Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Regular

>> test miami-dade . >>chair: we like to acknowledge the people doing extraordinary things in miami-dade county so we have to presentations, the first is going to be 4311 by the mayor. The second one will be by the vice chair for the celia cruz quarter. Mayor . >>mayor: happy bosses day, I am a happy boss, happy to be celebrating. Thank you so much . >>chair: you all who are standing right there talking? Those pople you're talking to, if we could stop talking because we are actually in the presentations now. >>mayor: commissioners, please join us up here for this very important presentation. All right, so in addition to this being bosses day, this is 311 anniversary day. [Applause] So 20 years, is that what I've heard? 20 years and a little history, it was started as a hotline for team metro and we have a young woman who was here with the program from the initiation. While, 20 years. It was established by the county as a nonemergency line for the public and it has become a lifeline for so many. If you have not visited the 311 call ctr. You are really missing out. It is a hive of happy bustling activity, providing information . Yeah, yeah. So thousands of our residents rely on 311 services and 311 is not a status quo operation. It is constantly improving, modernizing and the latest, maybe if I could just see a brief word about the new system coming into better track when people call but the bottom line is that 311 is therefore every county need. People can call for bulky waste pickup, for street pets, they can call to know what to do in a storm, how to find their bus route, you name it, 311 is there to help the public and it has been a joy as mayor to get to know the operation better under the leadership of kim henson. Kim, yes, who has directed te office since nine years. Nine years she has led this office and we are recruiting and I had the chance to see a new class of operators getting trained and they are super excited because they know they are the ambassadors to the public for county government, building trust and confidence that we are here to help. So with that, just an example, hurricane milton. We extended the hours because we knew people needed, maybe they were living in a mobile home park and they needed pickup from our transit system so we extended the hours at 311. There was even a bravo shift and people had to sleep in. Commissioners, there was a 311 bravo shift during the milton emergency and they slept overnight at the center to be able to take the calls from the public. That's how dedicated these people are so it's exciting to recognize 311 day 20 years in the making and now I am going to pass the mic to somebody. >>chair: we were going to bring them up, you took up all the time talking. Come on up for this proclamation. [Inaudible] >>mayor: can you at least tell them it's their day? >>chair: now therefore be it resolved that daniela levine cava, mayor of miami-dade and the members of the county board of commissioners in this community do hereby proclaim wednesday, OCTOBER 16 do hereby proclaim wednesday, OCTOBER 16, 2024 as 311 contact ctr.'s 20th anniversary day signed by every commissioner in the room. Congratulations. ... [Applause] >>chair: commissioners, we have one more presentation than for that presentation we're going to recognize vice CHAIRMAN Anthony rodriguez. Chair: thank you CHAIRMAN. Can we have antonio nelson come up? Mayor, colleagues, CHAIRMAN, this presentation is different. It might be the first of its kind in the county that we've done. It's not your typical proclamation. We've got the whole squad coming up. All right guys. You guys you should have come here early and say hi before. Stand around. So this proclamation, this presentation is a little bit different than what we are used to seeing. It's not a certificate we give to everybody, it's the first of its kind, the first time an afro latino and an afro-cuban has been privileged to be placed on a us currency so we're going to be handing those out to all of you guys today but celia cruz who we all know who was local, born and raised in cuba and came to the states is someone that brought life to all of us and I want to hear from homer a little bit and nelson because they're the ones that worked with her and understood and I want to hear about her , not an elected official speaking but she is someone that wasn't just a musician, wasn't just an artist, wasn't someone that we know as a local person but she brought life to so many people , believed in missions, followed her heart and is someone that brought joy and I'll share this and I'll give the mic away and before I say this, thank you to everyone that made it a possible , natalie, vice mayor from your office to office of cmmunity advocacy here, nelson or in the entire team but I'll share this one quick thing is that most of you know here that I've been having some back pains the last couple of days and I've been very stiff. So this morning as I do every morning I don't wake up this way, I know you guys think I wake up this way but I'm brushing my teeth and I always put music but today I found the need to put on celia cruz because I knew we had this presentation so I put celia cruz and I'm stiff, getting over the back pain, and slowly I start kind of just moving around and before you know it I'm doing a full salsa lesson. So it's what she brought to all of us, is that joy and also I can't do that, I think removing like that so that's who celia cruz was to me. Someone that did not have the opportunity to meet her during her life on this earth but that's who she was to so many people. She never had a bad face, she always put on a good face and I'm sure as a human she had bad days and I'm sure homer saw that behind-the-scenes but we never saw it, she always put on a happy face. She was the best at what she did and for that I'm honored to do this presentation on behalf of the county and I want to thank you for being here nelson and we love you and some of my colleagues want to say something but we love to say a few words about celia and this journey class I am PRESIDENT Of the celia cruz foundation. Thank you for celebrating her legacy. Although she never lived in miami miami was close to her heart, she came here as her father knows and her family knows so today was about bringing people together and it's very fitting that the us government celebrated celia cruz with a coin with her face and most importantly the spanish word for the first time in the us currency so that you for being here, I'm going to pass the microphone to my boss and thank you again everybody for this. >> thank you chair, vice chair, mayor and commissioners. Was about 1820 years old and we worked with celia cruz. Imagine celia was not just a pioneer of music but many things and imagine being an immigrant female in 1950s, 60s and she pioneered a role for music and women of all colors and generations so we are very proud about this. One message for elected officials that are here as we close heritage month it's important to continue to keep the education of legacies like celia cruz for generations to continue to know who they were and enrich their education so thank you for this and this , I'd like to thank you as well and thank you for everything. So I don't know if any of you would like to speak . >>mayor: just one word. >>commissioner rgalado: I grew up with celia cruz. She was amazing. My parents used to tell