issue because during the time that they do it, is especially during the rush hour times. And people believe that it's something that the city has approved and that we just want to close a lane during a fight or 4 o' clock traffic time because we. That was our decision. So I think that if we can create a communication or at least that we can inform the residents about this is coming out today or tomorrow, at least people will be aware. Definitely. Councilman will work with a county see how we can establish a better process. Usually they provide us with information for their projects, as you mentioned, but based on the ordinance that they adopted back in 2021, 2199, they are the sole regulators of the right of way. So for all type of construction. So on their right of way, we don't have jurisdiction. Okay, so. But definitely we'll work with them and see how we can improve this. >> Thank you, Mr. Arroyo. Okay, anybody has any questions or any questions? >> Motion motion to approve by Councilwoman Reinoso. Taken second by Councilman Pineyro. I just wanted to say I completely agree. As a matter of fact, back when I was a councilwoman, I believe it was 20, 2015, actually, our city manager helped me at the time with the legislation. We had passed an MLT ordinance that required the county or any utility company to have to pull a permit here in Doral. So we knew when the roads were gonna be closed. But unfortunately the county rolled that back, kind of preempted us from being able to require those permits. So I think there has to be established communication and protocol, at least for the benefit of those traveling on our roads and for us to even have information of knowing when road closures are gonna happen. So I would think it's common courtesy from other government agencies or the companies that do business in our city, but clearly it's not happening. So I want to thank Councilman Pineyro for this forward because I do think we need to establish some type of clear communication or understanding of what our rights are within what we can require from other agencies. So thank you very much for bringing this forward. Madam Clerk? >> I have a question. >> Councilwoman Cabral? >> Through the manager to Mr. Arroyo, have. I mean, when you have encountered these issues that maybe. I mean, how have you. Complaints from the. From the community. >> They usually come in and they. They advise on. On their projects. The issue that we have mostly is utilities. The ordinance prevents us from asking for an MOT permit or any permit. So now we don't have that grip that we used to have. >> So, utilities, you mean who? Fpl? >> Yes, FPL Communications, all of them. >> But it's not directly. I mean with the Public Works department, the county, or with our. >> Yes, they actually have to get permits with the county on the county right of way. When it's our right of way, they come in and they request permits from us. >> Have you communicated with the. And bring this up to our county commissioner? >> Not the county commissioner, but co workers on the other side. >> And Ms. Manager, have you also communicated with our commissioner regarding this Issue? >> No, ma' am. We're trying to do this through the staff and to be able to communicate with the departments, adequate departments inside of the county and also take a look at the, at the ordinance that is from back in 2015, 2021, 2015, 16, to redo that. So we're going to get the process started on the staff side and see where we go from there. But speaking to the county commissioner is always an option for any, any of you to do. >> Yeah, I guess. I mean, he's the one that represent our, our district, so I think that it will be also adate to get in touch with him. Okay, thank you. >> Madam Clerk, please call the roll. >> Have motion to approve it by Councilwoman Reinoso. Seconded by Councilman Pineyro. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> All right, thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Next item. >> Next item. Item 9B. A resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of Doral, Florida, directing the city attorney to conduct research of the city's code and state statutes to determine the viability of modifying and enforcing monetary bonds or similar mechanisms on telecommunication companies for failure to comply with city requirements, including, but not limited to, hosting community town hall meetings prior to initiating new work and providing advance notice to residents within 1,000 to 2,000ft of all proposed cell tower projects or related installations, providing for implementation, incorporation of recitals and an effective date. >> Thank you very much, Councilman Pineyro. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mayor. This is another issue that has been certainly, you know, caught my attention, especially in the last years. Sometimes you're, you know, you're driving around and you see a new cell tower being put outside a community or, or in the right away section without anyone knowing. So the most recent. Well, that complaint that I received was from the Grand Bay Area, where a cell tower was installed just right outside the community. So you now you have residents inside their community facing a cell tower on the other side of the. Of the backyard. So this is, for me, it's something that I will ask, in spite of the resolution, to ask our city attorney to look into this matter and see how we can actually enhance the public engagement and notification and accountability by certainly exploring requirements for telecommunication companies and to comply with community engagement expectations. Because, again, it's all about perception. If you're a resident and you see that outside of your community, you believe that the city is the one that gave the green light for that to be right outside of a community, So I think it's not just a matter of kind of explaining to the public how that is performed, but at the same time, for us to have some