The council meeting began with a public comment session where Jonathan Osbbor, a community member, raised concerns regarding the Homestead Police Department’s alleged cooperation with ICE. Osbbor, who has been active in informing the public about immigration issues via social media, organized a protest and communicated that the Spanish-speaking community felt disrespected by remarks from a council member named Jeff Lzner. He emphasized, “They want protests every week. They want protests every day,” highlighting the potential for increased community unrest if their concerns were not addressed. Osbbor urged the council to clearly state that the police department was not collaborating with ICE.

In response, the mayor acknowledged the importance of transparency and asked the police chief to clarify the department’s position. The police chief confirmed that the department had not conducted any ICE operations and had no training from ICE. He reassured that the department has agreements with ICE similar to those with other federal agencies. This clarification was intended to address and alleviate the community’s concerns.

Another topic in the meeting was the legislative discussion surrounding abandoned shopping carts within the city. The council deliberated on a proposed ordinance aimed at managing shopping carts left on streets. The ordinance requires property owners to implement retention programs and proposes compliance methods such as electronic wheel locks and employee retrieval systems. A point of contention centered on whether to enforce compliance based on the number of carts or the square footage of stores. Some council members suggested that focusing on the number of carts, rather than store size, might be more effective, as smaller stores typically manage their carts better.

The council also considered the implications of the enforcement mechanism, discussing potential penalties for non-compliance and proposing that impounded carts could be recycled, disposed of, or bought back by stores. A six-month grace period was suggested for existing businesses to comply with the new regulations once the ordinance passed its second reading. This period would allow businesses time to adjust their cart management systems. Ultimately, a threshold of ten carts was proposed as a clear delineation for enforcement, simplifying the compliance process.

In addition to addressing community and legislative concerns, the council approved a resolution to rebrand the Homestead Energy Lendahan program to the Homestead Customer Assistance for Reliable Essential Services, transferring administration to the community development and human services division. This change was unanimously supported by the council.

The meeting also included updates on infrastructure projects and state funding allocations. The city manager reported that Homestead is set to receive approximately $2.2 million for various projects, including water main capacity upgrades and bridge expansion. This financial update underscored the city’s ongoing efforts to improve its infrastructure.

Council members also discussed a second reading of a moratorium on residential development, extending a temporary halt on issuing development permits for certain residential applications. The ordinance aims to provide a smoother review process for applications while maintaining the moratorium’s intent. The council acknowledged the potential implications of Senate Bill 180, pending the governor’s signature, which could affect local governments’ ability to enact such ordinances.

Other notable topics included community events and initiatives. The city manager announced upcoming community conversations and preparations for the 4th of July event. Council members highlighted the importance of community engagement, with one council member emphasizing the significance of events like a flag retirement ceremony and advocating for increased mosquito control efforts as summer approaches.