e e e e e e for e e thank you Mr Mayor good evening council members residents and staff of the town that is growing beautifully Miami Lakes every day we're presented with new challenges and New Opportunities many times we're down dumps and walking around trying to figure out what's going to happen next and all of a sudden somebody pops into our lives and tells us something that inspires us to move on to the next moment but we also have an opportunity to be that inspiration for somebody else whether it's walking past somebody and complimenting their e e testing testing one two testing one two testing one two testing one two testing testing one two testing one two testing testing one two testing testing one two e e e testing one two testing testing testing e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e pleas Alber e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e the difference is hey Gary Come on that e e e e excuse me Austin Ooa here oh okay good e e e e e e e for [Music] ready all right uh today's regular council meeting is here by call to order Madame clerk please call the role council member coyaso present council member Diez here council member ruano present council member Garcia present vice mayor Fernandez present mayor Sid is absent all right I believe we have Quorum uh let's all rise for the prayer led by Minister Kenny Medina from ministerio gracias in lies good evening everyone father we give give you thanks because uh we are able to gather here tonight in this place and um we have the freedom to discuss things like we're about to discuss tonight and uh we ask that everything is done with integrity and with Union and with Harmony and that the best decisions may be made bless the lives of the council members and the Mayors and everyone in charge in this town in the name of Jesus I pray amen e thank you and next up we have the better you minute thank you Mr Mayor good evening council members residents and staff of the town that is growing beautifully Miami Lakes every day we're presented with new challenges and New Opportunities many times we're down in the dumps and walking around trying to figure out what's going to happen next and all of a sudden somebody pops into our lives and tells us something that inspires us to move on to the next moment but we also have an opportunity to be that inspiration for somebody else whether it's walking past somebody and complimenting their shoes or just simply holding the door for somebody sometimes a gesture or saying something po positive to somebody can be that inspiration they need to take the next moment we each have an opportunity every single moment of every day to do something positive and it's important for each and every one of us to do something positive to continue to create a great Community the community of Miami Lakes South Florida and this entire world so next time we have an opportunity to show kindness to somebody else and be positive and be their inspiration let's take that opportunity and do it thank you Ariel for that moving on uh the order of Business Council are there any additions deferrals deletions vice mayor yes item ah item 9B I'd like to defer it to uh the month of May 9 B I'll move uh that change I'll second any other Council I would like to move item 13A to right after public comments second I'll move the uh the agenda as um as uh proposed to be amended with 13A after public comments and deferring 9B to the next council meeting we have a motion do we have a second second all those in favor I I so moved alrighty we have uh public comments um Madam clerk thank you all comments or questions from the attending public shall be directed to the vice mayor in a courtious tone to ensure the orderly conduct and efficiency of the meeting public comments shall be limited to 3 minutes maximum per person when you arrive to the podium please state your name and address for the record if you are participating in remote public comments via Zoom or by calling in you must raise your hand so that it can unmute you and allow you to speak if you're using Zoom to raise your hand you click on the reactions icon and select raise hand and to raise your hand via phone you press uh star nine once you raise your hand they will allow each participant to speak one at a time thank you and welcome to public comments Council as is uh customary I want to recognize our Clerk of Courts Mr Juan Fernandez barin uh who would like to address the council and I would like to extend him um as much time as he needs okay as a lawyer we need to be nice to him whatever whatever we do we're GNA be nice to him yeah may you turn the microphone on there we go all right good evening uh my name is Juan Fernandez baren uh clerk of the court and com controller from Miami dat County it's an honor to be here before you all uh and thank you for the opportunity Mr vice mayor uh just wanted to to Loop you in on a couple of things that that are going on uh that we've uh initiated in our office uh first we've extended hours in two of our uh two of our cour houses two of our satellite cour cour houses uh specifically the Joseph Caleb Center 5400 Northwest 22nd Avenue and the second is the South day Justice Center 10710 Southwest 21 Street uh off of exit 11 off the turnpike um Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. uh we've received very positive results from having these extended hours you know clearly uh working from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. it proves incredibly difficult for individuals to to go in person so we extended ours there we've also implemented a payment plan inhouse that we developed in house um we're in the process of rolling out the auto pay hopefully in about a month or two uh but right now for traffic tickets at least there are individuals who can enroll in this in this payment plan option um secondly we also started um we have operation green light that's starting tomorrow until April 30th if anyone in the public knows of any individuals who have um traffic tickets or parking tickets in collections all right traffic or parking tickets in collections we're waving the collections fees uh from April 10th to April 30th and then lastly there's a property fraud alert system okay this is a fantastic system this is completely free there's companies that charge for this all right I've seen them charge at least $100 or $120 a year all right and the property fraud that's going on is is basically individuals are filing the legal term as a wild deed but they file these Deeds that transfer properties from the rightful owners either to a fictitious Corporation or to another individual and then it's refinanced and then the rightful owner is left with a lean on the property um or and also uh the property is not in their name so I mean it it it proves there's some legal challenges then uh for the rightful owner to get it back in their name and we have a step-by-step process on our website uh if that happens to the to the rightful owner but in addition to that um we have an alert system that anybody anybody all right it doesn't have to be the owner of the property anyone can sign up for this they can register up to 50 properties and if anyone files a legal document that affects the ownership of the property that's registered we send a text message and an email and the email has a link to the document that they can review to verify whether or not it's a legitimate document um so this is a fantastic program my whole family is on it I suggest everyone here get on it there's a QR code that they can register literally takes less than two minutes all we ask for is your name email the folio number we show we show you how to find the folio number your address um and and phone number so incredibly easy to register for it um but thank you so much for this opportunity I really appreciate it and uh I'm good to see all of you thank you thank you thank you for joining us all right we will move on to public comments anyone else wishing to speak please uh come up to the microphone I'm Zoe Vino and we are legal students at Miami Lakes Middle School good afternoon vice mayor Fernandez as you have heard from us before we are presenting our policy for the creation of a youth Advisory board that will focus on legislative processes and policymaking we are not here to make activities seeing as as already covered by the youth activities task force our Council will allow for the Youth to present their ideas to the Town Council giving them a voice in their Go Local Government already almost 30% of cities have a youth Council because their policy makers know how important that kind of opportunity is for young people as an example of a successful one the hiia youth Advisory board has been active for nearly a decade Miami Lakes this town that is clearly dedicated enough to its Youth and their education to allow us to speak on this topic should surely be equally dedicated to the implementation of a youth Council that would allow the same opportunity for a broader range of students students are far more educated ated than some people would give them credit for and have opinions that are worth hearing previously a legal class like us that included Merissa Costa and other determined students presented their policy on water systems and flooding an issue that may not revolve around the youth but most certainly has an effect on them this is proof that young people can have intelligent discussions on policies that aren't watered down for their sake that hearing them out on adult decisions can be worthwhile these strides in youth engagement are only possible with the assistance of adults and government and so a major part of our proposed policy is having the youth council members Shadow the council members This is highly important to make sure council members can mentor the youth to learn legislative processes and the creation of policies another major part of our proposed policy would be having a board liazon making sure that the meetings run smoothly and they could guide the youth council members this role would be rotated every month we are open to suggest questions on our proposed policy thank you for your time and we hope that you will take these reasons in consideration and vote in favor for fostering Civic engagement among the Youth of our counil thank you thank you guys Bonnie I know you were making your way up so um good evening council members and Mr Peterman and staff um I come before you almost every month just to always make the sort of same kind of comments where they have the same basic theme but I mean I tried writing out two different times things I wanted to say but I'm just going to make it simple uh there are good things I see here on the agenda for example um the talking about the removal of excess leaves being done by the town this this is great I love the idea of a question and answer type of public comments session because that's that's really what communication is we would love to have be able to pose a question and have the answer come right then I think that's an excellent idea I like uh Comm your councilman Fernandez's idea about reforestation I don't understand what it says about the canopies on Miami Lakeway South because when I tried to look it up with the attachment it really doesn't explain what mayor Sid has in mind for that so I wish he were here because I'm curious but the worst thing the thing that I that really upset me was seeing something about the street zoning overlay on 154th Street I am not sure what that means but it's it boils down to the same problem we always have it seems as though the council always has that that idea of growing growing changing bringing more amenities more services more whatever more they can bring that's not what we really want from you at all we don't need it we don't want it we want our natural beauty and what we have to be properly maintained maintained to keep it in the best condition um enforcing deed restrictions I see so many blatant violence ations when I go in my area of the town and it and it bothers me but that's what we would like you to be doing not spending our money on frivolous things like another bicycle path in a park that's not needed um those those crosswalks that were brick that's silly safe walks to school variances that allowed two sstory foot buildings all of those things a lot of people people like you thought it was progress most of us don't see it as progress at all we see it as ruining the image of the town and we wish that you could have a better mindset this town was not created just to make money for entrepreneurs and and uh developers and contractors it was supposed to be a quiet