type of say when it comes to this type of telecommunications infrastructure projects. So certainly one of the recommendations will be to require these companies to comply with community engagement expectations, including mandatory town hall meetings, and also to direct notices to residents within 1,000 to 2,000 radius of proposed projects. Again, these are literally right next to a sidewalk, right next to a community. So I think that by instructing our city manager to look into these options certainly will create something that we can explain to the residents. This is how these projects are taking place, but this is also what we're doing to make sure that you guys are at least are notified. So I don't know how. I don't know if you have any questions or City attorney. >> Thank you, Councilman, for bringing this item. I agree with you. There are things that we are very limited because we are preempted by statute, but nevertheless, the statute does provide for certain options for the city. So that is something that I can take a look at what we have in our existing code and work with you to bring that up to date and bring something back. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you. Councilman Pineyro. I just wanted to comment. This is something that had come to our attention before I even came back to the city and had started working on a couple of changes with our previous city attorney, which I told the. The city attorney during our agenda review that I was gonna provide him with. I think the code is extremely antiquated. So there does need to be updated measures to make sure that the city is not only informed and residents are informed, but the city has some type of say. I will say that cities are quite preempted federally and statutorily by the state when it comes to telecommunications. And this is something I expressed heavily to residents and parents who were concerned about these antennas near schools and in communities. And so I do want to make sure that we are doing things to protect within the boundaries that we can and we have the rights to be able to create measures that will shield residents. But at the same time, I just want to put on the record from the research I've done, there's pretty strong preemptions on how much we can actually regulate, which really is not kind of horrible for our residents, but it's something that I think we need to set the expectation for. So, any other questions or comments? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by councilman Pineyro. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reinoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. >> Motion to approve made by Councilman Pineyro. Seconded by Councilwoman Reinoso. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> All right, thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Next item. >> Next item. Item 9C. A resolution of the Mayor and the City Council of the city of Doral Ford amending resolution number 2539 to specify that the sergeant at arms position sh assigned solely for the protection and security of the Mayor, providing for implementation, incorporation of recitals and an effective date. >> Councilwoman Reinoso, this is your item. >> Thank you, Mayor. Well, my item is very simple. Over the last couple of months, we've seen the amount of work and events and meetings that the Mayor has attended on behalf of the city. And I believe the best course of action for the Sergeant at arms position is to be exclusive for the mayor, as she is the full time council member representing the city. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Marinoso, any comments or questions? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Councilman Pineyro. >> Through The chair, To the city Manager. I would like to ask you because I have a few questions that I want to ask our Chief of police. >> Yes, I'm Saloni, He's outside. One moment. >> Chief, please approach the podium. We're on the item of sergeant at arms. Thank you. >> Through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Point of personal privilege. Yes, thank you so much. I believe in order to have skin in the game, to really applying to this item, you needed to be involved with the before of this item. In other words, attend community events, attend community engagement in order to really see the need of a sergeant at arms. None of which you do. That's my comment. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Cabral, you had a question for the chief? >> Responding to the Councilwoman, I also represent the people. I also go outside the 15 miles radius from the city to go to events as well. So the creation of it. Yes, I understand that it was created even though I don't agree that this person was going also to be able. That we will be able to also ask requests for this person, even though they was never provided a calendar or availability of this person for us to be able. At least not to me. I don't know the other council members, but not to me. I do understand that and I've been here longer than you and I've been in many, many more events. I do understand that we were supposed to be using this person. But my question directly to our Police, our chief of police. And thank you so much. I understand that one of the reasons that says here to protect and insecurity of the mayor. I understand that we go out from the 15 mile radius of our city. But my understanding, seeing on the statistics and everything that is out there, how safe our city right now under your command? >> How safe is our city? In my opinion, we're extremely safe. But we're just one critical away criticalness and away from something happening. Anything can happen at any time. So we can never be too comfortable. Even though we've had over a 40% reduction in crime over the last few years. We have. We're not immune to anything evidenced by for example what happened in city place last year or at any time. So we can never be too comfortable with