City Commission - First Budget Hearing

testing testing testing testing mber 13, 2025. Today, we have Pastor Cook to bless us with prayer before we start our meeting. Thank you, Pastor. >> Thank you, Cooke. Sion King. Please, rise. All men, please uncover. I want to take a moment of silence for the senseless killing that occurred in our country. MAY GOD bless us to stop this violence happening in our world today. Please, bow our heads in a moment of silence. [Moment of silence] Thank you. Our Father in heaven, hallowed by that name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to stand here today. Some of us were nilpotent here ago. We are here now. Bless this meeting a. A kingdom divided cannot stand. You don't know the plans that I have for you. We need to look at ourselves. Let us be a guide to this county. You put the commissioners and people here to bless us. I ask you bless this meeting. Let it not be used for our own personal gain but for the upbuilding of the City of Miami and our community. Bless Commissioner King and the others. And the audience. Let this meeting. Be held in unity in love that we we bring this country, city, state together. We are all your children us. Bless us. Let this be a peaceful meeting In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, we will say the Pledge of Allegiance. [Pledge of Allegiance] At this time, we are going to begin with the Midtown cra meeting. There's business we need to take care of. Instead of going to the budget hearing and then stopping, we will take the Midtown cra meeting first. Thank you. I will wait 60 seconds to flip the tape. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the first budget hearing for the City of Miami for SEPTEMBER 13, 2025. Thank you for showing up and for your advocacy. At this time, I will ask the City Attorney to read a statement for the record. >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. George Wysong, City Attorney, City of Miami. This morning, the City of Miami is holding the first budget meeting to adopt a tentative budget and approve various agency budgets. There will be a final budget public hearing SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 at 5:05 pm here at Miami City Hall. These hearings were set according to a resolution from JULY '25. And according to the Florida statutes and all other applicable codes, rules, Regulations. Information can be found in the city code online. Any person who is a lobbyist must register with the City Clerk and comply with requirements before appearing before the city commission. A person MAY not lobby untill egistering. A copy of this code is available in the City Clerk's office or online. Any person making a presentation concerning real property must make disclosures in writing. The City of Miami requires anyone requesting action must disclose consideration to anyone for agreement to support or withhold the approval. Any documents offered to the city commission not provided 7 days before the meeting will be entered into the record at the commission's discretion. According to the city code, the material for the agenda is available online and at the office of the City Clerk. The meeting is a limited public forum. Any person MAY be heard for not more than 2 minutes unless modified by the chair. Public comment will begin at approximately 10:30 and remain open until closed. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly will be barred from the meetings. No clapping or heckling shall be permitted. No signs are allowed. Exit quietly. Members of the public MAY address the body by submitting written comments online. The comments submitted through distributed so that the officials MAY considered the comments before taking action. This will remain open untill the chairperson closes public comment. Public comment MAY also be provided live at City Hall subject to any and all city rules as MAY be amended from time to time. If the proposition is continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard MAY be at a later date. When addressing the commission, state your name, address, and item you are speaking on. Any person with a disability requiring aid or services MAY notify the City Clerk. The city provides different public comment methods for each item to be discussion in compliance with the Florida statute. The public has been given the opportunity to provide public comment. Commissioners have generally been briefed on items. Anyone wishing a verbatim record can request it or view it onloine. Pursuant to the Florida statute and the Florida administration rules, no verbatim record is required for the appeal of decisions made by chapter 200. This meeting can be viewed live online and Comcast 77. The broadcast will have closed captioning. Thank you, MADAM Chair. >> Thank you. >> MR. City Manager? Are there any items that you would like to defer and/or withdraw? >> MADAM Chair, commission, attorney, City Clerk, there are no items. >> Thank you. >> At this time, we. Will have our budget director read a statement for there cord. Ggie, pullulation. Rophone down. >> Good morning. I'm the budget director for the City of Miami. The proposed operating millage is 7. 1364, 8. 1% higher than the state-defined rollback of 6. 0615. The rollenbank rate is really the millage that generations the same amount of property tax revenues collected fro the vious fiscal year. There are some allowances made. One is for new construction, additions, and properties that were added due to change due to traffic boundaries. This millage will require. A super majority vote. Right now, I will go throguh -- the slide compares the current fiscal year. The cap was less than level with the same level millage going into fiscal year '25-'26. If we looked at the power of appraiser site, the average is [Unclear] Based on 7. 139 for the city. A million-dollar home is 7,390. If you were looking at your property, you can really estimate per 100,000-dollar home on an annual basis. The budget before you, which was also -- you should have received this to your office, which was deliver. It was sent to the chief of staff for the budget. The budget is online for the public. We also have the summary of the budget. We have a couple of copies to hand out for anyoen interested in seeing the numbers. This includes 2 property-saving measures. The proposal is to set aside 3. 5 million dollars to reduce the millage from 7. 134 to 7. 1080. Also, the proposed budget includes a senior citizens rebate which will be offered to seniors who are receiving the existing senior exemption through their taxes. The rebate anticipates 2. 5 million dollars including a way to process the rebate back to the citizen. With the rebate, the city has to be the one who actually processes the checks and sends them back. It is not part of the legislation based on the process through the property appraiser or the tax collector's office. You have to have homestead exemption to be qualified for this. 65 years and older. Your household income must be 37,684 dollars. The value of your house has to be less than 2 Based on the tax reduction, this is what happens to your home if you look at it. $400,000 will be $780. 20. [Unclear. ] $500,000, $3,681. $1 million will be $7,3623. These numbers are based on the 24/25 because all the other taxing authorities are, like we're doing now, redacting our millage. The information is based on this fiscal year and the taxing authority. Based on the information that we have, every tax Bill, every dollar in the taxes you pay for the City of Miami, $. 