respite from urban sprawl and and that's the gem that we are trying to protect so please keep in mind don't be distracted by trying to bring us more and more and more we have so much and we don't live in an isolated Community somewhere in the middle of nowhere where you have to bring a lot of services and things to us we have all we need and even more than we need and look we're right near we're in Miami Dade and Broward we're just full of opportunities to do whatever so just try to keep us as simple as you can and maintain to the utmost good side walks nice everything pristine maybe some pretty Landscaping but try not to get into bringing more amenities and things to us thank you good evening vice mayor Fernandez steam council members and staff my name is Carolina Cuba 7374 Big Cypress Drive youth needs a platform to be able to be involved in government and what better way than through a youth Advisory Board having a youth Advisory Board is not only a great educational experience but also an extremely rewarding one some see in a youth Advisory Board in the town of Miami lak allows for youth representation Future Leaders development and enhanced decision making additionally it is also very important that we invest in civic education projects that equipped us with knowledge skills and confidence to participate effectively in the decision-making process and to further Implement Civic engagement Among Us in addition the youth needs the adults inputs and advice on government issues we call upon you to pay close attention to what we have to say to value our viewpoints and to consider our perspective when making decisions by fostering an environment of inclusivity and collaboration it can be ensured that the diverse perspectives of the youth enhance and strengthen our community in the state of Florida 67% of cities have a youth Advisory Board 29% have a youth Activities Committee and 19% have a legislative youth Council our neighbor to the South the city of hiia have had a youth Advisory board for almost 10 years and what we're here asking you is that you carefully consider this and make the town of Miami Lakes the next city to have a you that Advisory Board and I'll leave you with this quote by father Flanigan a never a man never stands so tall as when he stops to help a child thank you we're open to talk to any staff or council members and open to any suggestions or recommendations thank you thank you guys do we have any other public comments good evening Claudia lucus 8220 men teeth terce on the heels of what um Bonnie Centron just um spoke about a little while ago on the issue of unnecessary um amenities in the town we continue to build we continue to find projects that look nice on you know campaign Flyers when it's election season unfortunately it's at the cost of the Miami Lakes taxpayer as I look at the agenda and I look at the proposed cost to increase let's say the um amenities at K9 Cove I remember when this was first proposed it was just going to be a passive park it was going to be low maintenance now I see a $25,000 price tag attached to it yet people come up here here and they talk to you guys they talk about the sidewalks they talk about the conditions of the streets that apparently Falls in De ears you got $225,000 for a dog park you're trying to tell me we as taxpayers can expect more from this Council from this town $25,000 it's a lot of money um I look at the um other issue of you know everyone talks about traffic campaign season is great people start talking about traffic and we're going to alleviate traffic and we're going to mitigate traffic and we're going to propose things for traffic well no one's proposing creating any more lanes because there's no space now I see on this um agenda a 154 Street overlay we can't handle the traffic on4 as it is now there's plent plenty of retail space commercial space available out there but we are once again okay trying to increase the size of what is supposed to be a small town we're losing it residents are complaining but apparently nobody's listening because what we're focused on is simply growing this town beyond the bounds that it already has sit on those roads look at that traffic I still remember when you know the 170th Bridge conversation came out oh don't worry there's not going to be additional traffic really don't worry we're not going to need any more police officers really okay look at the amount of traffic that is there so based on the history um that we have with this Town Council I think it would be prudent to take a moment and step back and address what are the true priorities of this town which include okay sidewalks the conditions of our streets we propose all these wonderful ideas but you don't have the money for it so you have to start to really prioritize what it is that you want and just really start stop taking advantage of the taxpayers thank you Claudia anyone else wishing to speak come on up hello good evening okay so I wrote some stuff down give me a sec so good evening my name is Vanessa I am a Miami Laker born and raised um I'm a local marketing professional I work in the hospitality um I work with a lot of businesses here in Miami Lakes I get exposed to a lot of different business um on The Daily on the weekly uh you might recognize my work from chellas we've you know tried to do some nice things for the community Through large events um just bringing everybody together for a good time and just you know a good place to just kind of get together um I wanted to come present a unique point of view I guess a different one from today's public comments but um it's basically a point of view from the local business side um the business owners most specifically Main Street I guess to start uh while there have been multiple small businesses that have opened up in the past few years which has been super nice because I remember obviously I grew up so we know like it was all chains and big companies and now it's more like just Miami Lakers opening up their own places right um bringing a bit of life to what was once a very quiet Main Street Main Street kind of went on the low um I feel like there's more as a town that we can do especially as a town and partnering with the businesses themselves because everyone is super willing to work with you guys to kind of liven it up a little bit um because you guys offer support you know through ribbon cuting but then after that it kind of just Qui down a little bit um so there's no reason why Main Street can't be comparable to Cocoa walk and Coconut Grove or the shops of primer Gardens all places that we as Miami Lakers go to and then come back home why can't we just stay in our own backyard and support the local businesses that are here um so I want to comment and essentially propose a plan to pump up Main Street to its full potential events like the one that just happened this week in cars for K are just examples of how our community loves to come together we can support our local businesses through community events that we invite our locals as well as attract Outsiders too to support our economy in Miami Lakes and um as well as through simple marketing tactics like social media travel influence inviting travel influencers to come in um and more to just show like the rest of South Florida and Miami Lakes like that we can be a destination for all to come and enjoy and thrive in so I really thank you for your time and attention to this as a local marketer and a born and raised Miami Laker it would be such a delight and a joy to see Miami Lakes thriving as should be thank you any other members of the public wishing to speak I do see two phone numbers um on Zoom but I don't see them raising their hand so again if you are calling in and you just want to speak during public comments please dial star9 and it will let you speak no I don't see them raising their hand all right seeing no on public comments is closed all right moving on to item 13A a resolution of town Mi Lakes Florida creating a youth Advisory Board authorizing the town manager to take all actions necessary to implement the terms and conditions of this ordinance providing for severability and providing for an effective date all right and this this was uh this was my item but uh last month when it was initially presented council member Diez um expressed an interest in meeting with the students and I believe that they they met um I'm not sure if the if the students received any requested edits or if you wanted to profer those at this time so I I'll yield the floor to you thank you Mr Vice May yes um I was not able to get to them um my proposed edits it's been a very busy season thankfully for me on the law firm side of things um so I was not able to get it to them but we did have a productive conversation in which I relate to them some of my concerns um with with the ordinance or rather the resolution as it's currently proposed um and I got I was able to get a better sense of what specifically they were envisioning with this uh uh particular board um so after thinking uh about what they brought up and and and hearing what they had to say as far as what they envisioned I I do think that it is far more extensive than what any of our other 10 or 11 other committees are are currently you know required to do and what they're what they're able to do for those that want to do more and I think uh we need to um get them more in in line with what those boards have right um I know that they wanted to present for example um at each meeting um you know their report on the youth view on each and every item on the agenda I I understand and I appreciate the the passion that they bring to the table as a former uh Student Government um person myself um but I just think that in you know in most of our meetings as we all know we have a lot of agenda items to get through and other times we have a lot of public comments and of course being able to meet or to opine on each issue is going to be timec consuming and then also um providing a monthly report would be more than any other committee or board that we currently have have in existence and I don't think that's fair to the other uh committees um but a I guess what I'll do is a I'll wait for you to make the motion um and then I'll go one by one with uh my various items but I did want to also take a moment to let the students know that I had an opportunity to look at your project I was actually a judge for project citizen um and I was able even though I was not the one judging your particular project I did have a chance after looking at mine uh to look over at yours I was able to see the amount of work you guys have put into it between the interviews and the essay writing and everything else I think it's commendable work um you guys clearly put a lot of thought into it and so um just you know I want you to to realize that I do recognize everything that you've done that you've done your homework um and so my edits are based on though my practical experience um as a council member now in my second term and as somebody who was a volunteer for many years prior to even getting elected um but with that Mr vice mayor I'll all wait for you to get us in the in the proper posture all right so I will move the item do I have a second I'll second all right we have a motion and a second Council M Diez thank you um so the first thing and that I flagged the last meeting uh had to do with the with the verbiage in the SE in section s duties number three where it states members of the youth Council shall be given opportunities to Shadow the council members um I I I don't have a problem with council members that want to um give them an opportunity to Shadow them you know when they have certain meetings and whatnot but obviously I I think the way it's worded can be a little too broad obviously as we all know there are times where we have to meet in in private with staff um there are also times where we just don't have the time to coordinate with uh with others because we have very busy lives you know families work uh Etc um so I just feel that that would be uh better as a May so my first amendment would be to propose that um subsection three of section 7 be amended to read members of the youth Council may be given opportunities to Shadow the council members therefore giving each and uh and every member of the council an individual opportunity to determine which or how to what extent they want to involve uh the members of the council that would be my first amendment um I'm totally amable to to that change I'll second I'll second we have a motion in a second on the amendment only all those in favor signify by saying I I I thank you and thank you