that. >> Sure. But my understanding is that our department has done a terrific job. I mean going into how many residents we have here. I mean per capita, how much crime we have. So I really don't see. And I'm asking you this because one. Thank you to all the. To the entire department for everything that they do. And I really was trying to understand I mean what is the protection that is needed so urgently that the mayor needs security almost. I don't know if it is 24 hours because it doesn't specify here how often it is. Aside from majority of the events happen here in the city. There's a few that we go outside and that's during. I mean within most of all of us or all of us that show up to those events too. And we don't have that luxury. Especially that the media pay for this person is between $92,000 to 100 and what up to 150. Almost $150,000 a year. So my concern is that. That I don't really see why and I don't think that many. I have to check. I haven't checked on that. How many mayors within the 34 municipalities have. No, this is me, but thank you so much. Thank you so much. You can be dismissed. Thank you so much for answering my question. That was only my question, if that's okay. Why is it that the mayor needs to protect a person to protect and secure solely only to her within. >> Excuse me, point of order. >> Somebody that is serving the community. I still have my five minutes. I still have 2:11. >> Point of order. >> So. So I just want the community to know there how your taxpayers money is being allocated and to ask those questions too. Thank you so much. >> Does that conclude your comments, Councilwoman? Great. So actually I'd like to address some of these. Chief, how many threats have I received in the last year or two years? Do you remember? You have those, right? >> I have the data, yes. >> You have the letters that we received here with the threats. >> Yeah. And even me personally, I received threats. Obviously we don't discuss that publicly, but yeah, you have been the target of multiple threats and so have I. >> I'm happy to provide those into the public record. I also have emails that I've kept with threats. Now, I'm not scared for my life. I will tell you that. That's not the reason we have a sergeant at arms. We instilled sergeant at arms for several reasons. One, it was because there is sometimes an urgency to get from one place to another in and out of the city. That was one thing. Secondly, I have never excluded council members from being able to use the sergeant at arms with us. As a matter of fact, most of the time when we're going to events outside of the city that all of us participate in and that we are svp, that we're gonna be going to as a city and in representation of the city, most of you have joined me in going. It's really more so for the city to have the accessibility to attend and represent ourselves outside of the city and still do our job here. The sergeant arms is not with me 24 7. It's mostly for events that happen outside of the city or from getting from point A to point B within the city. She's actually also attended. Sorry, she's also attended situations on our behalf. Like recently when the trolley caught fire. We sent her in our representation to go get an update to make sure that we Public affairs was able to get a real time information to inform the public of what was happening. So it's really that connection to the police department from City Hall. It also provides security here at City hall, which I believe you asked for several times. Am I correct on that, Chief? Correct. There was several requests for protection at City hall from Councilwoman Cabral. >> What's that question? >> Sorry. So I believe there was several requests from Councilwoman Cabral in the past for security at City Hall. From my understanding, there had been conversations in the past about wanting to have an armed security guard or armed police officer here. Yes. >> No, I was actually. There was someone that I even had to go to court because he was threatened and I have to be in front of a judge, but I never request someone to be with me all the time. >> For City Hall. >> For City Hall. >> Yeah. We've had a conversation as to having an armed presence here for the safety and security of City Hall. >> So at this time, this person is here making sure that every member that's here inside the building is secure. So there's many aspects to the sergeant at arms. I appreciate Councilwoman also bringing this forward. I didn't ask for it. I think that the purpose of it is intended because of how many things that we are required to attend, and particularly myself. I'm here every single day. I was the first one here this morning, but I'll probably be one of the last ones to leave. And I think that there's a certain respect that goes with the position of mayor to make sure that there's security, but for all of us as well. So you're all always welcome to participate and join me in any events that we're all invited to, but my schedule is very fluid. And so sometimes it's hard to be able to accommodate anybody who asks for the sergeant at arms without my presence. And so I think that that was the purpose of kind of clarifying the role of sergeant at arms, which was not just for all of us to be able to have the security here at City hall, to have the direct connect with the police department, but also to make sure that we have protection when we're outside of the city, because you just never know what can happen. Also in emergency situations, if I'm outside of the city and something happens and we need to get back quickly, then it allows us to be able to do that. So it's really just being prepared for any situation. So appreciate your comments and I understand that maybe some other cities don't do it, but I would say most of the cities do have sergeant at arms for their mayor and councils that are the current body. >> I want to clarify that I never requested to have anybody to protect me when I was coming here to