Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners

. >> take your seat guys. Quiet down, down here. Alright guys, quiet down. Let's get sarted. We've got a few presentations for we've got one? One real big one. I don't know that it was last minute. It has been in the works, it's just our man on fluoride is a busy man. I think, I want to thank commissioner gilbert for bringing this presentation today and this honor. Having someone from our backyard, born and raised in florida, A.K.A. Flow writer , everybody has a story and I don't want to be that guy that has a story but I remember when I where I was when I first started jamming out, I think it was number one in the us for well over a month which is a big deal in the music industry, that's not something taken lightly so a round of applause because that is a big deal. Of you all MAY be jamming to that in the club. You don't go to clubs, you've never been to a club. Pastor mcghee. But I remember it was 08, 09 and I was working in real estate , every time I would go to a listing appointment to close a deal, that was our height song and that was a song we would get to in the car, blasting it to get hyped up before we walked through the doors to close the deal and ultimately bring in that money but thank you flo rida for being here, for accepting this as I told you when I saw you earlier in the hallway, we don't do this lightly, we don't give this way to just anybody, it is something we kind of like hog and select very carefully who gets this honor and who receives this great key so congratulations my man, appreciate it and with that, commissioner. >>commissioner gilbert: thank you commissioner, thank you to my colleagues for being here. Thank you all for being here. I will start with a flo rida story and it has nothing to do with him. I am in india, not indiana, india. I've been on this tour in india and this guy has been driving me around and it's a struggle with this guy because he doesn't speak any english I speak less indian. We were having problems communicating so one day I said can I plug my phone in and I plugged my phone in and the first song that came up was my house. This guy who spoke no english started singing welcome to my house. And it was amazing but it was a testament to how a young kid from miami gardens who might have never seen or met this young tour guide in the back roads of india had truly affected the world. It is not the hundreds of millions of streams, that's wonderful. But when the CHAIRMAN Said we don't give this out lightweight, I don't give it out why we especially, I'm very particular because in this community I love there are people doing wonderful things that benefit them. I bring people here and give them keys to the county when it's benefiting them, a testament to where they are from and they are helping others and I think that's important so get low is a wonderful song, my house is my favorite because I'm always thinking welcome to my house but it's the fact that there are kids in college because you thought it not robbery to invest in that. Not just invest like some things people come in and they invest in, they put their picture on something. They know him on our parks because he invests not just his money but his presence. I remember when I was the mayor of miami gardens and I wanted to redo all the parks and I needed a $60 million general obligation bonds and I started talking about it and one of the first people I spoke with was martin and flow, I talked about that bond because I needed to raise money to advertise and no one wanted to give you money. I talked about having facilities at our parks that are recording studios and television production areas and robotics and culinary arts in football and basketball, giving kids in ime grdens, carol city the opportunity to have things and amenities that students and kids had otherwise. He was the first person that said I will fund that, I will help you communicate this, put my name on it because I was a kid in miami gardens who deserved those amenities too. it's my pleasure as commissioner, as a young man from the baja to present the key to the county do the kid from carol city who went to carol city said senior high school, he's a chief, don't cheer all at once. , invested it in his community. Build businesses in his community and most importantly never forgot his community. See those folks who get big and forget. And we will never forget him. It is my pleasure t give the key to the county to flo rida. [Apostle] >>mayor cava: I am going to say a little something because this is very exciting, we love to honor our own. I cannot be the stories of the clubs and the india taxi ride. These are great stories. Totally, totally. 123. I've got it. Yeah, I am pretty good at that. But what I do want to say is that in addition to bringing us so much attention for your artistry, for your love of our community you are also investing in our community. The commissioner explained how you invested in the future but you also block real estate in this community and you are making it shine. So that is putting your money where your mouth is. We are really really proud of you and your achievements and bringing us all some fame, bask in your fame and we are proud you do call us, thank you so much. >>vice chair: thank you so much for doing this on behalf of the commission and thank you for your words and MR. CHAIRMAN thank you for allowing us to have you and I have another story from out of the country, we were together. We were in taiwan and in taiwan we were coming out of the hotel and I promise you the guys were singing the songs. One of the things I realized then is that music is not just simply something we put on paper or simply put two upbeat but it is a connector even across the waters. Even across continents so I want to say to you flo rida thank you for being that beacon of hope for the state of florida and putting us on the map to let folks know we are not just beaches and waters that we have the story that goes with this great state. Like you so much. >>chair: now officially commissioner. >>commissioner gilbert: we present flo rida the key to miami dade county. . [Inaudible] Miami dade county on three, one, two, three . >> miami-dade county! >>... [Inaudible] >>chair: real quick announcement to all county staff, if you are not here to speak please do us a favor and step outside for just a few minutes because we have a lot of folks waiting outside to come in and sit down that are looking to speak so ay county staff that is not here to speak , please just wait by the doors for us. Then we are going to be starting here shortly. >>... [Inaudible]... >>chair: alright guys, we are going to get started, clerk, please call the roll. >> clerk's office has received a memo commissioner hrdemon will be absent from today's meeting. >>commissioner bastien: >>commissioner bermudez: >>commissioner cohen higgins: >>senator garcia: >>commissioner gilbert: >>commissioner gonzalez: >>commissioner higgins: >>commissioner orbis: >>commissioner regalado: >>commissioner steinberg: >>vice chair: >>chair: >> we have seven members present, we had a quorum. >>chair: we have a quorum. All right all, please stand for the invocation today given by a pastor and vice mayor robert stevens. Of logo's baptist church at the invitation of commissioner gilbert from district 1 followed by the pledge of allegiance led by commissioner gilbert. >> let us take a moment to reflect