uh I failed to to recognize you earlier but councilwoman Tonto is uh joining us via Zoom welcome thank you vice mayor um the the second um item I wanted to discuss with with my colleagues and maybe actually and I probably will need the students to actually uh guide me on this um the one of the concerns that I had was that as a formal body as opposed to an informal uh group very similar to what we had with the youth council at the spot is obviously they're going to be subject to Sunshine and you know with that you know a violation of which is a criminal misdemeanor etc etc and and it doesn't sound like a big deal perhaps to to some out there but I just have uh some concerns with respect to putting that sort of responsibility on them and so I'm I just wanted to have a conversation with my colleagues and with the attorney as far as you know what you guys feel as far as the level of risk error is acceptable or not um my question for the students would be to see how H Alia does it um you know because I I I admit I have not looked into how H alah specifically has set up their used Advisory Board a little bit I did look up uh just now does seem to kind of combine what you're proposing with what we currently have with the youth activity task force so I don't know if you can if any of you can opine on how much of their responsibilities is policy and how much of it uh uh how much of it is event planning what I had to do with the youth activities Task Force at one point was attend one of their meetings and stress to them you know Florida law and the government in the sunshine act and because I think there were some some issues but I think they seem to get it at the time and I haven't gotten back any uh real issues I we could certainly do that with this group okay actually Lorenzo could have t one there okay um so so you would be fine then with uh with an all youth board um oh well um who would monitor their activity we would have a liaison we we would have oh which is what the yes youth activities task force kind of has well they have some adults exactly yeah the the YF has adult members in it yeah I don't know if Run's going to think of anything that would be an issue but vice mayor council I I don't see that there would be any uh issue the the problem is always the youth at Council needs to understand that um you know what they're voting on what they're going to be talking about now can't bring any issue their role in my understanding and speaking with vice mayor Fernandez is that their role is purely advisory in nature uh there are a a think tank of sorts so they'll be providing ideas and putting together kind of a I guess a position paper uh and be circulating that and sharing that with with the council um provided that they're not talking about anything that's budgetary or planning events and things of that nature that's where it gets kind of sticky because they are uh minors and they they are not uh uh of of age to be able to take votes on things that are uh you know tax do in nature budgetary nature we can never put in front of them an issue on spending money the bottom line is they're legally incapacitated um so that issue can never come up before them because they're you know they're not allowed to vote we've had that issue come up before and we did the research and everything else on it um but you know to me the key is the uh uh the sunshine you know they have you have to drive that home uh nowadays especially to the youth it's tough enough with adults but yeah um through the chair but they're able to look at the agenda see see items and uh and advise us on what their their take is on how it'll affect them and their age group uh you know give us that kind of feedback on what they feel the ra ifications of anything on our that we have on the agenda items might affect them and kind of give us maybe their View and they're able to do that I mean without without voting are they I mean without the yeah so the sunshine no I know I know but more of a of a sun remember Sunshine applies between them it does not apply to different boards they can actually be more effective right because what we're telling them guys you can't talk amongst yourselves right on issues that you're going to bring forward but you did it today right you convened for a purpose and I would say your advocacy has been more powerful today than vice versa than if they were under the sunshine and these are things that you get through debate right and and trying to flesh this out I have a bunch of other things as well but I'm going to tell you right now just from the discussion that we've seen here and what our attorneys are advising us you're a board that's going to advise us on policy but you can't talk to each other you would be much better not being part of the city you know that that's that's the kind of I mean you can have a legally Sunshine meeting you can have debate you know there's but we're handcuffing them right we're we're actually making it harder on them and then we're trying to bring issues of capacity do they understand what they're doing what are the policy ramifications so it's a good thing to flesh out you know and I and I think this is a healthy debate but but I would even urge you right now the way that we're going it's almost like they're more powerful not being part my two s uh I was part of one of those committees a long long time ago uh and I thought it was one of the best experiences of my life you know to come up and participate in everything else so I rarely speak on policy but I think this would be a great thing for them uh as long as we we helped them out and we guided them which is what adults are for um but I I think it's a really good thing uh for them for whatever it's worth through the chair just to add to dovil on what the what was said um yeah it's there's going to be uh restrictions on you speaking you know to each other about about the business in front of you but it will show them at an early age the challenges that we have right uh how government really works how we just can't Willy nearly speak to each other this is where we are able to speak and it has everybody has to know we're meeting everybody and everything we say has to be recorded everybody has to have access to that right um because some people say why can't things get done quicker you'll learn that at an early age with our guidance so I I I was in comprehensive law in high school and I wasn't part of something like this but it gave me a little understanding of you know of not the real world but but how things work a little bit more I have better understanding when I graduated high school so if we we give guidance and they understand and and and it's a great opportunity for them I think they're they'll handle it well they handle themselves extremely well here they hand themselves extremely well when they're when they're answering questions and they're presenting and I think it'll it'll give them a heads a head up a heads up on when they do go into you know if they do decide to go into public service in the future but but I understand what uh uh councilman is saying as well but I think if we give them the guidance we put set the parameters like you said the parameters I think it'll it'll be a good thing I love to hear you know what they have to say because sometimes we we think we we we have we know it all and their perspective might just like wow you know what did we miss so I I I agree with trying to give them an opportunity at least I mean I can I can uh I can tell you firsthand from interacting with uh both from interacting with with these particular students and from my time on on the youth activities task force where we had student members uh that often times they they take those rules very seriously they take those those rules and these are students that are highly civically engaged they I I would argue um in terms of understanding those rules and those parameters are at a more advantageous position than maybe you know some of our other Rank and file committee members are who maybe don't have that predisposition to to civic duty um so just something to to throw out there I mean yes from a from an efficiency standpoint I I definitely agree um no my my not questioning their capacity I think that they're very competent my issue is as power of an advocacy and I think the perfect examp I think the mayor brought the K9 Cove committee right saying we didn't vote for that because what we were going to be doing is actually hindering those individuals that want wanted to Advocate on behalf of the issue by making them part of the government right so what I what I'm saying is sometimes the most powerful advocacy is the one that happens very organically and kind of you know and I think you've nurtured that right you've told them come before the the the day and sometimes putting them here it's going to be different right it's a different rules of engagement so to speak so I'm I'm taking everybody's comments I I agree I think that I think the youth should be given a voice I don't necessarily disagree with the item I disagree with the composition I disagree with some of the makeup of the board I disagree with some of the feedback that I've just heard you know they're not going to be an extension of the council right I think what we're using them is as a body to kind of take input and then you know move through policy and I think the closer that we get to that level of expectations what it is and and I appla let me tell you what I applaud I applaud councilman dieas for going and saying hey you know let me sunshine this meeting let me understand a little bit more because what we get is a little snippet but then if you delve into it a little deeper it might be different than than what we might be thinking of right now and that's why I'm going to presuppose some changes as well and maybe see if they're amenable to it or or us right at the end of the day it's it's if we're amenable to it so um I'm I'm in agreement with it I just you know I guess it's it's um setting that Benchmark that sometimes what they believe are the capabilities of their advocacy sometimes better served if it's not through um the the the body of the government right and I think that sometimes the most powerful um things are the ones that happen organically in a perfect example was that K9 Cove issue right the friends of K9 Coes kind of showed up and and they were much more powerful than than maybe an Advisory board thank you yeah and and uh just picking back off of that I I just I admit that I am completely Bor you like boarded out in terms of you know we have already like 10 to 11 and um not only are we talking about this one uh we're talking about another one so that creates a staff issue as well because again they have to have a liaison I mean I'm open into the idea but um you know if if if you guys are fine with putting them under the same structures as us as a teaching thing great I just hope that they understand that that means that they can't present the report unless they've actually formally met and voted and one concern that I did have was actually when we when I was asking for dates and times to meet with them and uh I found out later that councilwoman Rana was doing the same the only they only provided one date and time that they were able to meet so that that did kind of raise a flag for me as far as what is their availability ility then to meet monthly and therefore to U you know hit quum requirements and everything else I mean but if if they want to be subject to that provision along with the regular committee rules um then fine you know then I'll I'll just I'll just put it Forward there um on that you know I'll I'll leave that alone then um but I wanted to have that that discussion and I know that they had talked about meeting up here on the deis but I just hope that they understand that like all our other committees the the committee would have to meet in the community conference room um there you know which is still down the hall it's you know not not far um so and again there's I just want to reiterate though what what my colleague C MCAS was saying though which is that obviously you know it sounds like a great idea but you'll soon see how those strictures can actually be suffocating at times to debate especially if you can't me Quorum I do have concerns also about what happens when your current crop uh you know graduates you know will there be the same level of sustained enthusiasm so um it it is what it is but um again my my biggest peeve really with this item aside from the fact that I'm just generally become wary of any new boards you know um my big concern was just that