the city. But. But I want to clarify that because the comment that you said is like you asked him if I requested. I never requested. When this person, unfortunately, their emails are there. I have to go in front of a judge and everything. The chief at the time said, when you're coming to the building, because this person is around the building that personally did it also. I mean, when this person threatened for death, death in email, it's on writing as well. I can show what it was discussed with a judge. He was the one who often said, when you come to City hall, because this person is around, just let us know so we. In case we just alert, nothing else. So I have never asked for any protection. I feel Very safe. Aside from that, because. And this is something that I followed by our former attorney, who was the one who advised to go in front of a judge. So I have all of that for that person that threatened me to death twice. >> Just to clarify, I didn't say that you had asked for it. I said that there was requests for there to be a scene, but I. >> Wanted to make sure and clear that I never requested. >> There was a request for there to be an armed police officer at City Hall. >> That was by the Chief of Police. Again, I never requested that. Was he. >> Motion to call the question. >> That was him. >> There's a motion to call the question. >> Thank you. There's a motion to call the question. >> Motion to call a question made by Councilwoman Reinoso. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Pineyro. >> Motion to call a question made by Councilman Reinoso. Seconded by Councilman Pineyro. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> All right, thank you very much. Madam Clerk. We have a motion on the item. >> I'm missing a second. >> Second. >> Second. >> Motion Councilwoman Reinoso. Second by Councilman Pineyro. >> Motion to approve. Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Reinoso. Seconded by Councilman Pineyro. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> All right, thank you very much. Move on to the next item. >> Next item. Item 9D. A resolution of the mayor and the City Council of the City of Doral, Florida, appointing Ray Valdez as Inspector General pursuant to Ordinance 2025 08, providing for implementation, incorporation of recitals, expenditure of budget of funds and an effective date. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. City Attorney, would you like to present this item? >> I may. So the next item is the appointment of Ray Valdez as the Inspector General. As you are all aware, the City of Doral passed in November a charter amendment requiring the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General. Pursuant to that. This year, there was an ordinance creating that office and establishing for the appointment of a committee to make findings of an Inspector general. The committee has met. Met twice. During its last meeting, it interviewed two candidates. One that was not found to be qualified, although the interview was offered, and also that of Mr. Valdez. During that meeting, Mr. Valdez was interviewed. He is, I believe, here. So he can, you know, if necessary, answer any questions. And during that meeting, the Committee 5, all of the committee members voted unanimously for the appointment of Mr. Valdez. Pursuant to the ordinance that was passed, the next step would be today after, should you all decide, and you are all the ultimate voice. So the committee proposes it to you, but at the end, the. The council has to make the appointment. So the appointment rests ultimately with. With this body. So if you decide to appoint Mr. Valdez as the Inspector General, the next thing would be for the mayor and I to be able to negotiate his. His contract. And that's what's before you today. >> Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Okay. Any questions on this item? >> I have some questions, Mayor. >> Okay. Vice Mayor Porras? >> I know Mr. Valdes is here. Can you come to the podium to answer question? >> Morning, council members. Mayor. >> Good morning, Mr. Manager. Deputy Manager. Mr. Attorney. Madam Clerk. >> Good morning. How are you? >> Good. >> So, did you read the position description and requirements for this job? >> Yes, ma' am. >> Are you aware that the Inspector General needs to be independent, impartial, and objective to effectively fulfill their role? >> Absolutely. >> Do you think you're going to be impartial and objective? >> I believe my track record here in the city and in the county, I think my integrity speaks for itself, my transparency, and I can be completely impartial. >> Can you remind us why you resigned as City Manager? >> I resigned because I had an issue with you and with Councilwoman Cabral. >> Did you accuse us of violating the charter? Retaliation, among other things? >> Among other things, yes. Yes, ma' am. >> Okay. And are you aware that as a private citizen, you can actually file a complaint with the appropriate agencies? You can actually present your grievances to a court if you felt that there was a violation? Are you aware of that? >> I was not aware of that. >> You're not aware that there's an ethics commission? >> Honestly, I didn't want it to. I didn't feel it would warrant that. I thought my resignation spoke for itself. I think what I said on the days on the evening of the 30th of September spoke for itself. >> Yes. And going back to that meeting, you clearly displayed a very strong disfavor, dislike, however you want to put it, and a strong propensity, I feel, to discriminate against two sitting council members, including me. Councilwoman Cabral, if you are going to be presented, let's say, with an investigation against one of us, are you going to recuse yourself? >> No, because I'm the body that investigates. But what you can be assured is that I will be impartial. Okay. And I will be transparent. Okay. I Call balls and strikes. Okay. It's either black or white. There's no gray area with me. That's