on the presence of GOD. Gracious and a sovereign GOD we thank you for this day and the privilege of public service. We invite your presence into this chamber and ask for your divine wisdom to guide the work behind us. Lord les our county mayor, daniela levine cava, strengthen her leadership and surround her with wise counsel. Blessed are commissioners with courage of heart and spirit of unity that reflect your will. We left up every department director administrator public servant labors faithfully behind the scenes. MAY the work be meaningful, their efforts fruitful and their hearts encouraged. GOD we ask the decisions made today promote justice and equality and flourishing every resident of miami-dade county. Let's compassion guide our actions and peace into their deliberation. MAY this document be a reflection of your wisdom and love, in your holy name we pray 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: alright. Guys, let's get settled in. We have what I think is a long agenda. All right mdm. Attorney, can we move into reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard at this time for all items except for our millage and solid waste item . >> that would be appropriate at this time . >>chair: alright, I'm going to go ahead and open up reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. When I call your name please state the item you're speaking on, name and address and you will have one minute to speak on the item. [Reading names] As I call you you can line up. And the first names approach the podium. Caiao tsongas mayor michael joseph. Stanley young , kelly mallette. Kathy, david siegel, andrew conroy, lori healy. This is if you're speaking on any of the items with the exception of the millage or solid waste. If you're speaking on anything regarding solid waste or the millage this is not your time to speak. Go ahead. >> good morning mayor and commission. I'm here to speak on item 4 a, I am works director for the city of homestead and homestead would like to register its opposition to the proposed item due to its fiscal operational impacts to our water and sewer program. The physical impacts entailed likely use of general funds to supplement the capital improvements of infrastructure outside city limits, the operation and maintenance impact entails the use of general funds and other funds within the city to supplement the operational maintenance of the water and sewer system as we believe this will likely entail in the future. Additionally it creates additional regulatory hurdles and procedures that are not environmentally related that have major consequences. As this would lead to additional resources and costs that will ultimately need to be passed on to the customers. Nevertheless, we believe there is always room for improvement and the city would welcome the opportunity to work with the commissioner to find solutions without the need for additional regulations, thank you, appreciate your time. >>chair: your good, thank you. Before you continue let me just say something quickly. We are, we do have a long agenda. We are going to get through it and take as long as it takes to get through it and make sure everyone is afforded the opportunity to speak. On the commission side with my colleagues as well as the administration but we do have a very heavy agenda so I kind of want to set the tone. Everybody will have a minute to speak. You know the drill, state your name and address. When I say thank you that means it's a polite way of saying your minute is up. In addition to a sound that will go off, we because we have a packed agenda we do need to be respectful of everybody else's time though the same respect afforded to you make sure you afford it to the other people that have registered to speak. Any disruption will not be tolerated in the chamber. I think that's something that's known but I want to make sure I say it again. There will be no disruption tolerated and I will instruct the sergeants now at this point again even though they have a blanket instruction for years but any disruption needs to be completely, sergeants in that it is important you listen. No disruptions to this meeting and any meeting which is your standard protocol but any disruption we need to ask them to step out and leave the chamber because we do have business to get done today and it is a heavy agenda so with that you can continue. >>speaker: kathy aguirre, good morning CHAIRMAN, vice CHAIRMAN County commission and staff, I am vice PRESIDENT Of the public and labor division. As mst are aware at not is proposal saves the county $47 million a year over a five-year period over $200 million a year. How do you walk away from this savings but let me tell you how we achieved those savings, it's the power of purchasing power. Aetna is a national company with services 21 million members while at not a local provider services 109,000 members. Aetna is part of cvs , cvs and at the together our local providers who propose 489 tax receipts in your area. More importantly aetna is here to serve you. You will not be disrupted, your network will be national, you will be able to access every single hospital. >> andrew conroy 3024 cardinal way. Vice PRESIDENT Of aetna cvs and you might have heard a lot of things about the member experience but I will just talk about three key facts, one with the transition of your pharmacy plan for aetna you would have no disruption. >>chair: andrew let me stop you quickly, can you speak into the microphone and all those sitting behind andrew can you give him the honor of allowing for us up here to hear him please. Go ahead. >>speaker: you would have no disruption in coverage for your medications because we are grandfathered to current utilizer's and number two are network does not just include cvs but 66,000 pharmacies, all major chains and over 30,000 independents and the third is we have a number of ways to engage your members as well as their care providers connecting through the electronic health record, digital capabilities, all that we can make available to your membership even prior to the effective date and we would like to get started as soon as possible, thank you for the time . >>speaker: david siegel, land o lakes florida in the tampa area here representing aetna and I appreciate the time today. I am definitely in support and would like to be able to administer your health benefit plan. I am the approver and signer of all provider contracts in the state of florida. The numbers showed it, carol talked about the savings. I've been here in the florida market for 25 years. With strong relationships both with our customers. A lot of the other large employers we administer their benefits so we appreciate your time today and would love to have your business. >>chair: thank you. >>speaker: good morning. >>speaker: sorry, thank you and good morning, lori healy head of aetna's public sector nationally. We represent just over 4 million public sector members across the country and more than 2 million of those numbers right here in florida. Where many of the local entities including the state of florida are clients of hours so thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration as you contemplate change to aetna for your health care benefits. I want to reiterate three quick points. The savings we will bring to miami-dade county, you're looking at a number of $47 million and that is just in year 1, it's $2 million over the course of