requirement that we had to give them the opportunities to Shadow council members again we already have an internship program here in the town if they wanted to get an up close view of how government operates but um I'll I'll just I'll just leave with that then um I I don't have any further amendments hey if if if if I me so I'm I'm definitely fine with with changing sha to main that that's that's uh that's perfectly fine I think maybe I see the the dynamic of this a little bit different than than what we're talking about so if we're looking at at them this this group overall and we're we're grabbing them we're cutting them and we're making them the the youth Advisory Board then then yes I could see how that would be more complicated and a and a step backwards and adding bureaucracy but I I think the the idea is to open this up CommunityWide and have participation from different schools and different things and so then really our role at that point becomes providing the The Forum and the format for them to be able to to do so so it's less about a group of of classmates at this one particular school that would otherwise be able to get together on on their own time or during class and discuss issues and it becomes more um you know a diverse representation of different individuals from different schools in in the area stealing my thunder man sorry I do have an amendment um you know this the vice mayor did kind of touch on a point that that did peque my interest and I do think that is pertinent I'm fine with having a representative from each school but we've already seen how on the uh advisory boards for the uh the special taxing districts that can be a bit of of a limiting factor um you know if we have to have one from each scho not not as a rigid structure of you know one representative from each school just organically you know if if they all happen to come from one program fine but um I I think we have a deep enough um talent pool in the in the town you see and I completely disagree I that's exactly what I would want I would want see I wrote them all down I'm going to miss somebody but HML Goldman k Miami Lakes Middle Bob Graham Miami Lakes education Catholic School Our Lady of the Lakes have one person from each of those schools right that equal representation among all the youths among the largest organizations that that catered to our youth here I thought that would be great now if you can't get participation maybe the youth aren't that interested then right it you're just proving a point so I would put it on the youth Council the idea from the middle schools to actually promoted and say hey encourage maybe an election in these schools right the next phase of this project you planted the seed right they're sewing the seed the next phase of this project is each of those schools you got to do Outreach to each of those schools and say hey we got this through you know have an election have an election at the school have the schools vote in their represent not Musta appoint them I don't want to continue a click culture right I want to make sure that they're they're actually represented and and have the schools say hey run an election for the Youth Council you going to have a seat at at at the helm of government right I'd be completely in favor of that I think that's the most democratic way to do it I mean that's that that was one of my one of my suggestions I don't know if that's the way you were going but that that was actually going to be one of my things to to put it no and I appreciate that and I hear your concerns there um but I kind of also agree with making that more aspirational uh just because again like we've seen on the tax and District boards how that can be a bit of a challenge um or at least again limiting right you know where if you have to have a representative say from here here and here and you don't have enough applicants from the very schools I think I I know exactly you know I I understand you completely because I have such an issue I you know I had a vacancy on the Royal Oak section East non HOA me like it it becomes you know complex um I'm I'm okay with making that maybe the the suggested um course of action but you know maybe not not I do have one limitation we can't find one student representative from E school I'm sure we can find I'm sure we can find because this is not East West this is one student representative from each of these educational institutions what I'm saying is that very similar to our other committees if we're we need to have an applicant pool right they have to volun they have to choose to fill out the application to be considered and then as as you know Victoria will send us that list uh of choices and then let us know who from these has already been selected by one of our colleagues and you know what what's left may not you know may leave one of the school I think we're putting way too much on us this is a project this is the next phase of that project I would put it on them to say look you got it through now this is your baby right who are these kids right and challenge them these are the best the brightest that we have we can't come up with one kid from each school I think we're underestimating what they're able to do they're teacher is nodding yes so guys she's giving me full Reign to to move forward do do you think you guys can do that you think you guys can do that that if we put this challenge back to you if we pass this that you can get one representative from every school I believe you can I believe you can so I don't think it should be a longrange thing I think we should put it back on them and have them identify and bring it back do you guys think you can you guys think you can identify one person from every school I believe in them I don't think we should short change them I think that should be a condition of the committee because then again if it fails guys that means that what you've been saying right is that the youth don't have a voice and I would challenge you to challenge the youth right if you truly believe in the mission and you truly believe in what you're bringing forward I say you go for it and and and I don't think it's a hard mission what I do believe that we have to rethink is unlimited terms right because that's the issue that I have how long are you a youth for right if you have an 18-year-old there for 20 years right that kind of changes it so I th those are the things that I want those are the two issues that I wanted to bring forward right to put term limits on it right and to make sure that all the schools were adequately represented and with your nod I'm going to make that my hard Line in the Sand to move this thing forward you have a motion yeah in the form of the following um on the composition in terms of service uh I want there to be one representative from every school uh HML Barbara Goldin Miami Lakes K8 Miami Lakes Middle Bob Graham Miami Lakes education center and Our Lady of the Lakes being the seven um organizations and I wanted us to have a debate or a discussion on term limits uh I don't believe that they should be indefinite um I believe that there should be some type of term limit whether it's four years or some other structure um because after a while um I think having somebody there for more than you know four years if you didn't get the work done maybe you shouldn't be an office it's kind of the same rule that that we're the same standard we're held to right well I mean I think part of part of the intent is that they have to be active students right so I think at at which point they graduate high school they would they would have to drop off they start there they have to the high board sets a two-year term limit or at Le or not a term limit sorry that it's considered a term of two years according to their their website members Shall Serve for a term of two years through the chair I I I uh agree with what my colleagues are saying um I just want to remind this that this we want to make this fun for the kids right you guys are are coming up here you're excited to participate I honestly think they should come up when they're when they're having their meeting let them use the DI why not it's it's the experience and I think the social studies teachers and each class should decide should vote on somebody to represent them and to get more kids involved instead of a three or four year every year you pick somebody new to represent your school on this board uh and you get to come up and you get to give us your advice and you get to sit on the DAT and you get to see and you get to Shadow us and you get to have fun and learn at the same time remember guys we were kids once too and we we it has to be fun for them it has to be exciting for them let's not forget that part of it I know we have to make sure our PS and q's and everything is done well but um yeah I think I think every school could decide on somebody and every year pick somebody new and it'll encourage each student to work hard to get to the level where they're nominated by their peers to get on the board they vote and then they become they become part of the of the board so I I I I I like that idea a lot but remember guys it's supposed to be fun for them so let's well them a little it may I I disagree in the sense that they are going to be opining on our agenda on every single item um on very serious issues in many cases so I I think it's not just about having fun if they just wanted to have fun then it should be an informal board um but you know again part of them now being subject to our rules and everything is to get the experience that includes all the boring parts of what we do right um but with that said uh that actually brings me to another point but first i'm going to Second the um council member Coo's uh motion and I'm def I'm fine with the the two two year term limit um and if somebody graduates before that two-year term limit I guess we'd have to go in for another appointment because I did see the caveat the that the vice mayor was um referencing that they must be enrolled um in the local school so there's a motion in a second on your amendment I don't know Madam clerk if you got all that I did get it it was to amend section three for one representative from each of the seven schools so I just want to clarify you're going to scratch out the town's education of Advisory Board because o is not represented in the EAB yeah that okay perfect right because I think originally as it stood they would have to come from the schools but not specifically one per school yeah well I have it as one rep from each of the seven schools that's what right yeah yeah I know that's that's the and here it says any from correct middle or high from any of the ones represented in the EAB so since o is not represented in the EAB you're going to have to change that got it just one before we vote on this this amendment just just want to um clarify a little bit about what I meant by one student I mean for a year term if each school has a goal uh or if students have the goal of wow if I work really hard and I make a uh you know I do a good job my peers are going to choose me to be on this board and they serve for a year and then and then we get some and the next year class they have the same goals I I think the teachers U or the students would like the opportunity of every year a brand new person representing that school and I think it'll encourage more participation it'll be kind of like a reward for those students who have shown that they you know their civic knowledge and have worked hard to get there I think a twoyear or threeyear term kind of kills the competition and we don't have fresh you know fresh uh students coming every year uh and I'm almost I can't speak for the for the students and I can't speak for the teachers but I think they would like that that opportunity to be able to bring someone fresh to encourage yeah I'm fine with that no that's just my opinion on that one so yearly term limits yeah so then the students and the teachers can have opportunity to to vote every year themselves and reward one student that they feel can represent their school and help us uh and give us guidance I I just think that's better than two or three terms we can't think of them as adults in the same way as we do you know they are they they they they are under 18 but we're giving more opportunities to more kids to participate and we did just recently make a a similar change to the student advisory position on the EAB in line with that right we made it a yearly um process if if Council M gaso wants to amend his Amendment um to include that I'm more than happy to I'm I'm completely fine with it to to all the