us about being born in the united states and being born here didn't make us less human and I remember when they did the opening of supergroup and she was there. She was always at the radio stations but I have to say one story because celia was always front and center anytime that human issue was being debated and there was a time where being cuban-american wasn't that popular and where we got a lot of backlash. There was also a time where acumen immigrants exiles were kept at one time obey and she actually went with my parents to get them and perform for the troops and for the humans being housed at gitmo and it was an amazing moment where for the first time people thought about gitmo and what was happening there. With the humans stranded there. With the people that all they wanted to do was come to the united states specifically to miami and you know, she was always about breaking the rules . One of the things I loved about her. And when they were touring gitmo she stuck her hand under the fence and almost got arrested because she said she wanted to take home some dirt from her native land. So always a rule breaker, always an inspiration, a legend. It's so fitting she is now the face of hispanic heritage and everything we're so proud of. >>vice chair: we have points to get up and then we will take the picture. ... >>... >> good morning to all. Clerks office has been informed commissioners steinberg will be absent from today's meeting. Commissioner bastien. Commissioner bermudez. Commissioner cabrera. Commissioner cohen higgins. Senator garcia. Senator gonzales. Commissioner hardemon. Commissioner hagans. Commissioner mcghee. Commissioner regalado. Vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez. Gilbert. You have nine members present, you have a quorum . >>chair: show the chair here also. Please rise for invocation and pledge of allegiance. Sergeant at arms, the people talking at the back of the room, we would love it if they weren't talking. Bow your heads. GOD we come saying thank you for your divine blessings, thank you for giving us the opportunity to wake up and do good. Thank you, keep us in your will and your way. Make us good servants for you, amen. >> 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. >>chair: met an attorney, seems like an appropriate time to move reasonable opportunity to be heard. I have a list. When I call your name, approached the podium and give me your name, address and you have two minutes. Francisco ad harry warren. Okay. Francisco . City of miami. So good to see you. Have known you were going to be here. ... >>chair: all right, go . >>speaker: I run and on tae kwon do . >>chair: what's your address? >>speaker: 156 >>chair: what's your address? >>speaker: 15625 southwest 288 street apartment e-304. I run a program for it ad fist tae kwon do. I'm the master. I was running a program in 2018. I was removed in the latter part of 2019. >>chair: hold on one second, what is 1f1? Okay. So I know that sometimes there's some confusion but reasonable opportunity to be heard, this portion is specifically limited to things that are actually on the agenda so one f1 is about the sunset of the construction board. So if you're not speaking about trade or construction board, you're not really supposed to be so if you can limit your comments to that I would appreciate it. >>speaker: I was told to come here by the mayor's office because the whole commission would be here today and I asked to speak on... >>chair: what I'll do is I have somebody in my staff at the back of the room and tey can address your concerns. It's always better to come to the office and talk to them but if there are concerns about rules? >>speaker: this is not a general concern. >>chair: is not about something that's on the agenda though so that's not on the agenda so we're going to have somebody talk to you and I'll send it someone from my office to meet you in the back. Go ahead. >>. >>speaker: offices at 444 go ahead. >>. >>speaker: offices at 444 sw. 2nd ave., miami, fl. Here on behalf of the city of miami to respectfully request a continuance or denial of agenda item forte in order for the city of miami to fully resolve the conflict regarding the rapid transit zone known as rtc and its amendments and expansions. Rtc and amendments such as this completely obscure the city jurisdictional authority over all rehabilitative decisions. As you know the city and county have engaged in a conflict resolution process under 164 and there is a pending lawsuit. As such we request the item to be continued or denied. >>chair: thank you and tell everyone we said hello. Reasonable opportunity is now closed. Matter of attorney let's get it. >> if you can give me one second MR. Chair. >> requester is still coming in. So we do have a few preliminary matters. Item 8c 1 and 8 c 2 commissioner gonzales is adding these items to the pull list, 8c1 and 8c2. 8n2, commissioner mcghee at this item to the pull list. 11a2, vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez is adding his name to the pull list. 11 a 4, vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez is adding his name to the pull list however the sponsor has requested deferral to the NOVEMBER 6 meeting so the board will need to decide how it wishes to proceed. And that was item 11a4. 1483, commissioner cabrera is pulling this item for an amendment. 1483. 1484, senator garcia is adding this item to the pull list. And 15 b1, vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez is adding his name to the pull list. I also have an additional request for cosponsorship, items for each and 881, senator garcia cosponsor, eight and three vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez wishes to be cosponsor, 11 a8, 11 a9 and 11 a 11 letter garcia cosponsor. In 1483, senator garcia vice CHAIRMAN Rodriguez and commissioners gonzalez and steinberg are listing as cosponsors. Items to be considered on today's meeting will be those listed in the printed final agenda with additions to corals withdrawals and scriveners error and the items I just mentioned. The commission will approve all these items by a single vote in the agenda except item 2b1, appointment of the director of the compliance department. Ordinances for first reading, items 8a2 and 8p3 which must be voted on separately and the following pull list items, 8c1, 8n3, 1184, 1187 and it supplement, 11 a 11, 1481, 1483, 1484 , 1485 which is the first reading , 14 b1 and 15 b1 and 1184 we had a request to do for that item to NOVEMBER 6 commission and 2 polling commissioners so what with the board like to do to that item? >>vice chair: 1182 I only polled to call prime it. >>chair: on it item, what is it, 11a4 ? He is co-priming it , he is requesting dferral. Show that deferred , it's not yours, 1184. I know. So we can show that. >>county attorney: 11a4 will be deferred and 11a2, vice chair listed as co-prime. With the setting of the agenda 11a4 will be approved . >>commissioner higgins: MR. CHAIRMAN? >>chair: take over for a second . >>county attorney: I apologize, commissioner bastien is still pulling 11a2 . >> you wish to be recognized? To the attorneys, then we defer 11a4 to know date certain? >>county attorney: NOVEMBER 6 was the request for 11a4 . 11a2 remains on the pull list because commissioner bastien is a polling commissioner. >>vice chair: anything else remaining before setting the agenda? >>county attorney: I don't believe so. Will entertain a motion to set the agenda. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Anyone wish to be recorded know. Our agenda has been set. To the attorneys. >>county attorney: we have the two aviation items, would you like to entertain those now? >>commissioner higgins: I moved them one by one so tell me which ones . >>county attorney: the first one is 8a2. >>vice chair: all those in favor signify by saying aye. Second item to be moved. >> 8p3. >>vice chair: all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aviation items carry . >> there were a couple of 14 that weren't polled, 14a2 and 14a5 quest 14a5 is a first reading . >>chair: it's been moved by higgins, seconded by bermudez, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Mdm. Attorney let's go to 8n3. >>commissioner higgins: MR. CHAIRMAN I'm the only polling commissioner, I pulled the item to vote no. >>chair: moved by cabrera, seconded by bermudez. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed. Show it adopted. One quick thing I wanted to add in terms of the gm x, the settlement negotiations for gm asked have been ongoing and the county will take any necessary steps to ensure it keeps all the options open until the talks continue. Additionally I'm happy to inform the board that mdx is part of those talks and will be reaching some sort of settlement soon. >>chair: we're good? Okay. What else can we get really quickly? Are recognized. >>commissioner mcghee: 8n2, I pulled that item to vote no . >>commissioner higgins: I will second also. >>chair: moved, seconded by the chair. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Show it adopted. Show one opposed. >>county attorney: you do have a mayoral appointment, 2b1. >>chair: is this going to be one of those appointments where the person comes up and talks for a long time? No? Yes, we can do that. Mayor, your recognized. >>mayor: thank you. So I'm pleased to present to you ophelia tomayo as dir. Of the internal compliance department and this is a new department that was part of our budget process and it's the transition of the constitutional offices this has created an opportunity for us to streamline our operations to better serve residents and taxpayers so she was our director of audit and management services and now she's the director of internal compliance department. It's been a priority of mine since I took office to identify operational efficiencies across departments to reduce costs, improve service and increase accountability and this new internal compliance department was created and approved in the 2425 budget to consolidate three core functions under a single leader. Division of process and control management which was formally our audit and management services, office of enterprise strategies which is responsible for informs, the county's enterprise resource planning system and division of credit and collections so she ophelia has come back after service to the county. She came back to serve as our director in JUNE 2023 so it's been more than a year she served outstanding as our director and she is an accomplished accounting professional with more than 25 years of aggressive internal audit experience in four accounting firms as well as government and corporate environments and prior to working on a successful career in the private sector she served in our county's audit department as audit supervisor and associate auditor. She has a masters in business administration, second major in marketing and she is a cpa in florida and in california as well as a certified internal auditor and assistance auditor, we know she would be an excellent leader and please join me in congratulating her for her appointment. >>chair: congratulations. >>chair: the mayor took up all your time talking. We know your blood type, be positive. We got it but mme. Attorney. >>county attorney: just for the record I believe there's some confusion, 11 810 remains on the pull list, not 11a11. So the item that was told was 11 810 . >>chair: I wasn't confused by that. Okay, yeah. >>county attorney: would you like for me to read the first readings? Ordinance relating to miami dade county advisory board amending section 2 b 427 of the code increasing the number of board members making technical provisions and an effective date, 4b is a ordinance relating to the rules of procedure of the board of county commissioners; amending section 2-1 of the code of miami-dade county, florida; revising circumstances under which a separate vote on any part of a proposed budget shall be held; providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date. 4c is a ordinance relating to miami-dade countyc/b?B=s domestic leave policy; amending article viii of chapter 11a of the code of miami-dade county, florida; revising the domestic leave ordinance for employees of miami-dade county and the public health trust; delegating authority to the county mayor or county mayorc/b?B=s dsignee to amend implementing order 7-43 and the county leave manual accordingly; making technical and conforming changes; and providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date. 4d is a ordinance relating to overnight camping on county property; amending section 21-286 of the code of miami-dade county, florida; revising penalties; amending section 8cc-10 of the code and updating schedule of civil penalties to conform to amendments; providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date. 4e is a ordinance creating and establishing a special taxing district in miami-dade county, florida, generally bounded on the north by theoretical sw 249 terrace, on the east by sw theoretical sw 133 path, on the south by sw 250 street, and on the west by sw 134 avenue (Talbot road), known and described as el cayon multipurpose maintenance and street lighting special taxing district; identifying services to be provided; authorizing and directing the county mayor or county designee to cause to be maintained and operated various public improvements and to provide for the installation of streetlights; approving a street lighting agreement with florida power and light and authorizing the county mayor or county mayorc/b?B=s designee to execute the agreement; waiving provisions of resolution no. R-130-06; and providing for exclusion from the code and an effective date. 4f is a ordinance creating and establishing a special taxing district in miami-dade county, florida, generally bounded on the north by sw 232 street (Silver palm drive), on the east by sw 133 avenue, on the south by sw 236 street, and on the west by theoretical sw 133 place, known and described as siena reserve west multipurpose maintenance and street lighting special taxing district; identifying services to be provided; authorizing and directing the county mayor or county mayorc/b?B=s designee to cause to be maintained and operated various public improvements and to provide for the installation of streetlights; approving a street lighting agreement with florida power and light and authorizing the county mayor or county mayor's designee to execute the agreement; waiving provisions of resolution no. R-130-06; and providing for exclusion from the code and an effective date. 4g is a ordinance creating and establishing a special taxing district in miami-dade county, florida, generally bounded on the north by sw 212 street, on the east by sw 117 avenue, on the south by sw 214 street, and on the west by sw 117 court, known and described as southpointe vista multipurpose maintenance special