how I've lived my life for the last 40 years, both with Miami Dade Police and during my tenure here, both with the police department and when I was special assistant to the manager, when I was deputy manager and I was a city manager. I call it like it is. >> Okay. So do you still believe that we violated the charter? You can answer truthfully. >> I believe you did. I believe you did. >> Right. As city manager, how many employees did you oversee? >> 530 something. >> And as inspector general, as you know, your job would be to investigate waste, mismanagement contracts, including some of the work that some of the departments are doing. You know that, right? >> That's my understanding, yes. >> So do you think there may be a conflict of interest if you're asked to investigate some of the staff that you once oversaw? >> I don't understand why. What that would be a conflict of interest. >> Perhaps, you know, you also disfavor or you favor, let's say, a department director, an employee that could potentially contribute to a bias, whether good or bad. >> I disagree with that. Councilwoman, I bring, again, I can't offer you a crystal ball as to what the future holds, but I can tell you to look at my integrity and look at my past in the public arena. And I challenge you to find anyone, anyone, who's ever called my ethics or my integrity into question or who's ever had my integrity or my ethics investigated. >> Okay. And do you think that your appointment could. Sorry, I don't know. Okay. Do you think that your appointment could result in the city being sued for having potential conflicts of interest? >> I can't. Again, I can't tell you who's going to sue. I don't know that. >> Okay. Just some. Now, thank you. Thank you so much. If you want to say, you can. If not, you don't have to. >> Okay. >> Just some questions for the attorney. So I know that we talked about this when you were drafting the position for the inspector general, and I don't know if you recall that I mentioned that the city of Miami beach has a prohibition of hiring past employees as inspector General for the very reasons I just mentioned. You oversaw everyone here. Obviously, we're adding. Now that you've publicly come out against two sitting council members, my question to you is, have you assessed the risk and liabilities that we, as a city could encounter if Mr. Valdez is appointed today? And by the way, I'm just going to add, that's your job as Our attorney. >> My job is to provide you all with legal advice and to inform you all of what are the potential risks. There's always a potential risk with the hiring of any employees. There's the risk that someone may have a bias. I mean, that is bias, I think, is inherent in all of us. We all have preferences and we all have dislikes. Mr. Valdez, I understand your concerns and I think you've put those on the record. But I think also Mr. Valdez is stating his record also. 40 years as a law enforcement officer and one that has been pretty much has an unblemished record. I'm sure in his career, he has had to manage people that he likes and dislikes and has had to be impartial and put his feelings to one side and do his job. And personally, as an attorney, that's something that I take very heavily. As an attorney, obviously I have a job to do and perform, and sometimes I have to take positions that are in favor of my client, even though I may not 100% necessarily agree with that. So I'm trying to. In coming to. What I'm trying to say is I'm trying to empathize and put myself in Mr. Valdez's shoes. You know, he's up there. He's stating that he's being truthful. So I think it's for this council to weigh your concerns versus his record and what he's stating, and then, you know, vote accordingly. >> Thank you. You know, there's really no doubt that you meet the minimum qualifications. Any police officer with a decade Of service would meet the minimum qualifications. What my question is is do you, Mr. Attorney, do you find any bit of conflict of interest or potential problems with impartiality with Mr. Valdez? >> The particular. Our particular code doesn't provide those that you mentioned from the city of Miami Beach. What I would have to base it on is our ethics code and also the Miami Dade County Code of Ethics. And there's nothing that I feel that right now, by hiring as an inspector general, Mr. Valdez, in general, would have any conflict. If there were a particular circumstance of where he's called to do something that would be raised by the code of ethics, then at that point in time, we can have that discussion of whether he should recuse himself or not. But at this time in general, I don't see that there's any general conflict. >> So I'm referring >> Playing the rules That we have before us. >> Okay. I'm referring. Referring to the charter and the city ordinance that states that the inspector general has to be independent and impartial. So I'm referring to those two things, but I think I got your answer. Thank you. So for me, Mr. Valdez, it's clear that you do not meet the required standards. You may meet the minimum standards for the job, but I do think that you lack the independence and impartiality as required by the charter and Citade ordinance. Like I said, you've accused sitting council members, including myself, of violating the charter. You just reiterated that today. Said it again. And you have demonstrated a very strong propensity to probably use this position to retaliate. I'm very concerned with that, obviously. I think that if you want to file a complaint against anyone, you could have done it. You can still do it as a private citizen. It's been done against me before and failed. You could have done it. I don't think you have to wait for this job to do it. I really do think that this lack of impartiality is absolutely going to lead to lawsuits against the city, which, of course, are going to divert important resources and time from our city, and it's going to cost us money. So for that, I