37 goes to the city. Part of it includes $. 34 for the operating millage and $. 03 for voted debt, which the residents voted for to do capital improvement projects. The Miami Public Schools, $. 33. Miami Dade County, $. 29 and [Audio cutting out. ] The city proposed operating budget and $. .8 million. [Unclear] It's about $2 billion. If you look at it, 52. 1% is for capital and another 47. 9% is for operating. City operating budget. As I stated, the operating budget is made up of four categories. The general fund, $1. 2 billion. which is everything that-most of the items processed in the city for the budget is to the general fund because it's for general operating expenditures, functions, and operations. Special revenue funds. $384 million, which is 20. 9% of the total operating budget and your special revenue fund is anything that is needed on restricted for a specific purpose. Internal service funds, 12. .8 which is about 7%. It's internal function going between different centers and funds in the city. Then, debt service which is proceeds from debt. It's really payment returning for loans that we pay, principal and interest. That makes the total $1. 8 billion budget for the city. Where the money comes from. If you look at this pie chart, I will go over the big items. The main point to this too, as well, this is for the general fund which is $1. 2. Billion. The operating millage goes into the general fund. The property taxes make 52. 7% of the total budget as property tax revenue. Charges for service, like parks services, it's about 12. 5%. You have franchise fees, $145 million. Then you have interrogavit ent revenues, which come from the state, County or any other state or federal agency. License and permits, 104. Interest and income is about 1. 8% and so on. And then, what this does is, where the money goes in categories. These are expenditures that offset our revenues. In local government, in government in the State of Florida your budget has to be balanced which means your revenues have to be fully expanded. Now, the expenditure category. 47. 8 is for salaries. Employee benefits is 28. 9, about 77% of the total expenditures in the general fund which are for salaries and benefits. Operating expenses, 16. 2%. Non-operating could be outside agencies, 1. 9%. Capital [Unclear. ] We also have transfers that go to capital, special revenue, debt service. Some debt services are being paid from general fund dollars for $20. 6 million and [Unclear] Internal service expenditures, including benefits. Where the money goes by function. If you look at the function, public safety which is police and fire, takes about 55. 5%. Of the total general fund budget. Then public works, including public works, resilience, administration and then you have the general government which covers the budget, finance [Unclear. ] It's about 10%. You also have non-departmental, anything that doesn't fall into a specific department. It's 9. 5%. Then 7. 7. For other departments which is for dream and also planning and development, building zoning and planning. You have hcd which is about $2. 9 million, which is. 2%. This chart really shows you who the biggest piece of the pie is. The little schedule on the side is any budget below $5 million. Police is our biggest piece of the pie, 33. 7% which is $415 million. Fire is 21. 8%, about $268. 9. After that is non-departmental, 9. 5 which is everything else. Then parks and. Ec at 5. 4% and so on. If anyone is interested in looking at the budgets, if you go online you can see what makes up the operating budgets for the departments. Highlights that needed to be mentioned. The proposed general budget of $1. 2 billion includes an increase of $66. 5 million over the current budget fiscal year of $1. 17 billion. I think I said $1. 23 billion. I might have said million, excuse me. And details in the increases for required salaries, positions, overtime adjustments, $32. 1 million. Internal service costs is $30. 8 million. Then you have operating expenditures, $12. 3 million which makes up rental leases, maintenance and as I stated before also includes your office supplies. Then you have non-operating expenditures. These were offset by $13. 5 million because we had unspent bond dollars, being [Unclear] To pay for the debt. Capital budget. If you look at the capital budget we had gone through a process of really making sure that we looked at a real, true six-year plan for the capital budget. We set up a committee with an internal staff. Based on that, if you look at the resilience budget which is the biggest pie of the thing, it's $149 million. Real estate, dream assets because we have major capital projects under there, $408 million. Parks and recreation, a lot has to do with the bond that was issued a few years back and the voters voted on it. After that, you can see all the different pieces. Anything to the right on that chart is $10 million or less. It's a hard shot to see. If you have the book you might be able to see a little better, but really our total six-year plan for the capital is $2. 8 billion which we've mentioned before. And then, your total-if you look at your six-year, which you have your total funding, it's about $2 billion. So you have $837 million shortfall in the coming next six years of shortfall, which we need to address as the years progress. This is doing the same thing, showing you where the funding sources are from. Some are debt service, special revenue fund and how the capital plan is being funded. Highlights. We were directed to look at hiring 300 police officers in the next three fiscal years. As we looked at it, because the onboarding is more complicated than just hiring officers. We work with the police staff because they have to do training. The onboarding takes a little bit. You have people who don't make it, who fall out. When we look at it, the first-year impact is minimal. It's $3. 5 million. With that, what we also did was we also applied to the state for police officer grant, called The Cops Grant. Each officer will get $125,000 for the position. Out of the 24 positions, out of $125,000 it will take about approximately five fiscal years, a minimum, to onboard 300 officers. And then, the cumulative cost over the five years will cost approximately $161. 3 million to onboard 300 officers in the next involve years. Lso, take or give a couple of years. That is all. Do we have any questions? Any comments from the commission? >> At this time, I'd really like to hold our comments. We have another presentation from the. Da executive director she needs s to read her statement. Following that we'll have public comment, then we can address issues or concerns about the budget if you will allow. >> If I can indulge the chair to ask why the dda is making a presentation now? >> Good morning everyone, under state statute they must make a statement before public comment, before this body votes on the millage and the budget. >> I don't remember that from the past but if that's what you're saying that's fine. I know that there's an item here for discussion on the dda. I don't believe this item should have been here for this meeting. We have discussed this nonstop on different occasions. Everybody's opinion is well-known. Outside of that, I don't know what else we would need. Nevertheless. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. I'll be brief. Christina Krespy, the executive director and. Eo of the Miami Downtown Development Authority. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you on behalf of the dda, which is proud to serve our community. The dda is committed to operating efficiently. We propose a budget that's $1 million less than last year. The proposed millage rate is 10% less than the previous from last year and 3. 7% less than the rollback rate. The average residential property valued at $580,000 is less than $20 a month in taxes. [Unclear] Less than $110 a month in taxes. Despite these reductions, we are not cutting services; in fact, we are investing more in areas the community has said matter most, helping those experiencing homelessness, enhancing cleanliness and security in downtown, and supporting businesses. We are streamlining marketing [Unclear] $1. 5 million in savings for our office over 10 years and we will continue to look at ways to strategically continue to reduce expenses to reallocate more to services over the coming year. In short, this is a budget that does more with less. It reflects efficiency, responsiveness and a commitment to the. Future. Thank you for your support and continuing to make downtown a vibrant place for all. >> Thank you. We'll open the floor for public comment. >> Because we had a presentation we'll put it into the record. >> Can you say your name again? >> I'm Christina Krespy. >> Are you sure? I remember a blonde. >> I'm back to the normal color. >> Thank you. >> If anyone wishes to speak on any item before us, please step forward to the lectern. Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning to everyone. I know this is bad timing, but I felt it couldn't have been another time. I've been very Qatar. [Unclear] I have the scars on my leg.. My dad owned the fish market. I'm a product of Liberty City. To stand here today again, my son was murdered at 830 Northwest 70th Street. There have been so many young Black men murdered at that apartment complex. I came here, I met with your city managers for two hours. I want to put it for the record, with his staff Hernandez. The detectives, and I agree we love the police. In The City of Miami I've had no compliance. The young man in jail is not the murderer of my son. He did have a part in it. To listen to the statement, to listen to the testimony of your detectives, the corruption going on in The City of Miami, I've been very quiet. Very, very quiet. [Unclear] Macintosh left kids here. It couldn't have been their children. The [Unclear] Chief Morales tried to jump on me. They did nothing. At the church on 52nd Street because I spoke up. That's my child. I came here before the civil board. I heard neighbor back from our city managers. AUGUST 13th made three years. I was in your office when it first happened. I heard nothing from the staff. [Unclear] City of Miami. I don't remember who he was. The girls were very nice. It's not about you. This is about what's going on in our community. Let me finish because it's heavy on my heart. >> Ma'am, I understand. One, this is the budget hearing. >> I'm going to the budget right now. >> Ma'am, your two minutes has expired. >> Let me just say this last thing, please. To fund City of Miami detectives. They're not doing their job. I'm not here to criticize law enforcement but they need to be held accountable with the funds. This is a waste of funding. [Unclear] Young man on the street doing the drugs, robberies, and murder. >> Our young men are not committing those crimes. For the City Manager, what you are doing to our community -- you don't live in these communities. >> Ma'am -- >> I need the speaker's name. >> [Unclear] Macintosh. He was murdered. Your department, City Manager, and City Attorney have not responded. Stephanie Sanchez. Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Robert Gomez, d2. [Unclear] Vista Court. >> MR. Manager, could you speak to her or send someone? Okay, please. Od morning again. >> I came to speak on 4 issues I have research and feedback I can send to all of you. The tree canopy cuts -- given the goal of 30% canopy for '30, how does cutting 1. 64 million from the tree trust fund and 1. 56 from the citywide planting align with that commitment. Stormdrain cleaning targets dropped from 1,012,000 to 850,000. Everybody gets flodded. How is it constant to o reduce it? Parks versus Freedom Park -- why is 10 million dollars allocated to Freedom Park maintenance while repair increase for city parks is only 108. Last thing -- police liability. We have an 11-million-dollar fund for settlements. We should post them. With the resilience budget cuts, how does the trade-off support resilience goals? Thank you. Please, fund the park in our neighborhood so we can stop the flooding. The water went over the bulkhead this week alone. Okay? >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Sandi unc. Lear]. I am here with recommendations for this year's budget to strengthen our city. First, I ask that you fund a park ranger position. I personally volunteer on one of the islands. A dedicated ranger is urgently neededj. Please allocate more for marine patrol officiosior. Iscayne Bay has seen too many accidents. Fund a citywide transition to electric leaf blowers. Gas-powered blowers are harmful. Alternatives protect the City of Miami and are quieter. Fourth, we need an urban forester position to oversee our tree canopy. Trees protect us, clean our air, and make us healthier. We want a 30% tree canopy in the City of Miami. The city cannot achieve these goals without professional ledrsshp. P. Prioritize funding for the Olympia Theater. Don't give it away. This is our jewel. If [Unclear] Can give the Flagler Bid 1 million annually, surly, the city can keep this. We can sustain the Olympia as intended. Thank you for your time and for considering these investments in our city. Ank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Commission and other officials. I am Paul Laffe, the political director at the Family Action Network Movement. We provide wrap around services for youth and our community as a whole. We offer case management to help community members navigate housing, healthcare, and education. We ask for your support of our key initiatives under the City using assistance, advocacy, and youth programs. These are especially critical in the Little Haiti community where the need grows. By investing in these initiatives, you strengthen the fabric of our neighborhoods and help to prevent far greater costs in the future. Thank you for advancing our mimssion. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Oh, good morning. Thank you. Carl Bay. I am here to speak on bh11, the Bayfront Park management trust. We ask the commission to create an academic program whose time has come finally. The biggest challenge for the industry for. Reparing the next generation of technions. S. Our curriculum has been approved. We are asking that this board support the present in a contracted agreement with Bayfront Park for the dockage so our young people in our region that attend the classes will be advanced. Now, they will over credentials from the Coast Guard and. A curriculum for their future careers. We look for the certain of an gram with on-the-job training. We were on the agenda the other night, and I am pleased to report that I think the outcomoe as positive. I will ask for an official motion so that we can put this on the agenda and move it forward with some support from the city. Interest est. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Norma [Unclear]. I am talking for an elder family member on the text xemption. I'm having an issue understanding that North Miami-Dade has exemptions on the trim notice, but the city don't have that. Also, the senior long-term exemption -- we are having an issue. The property is less than 250,000 to approve a long-term exemption. That's legislation. How are we able to do this right away? The seniors are hurting on this aspect. I need more understanding. Why, on the trim notice, is it not showing up the 250,000-dollar exemption. So -- ? >> Umm -- yes. >> Chair, speaker's name? >> Your name again, ma'am? >> Norma Albredo. >> Thank you. >> One of the reasons is that it is not part of the state trim compliance. It's a rebate that the city will be given. It's a check sent to you. You will not see it because it is not part of the process. >> Is this after the taxes are paid? >> Yes. More than likely, yes. We have to pass it here. We have to approve it in the budget first, and then it goes into effect OCTOBER 1. It is almost impossible to get a check out by NOVEMBER. Good morning. >> Good morning. 1391 Northwest 95 Street. First of all, we need to do this work together. It's a runaway train. You need to have communication and do better for the people. The people are suffering right now. Every year, we go through this budget. Who gets hurt? The little people. 402 million dollars in the county, in a debt situation. Who is going to get hit? The littl4e people. I don't see anything [Unclear] That they are going to cut. It's sad. If you put these people the job, where are they going to live? They have houses and kids to take care of. We put you in the position to do right. Prayers aren't helping us. The devil is running everything. The demons and all running. The people are suffering. You don't have a communication with us. We're paying your salary so that everybody can come here to get what they want. When it comes to us, we lose out. We put you in to do right by us. You are doing right for yourselves, not for the people. >> Thank you. Merge. Orning. >> Good morning. Commissioners. I am Will Celine. I want to thank the mayor for considering our proposed budget. I am here with my esteemed [Unclear]. I want to thank the mayor and commission for reviewing our proposed budget. We understand the fiscal challenges facing the city. That said, the mission of the Arts and Entrainment Counsel is clear. It's to champion and support emerging artists on our city hrives when the creativity thrives. They need platforms to flourish. We remain committed to serving the community and will work alongside the cite to make sure arts and entertainment remain and part of Miami's growth. Thank you. >> Thank you. I am going to let her go since she will speak on the same topic, and then I will come to you. >> Thank you. Good morning. Mume. On. I've been a member of this county since 2005, appointed by Mayor Diaz. Its. S our goal to provide support, education, and venues where the local artists of arts and entertainment. -we can provide them education assistance, places where they can exhibit their art. We are talking about emerging artists. This is our goal. We need the support of every single commissioner that they should appoint a person to represent their district for the needs of the local artists. Thank you. >> The speaker's name? >> Mariana unc. Lear]. Thank you very much. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. I am Chaplain Stanley Young for Teen Freedom. I live at 500 Northwest 2 Ave. This is our address. I want to make my proposal. For the last 35 years, I have reached out to inmates coming in and out. Of prisons and jails in South Florida. We need your help to help these inmates. The City of Miami has more people coming out of prisons/jails than any other county. There are 2000 coming out of your jail system that is in your district. I have reached out to each and every one of you commissioners for your support. Commissioner Gabela is the only one who talked with me to help this good organization to help the men and women in the City of Miami. Thank you, sir, for what you have done to help us. I hope it will prick some hearts of the other commissioners. We serve the entire City of Miami. A good bulk, 80-90%, of our work is done in the City of Miami. We walk the streets. And talk to your residents. A lot of them have voted for you to help you into office. Now, they need your help to establish back into the community that they need et be a part of. I am willing, able, and ready and am doing the work in the community. I need your help to help me help me. That's all I am asking for today. Call me. We will talk, prayer, and strategize to help those who need yhelp. Elp. Thank you. >> Story. Good morning. Ing. >> Good morning. I am from the great district 5. Commission, I am Sharon Fraiser, a community advocate on behalf of Helping Hands located in Liberty Square. And the neighborhood watch. We have been meeting every second Thursday at 5pm for 4 years. We have not even gotten a bottle of water, Commissioner Carollo, and we are the neighborhood watch. Thank you for these 2 entities that have been serving Liberty Square to keep the crime down. 20% of homicides/crime have been decreased. Also, I would like to thank Chief Morales for assigning Major Lorenzo who is at the m del City pd who sends Officer Williams to our neighborhood watch and educational meetings. He was there Thursday telling us about the new gun laws. We are an educational meeting. We don't meet just to meet. We interact with our police officers. Thank you, commissioners. We are looking for some support, funding for Helping Hands and the community crime watch. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Brenda Bettancourt. The dda. Are we The possibility of thinking about putting on the ballot for the residents of the district in Brickell. I've been speaking to a lot of people in Brickell and they are not happy to pay the extra tax. [Unclear. ]. H12 and 16, the cra question for the commissioners and the mayor, and the city manager. The cra budget has been in code for the Miami Dade County for several years, starting with CHAIRMAN Gilbert. If they don't get approved by. The County it doesn't move to the federal government. How do we still have it in our budget when Miami Dade County has not approved the budget for several years? I want to know if we spend money and then approve a budget or approve a budget and then spend the money. . H5, are we going to allow the parking authority to put meters at our single-family homes? [Unclear] They are double taxing. They pay in taxes and then they pay for parking meters at the single-family home in front of their house? We're talking about trying to save money for the residents. Are we just going to put meters everywhere? According to this budget we pay for them and then we pay for the tickets in front of our homes. What else are we going to do? Are we going to charge them to use the trash and rent them a little square space in front of the houses too? Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning to all the commissioners and Joe Carollo and Christine King. I live at 5781 Northwest 2nd Street. I actually live on Madeline Plaza. This is my first time so bear with me. [Unclear] You don't remember me. This is a legacy that we've been doing for years. I have never asked any help from the city but I think it's time because after covid we have left a legacy with no funds. Everything was coming out of my pocket. I can't anymore. [Unclear] Vasquez there. E was born NOVEMBER 4, 1938 and died in 1999 on NOVEMBER 11th. Nanito worked for many efforts in the time in Miami including [Unclear] Linda Murphy, also for Miami Dade County in the department of Housing and Urban Development. As a housing inspector and various resources, through his years. He helped League Against Cancer, American Printing House for the Blind [Unclear] BIg Brothers Big Sisters, Jose Marti Foundation, Camilla's House, and many more. He participated in many political groups [Unclear] The Cuban [Unclear] Board the Cuban American National Foundation- some of them are deceased. [Unclear. ] >> Ma'am, thank you. >> Oh. >> Thank you. >> And please, the only thing I'm asking for is I haven't met all of you before. This is my first time showing my face and we do need funding, whatever you can give. If you can give $500, $1000, whatever, it's really needed for the elderly and disability people. >> Thank you. >> Go. D morning. >> Katrina Morris, [Unclear. ] I wasn't going to come down and then I popped on the Miami. V. Am I right, $300 million for 300 police over five years? I was looking at the budget earlier. Public safety is 55% of our budget, $684 million. And then you go to community and economic development and you have $2. 9 million. Why do we need the police? Because we are putting people in positions of desperation, we are not supporting our communities and then we turn around and give $300 million over five years to 300 new policement. Can we hire 298? Do you know what $5 million at the ground level would look like? Do you know what that would do? Do you know what not giving away the Olympia would look like for the community? Community development causes us not to have to spend $684 million a year on police. Police are important, obviously. The calls are back-to-back. Do you know what a lot of calls are? Domestic violence. Why do you think that is? Maybe because people are living in desperate situations and they're up to here and they're crazy. This is making people crazy. We're living in a police state. We're going nuts, okay? Please be leaders. Take care of people. Where is care in this budget? I don't see it. I don't see care, I see punishment. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, James Torres, PRESIDENT Of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance. I'm here to strongly oppose the dda's proposed budget. It's built on a hostage tax. Downtowners have been forced to pay this for 58 years without a vote. No other Miamians have this. [Unclear] Over $100,000 a year. Along with that, more than $700,000 on luxury office spaces looking down on residents forced to look like presents. [Unclear] Over $550,000 a year plus an additional $185,000 more for a private. R firm. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars that the downtowners are paying on this item. Now, the latest lie out of the dda came out on JULY 24th. The dda's Michael Green claimed 34% of the budget is addressing homelessness. If that were true, it would mean $6. 4 million would be allocated to homelessness. Only 1. 25% allocates homelessness. If I were to make that comment in the private sector I'd probably be fired. There should be additional rebranding of the homelessness and more money to those. Let's be clear that residents in this district contribute over $32. 5 billion to the tax of the COm. Of Miami. We're asking for the removal of the downtowners in Brickell. There are more voters in the downtown district that voted on this item than for the CHAIRMAN. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. Liza Fernandez, 992 Northwest 5th sst. Et. I wasn't going to come up here and speak but after Katrina came up, it resonates. I'm a native. I'm a business owner of a third generation family business here. I have a son that goes to school in the same district and my neighborhood, I pay taxes to a home. The neighborhood I live in and our city is in dire need. When you see inequality of investments made to community and only investments into safety, it's a question mark of what we represent as a city. You guys are all leaders here. The fact that we're spending a little money in community development, the budget for the housing development is like $3 million, come on. This is something that is critical to our community, to the future of the city. We don't only need a rebate for seniors. For working professionals like my age, they're probably going to move out of here because it's easier-wages are not increasing but your cost is. Anybody that's making budget or investments are looking at these. We're not getting our rate of n investments as young citizens of the city. It's not only senior citizens, it's all of us that own homes, they're long-term investors in the city, they're the ones that are hurting. You guys are all leading here. Many of you are running to continue to be leaders in the city. Let's act on it. There shouldn't be a huge increase of 300 officers. That's a lot of money. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. Mercedes Rodriguez, 1510 Northwest 15th Avenue, a district 1 resident. I'm here in support of public safety for our police department and firefighters. It MAY seem like there's a huge number of policemen in the budget but not if you live in district 1. [Unclear. ] The reason why I'm here, first of all, I'd like to give my condolences to CHAIRWOMAN King for her father's passing away. I haven't been here since then. Congratulations, commissioner Rosado, for your appointment. I am here because I'm disappointed in the elected official from district 1. You have been elected for a four year term. >> Ma'am, please don't address any of us personally or individually. >> I want to hear what she has to say. >> She will but I don't want her to speak directly to you. >> We are in a midterm of two years in a four year cycle. The problems in district 1 have not been addressed. Problems have been addressed in district 2 with canopies, district 3 with business leaders. It's been raining and we're in the middle of hurricane season. Neighborhoods in the areas of Quiet Gardens have a huge issue. [Unclear] Two previous commissioners put aside $1. 8 million for the infrastructure was used for Northwest 37th Avenue when the government and state legislature provided funding that was premature. Capital funding is needed in these areas. Your crew is excellent, out there early working the district but we need your presence and you've been absent. >> Thank you. >> I want to address that because they're talking about my district. One, just in case you haven't notice-ma'am, in case you haven't noticed I established the Allapatah cra. Two, [Unclear] Advertising the name of the Commissioner. Yes, my name is on the truck but I put eight people on the weed eater team. The problems are from the prior commission. My team goes out there. Solid waste comes and they collect it. The swales, in some instances they don't know they're suppose to manage it. When they don't know they have to do it, don't want to do it, or whatever. Also, so you know, as a resident I invested-because of the rains and I saw what was going on, I invested in four pumps for. The district. So you also know, the same day I came back from vacation I was out there in my car at 7:30 in the afternoon, which is why I couldn't go to the Bayfront Trust meeting. As you know, MR. Noriega calls on a regular basis and informational n guy. I even showed up with my team and truck cutting 17th Avenue to give an example firefighter ld be done in the area. I beg to differ but if you want to see proof I'd be happy to show you. I could probably mention 10 more things budget Tiberius to take up more time. Please come by the office, we'll be happy to share a list of what's been done, and I'm sure there's more but I am not an absent guy. I've missed one special meeting because I was on vacation. I gave ample warning I was going on vacation. I hadn't had a vacation for two years since I'd been here. Right now, I'm supposed to go to Orlando because my grandson is going to be four. But I'm here because it's my duty. I am here and I will be here for you guys. Thank you very much. I will take what I'm working on seriously and try to implement it the best I can. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Thanks for hosting this on a Saturday. My name is Sylvio Pupo, speaking in my personal capacity. You've received a memorandum from the Climate Resilience Committee from our CHAIRMAN Highlighting budget requests. I'll mainly speak on my things and maybe he will speak on what the. Rc is recommending. As you know, there's a lot of people upset because we're spending a lot on police force. We have a lot of problems to solve. What I'm thinking we can do to maximize our dollars is thinking about how we can empower the community to do work the city is not set up to do or can't do because we don't have enough staff. For example, citizen science and community gardens-thank you, Commissioner Pardo for supporting the community gardens -we have urban foresters. Citizen urban foresters can help around the tree initiative to match tree trust fund dollars. I would suggest $350k for parks and resilience. Another multiplier would be drones. I'm proposing a two-unit marine drone pilot and aerial first respond. About $750k between police department, solid waste, and parks. I think we'll be able to stretch those dollars and do things that with more police we can't do. I want to collaborate you to u to have a unified data set. There's difficulty getting data from the community or from staff internally. Maybe about $100k to $500k for that pilot. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. There anyone else that would like to speak on behalf of this agenda for our budget? Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed. Gentlemen, with the statement from our budget director and the statement from the dda executive director, bh. 1 and. H 2 on our agenda have been satisfied. I'm just advising. >> I don't have that. >> Where's your agenda packet/ >> I don't know. >> MR. City Clerk, could you get Commissioner Gabela an agenda? >> At this time, if you guys would like to advise, if you'd like to pull any items for discussion. Any particular items for discussion. >> Not for discussion. I would assume we'll vote with all the items. >> There are some that require an individual vo >> If there are items to pull to specifically discuss -- >> Not today, MADAM Chair. There are items we have here. The administration has not had the opportunity to go overeager with me. I will not hold up anything or vote against those. I will vote for them knowing that might have a change of heart if the numbers that I am given are not what I think they should be. However, I will vote arouses the The property is in breach of he exception -- the only one I need to take from that package is the dda. Not because I am trying to say anything about how that is run there. That is for others to talk about with the dda. But it's because I have made my voice clear here and outside of here that I think the residents of downtown and Brickell -- a big chunk of the dda -- are in my district. They deserve a right to have a vote on tax they are paying that the rest of the city is not paying. Downtown Miami and Brickell belongs to all of the city of Miami. It's not that people have property there so they should be [Unclear] It. This is something to be done and handled, as far as funding, from the general fund. That's the only one I respectfully request to vote upon it separately. That I cannot vote for for the reasons stated. >> Commissioner Rosado? >> I would like to discuss bh1 -- >> ph1? >> There are no PHs. >> bh1. >> b as in boy? >> Yes. Have a number of comments on the overall budget. >> We have completed that. Go down further. >> This is only first reading. Bh19 and bh20 is, I believe, want you want to pull. There are some items here I can block vote if you don't have an issue with it. If you look at your agenda, I will pull bh19 and 20 for discussion. >> Actually, there is one more bh11, the Bayfront Park Management Trust. >> Okay. Go back towards -- here. Commissioner Gabela, do you have any? >> Yeah, I have a question in general. It starts with the 300 policemen. We need to clarify. By the way, I forgot. We increased the salary of the pd. I think you were here. We increased it from 55 to 61k to get more tolerant. However, we have a Prebinomial that I am seeing that I will address when it is my turn. I have aprblm. Em. >> Commissioner Pardo? >> I'm okay. >> MADAM Chair? I referenced the dda, but I did not ask you to pull bh4. I have made a number of changes for that. >> That goes with 3. You MAY want to pull bh3 and 4 >> bh3 and 4. Go together. Okay. So, therefore, I will be asking for a motion to approve bh5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. >> Sorry -- o called bh11 -- >> Todd's hand is up. >> bh12 as amended. >> And bh12 would be as amended. >> Motion. >> Second. >> First reading motion. >> Yes. Commissioner Gabela? >> Okay -- say the numbers again -- >> Okay, here we go. Bh5, 6, 7. >> Okay. >> bh8, 9. >> Okay. >> bh10. >> Okay. >> bh12 as amended. >> Okay. >> bh13. . 15. 16. 17. And 18. >> And just, if I MAY, for clarification -- those items will only be voted on today. After you vote on them today, they will not come back at the second meeting. >> I have a couple problems here. I have a problem with bh5. >> We will pull bh5 for discussion. >> Give me a minute please. . >> If I could ask a question -- >> Hold on. Let me get his -- anything -- >> This will be brief. >> No, I want him to finish. >> bh5 I want to pull. Bh12. >> Uh-huh. >> bh17. And bh18. >> Okay. Anyone else want to pull -- >> One more thing. Bh20. This is the general budget? >> 19 and 20 are pulled. >> They have been pulled? >> Mhmm >> That's it for me. >> Go through it again, please? >> 5, 12, 17, 18. I have a problem with 19 can 20. Also. >> That has been pulled. >> What is bh21. >> That's a discussion item. >> Oh. Okay. I'm ready. >> Does anybody else have anything else they want to pull? Okay. MAY I have a motion for bh6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All those in favor, say aye. Item passes. Commissioner Gabela, I believe s, ma'am. >> I believe you pulled -- well, Commissioner Rosado, you pull bh3. 