taxing district; identifying services to be provided; authorizing and directing the mayor or designee to cause to be maintained and operated various public improvements; and providing for exclusion from the code and an effective date. 4h is a ordinance relating to the rules of procedure of the board of county commissioners; amending section 2-1 of the code of miami-dade county, florida; providing that, subject to notice and other legal requirements, certain items considered at committee shall be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board of county commissioners; providing that these items are not subject to the 4-day rule; making technical and conforming changes; providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date. 4I is a ordinance relating to delegations of authority to the county mayor or county mayorc/b?B=s designee in the procurement of goods, services, and professional services; amending sections 2-8.1 and 2-8.1.6 of the code of miami-dade county, florida (C/b?B=codec/b?B=) To increase the county mayor or county mayor's designee's thresholds of delegated authority for the award and rejection of competitive contracts, including professional services contracts; making technical revisions; providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date. 4k is an ordinance rlated to the rapid transit system development zone amending sections 30 3c 3.3 and 30 3c b eight of the code of miami-dade county florida operating properties within the smart corridor or some zone to be developed pursuant t certain development parameters set forth in section 30 3c8 of the code, making technical and conforming changes and providing inclusion in the code and an effective date. 4l is an ordinance related to paid parental leave for miami-dade county employees amending article acts of chat chapter 11 a of the code of miami-dade county florida to expand the county paid parental leave program. I do have some requests to bifurcate. Commissioner gonzales would like to bifurcate 4d and 4I. >>chair: which ones bifurcating? 4d and 4I? Do I have a motion on the rest. Call the roll. >>clerk: [Roll call] Motion passes unanimously . >>chair: bifurcations . >>vice chair: for 4d I pulled back to vote number . >>chair: is first reading but okay. Call the roll. What was it, 4d? Mcghee, you want to move 4d? Seconded by the vice chair, call the roll. >>clerk: [Roll call] Motion passes 8 and 2 . >>chair: what was the next one, if you could move 4I . >>commissioner gonzalez: I bifurcated 4I, I think this is a great item and I heard the committee arguments. I know this is first reading but I wanted to offer a friendly amendment so when this comes back we are all good to go. I want to offer an amendment. >>chair: we don't do that at the first reading, we don't do that but you can definitely work in the sunshine and we don't do that first reading. >>commissioner gonzalez: instead of putting a sunshine what I would like to do is an amendment that asked for a report to come back in 90 days to make sure this is something that works. Thank you so much . >>chair: moved and seconded by call the roll. >>clerk: [Roll call] >>chair: yes for now and later. I'm joking . >>clerk: motion passes 92 4 . >>chair: all right, mme. Attorney's . >>county attorney: we have some procedural motions related to the first readings, would you want to do those now? >>chair: advance to the next, yes. You can do them all together. Hold on one scond, commissioner bastien. >>commissioner bastien: thank you MR. Chair, I do have a motion. >>chair: does the attorney have it also because she's going to read them at the same time. Yours is one of the ones that she had. >>chair: the first is regarding item 1485, chair rules to waive the rules of procedure to move the notice requirements and as to item 1485 to schedule a public hearing at the NOVEMBER 12 item 1485 to schedule a public hearing at the NOVEMBER 12, 2024 meeting of the CHAIRMAN's policy counsel and intergovernmental affairs committee, direct the clerk to publish all necessary notices direct the coordinator to send the appropriate municipal notices and amended accordingly . >>chair: I think that's not the motion. Read the motion for all the items, not that one. >>county attorney: I apologize. >> german gilbert moves to suspend this boards rules of procedure on your agenda today specifically agenda items 4 a, 4k and 1485 and also suspend rules of procedure regarding six weeks municipal notice requirements on 14a5 at the NOVEMBER 6, 2024 board of county commissioners meeting to represent notice on necessary notices, direct the coordinator to send the appropriate municipal notices and amended 15a1 accordingly. >>chair: seconded by the vice chair, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Show it adopted. Could you read commissioner bastien's motion? >>county attorney: I have one more but I can read commissioner bastien as well. >>chair: the vice chair doesn't need it because his item, everybody's items so commissioner bastien's motion. >>county attorney: commissioner bastien's moves to amend ra24 to extend the time frame to receive applications from applicants applying for public housing from OCTOBER 25, 2024 to NOVEMBER 11, 2024. >>chair: I will second that. >>commissioner bastien: the reasoning for that colleagues is because of the hurricane. Residents have been taxed to the limit to prepare and spend money. They've been really stressed out as a result and we do know that some of them did suffer as a result of their hurricane even though we were spared directly. So far that I'm asking the mayor to extend the application deadline as a result . >>chair: all those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed. Senator garcia, you are recognized. You're here. You can do it, go ahead. >>senator garcia: MR. CHAIRMAN, a point of personal privilege and I apologize to interrupt the meeting but commissioner higgins, you work on a lot of local housing projects and we have the opportunity to have a affordable husing project in the city of hialeah on the south side. It happens to be in commissioner cabrera's district and I have a letter here signed by kathy burgos who is now rescinding the application in its entirety from the florida financing corporation after the gene apartment projects one this bid. I have questions, what happened with this and where are we in this process? Form that senator garcia is talking about is a form that is required by the florida housing finance corporation. Where the county certifies that it is basically waving impact fees. It's to demonstrate the county is providing a contribution in some form for purposes of the 9% application submitted to the florida housing finance court. What happened here is the developers had submitted a form to the administration. The form included fees for the city of hialeah. It was not identified until after MISS Burgos signed the form. The forms included the city of hialeah's impact fees and legally she would not have been able to certify the fees related to the city of hialeah so ultimately our office was consulted and a letter was generated sent to the florida housing finance corporation indicating that form, not the application was being withdrawn. I believe alex and his staff can talk more about this and their process but essentially it came to our office and we were asked what would be the next steps? >>senator garcia: can you help us with this? >> alex bayena, dir. Mami-dade county community