will not be voting in favor of your appointment. >> If I may say something, with your permission, it's my understanding that I cannot unilaterally commence an investigation. Okay. If something is brought to my attention, okay, I have to take a sworn complaint, sworn affidavit from that individual indicating that he's making a complaint, whether it's against an employee or against an elected official, I then Weigh that complaint. Okay. And depending on the merits, it said something that I either investigate internally or, God forbid, if it's something that's criminal, I would then forward to the appropriate criminal agency and I would sort of act as a liaison as to what's going on with that investigation to keep the council apprised of the progress of that investigation. I cannot unilaterally say I'm going to single out this councilwoman or I'm not going to single out this employee and I'm going to investigate him. That's my understanding. I cannot do that. And I think that this is something that came up during my interview and that was clarified, and that was something that was affirmed by the attorney during the interview. I cannot unilaterally commence an investigation. If you're worried about a witch hunt, it's not going to commence with me. >> Thank you for clarifying. I'm glad that we actually clarified that on the record, because I still believe that the ordinance is not clear on that. Also, one of our committee members also raised that during the meeting, who's also an attorney. But if, you know, I'm glad that we're putting it on the record. Again, the ordinance is not that clear. But just to respond to you, think of it this way. You are a judge. Essentially, judges do not initiate their own cases. They receive cases. >> Correct. >> And so when a judge receives a case where they have a conflict of interest, they have to recuse themselves. So it doesn't matter who initiated it. You are the independent person that's going to be deciding how an investigation happens, where it goes, so it still applies. But thank you for clarifying that. >> Okay. >> Madam Mayor. >> Mr. City Attorney. >> Yeah. So I believe going to what Mr. Valdez said, there's two functions of the. Of the inspector general, as per our ordinance function. Number one is if he receives a verified sworn statement, as he mentioned, it's his duty to investigate that sworn statement. It could be something dealing with a code, it could be dealing something with ethics, could be dealing with something criminal, depending on the nature. Then he has to take the appropriate action. And that may be referring it to the state attorney's office, that may be referring it to the FBI. That's up to what you feel and deem is necessary at that point in time. Now, additionally, if this counsel instructs the inspector general to go ahead and, let's say, look into public work contracts or look into what's going on with code compliance or a number of things, then he will go ahead and do so. He cannot initiate those types of investigations. On his own, he's not, I would say, completely prohibited, but because he can bring a suggestion to you and say, hey, look, I'd like to look into that, but independently, he can't do it on his own. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Thank you. And I just want to say one last thing. I appreciate you coming up and responding to questions. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? Councilwoman Reinoso? >> Thank you, Through the mayor. Mr. Valdez? >> Yes, Councilwoman. >> Great. Just points of clarification for me. When you were the city manager, were you not selected by the council members? Excluding myself present today. >> I was selected by. Yes. By Maureen Porras, Digna Cabral, and Oscar Puig, who is no longer here. >> Okay. And you did have the prior position of being the city manager for this city, and upon your resignation, you had valid points to why you no longer wanted to serve as our city manager. Case closed with your resignation letter and leaving the city as our city manager. Correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. And again, just to clarify the definition of propensity, when you have a propensity to do something, there's a history, there's a natural inclination of a pattern of behavior, one that you do not have. I believe that the comments made by our councilwoman. I'm sorry, our vice mayor, Maureen Porras, isn't really related to the situation because that was your prior employment. What you were doing before, and based on your professionalism and what the committee decided, I think you are perfect for this position. I think you're going to serve this community with integrity. And based on your years of dedication in law enforcement, I think you know how to handle this position. So I have no regrets. I have no inclination to think that this position will be held with the utmost integrity. From your part. >> Thank you. I appreciate the vote of confidence. Thank you. >> Mayor? >> Yes, Councilman Pineyro? >> Thank you. Well, first of all, I want to say welcome to Mr. Valdez and Mrs. Valdez. Thank you for being here. Morning, Councilman. >> Thank you. >> Good morning, sir. It's. It's good to see you back, to be honest with you. >> Likewise. >> As Councilwoman Reinoso also mentioned. I certainly. And it's a conversation that we had after the hiring last year when you were selected as city manager. I think that you have shown what your character is made of, and I respect that. And I think that you have earned the respect not only from the majority of this council, but also from the majority of the residents of the city of Doral. And I want to say that and leave it on the record, because sometimes it's hard to make Comments or judge someone's character and that person disappear for your back and you're back. Not because we say yes so far, it's because the committee say yes. A committee that we selected. My representative actually sitting right here, I know he voted yes, but