our five year contract. Aetna has been a trend guarantee of 5% with off med historical performance shows a 15% increase just from the year 2023 until 2024. >>chair: iq so much. >>speaker: michael joseph mayor of the city of miami beach and I am here to respectfully request that item trend 12 to be deferred to allow for a more conference of review on its fiscal impact on the municipalities like myself , operations that operate water utilities. >>chair: can you speak into the microphone? >>speaker: the proposed ordinance would mandate uniform rates and fes to utility infrastructures in the service area ptentially limiting those surcharges for certain accounts. It is not a small tweak, it's an implication how we meet our bond obligations, maintain our system and deliver reliable water service. The commission respectfully asks you direct county staff to collaborate icluding north miami beach to assess the impact including how this MAY affect our bond covenants and operations and rate structures and for that reason I urge you to support 4a. >>chair: can you place your address on the record? Speak 9171 northeast miami avenue n., miami beach. >>speaker: good morning members, kelly mallette, 4000 hollywood blvd. Here regarding item 11a3. I've been with the firm for 23 years , we currently oppose the item. We feel strongly about our representation to the county and take great pride. I am here on behalf of MR. Buford who couldn't be here today and I am happy to answer any questions regarding our performance. >>speaker: chaplain stanley young , chaplain here in miami-dade county. I reach out to the homeless, to those and the item I'm speaking on is 10a1, two, three, four, five, six and seven. It's about housing. I've been speaking about the same thing the past few years. We've moved some of the items but we still have to get more affordable housing out there. We've got people living on the street who want to get into shelters, can't get into shelter because there is no room in the shelters. The shelters are full. Can't leave the shelter because there is no affordable housing out there for them to move in. So you can see how this whole train has been slowed down because miami-dade county do not have enough affordable housing. I thank you, GOD bless. >>chair: thank you chaplain jan, can we have eric trautman, cynthia jackson, erin hendrick and ken russell weston mark . >>speaker: good morning, thank you so much for this opportunity to speak. I am vice PRESIDENT Of client management from aetna and cvs health company. You've heard my colleagues talk about the savings and great service aetna will bring you but I want to talk about the member experience. I understand the change can be difficult. You have a big decision to make here today but what I want you to take at heart is we've done the homework and we are prepared to make sure the transition for your employees and your members and their family members have a smooth transition and that they have access to excellent care. What you get with aetna is a partner that will work with you in the community. We will work with you to make sure we can shorten the gaps in care and that you have someone that will bring diversity and thought, diversity in service and partnership to the community. Thank you so much. >>chair: thank you. >>speaker: can russell representing sierra club, ohio street, >>chair: thank you. >>speaker: can russell representing sierra club, ohio st., coconut grove. I know it's hard to imagine a world without garbage incineration, it is what we are used to and it's what the industry has taught us. It was asked on this day is is there any environmental group that supports landfill, sierra club is here. >>chair: we excluded the solid waste but we didn't see you have the solid waste discussion but do you mind coming back? Thank you sir. No problem. Robert del castillo, wanda crawford. Monique coker, amelia lee. >> good morning and on behalf of aetna cvs health company I'm the market head of community affairs supporting the state of florida. We are definitely ready to partner on the community aspect, here to support the grassroots organizations, our community-based organizations with our project health screenings bringing health literacy and education resources to underserved communities. We are looking forward to creating those services and hope you do decide on making those changes today. >>chair: can you place your name on the record. >>speaker: 4105 se. 10th st. >>vice chair: good morning. >>speaker: amelia lee here with aetna, 890 periwinkle st. I am vice PRESIDENT Of our network management teams living here with our network teams in the local markets and here to just b >>vice chair: give me one moment, to each and everyone else if you're not speaking please if we can just give that level of respect to the speaker. I understand there are a bunch of issues on this agenda but the speaker in the well speaking at the podium deserves your attention like they will give you their attention I asked for that moment of respect for the speakers so if you can quiet yourself down and allow the speakers to have that moment I will appreciate it. >>speaker: again, just here to reinforce our commitment to you miami dade county and our network strength. We are responsible as david said earlier we are responsible for all the provider relationships in the miami dade county market and in south florida. We have deep relationships with those health systems and physician groups across the county and in south florida and across the state and we are happy for the opportunity and here to reinforce our commitment to serve you and work with our partners to drive savings and cost and quality outcomes are your members ad their families so thank you. >>chair: thank you so much. >>speaker: wanda crawford senior manager of client management with aetna, 17716 w. Aetna, 17716 w. 85th st. I'm here to talk about the service my team provide at our on-site representatives who are all licensed in the state of florida to assist you with white glove service and they will sit on site in the county's office providing that service. Some of the services that aetna provides would be service throughout the country. Our team, our providers are throughout the country, that is in network. They will tell you are in network providers jackson hospital, mount sinai all throughout the state. You can even have services in new york in network wherever you go in the us. My team will give you those in network providers. You can stay in the network on your plan with out, no out of network benefits and use services throughout. >>vice chair: thank you so much. Candy, christie, alex heckler. >>speaker: good morning german board of commissioners, address is 3479 nw. 82nd ave., doral, fl and I am vice PRESIDENT Of sales and retention with adventist health plans and we are proud of our long-standing partnership with miami-dade county and its employees however respectfully we have serious concerns regarding the recent procurement process for item 1483 on the agenda. The selection committee recommends avnet for negotiation but that did not occur. It is not right to be an ideal the remainder of time to our legal counsel alex heckler areas. >>speaker: good morning commissioners, I know the solid waste topic is not there. >>vice chair: let me ask you this question, will this be the solid waste issue you are discussing, do you mind giving us a few minutes to come back to you once we finish up reasonable opportunity for these issues, I appreciate you . >>speaker: if I can ask one quick question for solid waste if it's still on the agenda. >>vice chair: it is, is not going anywhere as long as you are here. Appreciate you. >>chair: all right. All the reasonable opportunity for all items except millage and solid waste so with that reasonable opportunity for the public is now closed. Mem attorney, can we set the agenda? >> yes MR. Chair. We have preliminary matters. Item 2b 1, senator garcia is adding his name to the pull list that is 2b1. 