development. Through the chair. Okay. >>senator garcia: how are we with this? >> there's a protest on the development organization that came in second place on the technologic hourly of what we signed off on. >>senator garcia: members, this is where I just don't understand where we are with this. There was an error committed by the county. The county committed this error in accepting this information. Then instead of going to the florida housing corporation saying these numbers we couldn't verify these numbers they rescind the whole application. They resend the whole application and to me it seems like they're playing favoritism to tip the scale one way or the other, that's just me. We have a florida housing, and affordable housing project that was scheduled to move forward and now because of an error of the county the county instead of trying to correct this error rescinds the whole application. Talk to me about the rescinding of the whole application, that doesn't make sense to me and mme. Mayor, we're looking for affordable housing projects. We are looking for affordable housing projects. This is the market rate, this is not workforce housing, this is a project ready to go and all of a sudden is being pulled from the city of hialeah, how do we go about correcting this? What legal matter can we go about correcting this? Someone speed for the administration is recognized . >>mayor: I was made aware of this error that happened that one of our chiefs signed off on this, I think it's routine so it was not caught. That's my basic understanding. Obviously it is an error that will not be repeated but exactly what can be dne about it at this point, I defer to the department as to the actions to take . >>vice chair: commissioner regalado you are recognized. >>commissioner regalado: thank you for bringing this up commissioner garcia. My understanding to the attorneys is this is in part our process so I think we can use this opportunity to waive our process and directed the administration or you can bring something that allows us to codify it. I agree, I think a mistake was made and there should be an opportunity to correct that mistake. There should be a time period associated with that correction but if the application is correct whether it's our fault or their fault they should be given an opportunity to correct that and then we can move forward with the project. I don't think you kill an affordable housing project because there was an error. Don't know, director, how do you feel about that in terms of your process if there was a 15 day or 30 dy opportunity to amend and resubmit? Chair: director, you are recognized. >> unfortunately it was an error on our team that we didn't recognize that the number was in the city of hialeah. We put process to process is to avoid that moving forward. This is an application with the state, not in miami-dade county. This is a part of a process that they local match contribution. >>commissioner regalado: and its ministerial but I'm saying within that ministerial capacity would you feel comfortable wth a window in which it could be corrected if an error is found? It is ministerial but it is also our opportunity to allow someone to amend the jerry to you, I don't see 1530 days they can amend it, its ministerial. >>vice chair: the thing is that I see director, I see your face and I see some hesitation or confusion. Is it because you think it would be unnecessary? Where's your head, what's your thoughts? >> the problem is it's with the state when the actual process of the appeal lies within the florida housing finance corporation. It's not something that comes to our attention. We don't anticipate that our process will be changed from florida housing when they put in a technical like this but we would have to discuss it. >>mayor: through the chair, I would welcome the opportunity to have that conversation with the florida housing finance corporation to see if we could amend our process . >>commissioner regalado: jerry, are you okay with that? We would be getting there okay but I think it's reasonable. >>vice chair: senator, are you comfortable with this? >>senator garcia: if there's a motion to be made to authorize the county attorney's office to, what are we looking for, to finance? >>commissioner regalado: to florida finance about providing a touring period for our capacity . >>vice chair: we had emotion, second by commissioner regalado. Any further discussion, all in favor signify, senator , signify by saying aye. >>commissioner regalado: as a point of clarification that would include this application . >>vice chair: thank you very much and thank you senator for bringing that up. >>chair: met an attorney where are we . >>county attorney: would you like to do the public hearings? Speed. >>chair: do them all at once. >>county attorney: 58 revises ethics training requirements for certain public officials to include topics specified under state law for such training. Clarifying the ethics commission shall prepare certificates of completion for training courses directing the mayor's designee regarding facilitating ethics training for online means providing severability and exclusion from the code and an effective date and limit one and two. 5b is a ordinance creating and establishing a special taxing district in miami-dade county, florida, generally bounded on the north by east hibiscus street, on the east by harriet tubman highway (State road no. 5/U.S. 1), on the south by east indigo street, and on the west by south miami-dade busway, known and described as tucker tower multipurpose maintenance and street lighting special taxing district; identifying services to be provided; authorizing and directing the county mayor or county mayor's designee to cause to be maintained and operated various public improvements and to provide for the installation of streetlights; approving a street lighting agreement with florida power and light and authorizing the county mayor or county mayor's designee to execute the agreement; waiving provisions of resolution no. r-130-06; and providing for exclusion from the code and an effective date. 5c is a ordinance creating and establishing a special taxing district in miami-dade county, florida, generally bounded on the north by nw 41 street, on the east by nw 107 avenue, on the south by theoretical nw 33 terrace, and on the west by nw 112 avenue, known and described as bridge doral street lighting special taxing district; identifying services to be provided; and providing for exclusion from the code and an effective date. 5c1 is a corresponding relating to the dstrict. 5d is a resolution taking action on a class I permit modification application by miami-dade county, through its seaport department, to extend the length of the permitted project along the north side of the port of miami, to install a new seawall, to perform maintenance and non-maintenance dredging, and to fill tidal waters in biscayne bay, miami-dade county, florida. 