the five members voted yes for you. So I just want to leave that on the record and I want to welcome you back to your house, to your home. >> Thank you, sir. >> You have shown you have been a long time Doral resident, more than probably anybody sitting up here, you and your family. So you have shown that you put Doral first before anything else or any personal ambition that you might have. So therefore, I place a motion to approve. >> Thank you. >> Second motion to approve by Councilman Pineyro. Seconded by Councilwoman Reinoso. So, Councilwoman Cabral, do you have comments? >> Yes, I have a few comments. Not to you, Mr. Valdez, to my concern that I sent an email date on April 15th to the city manager and to the attorney, also city clerk, and asking to please to send my email with my concerns to the committee. I never got a response on that email and it was not distributed to the committee as I requested to do so here. I expressed many concerns, but at the same time, when I was listening to the interview that was conducted by the committee, I heard within that that Mr. Valdez actually referred that he knew that there was some communication that was going around, something that for me was really concerning because the other person that was interviewed didn't have any knowledge about it, not even the committee. I don't know how he got that information that is there on the script on the day of the interview. But I also want to understand why is it that my email was not, with all my concerns, was given to one to be acknowledged, one by any of you and second to be distributed to the committee. >> I have a point of order for a second, if we can. Is not every email and communication set in the city public record? >> Yes. >> Correct. >> Public record. Every single email. I believe you're saying that your email was to be distributed as public record. >> No. >> To the committee. >> I request it to be given to the committee. Yes. >> Which makes it public record. Correct, Mr. City Attorney? >> Yes, Madam. >> I think your question is null and void at this point because it's. >> No, it's not. I wanted to have it on record that it was never acknowledged. My email. I believe the answer to your question is that it's public record and I requested please to be given to the committee at that time because the information that was there was really relevant and it was the Same concerns that the vice mayor has about how the selection of the person that was going to be appointed point needed to be someone that it was going to be impartial at the time that this person going to be selected for this position as Inspector General. >> Madam Clerk, was the email circulated? I believe it was circulated after. >> No, ma' am, it was not. And I also advised the councilwoman that it had not been circulated. >> Before the committee. >> Correct. So you had this conversation already with councilman. >> And I put it. And I responded to her in an email as well, advising her that it was not circulated. >> Okay. All right, Mr. City Attorney. Again, public record. >> The email is a public record. Yes, Mayor. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions?Councilwoman Cabral. All right. >> Through the mayor. I actually have some comments, too. Would you like to just very quickly. I just want to again point out that Mr. Valdez did state during the questioning of the vice mayor that he is going to be impartial. So his purpose of recon of resignation should be not considered at this point because this is turning the page. You're here to do a different job. This is what you're going to be doing. You answer the questions, you're going to be able to perform the duties of this position impartially. >> Thank you, ma' am. >> Thank you very much. I have some questions. First of all, I actually attended the committee meeting that was taking place with the two applicants. It was very clear that the minimum qualifications were met by Mr. Valdez. I do believe that this was properly advertised and there could have been several applicants, and we only got the two applicants. The committee voted unanimously for this position, and so now it's before us for a decision. I did review the applications. I do have some questions based on what's been put on the record for Mr. Valdez. First, thank you for clarifying the ordinance and the way that it is stated. Stated where the Inspector general can only initiate an investigation based on a complaint that comes in with a signed affidavit. It cannot be a unanimous in. I'm sorry, it cannot be an anonymous complaint. It has to be a complaint with an affidavit signed. So that was first of all clarified. I do believe that there is some benefit to the fact that you not only have lived here for a long time, but also have some understanding of how the city works, because there can be recommendations that come forward for looking into things that the Inspector General's office should be providing. But again, those things cannot be initiated unless the council takes a vote to allow you to initiate in those Dealings. I have a question based on that. Do you plan to investigate former grievances? >> No. No. As far as I'm concerned, you know, it's whatever my effective date is. I mean, if something is brought to my attention from something that occurred in the past, I have to look into it. But again, unilaterally, I cannot initiate your own investigation. My own investigation. If I do find something, then I bring it to the Council's attention and I await your direction because that's the way that it's written. >> As a recommendation. >> As a recommendation. >> Number two, how do you plan to conduct these investigations if something is brought. >> Forward to you impartially and with transparency while communicating, when allowed by law. When allowed by law, communicating with the counsel with the progress of that investigation. >> Would you recommend for prosecution or penalties on anything that didn't have proper and identified