2b3, senator garcia and commissioner higgins add this item to the pull list. 3a8 and its supplement senator garcia and german rodriguez add this item to the pull list. 3a9 and its supplement german rodriguez adds this item to the pull list. 3a10 ended supplement german rodriguez adds this item to the pull list. 8n10, CHAIRMAN Steinberg adds this item to the pull list. 11a1 and its substitute commissioner bermudez is requesting deferral to know date certain but commissioners steinberg and higgins added the item to the pull list, the board will have to decide how to proceed, that is 11a1 and its substitute. Do you want to release? So with the setting of the agenda, that is 11a1 and the 11a1 substitute, 11a2, commissioners steinberg adds this item to the pull list. 11a3, german rodriguez adds this item to the pull list. 11a4, commissioner milian orbis is adding this item to the pull list, I can read the amendment now. Commissioner milian obis amends this item to add a flood relief fund as a charitable organization that shall be this recipient of donations from county employees so with the setting of the agenda as amended, 11a15, commissioners steinberg and regalado adds this item to the pull list, this item has been added to the agenda, you should all have copies of 11a19 at the dais, you do not? So we will make sure the agenda coordinator distributes copies. This is a resolution directing the county mayor to the extent not already contemplated by the fiscal year proposed budget create a proposed plan to maintain flat water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2025 -- 26 and to submit such plants by 2025. >>commissioner bermudez: I would like to poll the item anyway. >> I would like to add 11a19 to the list to give the board an opportunity and at the appropriate time we would have to extend reasonable opportunity for this item. >>chair: we can do that now. >> 14a3, commissioner gonzalez is pulling this item. 14a4 and 14a5, commissioner bermudez is pulling this item. I also received some additional requests to poll items so these MAY be out of order. 8g1 and 8g3, commissioner regalado is pulling these items. Commissioner regalado is also adding her name to 2b3 and 14a3. Commissioner regalado on 11a11, do you still wish to pull this item? That was 11 eight 1, 11a11 commissioner regalado is pulling the item, 11a12, 11a14 commissioner regalado, 11a15 adding her name as a polling commissioner, also pulling 11a16, 11a17 and 11a18. Commissioner higgins is adding her name to 11a16 and is pulling 11a17. And 14a4. I also have requests for cosponsorship. We have 3a8 commissioner garcia and milian orbis, 3a10 commissioner milian orbis, 3b2 commissioner garcia has assumed sponsorship, 11a4 commissioner gonzalez and steinberg wish to cosponsor. I am sorry, 11a18 commissioner higgins cosponsor. The items to be considered at today's meeting will be those listed in the final printed agenda with additions deferrals withdrawals and scriveners errors noted in the CHAIRMAN's memorandum and the items I just mentioned. The commission will approve all these items by single both setting the agenda except organ surce for first reading public hearings items 881, 882 and 884 which are commercial service airport contracts which must be voted on separately and are not on your pull list and the following pull list items, item 2b1, 2b3, 3a8 at supplement, 3a9 supplement, 8g3, 8n10, 11a10 and its substitute, 11a2, 11a3, 11a4 will be approved as amended with setting of the agenda, 11a11, 11a12, 11a16, 11a17, 11a18, 11a19 , 14 86 and 1481, a motion to set the agenda is in order . >>chair: a motion to set the agenda by commissioner bastien seconded by commissioner colin higgins, all in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed, nay, show the agenda hereby set. >>commissioner higgins: would you like me to do the aviation items that were not polled? I will start with the 14s. I think we have the 2 commissioner hardemon items and I think a6 and 14b1. >>chair: moved by commissioner higgins, second by commissioner regalado, any discussion, seeing none, is this a voice vote? All in favor signify by saying aye, opposed nay. >>commissioner higgins: can you help me with the aviation ones? >>commissioner regalado: the first one is 8a1. >>chair: all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. 8a2 seconded by higgins, all opposed say nay , show it approved. Seconded by the same two, all in favor signify by saying aye, opposed nay, so the item passed. Moved and seconded by the same two. All in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed, nay. It should item the past. Is that it? Quest for the aviation items, that was it. >>chair: yes commissioner. >>commissioner gonzalez: for item 14a3 I pull that I'm item, I hope it to exercise the four day rule but I have a motion that will clarify at the appropriate time. >>chair: wait a second, hold on a second. Hold on a second. He hasn't done that yet. Let me do something, that was. >>commissioner gonzalez: I four day rule it. 14a3, I four day rule 14a3 and I do have a motion that will, that is relevant to the item. >> give us one second to get the motion . >>chair: hold on one second. Yes , we will do that in a second. Met an attorney . Met him attorney. What is the proper order now because I had some other business I wanted to get before we go into, this was out of courtesy to one of my colleagues, I recognize them. But I can take this four day rule now, that is unacceptable motion. >> 14a3 has been four day rule, it is your discretion when to take the item whether you would like to take it now. >>chair: you have a separate motion so 14a3 is four day ruled automatically once we called it. The point of order commissioner gilbert. >>commissioner gilbert: if the motion is, applies to the item . >>commissioner gonzalez: it's a separate motion. >>chair: we will get to the motion and I recognize you if you have questions on that. I pulled before we get into the next phase I pulled a few items to vote no so I will come up now, 3a8, 3a9 and 3a10, any other items that were pulled just to vote no. >> on 3a8 senator garcia had also polled that one, I don't know if you want to address 3a8 . >>senator garcia: it was just a cosponsorship for me. >>chair: senator garcia cosponsoring 38. So on 3a8, 3a9 and 3a10, it's been moved by commissioner gilbert, second by commissioner higgins. All in favor signify by saying aye, all opposed no, show it as adopted. Any other, okay. Then I will let the attorneys. We will go back to the pull list items afterwards. And then I pulled , just to dispose as much as we can get now, I had pulled 11a3, commissioner gilbert, this is your item. I'm going to respectfully ask if you will agree to differ this item area I think today is not the day to discuss this item and I am sure we will have some discussion and I wanted to get the discussion on its merits. If