5g is a resolution approving the plat of rick cadre group, 5h is a resolution taking action on class I permit application by the university of miami for the filing of 2976 ft.B2 of wetland supporting a fish hatchery located on virginia beach DR., 5 I is a resolution approving the city of miami gardens co. Designation of that poor jen of northwest 5 I is a resolution approving the city of miami gardens co. Designation of that poor jen of nw. 17th avenue from northwest 1 83rd st. To northwest 188 street as alpha kappa alpha way and co. Designation of a portion of nw. 42nd avenue from nw. 157th st. Nw. 162nd st. As alpha phi alpha way. And five I supplement, 5j is a resolution code designating by a 3/5 vote of board members present that portion of nw. 69th st. Between nw. 22nd avenue and nw. 27th avenue s ht smith street and 5k is a resolution code designating that portion of north east 105th the first street as irving david boulevard and those are your public hearing items. >>chair: we have one name, roy hardemon to the podium, name and address and you have 2 minutes. Representative hardemon waves and public hearing is now closed. Does anyone wish to separate any of the items out? Commissioner fred five. >>commissioner bastien: I would want to bifurcate 5k for a motion. >>chair: anything else, commissioner mcghee. >>commissioner mcghee: I just want to cosponsor 5I, 5j and 5k. >>chair: let me get a motion on everything but 5k. Moved by mcghee seconded by cohen higgins. >>clerk: [Roll call] Motion passes unanimously . >>chair: you are recognized for a motion on 5k. >>commissioner bastien: miss attorney can you read the motion . >> extend the eastern terminus of the co. Designation from north e. 21st avenue to biscayne boulevard such that the amended co. Designation would be that portion of north east 151st from harriet tubman highway to biscayne boulevard and second to suspend rule 9.028 as relates to the sponsorship of public hearing requirements and last to make conforming changes to the title and the body of the resolution. This motion requires a two thirds vote of members present to pass . >>chair: seconded by commissioner higgins. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed. That means two thirds. So before you say anything it was two thirds. So there. All right, now move 5k as amended. So we just voted on it as amended, that was the vote as amended, clerk do you have that? >>county attorney: you are on your pull list. 8c1 was the first item. >>chair: 8c1, commissioner gonzalez. >>commissioner gonzalez: thank you MR. Chair and as for 8c1 I just want to see more outreach regarding these projects. I met with the cultural affairs and we're going to be having a town hall, correct? >> assistant dir., department of cultural affairs. we are trying to finalize the 13th for an industry workshop and we hope you will work with us to promote it to the artists and organizations . >>commissioner gonzalez: that's it MR. Chair. I will move it . >>chair: moved by gonzalez, seconded by the chair, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Show it adopted. Now 8c2. Moved by gonzalez, seconded by the chair, all those in favor say aye. Show it adopted, 11a2, commissioner bastien, your recognized . >>commissioner bastien: I have a short presentation on this item. I'm going to start by saying my conscience would not let me rest unless I made my position clear on this item. On OCTOBER 2 the dominican republic PRESIDENT Announced a plan to deport up to 10,000 people from haiti for work. The service for migrants reported OCTOBER 14 4129 haitians had already been deported through just one border area. The dominican republic government announced it deported already since the announcement on OCTOBER 2 11,000 only the first week. The organization warned wrist mass deportation and this will continue to happen as we speak. Over 50 prominent international organizations warned about this. Since the announcement born of haitian immigrants have suffered grave human rights abuses including killings, mass killings, rapes and threats. Other kind of threats. The current initiative is the latest in a long history of disrespect of patients and dominicans born of haitian descent that has been denounced by the us government, united nations and international american commission on human rights. As you know, miami dade county boasts the largest number of haitians and asian americans living in the united states and haitians are the second largest migrant group in south florida behind cubans according to data from the us census bureau. Presently the dominican republic is waging an ongoing mass deportation campaign against dominican born haitians. These are people born in the dominican republic and haitians. To be clear and I repeat this campaign has involved rapes including the rapes of children according to the miami herald and I'm telling you colleagues I'm seeing the images and I would not wish that on my worst enemy. People tied like hogs being beaten , hacked to death and buried alive. I've seen the pictures. As of last week as reported by the associated press the PRESIDENT Of the dominican republic has acknowledged this protest locally, nationally and globally to continue this deportation. Let me give you some ideas of the people being deported and a lot of them people born in the country as I indicated and a lot of elderly folks. During the first group of cohorts, 4001 29 haitian nationals and haitian dominicans were deported. Which include 2842 men, 893 women, 152 boys and 142 girls . In the most dehumanizing conditions. According to the jesuit service for migrants. The haitian priest who has been living there for years stated this. In my 25 years of fieldwork , I have never witnessed so many grave violations of dominicans and haitians in the dominican republic. Priest , the dominicans and haitians fall victim to some of the greatest mistreatment you've ever seen. Some of the deportations were made at night, sometimes as late as 10 pm and the reports clearly indicate , and this is something I've been going on for a wild, when these people are stopped on the streets or on their way to the clinics they are not given any time to go home. These are people who are born there to close their homes, to get money from the bank, nothing. And in these practices have been condemned by local and international institutions and this is something that has been going on for years. I personally have witnessed some of these grave abuses because I've been to the border and I've also testified in the past in front of the oas , I've testified in front of the un in geneva and so forth. But to be clear colleagues, this is something that is going on right now. This is something that is making world news. The PRESIDENT Is deporting 11,000 people, dominicans and haitians a week. At a time when massacres are being conducted in haiti. That's number one and as we colleagues, as you voted before most of the heavy weapons that are being used in haiti are coming from two main places. For factual information. 