clear evidence of a misdo? Of a misdoing? >> Of course not. I'm not going to compromise myself or my integrity by putting something out there that is nonsense because that would fall on me and I'm not going to do that. >> So any investigation that would result with clear evidence and penalties is what you would bring forward clearly as your recommended misuse. >> Of course, there's a certain threshold that has to be met. You have to weigh the evidence, you have to evaluate the totality of the circumstances. And if that threshold is met, then that's something that I would move forward on. >> And you also recognize that you have discretion to be able to hire private investigators and so on within the budget that's allowed to you to be able to do those things. So it's not really you always doing the searching of evidence, but rather more so reviewing the entirety of its case and whether it is a violation of our charter or our code. >> That is correct. >> So in other words, don't do anything wrong and you won't have a problem, basically. All right. Just wanted to clarify that. >> Thank you. >> The other question I had for you, it allows us within our code to either retain you as an independent contractor or as a part time employee. You have submitted that you would like to be an independent contractor. >> I would be working with the Council's approval. I would be working as an independent contractor. That's something that I would then negotiate when the time comes. I would negotiate with the attorney and with your office as to the terms of this contract. >> And you realize that the contract also has two year clauses, which means that at the end of two years, if we feel that the job has either been done or hasn't been done to our liking that the contract can be terminated. >> That's my understanding, yes. >> So it's not in perpetuity, basically. >> Exactly. >> Okay. Just want to make sure I'm answering all the questions. I feel very comfortable moving forward. I think that there is a level of benefit to having someone that understands the way the city works for the purpose of what the IG office is intended to do. Obviously, someone with your experience in investigation and law enforcement, I think is important as well. Understanding of our charter and our code also provides benefits. I don't believe that you're here to abuse the powers within the IG's office. But I do think you'll keep people in check. And I think that that is important. I see it very clear. Follow the rules, do things right, and you have nothing to worry about. We have had a charter of office enforcement. We had it for 10 years and never got filled. I intend to fill the office of IG for 10 years. The charter of office enforcement in our charter sat vacant because of conflicts of interest, because of impartialities, because of this, because of that. We never fulfilled the will of the voters. We will fulfill the will of the voters under this body. And so this is what we are doing. It went through a committee. It went through a transparent process. It was opened. And I think that there's several safeguards and guardrails put in to make sure that neither this body nor the office of IG is abused. I believe that your record does speak for itself. There was a background onto your previous history in law enforcement and nothing turned up that would be of any consequence or of anything that would worry us. So I feel very comfortable moving forward. I look forward to working with you. And hopefully everything that comes forward are recommendations from your office on how to be more efficient in government and that your office doesn't have to be used for investigations if everyone does what they're supposed to do. So thank you very much for being here. Thank you for your patience and for answering the questions. I believe that there is a motion on the table, so if everyone is done, we can go ahead and call the roll. >> I have only one comment for the record. >> Councilwoman Cabral. >> Thank you. >> I would just ask that you please wait to be recognized when you want. >> Am I recognized? >> Yes, you are. >> Thank you for recognizing me. So my. I understand that this was. The position was published in different website because I requested. And what the information that was given to me is that it was posted in the Florida Legal Cities, FCCMA and Florida Public Human Resources association platform. And I really don't understand. Even though my appointee of the committee also requested and asked why is it that this position was never posted our website? How is being always standard practice on our city to post all the positions on our website? So I just want to put that in the record that this position was not posted in our city website. Was just within the links that I just read. >> Through the mayor. Councilwoman, I believe we answered that in the email that you forwarded to us and explained that we followed the same process. HR followed the same process and the city clerk and the city attorney, which were the ones that directed the committee that we followed for the charter enforcement position. >> I think I just wanted to put it in the record. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. >> Approve made by Councilman Pineyro. Seconded by Councilwoman Reinoso. [CALLING ROLL] >> Motion passes. >> All right, thank you very much. Welcome, Mr. Valdez. We'll be in contact. All right. We have one more item for our discussion items. >> Item 9F. Discussion Council Meeting procedures and agenda management. >> Okay. Councilwoman Cabral, this is your item. >> I requested this item because we need to clarify the procedures we follow when an agenda item is defer or move after being placed on the formal agenda. At our city council meeting on April. One of my items was removed without a motion and without a stated reason. That raises concern because our charter provided specific guidance on how this action must be handling and what it says here on charter Civil