you would agree to not getting into the discussion of it today and deferring it until the next meeting. To know date certain but we will do the next meeting SEPTEMBER 30. >>commissioner gilbert: chair, I will do for her to know date certain but my intention is to bring it up the next meeting. >>chair: show, any discussion on the deferral? There is a motion, second the motion , move it. Any discussion on the deferral, seeing none all in favor o deferring 11a3 signify by saying aye, all opposed nay, show the item differed so 2 no's on the deferral, show 11a3 differed. So I'm going to get into, any other polled items just to vote no? Commissioner bermudez . >>commissioner bermudez: I polled 14a5 to vote no. >>chair: commissioner steinberg. Okay, so commissioner gonzalez moves 14a5, seconded by the birthday girl cmmissioner regalado. Happy birthday, join us in wishing commissioner regalado a happy birthday. [Applause] She chose violence on her birthday. We all love you. Motion and the second on 14a5, hauling favor signify by saying aye, all opposed nay, show steinberg and bermudez as no and there's another one, 11a2. From the pull list 11a2 moved by commissioner gilbert, seconded by commissioner regalado. All in favor signify by saying aye, all opposed no, show commissioner steinberg as a no, and the other from the pull list just to vote no on? Now I am going to , well officially congratulations again happy birthday commissioner regalado. I know I will MISS Some of the ones I have been aware of I want to wish happy birthday to julio from district 8 staff and oliver paul, our it for office of the chair and bcc so happy birthday to all you guys, JULY birthdays. I'm going to get into the next big topic and there is something quick we can dispose of. Pun is intended. Upon is intended. MADAM Attorney, can we move into reasonable opportunity now for the public to be heard on all the millage items as well as if I can include 11a19 which is the add-on? >> that would be appropriate, if you have card for any of those items it's 8g1 through 8g6. >>chair: on the millage I have sheriff rosie cordell stutz, welcome to miami-dade county's chamber and while you get settled in , sheriff cardello stutz I had seen our supervisor of elections in the chamber, welcome to the chamber. i had seen our tax collector derek frnandez, welcome to our chamber and I don't know if juan fernandez barquin is in the chamber but I saw his team. Mme. Sheriff. >>speaker: mme. Mayor fellow commissioners thank you for this opportunity. Public safety must remain our highest priority. The budget reductions for public safety threat in our ability to protect this community. Under recruitment and will force us to reduce the number of sworn deputies. As it stands the proposal does not even cover the commitments made by this very board in 2023 took about the collective bargaining agreements. Make no mistake a reduction of this magnitude increases risk to this county. This direct our ability to respond to large-scale events of which we have several on the horizon to include world cup. With the budget proposed it will take us three years to get back to the number of sworn personnel we had in 2024. I have already submitted a responsible budget that includes reductions. Let me be clear I am not requesting additional enhancements, I am asking you fund a budget meets an allegation to establish prior to the existence of the sheriff's office. I respectfully ask you fund the budget as submitted. >>chair: thank you sheriff. That is, so this is a reasonable opportunity for the millage and 11a19. Anyone else wishing to speak on 11a19. >>speaker: the reason I did not mention the millage is four times sake, it is directly related to the millage. I just want that on the record for those who MAY not know. >>chair: I know this was related to the budget and millage. I only have the shirts I need to speak on the millage, anyone that did not get an opportunity to register to speak on 11a19? Seeing no one I will now close reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard on the millage items and on 11a19. MADAM Attorney let's take items 8g1 through 8g6 which I will have to do with the millage and setting the date for the budget hearing. >>mayor cava: MR. Chair MAY I be heard on the item? >>chair: give me one second mme. Mayor, anyone to bifurcate any of the items. >> commissioner regalado had who moved items 8g1 and 8g3. >>chair: those two are bifurcated. >>commissioner higgins: I could move . >>chair: show the remaining millage items moved with the exception of 8g1 and 8g3, seconded by commissioner gilbert, any further discussion on the millage for those, seeing none this is a voice vote so all in favor of setting the millage signify by saying aye, all opposed nay. And then commissioner regalado you are recognized, did you bifurcate to vote no? You are recognized on a 8g1 and 8g3 . >>commissioner rgalado: thank you. The other three I didn't because that's fire and debt service. To do this. The mayor had asked me to speak on the item. But mme. Mayor . >>mayor cava: thank you MR. Chair and thank you commissioners. As you know each year my administration has to present a balanced budget and we've worked hard to do so, we've created one that's accountable and delivers the services our residents need to thrive without additional taxpayer costs so we are saving taxpayers money and easing the burden for struggling families and with the support of the board I want to emphasize with your support we delivered two consecutive years of tax cuts and that means today residents are paying the lowest combined millage since 1982. At the same time together we made historic investments to whether the pandemic, tackle the affordability crisis, grow our economy and make our community one of the safest in the nation . Thank you to law enforcement and with the commission's support we kept people in their homes, saved lives, helped our small businesses afloat, made repairs to our infrastructure and more. As this board knows today we are facing a new difficult fiscal reality and this year's budget brings extraordinary challenges, we're closing a $402 million gap. nearly half of this budget gap is driven by the expansion of county government through the new independent constitutional offices which is an unfunded state mandates that increase the cost of many services we were already providing at the same time we are experiencing losses in state and federal revenue, rising cost of doing business and increasing demand . We are calling it a perfect storm. We've been guided by my wife's 305 agenda, sought savings and efficiency, made sacrifices to protect essential services residents rely on what public safety transportation water trash pickup and libraries without raising taxes. For county departments that rely on the general fund with budgets between 10 and 35%, we are consolidating to eliminate duplication, we've eliminated some programs near and dear to my heart to reduce pressure on the general fund implementing the office of neighborhood safety. And in my office we identified savings by streamlining our staff, reduced our executive pay, freezing merits and reducing the cost of living. These were all hard choices but they are the right choices. They ensure we can protect core services without burdening taxpayers so my proposed budget includes another year of flat millage to maintain our historically low tax rates. Following the two millage cuts