90% from right here in mami-dade county as we know and 10% from the dr and last week, I know you've seen te news of over 100 people massacred violently in haiti and this is a time when the dr is deporting its own citizens for the most part and some immigrants to this country. Let that sink for a minute. And I'd like to add that I understand we want to do business with the dominican republic. I'm not saying we are not supposed to do business with the dominican republic but I have to be clear that this is coming at a time when the dominican republic is deporting people and went inside of the dominican republic dominicans even if they don't need to be sure that you are born there even if you're born there, you are not considered dominicans. Dominicans are being butchered , maimed, killed, hacked to death, buried alive. Women are being raped and children so for that reason my first request is to postpone this because now that the world is decrying what's going on right now in the dr, it's not the time for us as a county to do business , not do business but to do a sister ship with a place strangely enough that haitians built. And as you know dominicans are haitian born parents and haitians have been building the infrastructure in the dominican republic for generations. And for that I am asking and I'm telling you colleagues not now. We have the right , miami-dade county has the right to do business with the dr but what I'm telling you, not now. Not now. Thank you. >>chair: thank you. , this brings an interesting perspective. I don't dispute anything you said about what's happening in haiti and the dominican republic, I understand that to be true. Ironically this motion is directed to the itc. Ironically they will be negotiating with gerard filipo, a haitian. We use sister city agreements to promote miami dade county but also to promote american values and who we are . The question then becomes is it more powerful to have those conversations then not have those conversations brought up? I've always believed that if you want to convince people it's hard to do it if you don't talk to them. If you don't have a relationship. So this brings up a interesting dilemma and I'm interested to hear from my colleagues, commissioner you are recognized. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for your thoughtful remarks on bringing this issue to light and I appreciate you raising what I agree is an interesting position the board is placed in. I however don't see us through the itc and as county commissioners in miami dade county playing the role of improving diplomatic relations with our neighbors through the sister city agreements. Rather they are as you said to promote trade and commerce and with commissioner bastien taking the concerns not only are on behalf of herself as an individual but on behalf of her haitian community that there are atrocities taking place in that region where we are promoting by adopting a resolution of this sort that we want to go there and shake hands and do business with I think commissioner bastien is more than reasonable saying not now. There MAY be a time in the future where things have calm down and the government has been able to remedy and rectify the situation to a place where it's more civil rights focused but currently that's not the current temperature and climate and I think if it were any other region in the area whether the bahamas or jamaica, cuba, if it was a similar story being told in neighboring regions I don't think we as a body would not move forward with the sister city agreements of this kind at this time so commissioner bastien to the extent your motion is a motion to defer the item I am happy to second that I. Thank you MR. CHAIRMAN. >>chair: and we are on the motion to defer, you are recognized speed to b were spot on and in fact I would say to you maybe you wanted to look at making an item to the contrary, an item that denounces the behaviors that we are finding and seeing across the picture as relates to the doctor if that's something you would be interested in doing I would love to work on that item with you in denouncing the behaviors and acts of the DR. >>commissioner bastien: thank you. >>commissioner higgins: commissioner bastien, thank you very much, not thank you very much. I'm sorry you felt compelled you had to share all these horrible stories of what's happening to people right here in our hemisphere. That's so tragic. This does not appear to be a necessary thing to do so I'm certainly supportive of our deferral so this can be considered in a much more thoughtful fashion and I also think this probably means the itc team needs to think about what sister city relationships might mean because when I read the whereas clauses it said all about trade, trade, trade. It was nothing about friendship and sharing american values and learning from each other and in those whereas clauses. When you are working with this delicate kind of not particularly kind of situation where one group of people is mistreating another group of people, if we're going to be doing any kind of sister city relationships in this, part of the whereas clauses and part of the agreement should be exchanges whereas the first order of business is these folks come to little haiti. They don't come to miami-dade county. They go and they see what a difference having a thriving robust educated bustling small business community can make when you treat people properly so I wholeheartedly support the deferral. >>senator garcia: on one of the cosponsors but sitting here listening to your argument which is our real one, I can relate, as a cuban-american I can relate to the issues going on in haiti transferring into the dominican republic as well. The cosponsor in this item is unfortunately not here but I personally have no issue deferring this item because while I don't believe this body should get involved in foreign policy because I do strongly believe we should not, we do not but when it comes to the issues of this magnitude I think that we should definitely be sensitive to each other as colleagues and sensitive to the reality. I know they are one of our top five trading partners so I don't know that I would go as far as doing the entire opposite but I do agree with your initial thoughts of deferring this for now till things get resolved. And take it from there, whatever time that takes them to the extent we can bring an item condemning what is happening in the dominican republic and obviously in haiti I am happy to not just support it but cosponsor that as well with you. Again not necessarily coming off trade nor do I think we have that type of jurisdiction but as far as condemning what is going on I not only support that but I would like to be equal prime on that with you if you would bring something like that forward so thank you. >>commissioner regalado: to echo some of my colleagues comments I want to thank you for your candor and advocacy. I disagree, I think this board brings items on diplomacy all the time. How many anti-castro, anti-cuban regime items have we brought here ? How many items supporting ukraine so I think if we're going to be honest we should do the same for haiti. There should be some equity there and we should be intellectually consistent. That being said I think it's important to also note that the first to all of diplomacy is economic benefit or economic restraint. That is the first tool of all diplomats. So I would entertain whenever you want to bring but I would recommend that you try to meet with the sponsor, have a sunshine since he's not here and see if something could be resolved because I think you make compelling arguments and I am happy to support the deferral. >>chair: all in favor say aye. It's deferred, no date certain . We are now on to 11a7 and its supplement, 11a7, you are recognized. >>commissioner higgins: thank you MR. Chair, we talked about this item robustly at the CHAIRMAN's policy committee and I'm sure maybe some of my colleagues they have questions on this one happy if anyone does have questions to listen to what they have to say and I do have a separate small ocean before we close and make a motion on the item, thank you. >>chair: does it amend the item? >>commissioner higgins: it will amend the item. As I said at the CHAIRMAN's policy council this amendment for a grant agreement , we call it the rda but it's essentially a cra would