The ordinance requiring a restoration bond for construction work impacting city property and prohibiting construction work on legal holidays in residential districts was a major topic of discussion. It also mandates a staging and parking plan for construction sites. After a thorough debate, including the possibility of using a deposit instead of a bond for construction work, the council approved the ordinance with a unanimous vote.

Another ordinance to pass was one that clarifies the extent of the Transit Oriented Development District regulations and modifies requirements applicable to dwelling units. The city attorney provided clarification on the ordinance’s purpose, which was to restrict the area designated as Transit Oriented. This ordinance was also passed unanimously.

The council further approved a resolution and project agreement with Stantec Consulting Services Inc for a traffic study at various locations. The debate prior to approval highlighted a need for a more defined process for traffic analysis and addressing community concerns. Despite the approval, concerns about the process for pursuing traffic analysis and the need for a city-driven traffic modification engineering approach were evident.

Parking issues were another notable topic. The council considered the proposed amendment to the parking rates and fees for the South Miami parking garage, intended to provide relief to businesses and their customers. A debate ensued over the cost of implementing a validation program and its potential impact on the city’s revenue. A council member suggested offering dedicated parking spaces for lease to businesses as a different approach. However, due to diverse perspectives, the decision was to defer the item for further discussion.

The meeting also touched on parking enforcement practices, with concerns raised about over-enforcement on Sundays and its potential negative effects on local businesses. The council passed a motion to support a resolution affirming that the requirement for municipal elected officials to file Form Six financial disclosure forms is unconstitutional, despite some opposition to the use of taxpayer money for the issue.

Regarding speed enforcement, the council discussed an ordinance authorizing the use of speed detection systems in school zones to enforce speeding violations. The emphasis was placed on reviewing traffic data and ensuring a fair process for appeals or challenges to citations. The council members requested the presence of the traffic analysis engineer at the next reading of the ordinance to address any questions.

The final plat application for a property subdivision within the low-density single-family residential RS3 zoning district on Southwest 67th Avenue was also a point of focus. Following a quasijudicial public hearing, the city staff recommended approval of the application with conditions, and after deliberation, the commissioners voted in favor of the application.

Additional discussions covered the renewal of services with Civic Plus LLC, authorization for the city manager to execute law enforcement agreements, the selection of WSP USA Environment and Infrastructure Inc. for the Community Rating System recertification report, and an amendment allowing the purchase of up to 5 years of prior military service for applicants of the South Miami Pension Plan.

Finally, the council addressed concerns about neighborhood traffic, street lighting, and sidewalks. An indefinite deferral was decided for the discussion about valet parking on Sunset Drive and related fees and fines to allow further consideration and input from the city manager.