that ensure the rate is the lowest since 1982, making any millage cuts now when we have prepared a fair balanced budget despite unprecedented financial constraints would be solely irresponsible. And would only cause residents to experience deeper service adjustments so I urge this commission today to accept the flat millage to protect taxpayers, to continue providing essential services and safeguard our long-term fiscal health and I thank each of you for the feedback you provided as we've met with you several times in the last few months to develop a proposed budget though I look forward with working with all of you to pass the final budget in SEPTEMBER and ask you please do not cut the millage today. >>vice chair: thank you mme. Mayor and to commissioner regalado our birthday commissioner today, the floor is yours. >>commissioner regalado: thank you. Thank you vice chair. Mme. Mayor, I appreciate that. As you know every year I ask for a reduction in millage and I understand this is a painful year. We started talking about the impact of the constitutional officers five years ago and three years ago we established a fund and talked about what we needed to put away in order to be prepared or this year. So the reason that I only pulled out the stew like I do every year is to be consistent. I know this would be painful for the board, the budget we have been presented already provides us difficult choices. Like I said, at appropriations I have requested meeting, I've asked for it in JULY but now it appears you will have it in AUGUST so through appropriations we can go line by line and I invite all the commissioners to attend because I don't think this is a budget we can leave until the week before our budget hearing and definitely not the day of our first budget hearing. I think there's a lot of things we need to hash out. People have been very vocal about the pieces in this budget they disagreed with but we also need to provide alternatives so today I just want to be clear that if we don't agree with the mayor's budget and we're going to present an alternative we need to work on those alternatives and if we want to lower the millage today we have to be willing to take on the sacrifices that would lead us to do that. So I am going to make a motion to reduce it like I do every year but I will tell you I will put in the work but this is not a situation where we asked the administration to find money because that's not the situation we are in this year. This year and next year are different and we've been saying that for a long time. I started the first appropriations meeting stating that we either have to reduce services or reduce employees or reduce both. There's a lot of things we need to consider moving forward in this budget cycle. Historically, when the county has a difficult budget we have had meetings of the whole. There's been different ways to tackle these things and this year I think will be no different so I ask you to please consider sending in the dates you are available so we can meet in AUGUST to do some of this work and if you disagree with it we will find an alternative but this is not a year where we can just disagree with the mayor's recommendation. This is a year we have to provide alternatives to her and I think it is definitely a work in progress but with that, I am like I always do asking you to reduce the millage understanding it would be very painful. I am willing to work on it but the rest of the board has to be willing to work. Commissioner. The motion is on the floor. >> I will seconded. >>commissioner regalado: we have to discuss the amount. To the attorneys I don't know if david wants to do it, what are our options? >>vice chair: commissioner can you repeat what you stated? >>commissioner regalado: we have to decide on amount so I don't know if david wants to do it, we have to go through the numbers. >>vice chair: before we get david up commissioner gilbert would you like to have some remarks, your recognized. >>commissioner gilbert: to my colleagues, to the mayor and everyone present I appreciate the work commissioner regalado is willing to put in. I am completely comfortable with doing that but I'm going to encourage us to set a flat millage for this reason. We set a flat millage we can always lower it. We can always lower it so I think it's prudent especially this year, so this year is particularly tough and commissioner regalado is right, it's a tough year and is not a year if we are going to reduce millage is we can't just put that on the administration but we ought to all be mindful of the moment that we are in. This particular moment we don't have honestly undo per view, all the constitutional officers in our budget now so beyond the cuts the mayor is recommending and her department, all the departments that answer to her it would be difficult for us to make meaningful cuts because we have to go necessarily into public safety. So if we were doing this two years ago, we could move some money around because we controlled the police department and their budget. We can't do that now. So if any reductions we make from this point forward are going to come from transportation. It's going to come from parks. And seeing some of the plans they have in transportation and parks I don't know how that would look. So I'm willing, I will send you some dates, I'm willing to work on reducing it but I think it is prudent on us to make sure we can at least staff and fund the government at this level and let me add this, in some levels of government when people talk about austerity and tightening their belt, it's kind of figurative. They are saying it but they are not actually literal. We need to be clear, this isn't one of the talk sows like msnbc or fox. This is in the newspaper, this isn't a speech in congress, this isn't a speech in tallahassee when we take in less money we have to provide fewer services. We provide those fewer services typically that accompanies layoffs. And so I will work with you to do the work but I would move that we actually have a flat millage rate on 8g1 and 8g3. >>chair: we are still in discussion but did you officially make a motion or no? >>commissioner regalado: we need to talk about the number with david. Year, we can always lwer it but we never had a conversation about lowering, once we set it flat and this is my rustration like when I asked for a date written then it takes a year to get a meeting. >>chair: I'm going to continue the conversation but we have a motion in the second, we have a motion by commissioner gilbert. And seconded by commissioner higgins to maintain it flat. But we're going to continue discussion and it will obviously be voted up or down. >>chair: >>commissioner gilbert: I agree and I commit if no one else comes I will do the sunshine meeting to see if we can find savings that don't compromise our services but I am legitimately concerned about the services we provide for this urbanized area because we are facing times none of us have faced on this commission before. So it's a very challenging moment and I want to make sure we can at least provide the best level of service for this community and I will put in the work. >>chair: senator garcia you are recognized, I am sorry. We were switching chairs. Commissioner bermudez then senator garcia. >>commissioner bermudez: let me say I agree with both commissioner regalado and commissioner gilbert is our responsibility to balance the budget however it's a