allow a $75 million grant to provide some gap funding to finally get the convention center hotel under construction. It did a couple things in the agreements, one is I put a nine month, they got to be in the ground. They claim they have all their permits, so there's zero reason they can be under construction in nine months. The other thing it does is it fundamentally terminates the cra instead of in 2024 but in 20 2036. So I think that is a good thing , the city of miami-dade thinks that's a good thing. We would get our tax dollars that we could spend in other parts of the county that really need it. South beach cra has its job. It used to be slum and blight and it no longer is. The convention center hotel right now we are unable to bid for certain conventions because we don't have an attached hotel. That holds us back on tourism and convention center and having this hotel which is about 800 rooms over a 30 year pro forma will add $300 million in food and beverage tax and the cdt taxes which we sorely need as we saw that those funds were being part of what cut the funding to the arts system. Am I happy about presenting this item? I am not happy about presenting this item but I looked at the other alternative than the other alternative is to completely start over with all new procurements which would push, which wuld probably be a three-year procurement process, another 3 to 4 years in permitting and we have no guarantee that it would cost more or less when we get this through procurement so I think the county is better off having this hotel now and allowing this $75 million grant to be made in exchange for quick construction and for having a cra that has a shorter cutoff date. One of the parties in this convention center hotel also has been a little slow in allowing and signing an easement for the construction of the pedestrian bridge from that happened for a station where our bright line trains are which would connect our pedestrians to the bus terminal and would also be the northeast corridor or so I have a motion that says the easement, now they know they need to work on it and get this done so we can build that bridge. By the way we've already fabricated the bridge, it's already sitting in a parking lot so we have a $20 million bridge rather than construction. So I do not want this convention center grant agreement signed by the mayor until we have received and executed easement from this developer so the county attorneys have a motion on that and it will be amended by me and I'm happy to listen to any comments or answer questions class you are recognized? In addition to the amendment commissioner higgins moves to amend section for enactment clause of 11 a7 to add as an additional condition proceeding to the approval of the sixth amendment the receipt by the county of and executed legally sufficient easement for the construction operation and/or maintenance of private property of portions of an already fabricated pedestrian bridge including but not limited to the landing tower of said pedestrian bridge which is to serve as the west and ventura station nervous and bright line and intended to serve as the northeast corridor and which is to traverse biscayne boulevard from the west and ventura station to the east of biscayne boulevard at or near the northeast corner of 196 street , the bridge easement and providing the county mayor or designees authority to execute the sixth amendment as provided in section 5 is contingent upon the county receiving the bridge easement executed by the grantor in legal sufficiency by the county attorney's office. >>chair: it's moved as amended, commissioner cohen higgins you are recognized . >>commissioner cohen higgins: I have a few questions on the item and a few questions stemming from the policy council and what was repeated today and are hearing. It's not her favorite item and it's not something she is particularly in love with which made me look into the item because it's not often the procurer would be the champion and an advocate of an item that their sponsoring and placing before the board so the questions I have I think are important to clear up on this item is that this project stems from a referendum of the residents of miami beach in 2018. And the referendum stated and the voters voted for this project including for the hotel to include no city funding. And so I need either from the attorneys or from a representative of this particular project an explanation for us on the record of how the item before us is not considered city funding. Because this item , this project wouldn't come into fruition absent the will of the residents of miami beach and it was very clear their intention was not to include city funding. And so if someone can approach I would appreciate that clarification and I welcome MR. Dodson. I don't want to guess but I'm going to anticipate you will communicate something to the effect this is rda funds and rda funds are not miami beach funds but it's my understanding the rda is funded by miami dade county and the city of miami beach and if that's correct at the end of the day there's still taxpayer dollars so help me get over that hurdle regarding the referendum's specific language and the item before us now seeking $75 million of taxpayer funding dollars in a trust separately but still substantially comprised of tax dollars and how that is consistent with the will of the voters class you are recognized MR. Dodson class al dodson, 1450 brickell avenue and I appreciate your clairvoyance , that is exactly what I am going to share with you that the agreement does what was prohibited by the city and it's very clear in the agreement that does not include other municipalities, other jurisdictions including the rda. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for providing that clarity. Something that's before at least me and it is something in existence because of the will of the people created it, it makes me wonder what is the need for this? Miami beach is heavily tourist and there's a lot of hotels and I understand that it's been articulated the convention center would benefit from an adjacent hotel because there are limitations on what kind of events can be present there. But can someone from the city of miami beach let me know what is the actual occupancy rate of our convention center? Give me an idea of what you all are not able to accomplish as a result of this hotel not being constructed? >>vice chair: you are recognized . >> good morning honorable chair, vice chair, commissioners. Rakel williams, assistant city manager city of miami beach redevelopment agency registered agent with oversight of the miami beach convention center. The convention center has rebounded significantly post covid. Last year we had 72 events in the facility. This year we've seen that number climbed to about 90, 95. We know that significant events that would like to come to our region are challenged by hotel room blocks. For example we have major events coming to town that would have to have 20+ contracts with various hotels in order to have the room blocks necessary to facilitate the event donors, the folks attending the tradeshows at the conventions. With the hotel bringing on 800 rooms this limits that challenge and allows us to go after higher caliber events that would be of further economic driver to not only miami beach but also miami-dade county . >>commissioner cohen higgins: so what is anticipated, is there some sort of a metric