3 -- ? >> And 4. >> Right. >> We can discussion -- soon For discussion -- hold on a second. The City Clerk is coming to see me. 3 is strictly the. Millage, so let's not -- >> Sure. I actually don't. I know the City Attorney suggested we pull it out. I am not suggesting a change to the millage. That can be voted on. The City Clerk has copied to distribute. >> Under chapter 200 for millage adoption, you have to do the millage first to set it, and then you will consider the budget. That's why we mention that. If you have no change you can vote on that and take up bh4 with distribution and everything else you wish to do. >> I don't have questions for the dda millage if Christina could join me up here at the podium. I am going to go over some proposed changed. The original draft circulated to the commission -- I'm sorry -- >> What I was saying -- if you want to discuss the budget, vote on the milage now. . >> Understood. Motion to adopt the dda milage rate as stated already. >> Second. >> Motion and second to approve bh3. All those in favor, say aye. >> Nay for the reasons previously stated. >> Motion carries 4:1. >> The budget City-related ovisionally tributed before I was appointed charmant I. I have gone through everything, each line item, asked questions and met with staff and individuals. I got feedback and did my own assessments of things to change. The City Clerk is distributed the revised budget. I want to encourage Christina if she has comments to chime in as well. As CHAIRMAN, my vision is about prioritizing the people who live, work, and contribute to downtown. The budget before you shows a redirection of focus for enhanced services, homeless assistance, expense of small-business growth, and more direct community support. We are shifting the focus towards the core mission which improves quality of life for folks in the dda area, greater help for small businesses, and more direct service provision. We are increasing direct homeless assistance by 225,000 dollars. We are shifting an additional 210,000 dollars towards the growth and development assistance line item for small business grants and startup support encouraging local entrepreneurs to thrive. We want these areas to be clean, safe, and livable. We redirect 100,000 dollars to enhance serve At this time, the city seeks to admit the case, resumes, notices, and gs such as dog-waste cleanup. We propose a 100,000-dollar boost for the facade grant program and are redesigning it to focus on certain blocks to see a greater impact of renovated facades. We will set aside 5000 dollars for public education assistance for a Best Buddies partnerships to encourage participants which is very strong programming. We support an incursasse of 13,000 dollars towards the downtown clinic program to expand hours of operation. We are looking to reprioritize the agency's values and focus on the core mission. Christina, if you have anything to add. >> Thank you for doing that deep dive. We are happy to accommodate those requests. >> I have some questions. At is your total reserve now? >> It is going to be implemented into the entire budget -- >> No, what is that number? >> The number is 2. 6 in the preparsed budget. >> You have 16 million in total revenues. Your budget is going to be 18 -- >> Say that again. >> Yeah. >> You are making up the difference with your reservices. When you spent the 2 mil, what are you left with in reserves? >> There. Will not be. >> At zero? >> Yes, spending it out over the general fund. Correct? Yes. >> You will be at zero. You. Will not have reserves, no liquid? >> I think he means cash reserves, like cash on hand. >> Oh. Sorry. >> No worries. >> I will come around to make it clear. My understanding is that. We spread it out to cover that reduction. >> Correct. Everything in current year '24-'25 will carry over. The reserves are 200,000 dollars only. >> So, 200k are your reserves after you meet the 2 million to make up the difference. >> Correct. >> What was your total budget last year? >> It was 19. 8 if I am not mistiken. We had a reduction of a million dollars. >> Those are my questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. That is why I was sayign we used the reserve to move it over to the budget. Budget. >> Other questions or comments? Motion to approve bh4? >> So move. >> Second. >> As amended. >> As amended. All those in favor, say aye. >> Nay for the reasons pervasively stated. >> Motion passes 4:1 with Commissioner Carollo vote-rigging no. Commissioner Gabela? >> I have 2 instances here -- a problem with the mpa. I will put it on the reread. One time, I said the complaint, and then I never passed by there again. I wasn't The property is in ituation is going on. I want to ensure this will stop. Regarding the 22nd Ave ramp, a public ramp run by us, and here is Thorpe rebloom. F you're a boater, there's a parking lot next door to park your pickup and boat or whatever. Inkers. 5 dollars and change. Here is the problem. I bought a boat in MARCH. It was a speedboat, by the way, Carollo. I bought it in MARCH. The guy delivering it to me -- I met him at the ramp. At about 1pm on a weekday, the ramp's gates are closed. You see a security guy there. He said, "You have to pay to launch a boat. " I said, "You have to pay to park. We are just launching. " You have to take the picture, o pay by phone, do that. It always 15. 79 dollars. Ave to show you paid. Oh -- I'm glad you're here. After I show the picture, he opens the gate. Then, another guy came in. He was frustrated. I reported that. I understand you have to collet for the parking. Okay? I never knew you were collecting to launch boats and to take them out. Here is the point. I asked if this was standard operating procedure. I found out it wasn't. It was only happening in my district. That's not fair. That's not correct. We had the intellectual conversation that there are people who come and don't live or pay taxes in the City of Miami. That was part of the reason it was being done. I am sure that happens next to [Unclear] Club at Watson Island. We have other ramps throughout the city. I know we have multiple ramps the city owns and operations. i said that I didn't want to see this again. It happened again with me when I launched the boat. It's a subcontracted security guy. This has to stop. If you want to come to us with this, we can implement it. Don't target my area. If the fear is that people are coming from other municipalities, maybe we can implement a system where people show up with an id. You pay to park. We know that. If you are coming only to launch If you're coming only to launch the boat you shouldn't have to pay. I suggest-you're CHAIRMAN Of the. P? I would suggest that if you're going to keep this going that it's implemented citywide because I'm not going to be targeted. If it's free for everyone else, my people should get it also. If the problem is wear and tear let's do a system with IDs. Let's do a system where if you're just going to launch the boat you don't pay [Unclear. ] Maybe you pay the $. 79 like I did to pay for the wear and tear. >> Angel Diaz,. Oo for the Miami Parking Authority. The area you're talking about, that boat ramp we met with Parks because that's managed by Parks. We only enforce it when the boat ramp is open and closed. We talked to them a few times about it. It happened once with you and a second time with a gentleman who has a boat mechanic shop in the district as well. We spoke about that as well. We spoke to the Parks Department, who manages the park, and the security guard to understand that they can't charge. When the lot is open it's pay by phone. We do not control the opening and closing. >> Pay by phone if you park the car. Nowhere have I heard that if you don't park [Unclear.] >> Let me clarify. We only charge for park -- >> It was your sign. When I logged in and paid my $15. 