voluminous budget. I will be here in AUGUST, I'm not going anywhere so if there's a date I want to do it but I would like time to review the full budget because it is a voluminous number one. Also I agree with commissioner gilbert and attorneys correct me if I'm wrong, voting to keep the millage as it is gives us an opportunity to go lower, we just can't go higher. I am not against necessarily lowering the millage rate when we have that discussion maybe later, maybe not today because if we are going to lower it to lower the price of a happy meal then I don't think , that's smacks to me of politics, it doesn't matter to me of practicality. I agree with the sheriff, from my perspective the safety health and welfare of the residents of miami dade county is the reason we're all here. Everything else is wonderful but it's not the reason we're here. Safety is a primordial importance to myself and I think the majority of residents because if we don't have a safe community there's very little you can do to make it a great community. I'm going to support commissioner gilbert's motion. I am open to looking at options between now and our final decision and I'm also open to having a sunshine meeting at the proper time. With as many of us as possible whether it's the committee of the whole work through your committee. But I would like time to review the budget and I know the mayor and administration put in a lifetime, I don't necessarily agree with everything they're proposing but I understand they come from a good place, they don't come from a bad place. And again I am open to discussing it. But to simply have a reduction in the millage that has no real impact to the residents of miami-dade county monetarily but it's done for the purpose of saying we lower the millage and hurting the services we are providing to the residents, I will have a concern with and I want to be clear on the record. That's where I stand and we don't have to necessarily commissioner regalado I know you do it every year and you do it from a good place and I think it merits a discussion. I just think today taking a decision that allows us to reduce it is wise to give us time to review the budget so that's where I stand and I hope we make a logical decision. >>chair: commissioner from district 13 senator garcia . >>senator garcia: I've been with you in those battles every year I've supported it and I to have asked for caution. I asked for caution because of the fact that we are now trying to get our hands around this budget and with the separation of all offices and understanding we've used all these nonrecurring dollars for projects to take a deep dive on in this budget and see where we can find some savings, there's areas we can not only to find savings but also different aspects especially when we look at solid waste. Just for the record for me I'm comfortable with for now leaving it at this level and it's true a lot of times we leave it and never come back to it but right now is not the time to do it, I can meet that as well because when times are good you are paying attention but now that we are facing these challenges it is important for us to come together and take a deep dive and finally get a budget that is detailed line by line we can all look at where all the money is going and maybe we can find them cost savings and make sure we don't impact services of convenience. I want to go with the idea of keeping it right now but I commit to you to be there and come with recommendations. Commissioner from district 2 followed by commissioner from district 4. >>commissioner bastien: thank you MR. Chair. I concur with my colleagues that we should keep the budget flat. At this time. We are living in a difficult moment in our county's history. I have never felt a clearer sense of urgency as I do today when I looked at the budget. And if I were , well, I am a county resident but if I were one of the residents that would be impacted by some of the cuts that I've seen, and I know mayor cava and her team worked very hard on this budget. I stayed awake last night thinking about the budget , thinking about the omb team and thinking about the hard work, how difficult it must have been for them. Do it every year. And then sometimes we don't stop to think about the impact that this process , this difficult process has on staff and possibly on their families. So I know that the administration has been working hard but if I were one of the residents that would be directly impacted and when I look at this budget, cutting through key services and funding for community organizations, critical offices and not just numbers, these are not just numbers on pages. They are cutting the lifelines of many of our residents. I would be skeptical, when we look at the budget as it is , the word that came to my mind , it is like a community train wreck. It is a budget without soul. A budget without soul and I know mayor and team , I know it is not esy. I know it's not easy but it is scary right now this budget, it is scary. So cutting budget items not only eliminates the need for services, we're talking about mental health services, treatment for folks who are, who committed minor crimes. Services for drug addicts. Cutting services for americans, services provided to parks, and services that affect the safety of our children in the parks. We need time to discuss this. The administration has work to do on this because we cannot afford a budget is what I call soulless budget. A community wrecked budget. A community wrecking budget so the administration has work to do but we as policy makers also have work to do. So I understand you commissioner regalado, you've been very thoughtful throughout and i think about the amount of time you take it at heart but I do concur with my colleagues that we need to pass it today. And then get to work. Get to work. As many of you have said , we are living in unprecedented times. Our residents are hurting. We need to be very thoughtful and we need to be very strategic. We need to be thoughtful and strategic. With this budget. And I concur with commissioner oliver gilbert who said at this time we really need to be thoughtful about this. So I concur with most of you, commissioner regalado I understand and if there's a sunshine meeting I am pleased to partake in it because residents of miami-dade county are relying on us not to pass this community wrecking budget. I respectfully say no for now. >>vice chair: commissioner steinberg . >>commissioner steinberg: I like to attend as many meetings as I can so all I ask is that if we were going to have this meeting whether it's a workshop or sunshine or however , whichever mechanism in which you want to have this secondary opportunity to look through the budget and go through line by line item as I think we are headed to I asked that it please be done anytime after AUGUST 10. >>commissioner regalado: I am looking at AUGUST 10 and AUGUST 14. >>commissioner gilbert: MR. Vice chair through the chair, I am sending you dates right now . >>commissioner regalado: after AUGUST 10. We could also, folks can attend virtually, that's another option. We don't necessarily all have to be in person, I will be in person but that's another option. >>vice chair: one moment. You're putting out there the option of a virtual? >>commissioner regalado: I will be here in person but if folks are out of town and they want to be virtual we can do that as well. That is complicated, more