Educators in the room does every school have a student government an active student government does every school have an active student government so that's and so they actively hold elections every year as well for those positions correct yeah so it's not a heavy lift that that's what I was trying to see was it this be like a an overreach but I'm fine with that okay all right so on the amendment all those in favor I I all right do we have any other amendments on this issue I have one more that kind of came up as we were having uh this discussion I actually would would for myself would prefer to have a requirement that they have to be Miami leak's residents if they're going to be opining on issues affecting our taxpayers right I think it's important that they be those not trying to denigrate the cont contributions of those that are not but I think you know when we're talking about offering sta staff time right that that we pay for their parents pay for ETC we're talking about them opining on issues that affect Miami Lakes families I think our taxpayers want them to be people that live here in the town um so that would be my my Amendment I'll second through the chair um do that doesn't include HML that would well where did they go to well if I'm not mistaken HML covers Miami Lakes so there could be Miami Lake students going to H I know I uh but other school um you know with certain magnet schools and things like that that um sometimes kids come from other from other towns to to come to our to our schools we have great schools and they've worked hard to get there um you know if they're going to a school that's that's either located in Miami Lakes or or Jason like high Miami Leakes I think it would uh perhaps lower the the amount of students that the pool that they have to work with there might be incredible children incredible kids that that are just you know we have meritz who who's not a you know he goes to HML uh other other students have come up here who don't go to the town don't live in the town but yet you know come up here and really give their heart and soul to town matters I understand what you're saying in that sense but I think it might limit the amount of of talent pool that we might have especially since a lot of these schools have kids come from other outside of Miami Lakes that's just the thought curious to see what my peers and and Miss Rono as well I haven't heard from her as well there there's nothing that stops those kids from attending those meetings speaking public comment as as every committee allows uh you know members of the public to do or even in and informal work groups from participating um in in you know giving their their opinion um but I I I disagree I think it is a stronger imperative for us as the stewards of the taxpayers dollars to make sure that we are putting them first and so to me that includes if we're going to make staff available to this board and if we're if they're going to be opining on things that sometimes might involve hundreds of thousand dollars of Miami Lakes tax dollars I'm more than open to hear other opinions but I would want the members of this particular board to be from Miami after all we need to cater to our residents first and foremost that that's just my view on on so I I'll put my thoughts on the on the record I I see both sides of it right and so like if you look at um our youth advisory our youth activities task force for example that includes or makes eligible students of our area schools regardless of of where it is that that they live right for me the the the Line in the Sand is if if the body is going to exercise discretion um over Financial issues like a committee is is able to do most committees are able to do then I think that should be reserved for you know residents of of the town in this particular case since it's a purely advisory role and the the students kind of by definition aren't able to to exercise any fiduciary anything because there they're uh they're legally uh incapacitated I have less of less of an issue allowing them to to participate ultimately they are a part of of our community just the same the the the student that lives in in hiia and goes to you know Miami Lakes Middle School still deals with our traffic still drives through our streets still sees our our flooding still sees all of those other issues and in this particular case they're not directly allocating funds in the way that you know perhaps our cultural Affairs committee would or our veterans affairs committee would um I I think that there's there's very little downside to to allowing that that to happen and um and the and the pros are great right we might we might get a a um a more engaged uh member out of it so again I think though that um at the end of the day it's our families that are affected by our decisions and so we need to hear from them um if others want to opine you know look I'm glad that meritz and others you know feel welcome enough to be here and they do contribute a lot to you know our area schools and all that but again we're talking about where they want to opine on procurement and all sorts of other matters you know so I I would rather hear just from our families uh in particular all right does anybody want to profer that as a yeah I made the motion I don't remember if there was a second have council member coo seconded the motion okay council member coyaso do you want to no oh ready to vote all right all those in oh sorry oh I'm sorry councilwoman ronto you are recognized that is okay are we voting on the on the motion that uh the students need to be residents of the town of Miami Lakes that is correct okay so I'll save my comments for a little further along thank you all right on the uh strictly on the amendment all those in favor yes I I I all right the eyes have it councilwoman you are recognized thank you so before we take a final vote on this um I still have a lot of questions regarding how this committee is going to function and I've read the resolution um however I'm not understanding how they're going to give the council feedback I don't know if if if you vice mayor if you can shed some light on that for me so the the idea um kind of uh coming from from some of the conversations that uh councilman die is had with them um so originally they were going they were going to perform uh a an oral report at every at every meeting I think we can probably make that more in line with the rest of our committees and I think they're my understanding is if we make approve them as a formal body they are automatically subject to the committee rules which automatically already reduces them to the two not only opposes Sunshine but also restricts them to the two reports per year and then any other additional reports they want to give orally would have to be subject to the manager's approval um correct now what I would want to see out of it I'm I'm perfectly okay with them just doing the the two-yearly or you know semiannual reports orally in front of the council but uh I would like a written report to be provided to the Council on a monthly basis I think um if they want to do that I think we can just leave it to them to do that I don't know that we need to include that in the resolution um it's not like we're going to stop our business if we don't get that report right but but kind of to to walk you through the the process as to why the idea was for them um the idea was really you know kind of to what the deputy Town attorney said um to to be a think tank right so the idea is for them to meet between the time that the agenda is is published and our c meetings and so having you know them draft a report that speaks to the items that that are before us I think would be would be the value that they would provide right I think that's fine I I don't I I actually told them I you know I think a written report would be more feasible and you know but obviously again they would have to meet within that window to approve that report and obviously they would have to prepare it I don't think they they should be relying on the liaison to prepare the report um you know because it's part of in essence it's part of their project they need to they need to be the ones to generate this so um but yeah I don't think I don't know that we need to include any additional Direction I think I think that's already inherent in in their Authority there that's fine thank you so that that was one of my concerns and I'll explain to you why I am um I'm not coun member that is in favor of creating more committees on the contrary I voted against all of the last committees that have been presented um to us for the reason that they seem to get us in a pickle every single time so because they're students I want to give this group of students real expectations right what we do on the day is is real business and although they're going to want to chime in and give us feedback on every agenda item to me it just doesn't feel like that's feasible that we would have the time to review the agenda that is very very lengthy to brief with the manager and then also review the comments on every single agenda item so when I read the resolution the resolution says um that they are to for the purpose of advising the Town Council on matters affecting the Youth of the town I feel like that statement is very broad so is this is is the intention for them to give us their feedback on matters affecting the youth or on every agenda item that we discuss because unfortunately there are things that that are going to be outside of of of the capacity of of for them to research right things that have to do with our budgets things that have to do um with more legal matter matters we we have briefings with our attorneys privately sometimes that are not you know subject to to public meetings so I just want to give them the right expectations with regards to what they're going to chime in on and what you know what they're not I feel that they have public comments they have the opportunity to come before us every month every resident even people that are not residents have the opportunity to come before us every month we have three minutes to express their opinions on on agenda items and I want the students to know that that is afforded to them with or without a committee they can always come before us and they can always um speak regarding any item that they feel that they want to give us their opinion on so that is something that they should exercise um as often as they possibly can but with regards to this particular committee what are the matters that the that this committee would be including in their report is it going to be every item or is it going to be youth related items and how would we determine what SK would be the the original intent was for them to give the youth perspective on all of our new business items um new business items yep okay so definitely I mean nothing nothing uh you know nothing confidential nothing that's not on uh not on the agenda already okay so perhaps that can be incorporated into the resolution because I feel that it's written in a very broad uh statement right on just for the purpose of advising on matters affecting the youth and to be quite honest I think everything affects the youth right and I and I think that was kind of their their intent it would be them uh providing the youth perspective on our you know day-to-day items and that would be via a written report yes a a in my opinion a a monthly written report and then uh two oral reports a year in line with what our uh our other committees do and with regards to council members um being leaon right section six discusses that the town manager shall appoint a staff liaison so that requires funding and I'm not sure if we've um considered the funding source for that and then it also speaks about council members serving as liaison and I do recall that in the past that was removed from other committees um council members were not involved in that for political reasons because sometimes we tend to politicize things when um when we're given the opportunity to participate so I would really like to remove I know that it says highly encouraged but I would really like to to remove that I wouldn't like to see council members participating in the committee per se I'd like to see the students with a liaison and then I guess my question is to the manager where would the funding come for the for the liaison be before I I let the uh the manager respond to that this this board would essentially be replacing the the youth Council right so whatever whatever resources we have allocated to that I've kind of envisioned yeah we we don't have alas on for that youth