The meeting commenced with a gesture of recognition, as Mayor Omar Nickerson presented Mayor Christi Fraga with a crystal gavel, acknowledging her as Doral’s first female mayor. The public comments section was notably enriched by Richard Gutad’s emphasis on humility among the council members, a sentiment echoed by Sora Kash’s call for empathy and respect for individuals from all backgrounds.

A resident, Zora Karashi, delivered a plea for peace and unity, proposing that the city pass a peace resolution to create a new reality where peace is a tangible outcome. The council proceeded with the consent agenda, approving all items except four, and unanimously passed the minutes.

The Miami-Dade County fire chief, Ray Jadala, presented the 2023 service delivery report, outlining the fire department’s resources, response times, and community collaboration. The report detailed the challenges stemming from Doral’s rising population and call volume, and the strategic addition of a new station, Engine 69, to bolster emergency services.

The resolution supporting peace in the Middle East emerged as a centerpiece of the meeting. The council’s discussion revolved around the potential impact of the resolution and its relationship with a previous resolution supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.

The council also engaged in local governance matters, with a proposal to update policies and procedures for issuing key to the city proclamations and certificates. The proposed changes aimed to improve the request and approval process, enforce complete requests, and address challenges with coordination between offices. The motion to approve the changes, with additional amendments, was passed.

Economic development was another focal point, with a presentation requested by a council member to inform residents about the city’s business progress. Manuel Pina, the Economic Development Division director, provided an overview of the local economy, highlighting the industrial market’s rebound to pre-pandemic sales levels and the booming commercial real estate sector in the airport area. However, the presentation was paused as a council member requested a recess, emphasizing the importance of the mayor’s presence during such updates.