complicated if some folks are virtual because the idea is I need to have a quorum so it was going to be appropriations, originally we had talked about a joint meeting of appropriation so we need to have enough people physically from those two committees in order to have quorum. But if someone else that is not part of that quorum wants to attend virtually we could do that. But again I need a number of humans physically here to have quorum. We are not going to vote, the other alternative is to do a meeting of the whole but this meeting would be to vote, it would be to go through the budget. The issue is also staff staff availability. I originally said next week but everybody said that wasn't going to be enough time because of the budget which I understood so we started talking about AUGUST but a lot of commissioners aren't off in AUGUST. I'm happy to withdraw my motion if I get my dates. I just want to have a meeting. I believe we can do better, I just need to have enough human beings attend so not only can we discuss the budget but come to a consensus . I can make my notes and have my ideas on the budget but if we don't have a consensus of a majority of commissioners we are wasting our time and we will end up doing that at the first budget meeting so that's what I'm trying to prevent, I'm trying to give us an opportunity this has been done when there are difficult budgets, we've done it at the school board. You've done it when you are at the city. It is when you have a difficult year there needs to be extra steps. You can't just leave it to the first hearing. I don't want to leave it to the last week of AUGUST, my concern with that is I don't know if we will have enough time. The mayor needs to work on the budget also, I don't think we should have a meeting and throw a bunch of stuff at her at the last minute so either early, mid AUGUST is what looking at if that works for everyone. But if it doesn't I'm happy, maybe we can figure it out, as long as we can figure it out today, I just don't want to spend two or three weeks time to figure out a date cause we have to ordinate with staff and the administration. I will withdraw my motion. I will take you on your work, we will leave it flat and work on it but I need your commitment to work on it. >>vice chair: thank you, commissioner regalado you can include me into that discussion also. Commissioner bastien I know you were making statements before I stopped you for this. >>commissioner bastien: I was wondering about the time. We did say in AUGUST a lot of us would be traveling and earlier , it's going to be difficult and I caution you need quorum, you need maximum representation so I know you were indicating at the end of AUGUST might not be good for you. But it seems to me what would be the safest bet , last week of AUGUST if you would consider that. >>commissioner regalado: my concern is for the ministration, I don't know if they will have enough time. There is a lot that needs to be done before there is a change memo so that is my issue. There's deadlines or the change memo. I guess mdm. Chair. >>vice chair: mme. Mayor quickly before you start your remarks, a question came up to the county attorney a question posed whether or not since there is not going to be any voting at his proposed meeting, does it require a physical quorum, can you answer that question for one of the members please? >> for the committee meeting itself if it's a formal committee meeting the presence should be there for the pieces of the meeting however any members once you have quorum and physical presence the balance of the members or even commissioners that are not members which I believe commissioner regalado extended the invitation can cover your virtually. >>vice chair: does that answer your question. >>commissioner regalado: we can work with staff, several people have said they are available on the 13th so I figured that would give us enough time to work with the administration. I don't want to have a meeting the last week of AUGUST. Jerry, what is the change memo deadline? four business days before the first budget hearing, I would have to see what it would be sometime, it would probably be sometime last week of AUGUST. >>commissioner regalado: that's the issue. I want to make sure we have enough time when we can discuss it. >>vice chair: before we move on to commissioner milian orbis and the mayor, can we go a round the dais now to ask members whether or not AUGUST 13 works for them, that way you know right now and we can put this issue to rest. >>chair: can I jump in for a second. I think unless everybody is prepared to do it now I know obviously I will make myself available. But I know there is a lot of people traveling and this is important to get done, can I assign someone from the office of the chair to circulate either through the clerk or the attorneys or directly with every commissioners staff to see what dates work. And we MAY not be able to accommodate all 13 but once we reach majority we kind of take it from there but I kind of want to continue moving forward a little bit and if we go by through the 13th commissioners right now and see was available and then we will compile a special meeting to discuss whether it's a combined meat, whether it's for my meeting, whether we you a special meeting for this and if everybody can do it now we will not it out but I don't want to go one by one. I will tell you right now the 13th works for me, is everybody available on the 1th? >>mayor cava: MR. Chair respectfully I am not. >> we know the 13th is a good possibility, I'm sure if the mayor is not available staff or mayor's staff is available which is important, that the staff be available so we will check with the mayor's staff to make sure and then we will send it out, are not ging to set that date in stone right now but at least we have a starting point and the 13th works for a majority of the board and we will circle back. >>mayor cava: commissioner regalado asked me a question previously. >>chair: you are recognized to answer . >>mayor cava: the reason I wanted t say we needed to start early was we need your input and we applaud the idea of having a meeting I had a budget hearing to let me be clear about that. And as long as it fits the legal parameters we are on the ready to make necessary changes in the last available change memo so I want to be clear about that. It is important I attend the meeting so respectfully I would ask you circulate the dates and of course I will make every attempt to be part of it, thank you so much. So what is it, a week after? So just for a show of hands to be clear who is available AUGUST 20 and we can circle back with commissioners but who is available AUGUST 20. Available AUGUST 20. The teatment could likely be rescheduled . >> this is the district 5 district 13. >> we have two potential dates, priorities are playing dominoes and not even human. I mean I'm one of the cuban guys on the board. I'm not playing dominoes that they. >> the 13 or the 20th, it's two options. So the 13th or the 20th are 2 options. 20th is better because the mayor will be here and we are also available so why not. Tentatively we will put the 20th and with that commissioner from district 6, you are recognized . >>commissioner orbis: I want to put statements on the record, the will it reason I was willing to second commissioner regalado's motion is the proposal for the budget as it stands today asks working families to pay mre w