Council we just have the staff from the parks department works with them and and and you know but it's it's a little more informal than this would be so for this we would probably have to I don't think it would be a huge amount of money but we probably need uh some type of a budget amendment that we can make with a carry forward item tonight or next month it it would be minimal uh in the grand scheme of things but we'd have to fund it we we currently have a part timely Aids on who handles the um uh mental health task force the ad hoc committee for the sheriff's item which is uh probably uh at some point is going to come to an end and uh and we can probably have that liazon handle this committee uh or this this group uh also so we can make it work but it will be there will be a budgetary impact but I don't think that it'll be large okay and then another question that I had was I I I do agree with um with having one student representative from every school I don't know how it works in our lady the Lakes I don't know if they have a student um Student Government at Our Lady of the Lakes I'm not familiar with how they run it um with how they run that there um but I guess my final question would be with regards to um how often they meet and whether or not I know that there's usually when we have youth involved we have a lot of problems with quorum so sometimes there's resources that aren't used properly because you know meetings are called to order and we don't have Quorum would it be possible for them to not meet on a monthly basis I know that in Middle Schools I think they have a little more spare time but I know that our high school students particularly those that are in their Junior and Senior year rarely have time to do much because they're just so busy so would there be a possibility for them to meet perhaps quarterly that would help the Lia on to to be to have the the funding for the liaison would be a little bit less and it would also help with regards to Quorum I do agree with council member Diez with regards to the dates right I was unable to meet with the students because they didn't really have a lot of dates available to meet and I really couldn't meet until after April the 15th so would it be possible to have them meet less often for this to be less burmon what uh what frequency would you suggest quarterly perhaps what do the students say do you yeah that the come come come up please miss diza so that we can recognize you and get your comments on the record there's a little button what I wanted to say is that these students that are going to be volunteering for this youth Council are very dedicated students it would be the best of every school so I don't see issue with them meeting every month uh I really think that they would look forward to it because I I really have observed it meritz was my student and I know there's almost nobody comparable to meritz but there are other students like that out there at Goldman at at halia Miami Lakes at tech there are many students I K8 I know uh the legal studies teacher my colleague has wonderful students and they are very committed and they will be willing to serve and if you think about it if it's one from every school there's a lot placed on their shoulders there expectations and they're going to live up to that and it's a good thing because one of the things that we seldom have a lot of time to teach in Civics is local government and this is their opportunity to learn from you what it's about the good the bad the ugly you know everything in between because we Studies have shown they have told me the Studies have shown that students that are engaged at this time continue to be engaged and are most likely to vote and that's what we want you are actually mentoring the uh Leaders of Tomorrow thank you and Mr vice mayor I just want to also point out for the record that in line with what Mrs diara just stated with respect to getting uh the youth involved which is the supposed end goal of this project which I believe it is um I did recommend to them that they could work on preparing mock elections at the school um similar to something uh I had done when I was in student government in high school at Day Christian and um and um I think in that sense simulating the actual election process where every student student was given a unique ID um that they would have to present to an election monitor from SGA and then they would be led to a computer where they would cast their ballot online I think simulating the voting process from presenting ID to Casting the ballot and then getting back in the line and all that I think that would would really go a long way um toward a really simulating the election process and getting them used to the idea of voting like as a general population so I actually you know it um I don't know what you guys think about it I did present it to them I don't know what they want to do with that information but I actually would be fine with including that in their mandate that they have to organize a mock election at least in presidential Cycles or or or um presidential or midterm cycles and I think you know again if the idea is to start getting the youth accustomed to voting and as Mr yza said I've seen those studies too that as you get them involved and and used to that idea of thinking themselves as voters they're more likely to continue to vote I um I think that would go a long way so I I just want to throw that out there see what everybody thinks about perhaps you know throwing that in there that they should organize these mock elections at their schools um whenever there's a general election cycle I think so long as we keep it to you know presidential or gubernatorial elections I would want to keep it keep it out of the local elections yeah yeah M midterm and and general so um you know Congressional and and presidential um I think I think that's a I think that's an excellent idea councilwoman I I did want to uh address I think the the Cadence of meeting monthly kind of helps um you know cycle through the the different new business items that that they get I think that Cadence might be might be helpful so that's kind of why I'm leaning towards um continuing to to keep them meeting monthly okay I I I appreciate that um my final point would be um obviously this is something that we're going to test drive is there a possibility to have this Comm sunset at some point so that we can revisit considering that there's going to be a new Council in place is there a possibility that we can add that to the resolution so that this can be Revisited in the event that there is poor turnout or in the event that the enthusiasm wears off and I know that these students that are in the room right now are incredibly involved and they impress us every time that they walk through the room and they are there are students like mauce aosta you know like Diane Jimenez that come monthly and impress us with their with their comments and their perspective but I want to make sure that we don't use resources towards something that that doesn't work so I don't want this to just live in perpetuity without us looking at it again absolutely um would you be a mean Ian we could do we could do two years we could do four years do you have a preference I the the shorter the better I would like to revisit it on a yearly basis if possible have every Council we're committing to something that we we don't know if future councils will want to commit to um so if this can be Revisited and revoted on by the council every year to make sure that there's funding available that it's you know working the way that we intended it to work I would I would like that and if if if the council is agreeable to that I I think something I would suggest the the council typically I mean sometimes there's there's exceptions but the council typically changes composition every two years when when we have elections so maybe maybe revisiting every two years is a fair compromise it is a fair compromise I would just like to if it's not working if there is poor turnout poor participation I'd like the opportunity to be able to address it sooner yeah I know that there are for example the youth activities task force has moments in time where the participation is very poor they cannot meet they they don't meet Quorum we've had that issue in other commes as well so since this is something very fresh we don't know how it's going to work out and there's only going to be one student from each school so it's not going to be the group that's in the room right now it is going to be just one from every school if if two years is is your preference then then we'll then we'll go in that direction I would prefer to revisit it on an annual basis right I I think look I think two years is is a is a fair compromise and again I mean if we if we uh see that it it's it's not working out we can always you know pivot at that point I don't think we have to we have to wait for the two years if it if it doesn't seem like it's working or we want to tweak it you know that that um resource is always available to us understood all right so um can we incorporate a sunset provision for two years do you guys want to make it in the form of a motion perhaps Council woman would you like to state that formally as a motion sure i' like to include in the resolution a sunset provision two years from two years from its approval date we have a motion in a second all those in favor I I all right we're back to i' also like to make another motion to remove the council members being Liaisons to the committee section five I I'll second that it has been seconded for discussion let me give me a second I'm I'm I want to refer to something here because I think part of and I I'm okay with removing that the the council members be liaison per se but there was conversation about um perhaps coun members and obviously this would be at their at their discretion um would afford some of these members opportunities to Shadow them or you know participate in in our meetings definitely not a not a sha you know kind of kind of situation but I think uh to to council member um Garcia's point the idea is is to engage them and and show them you know the cool parts of government and uh I think we can do that and help you know Mentor some of them so no absolutely I think that council members at their discretion can can choose whether or not they they want to go that route I just don't I just don't want it to be that council members are going to be serving as liaison um we don't do that in any other committee I mean we're free to visit and we're free to participate in committee meetings I do that very frequently um but we're just guests at these at these meetings we're not liaison and we're not members so that's the reason why I would like to not include that particular sentence in section six that is fine by me uh do we have any any other comments on this is all in favor signify by saying I I I the eyes have it back to the main motion as amended six times seven times eight times any any other no we're good all right on the original motion as amended I will call the rule thank you item 13A council member dieas yes council member Garcia yes Council member goaso yes council member ruano yes vice mayor Fernandez yes the motion passes thank you thank you madam clerk congratulations [Applause] guys all right moving on yeah that that is a a fantastic uh fantastic lesson give government something simple and uh sit down and and fasten your seat belt all right sorry guys I'm I'm trying to flip back I um wanted to see if we were open the reopening of public comments I know that that we have our Auditors in the uh room and sometimes we extend them the C courtesy of uh going forward um as well so I don't know if there's any appetite to reopen public comments I believe they're going be public comments I'm sorry the order of business um and and position them after I guess uh committee reports uh I think they they already kind of are by by default I believe the manager um deferred one of his items deferred 9A and I have the feeling he wants to defer n I'm sorry deferred 9B and I think he wants to defer 9A is that correct Mr manager yes 9A and 9B yeah 9A would be deferred till May and I'd like to we're we're going to probably do we have to reorder we have to reopen the order of business then yeah no I'll I'll second the the reopening of the order of business and then I believe what we would be changing is is Def fer 9A exactly defer of 9A and that puts 9C in the in the proper order any other changes to the order of business just a quick question um Mr Perry's family Aiden Perry's family where where are they in the