70 that money-you know, I have a business. You have people who pay with a credit card, and the merchant deposits into a corporate account. [Low audio. ] What I'm saying is park, yes. If you're going to park that's fine. What you can't be doing and singling my area out is that you're collecting even though I'm not going to park, and that's been happening. >> Let me clarify. I don't know who's charging to launch the boat but it's no us. We only charge when you park. [Unclear. ] It's not our security. It's no the Miami Parking Authority. I don't know where the disconnect is with Parks. >> Didn't we have this conversation? I believe we had this conversation. >> Good afternoon. [Unclear] Including Parks. We had this situation at the boat ramps. Park rangers handle the boat ramps. Miami Parking Authority, they're the parking Lott and eople have to pay to park there. What the security guard was asking was proof they paid for parking to move the boat. >> No, I know how to read it, I can speak English. I spoke to the guy. What's happening is the gates were closed in mid-week. When the sun is out there at 1:00, 12:00, a guy parks his car in the middle of the ramp and nobody can get through there unless you pay a fee to launch it. Forget about me, I don't want my money back. I care about the residents. Whoever's doing it is in my area but they're not doing it to anyone else. Unless you tell me it's the policy I will retract everything. But there's a problem in my district. You're doing it to my people in my district. What I said is you're going to launch the boat, and then you are done. That's free. That's not what's happening. If you don't show him you paid he won't let you go. >> We addressed that and explained that they shouldn't be doing that. The challenge with that particular boat ramp is it's off the Miami River. If there's no parking, they close the ramp because there's no parking because residents were complaining about traffic. >> This was on a weekday. The parking lot is empty. There might be one or two guys. It was never the weakened. I always caught them on a weekday. If you're a boater and live in the area and every other ramp is available, and you do this only in my area. By the way, security does no regulate itself. If you collect the money [Unclear. ] That guy didn't go over there and decide, "I'm going to put my car here. " He's doing a job and somebody sent him to do a job. Kent is not the guy-the security company-are not the guys. The guys collecting are pay by phone. It's either [Unclear] Somebody's telling that guy, "Do this." >> When you brought the situation up we addressed it. >> I caught him again. >> Recently? >> About a month and a half ago. >> I didn't know. Then we need to address that because we did speak to him. >> Will you address that? >> Yes, we will address the. >> When this instance occurred roughly a month and a half ago -- >> When the incident occurred with me it was back in MARCH. >> I'm crystal clear that was the first time we addressed it. When it occurred a second time it was the same guidance the security guard was giving, if you want to launch your boat, you have to pay for parking? >> I believe I took a picture. The guy was in the middle of the ramp again, the gate's closed. The same situation was going on. >> We are actually prohibited in charging for the use of a boat ramp. That's illegal. We can charge for parking if people store their trailer there. Access to a boat ramp is always free. The only time it does get impeded, because we've had this issue in the ramp next to us, sometimes the volume is so great that it has a limited capacity. In peak season, you get a lot of people. We've had to monitor it. Angel and Alice and speak to that. We've had to have police there because they get aggressive when they want to launch their boats. If that happened again we will address it. Iff we have to change the guard out we'll address it. Security is to make sure there's controlled chaos there. >> He's very rude. >> That's good feedback. >> If you live there, you should be able to launch the boat like anywhere else. If you're going to park, you park but to charge-if you're going to do that, you do it on all of them. >> We can't charge. We'll address it again. >> Thank you for the explanation. >> Thank you. MAY I have a motion for. H 5? >> I'm sorry? >> MAY I have a motion for. H 5? >> So moved. >> One more thing I'd like to ask. Out of the money they make, what percentage comes to the city? >> With the budget you approved there's a. Et number every year. >> Thank you. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and second. >> I'm missing Commissioner Rosado. >> [Unclear.] >> He's coming. Commissioner Rosado, I have a motion and second on. H 5. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Motion carries. >>. H 11 was pulled. >> I think he pulled it. I was going to pull it. >> Commissioner Rosado? >> How much do we have in reserves for the Bayfront Tryst/ >> I believe it's 24-25. il. >> The reason I bring it up is the dda and Trust are in different financial positions. I'd like to request that for next year we allocate an additional $1 million for homeless assistance from the Bayfront Park Trust. >> You're asking it to go to the dda? >> No, to go to homeless assistance programs. Bayfront is looking absolutely beautiful but any time I'm down there, I am approached by folks that need some assistance. >> I don't have a problem with that. Here's why I wanted tentative . When I had the briefing, they presented $9 million they want to take from Bayfront Trust to make up for the budget. Bayfront is not dissolved yet. We're putting the cart before the horse. Why? Bayfront needs repairs. The office, some of the dockage needs repair. If the situation is that you're looking at $25 million and you're using that to balance your books with. The budget, I don't think it's a good idea. At this point, I think we should determine first what we're going to do with the park and then take that leap. While I'm on the subject, there's another problem here. To fix this budget, I'm going to be somehow affectated to the tune of 22. 8 million dealers. Why? You want $9 million for bayfront. As of right now I'm the CHAIRMAN. [Unclear] That's the end of that story. For now, I am the CHAIRMAN So I have to be responsible. The Commissioner before me did a good job, I'll give him that. However, the park needs repairs here and there. That $25 million that you guys are looking at, if you deplete that you might have trouble later on doing things that were going on and have been going on. For example, the rock garden was installed by the past CHAIRMAN Carollo. We didn't kill that. That's going to require $300,000. The bunker, we asked for an estimate to do that right and it's $14 million. It's going to cost some money. Same thing with the dockage. I'm going to let the executive director address that in detail. If any of you have questions. I'm going to end with this. $9 million from Bayfront. I'm the CHAIRMAN And trying to do a good job. Then you want to take $6 million from my budget in district 1 because you want a fire station. Let's take it evenly from everyone else. Then, the $2 million from the omni cra is supposed to be earmarked for the Allapatah cra. Somehow, you guys included it in the budget. Correct me if I'm wrong. Then, another $5. 8 million in midtown. Correct me if I'm wrong again, that I'm going to be affected to. If you guys say you're go ng to take the $5. 8 million-we took a vote on creating the Allapatah cra. Whatever the total revenue stream is, that was volunteered and we all agreed it was going to go to the Allap