um in the agenda to speak I believe they're going to be speaking during n um AA the neighborhood Improvement committee report okay so that's coming up okay uh got it thank you so much perfect any other um I I may obviously the uh the the mayor is participating in the uh in the canvasing board at the elections department so um I may ask to reopen the order of business later in the in the meeting if he's unable to make it by the time we reach the end of the agenda to defer all of his items um but we'll we'll we'll play it by here all right on the order of business all those in favor I order of business is closed all right committee report 8A good evening uh vice mayor Fernandez and Council I'm here on behalf of the neighborhood Improvement committee SS MOS I'm filling in for uh Rudy Jero our chair the uh had a event today at work and he couldn't make it here so um I would like to start by covering our initiatives and our events um we recently had on last Saturday our Community uh ride bike ride um it was s it was the last one for the season uh we as you know we take a pass for the summertime and we'll restart again in uh November December uh we continue to have our ho quarterly meetings and um that's a the report for initiatives and event our next item is the future projects and consideration and for that today we have the Eden Perry hero life Ren initiative and at this point I would like to introduce you all to Miss Sarah Perry she's Eden's mom and she will give us an overview of this initiative that all for the record all the uh members of our committee supported the item and turn it over to you hi good evening um Mr vice mayor uh council members thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be here tonight um I am Aiden's mom I recently lost my son tragically when he uh lost his life and he jumped in the lake to try to save the life of a driver who lost control of his car uh we were out walking our dog one evening we witnessed the driver lose control um the car went in the lake ultimately my son and I ran to the lake um the driver called out my son answered his call for help unfortunately when my son jumped in to answer that call he hit his head on a rock he broke his neck and my son died instantly the driver of the car died as well in front of me since that moment as you can imagine my life has been forever changed I owe it to my son to now live his legacy and to continue continue his acts of kindness and make a difference in this world I truly feel that if there had been something there that night something that my son could have used other than offering his own life my son would be here unfortunately that was not the case until losing my son I did not realize there was a need uh right after soon after losing my son I went symbolically on a trip alone abroad that he and I were supposed to go on together I went alone and on a trip from London to Scotland I was struck by the amount of Life rings that were on bodies of water even the most remote and obscure locations it wasn't until I came back here and I realized that they weren't here I was out running one night along Los olis on a path that I'd run many times on this night sitting in the middle of my path literally and was a makeshift LIF ring in the middle of my path I stopped and I looked up at that moment I knew what my son wanted me to do I knew what he needed me to do like frings are the answer they've been around for many years I did not invent them they had been proven many years to save lives they just have to be available to be used to Save a Life on that ride home from my run I made some phone calls and very soon after that with with a partnership with dayrick the manufacturer of the LIF ring and a partnership with the aen Perry Good Samaritan and scholarship fund we created the aen Perry hero LIF ring initiative and the life ring like you see here in front of us it is a Coast Guard regulated Coast Guard approved commercial grade life ring and on it it has my picture of my son in the hero message in honor of his last melx act for which he got the Carnegie hero award I am happy to say since that moment I have over 300 of the aen Perry hero life Rings installed in Brower County I'm happy to say I'm moving into Miami day County it's been already approved in Geral um we're going to be working with not just d as a city but in some of their HOAs as well as Miami d um fire rescue on their Union Hall as well as other cities I've been in discussions with the aen Perry hero um life rings are through the donation made to the foundation we are able to donate to every city that joins me on my initiative LIF rings to get them started the LIF Rings like you see one in front of us is the one the Prototype that is in my community as HOA president we installed them immediately I was invited to the bccma meeting and I wanted to have something in the ground to be able to present as a prototype I can tell you that the ones exactly like you see here have been in the lake in my community now for a year February and they look exactly like they do when they were installed since I've started this journey and we've moved rapidly through Brower County I've almost all the cities either currently in ground or about to go in ground we have made a couple adjustments one of the things that we've done is we add a sign even though the life rings are known as a universal symbol for life- saving device we do put the sign and what we normally do is we include the um logo of the city that they're in and the message is you want to call 911 that's the first thing you want to do and then throw don't go many times as you realize lives can be lost because someone tries to save another life it is a known fact that even the best swimmer can lose their life trying to save someone's life my son was an amazing swimmer but I cannot swim so if there was a life ring available perhaps I could have used it to save a life and my son wouldn't have had to jump in so the messages throw don't go so as we've gone on our journey through the different C they have made a couple um alterations to this um application depending on where the cities are going to put them depending on some cities have put them by peers uh by waterways or depending on the the aesthetic of their City they might alter the post or the application so this post you see in front of you would go into the ground two feet with some concrete to make it sturdy um this is a simple post um it's just pressure treated wood it's made to hold up to the elements but the most important ingredients is the the ring and the rope the Rope is so that if you throw the ring in and you miss you can pull it back and you can throw it in again there has to be something to pull the person out of the water so besides that we have the ring on top some I mean sorry the sign on top some of the Cities my first city that came on board was the City of Coral Springs we have over 90 of uh Rings just in their city alone they have our Rings pinned so when you call 911 the operator can tell them where the life rings are unfortunately you cannot predict where the next accident's going to be there will be more accidents since losing my son there have been many more drownings and I truly feel that if there was something available that could be used the Good Samaritans who have also lost their life trying to save other people's lives or the people who have lost their life because the people on Shore like myself cannot swim and were not able to jump in it could have been prevented so I'm here today to plead to you the town of Miami Lakes to join me on my mission and help me keep the promise I made to my son that night after he died that I would not let him be forgotten and that I continue his works My Hope and my mission is to get life Rings similar to the ones you see here in every city by every body of water possible so the next time there's a there is something that a good samarit can use to save a life so that we can save lives and prevent future drownings thank you thank you Council through the chair you're recognized I can't imagine I wouldn't want you to it's it's horrible and we're coming up on next Thursday it'll be two years wow and uh it seems like it was yesterday I mean it's such a simple idea absolutely and it's you know and it's very cost effective I can say that so um what we do after we donate the first round of rings to each city with the partnership I have with dayrick the manufacturer of the life Rings they it's in that packet that you all have they offer an at cost price to you of $60 for the life Rings If you the rope that you see on here here it's 50 ft and it's polyutherine it has to be marine grade floatable rope it's $10 for 50 foot if you go to Home Depot like I just did and bought that it's $10 the post if you put it the one that it here it is here it's six foot it's about $10 as well and you want to have the hooks to hold the rings on and another important factor is an anchor point in the back and the reason you want an anchor point in the back is because like I said you cannot predict where the next accident is going to be so if it were a perfect world if it would happen right in front of the life ring that would be great but you want to be able to move it if should you need to use it it's not right in front of the stationary point so by having an IH hook on the back many of the cities have a carabiner or another quick uh release latch on here as a velcro but we have adapted as we've gone every second counts when it's an Water emergency and the cost of that is just a mere couple dollars the cost of the sign we have a partnership with Broward signs this is also in your packet it's $34 I believe which is cheaper than most cities um pay through their in-house signage everybody Broward signs my sign company as well as dayries they put make it as a priority because they are fully behind my mission and they will get they expedite all the orders through the cities and everybody who's on board so it's very cost- effective it's a collaboration between the Parks Department Public Works Department um in my HOA the Boy Scouts got involved and they did it the fire department gets involved a lot of people ask how are they maintained what is the maintenance on them there really is none there's really low maintenance this is a wooden option here some of the cities and Broward County when they installed on the county level they put a plastic sleeve on them I just recently a couple weeks ago installed them in the city of myar and they uh use a Calvin IED steel um similar to the U metal post that you would put a stop sign on um it will hold up to the weed eaters it'll hold up to the weather it's not going to go anywhere so I have plenty of pictures plenty of options that many of the cities and the counties that I worked with have installed um and it's really just up to the aesthetic of your city how you want to do how you feel like it would fit you know the looks and needs of your city but the important thing is just to have them there U through the chair of the manager do we have any at at our um at Optimus park at the pier do we do we have any I don't think so do do we have a life ring at the uh Marina yes we have a life ring at the marina but again we have so many lakes yeah marinas like marinas and beaches I mean because the boats and ships sometimes they have them but we're talking Still Water Lakes canals HOAs where unfortunately I sit on many task force now Johnny prevention task force and if you look at the statistics that's where a lot of the drownings happen M there just needs to be something there you know our pools you have hooks you have other things in measure for pools but for all the Still Water and I know the City MI leges you have your name for a reason you have a lot of lakes in your community and unfortunately like the lake in my community there's nothing there yeah and and um I'm sorry I you know I love the water and your story is is something you know that's just how can we say no right um to me is how do we program it right and um I'd love to sponsor one at my Lake you know the one that I live on at least mine is kind of easy because uh it's Town property our hway is a little bit different and you know exactly that that's a that's a different monster so you actually came with the right committee which are the Liaisons I can see the HOAs as well maybe having you know sponsorships like the little Library that's kind of where I'm going with this you know we had uh the opportunity of HOA sponsoring well actually any Resident right quite honestly any Resident can can sponsor I'd love to sponsor one at one of our public parks and you know I think that would be a great way to kind of kick off the program and um put one in every L right that's kind of the the goal and and and I'd love to to do that for you yeah and it's great because the response I get from the city has been amazing the community is really behind it and what we do when we move into the city is we make it a learning moment for the community um we have a moment where the council commission mayor city managers or whoever is sponsoring it and part of it we have an installation and while you're there they make a promotional like a PR moment that they can share with the community I if you probably see me on the news they follow me um and it's a learning thing you tell let your community know that they're there let them know why they're there and how to use them we usually have somebody from the fire department or a lifeguard or somebody do a demonstration showing them the proper way that they're to use we stress the fact that they are life- saving device and the proper way to use them we encourage Community um I go City by City who has my life rings and we educate them we educate even the youngest child and Grandma Grandpa can use them because it takes no train so I'd like to move the item you know and and and direct staff to to see if we can create a very similar program like the the little Library program where we can have sponsorship opportunities from our private HOAs and maybe residents alike to to sponsor some of these throughout towns in our public areas and and our privately maintained areas as well like the HOAs um that have lak Shore so I'd like to make that motion I'll second I'll second that as well all right um any other any other discussion just a question to you what would be what would you feel optimally would be the best um uh one in every Lake different sides of the lake where beaches are well you need more than one in every Lake because like I said you cannot predict where they're going to happen so what we do normally as I work as we go City by City every city is different there is no exact blueprint because every city every water ways different obviously that's why we get the fire department involved um because they can tell you perhaps where the most accidents are where the mo in the Parks where there's the most access where they're going to be um obviously if you have a location where the back of the lake is not as accessible to traffic that maybe you would have less there but you want to have it where the most trafficked the most the highest probability of the use is and that's why obviously it's in the real world we could have them scattered all every single leg every few feet but by having the option where we can move it um you can move it and R go to the location um but you need to have more than one I can actually honestly tell you currently we've been doing this for little over a year I've had one stolen and we replaced it um people I think respect the fact that they are um the parks that where they're in the Parks the park ranger when he opens the parks in the morning they go and they make sure they're they if there's a location along canals or other waterways it's Public Works who goes by and make sure that they're still there that the rope and everything is intact um yeah no I do like I go around like when I ride my bike through Mark Park we're in there because we're in a county we we're in the cities within Brower County but we're also there on a county level I may I monitor the ones where I know where they are I make sure that they're in place of course in my HOA um and and the community loves them we get pictures sent all the time someone like where's Waldo here's what you're reading and people they're behind it and they thank me because it's truly lifes saving inst our PTA too next to the mam K 3 always kids hanging on the beach you know after school and I mean yeah right there because the Lake's right there yeah yeah so I'll I'll put my uh my my thoughts on the record I think maybe the the best uh the best next steps right is to task the Nic with looking at the map of the Town identifying what the you know know what the best spots to to start in are and then I guess we would also want those identified by which you know we have public access to so you know we have either a beach park or or a joining Town property that we can place it at and then which of those Lakes are HOA controlled and then work you know through the Nic to Liaison with with those HOAs and inform them about the the program and then you know we we can also try to match them up with uh with potential uh sponsor you have a private person saying Hey I want to put it here because they're selfish right they want to protect their Community I wouldn't turn them away no absolutely you know they're not on that list I wouldn't turn them away so abolutely there's some some way that we can do both yeah and it's great like the city of deral is a perfect example so they approved in the city of deral and we're um working on a DAT we're going to be saw them very in the very near future probably the next week or so so there's three of their HOAs particular who they're waiting they follow this example of the city so when they see that the city is behind it like the city some of the HOAs and deral are waiting to see the Prototype that the city of deral uses and they're going to copy that so that's when you're the example and we invite the HOH you make it a moment you announce it um like April is water smart a water safety awareness month so a lot of the cities are doing it in April or even in May we're GNA be and you could piggyback that you could have you all come you make it a moment public moment you the fire department you have the different associations there and you invite them and you see what we're doing and that's where that PR moment comes on you put it on your website you put it in your social media you tell them that they're there and you tell them why and when they Google they sell the story people get it it's really catching on and it's um really well received so far from the community and thank you all for this opportunity I appreciate you thank you thank you we have a a motion and a second on the table any additional discussion seeing none all those in favor I motion passes all right thank you Mr mza you have a additional reports for us I have a couple of more so the other one is the beautification remaining the of the beautification of the electrical boxes remember that project we did a couple of years ago we would like to continue with that so the committee is working on identifying the you know what's the next batch that we can uh make a difference there um then the other one is the community uh golf cart parade I think that was a hit everybody enjoyed it and uh it was in line with the initiative that the town has for the owners to register the the golf cart so um we would like to continue to support that um the last one is the beautification of the B metal under 154 I don't know if uh you have the opportunity to travel at night on 57th Avenue under the granny the LI uh we're working on that is a little challenging because of getting the power there the town does not control the the under path but we're trying to creative uh trying to find ways to to make it happen and make it better and um and we'll continue to work with um to connect with the community so like to thank you for your time today no thank you any question than you for your service just a comment uh as far as the uh the beautification project with the boxes that's in the manager's uh presented uh carry forward Amendment um and I and I at least I fully intend to support it when we do finally uh get to second reading on that um and there are a couple of uh sorry getting a lot of messages obviously over the election but um it just uh yeah we'll be more than happy to continue supporting those initiatives and moving them forward so you have my my full support thank you sir through the chair just quick question um you're doing the electrical boxes and then we discussed the last couple meetings the the the tower you know the G the yeah the 5G Towers isn't that in their wheelhouse if they choose to yeah I mean anything dealing with anything yeah anything that improves the neighborhood you've seen that giant monolith that was put up and there there are more popping up right so I mean if you guys don't mind to just you know spitball since you're already you know familiar with beautification especially the electrical boxes go take a look at that on a7th 154 and see what you think yeah I'll bring definitely I'll bring it to the committee and on our next meeting and also when you say entrances to the town you know the 67th paleto entrance we've been working I mean for for a while now to to to work with we're waiting to see what carry for has to say but your your ideas would be amazing as well on that area so whatever you you can bring up we'd appreciate thank you thank you sir right well thank you for your time thank you Mr Vice chair moving on on to our economic development committee chairman casamayor good evening good evening vice mayor councel thank you so much for this I'm going to speed through the general generalities of the report and all that because I've got something a little bit more in depth to go into with you guys and see if I can maybe get some uh opinions and how to best approach um so I'll just kind of go down the list that I've got ritten up here that I sent over to you guys earlier in in the week week I guess last week so in terms of attendance we've been doing well I think there's just been one instance of somebody that's been kind of shaky on attendance but we're in the works with that we're already dealing with it um we've got new member committee pins um that now we're going to be able to put in our jackets all that kind of good stuff we're working on a banner that we can set up an events like the upcoming chamber Expo and at our networking events um which Speaking of we have um been doing the network events throughout the year we pretty much do them quarterly um the recent events that we've been doing are a little bit smaller um than I would have liked at least they've been around 40 to 50 it's been a lot more close-knit and it's a lot more Miami Lakes residence that we haven't seen before which is nice but at the same time I want to go back to how we were at the end of last year and maybe it's a date timing sort of situation where we had like around 50 to 60 um I think a big part of that is being able to advertise it and push these things so we've already kind of picked our next one it's April 24th at Sergio's go around here at 5:30 so if you guys can make it that'd be awesome it would be great to see you guys there um and we've already been pushing that on the chamber um I know Jonathan's been helping us out too with the town so that's great so I'm hoping to see that you know be a little bit better um we're also going to be working a little bit with the cultur Affairs committee to see if we can try to get some sort of events tied in with them with the local business Community you know um we kind of threw around the idea in our meeting about maybe potentially partnering up with one of their events and having you know a coupon per se um where it's like you know if you're going to this event you get a little paper that like you know you can use in local businesses um same thing with the um elderly Affairs committee like I was speaking with D and she came up with a really cool idea to speak to the theater and set up a little event where they kind of show like an older movie from the past you know and then they kind of do like a uh you know older sort of thing and I actually thought that was a really cool idea and you know it's not just for the older community like I know there's a lot of older movies that are you know popular um other than that so now kind of more to some of the juicier stuff we've got the small business boot camp 2 I'm not sure if you guys remember last year we did a small business boot camp here in the Town Council or in the town hall or whatever this is exactly and it worked out pretty well um it was a lot very focused on working with the government working with the county and working with the town and while that was good we wanted to position it and and move it more towards being more Hands-On to small businesses and helping them grow um and helping them have more Hands-On things they can really apply to themselves so something more along the lines of um you know working with you know let's say along the lines of social media because that's what always comes into my head or more along the lines of um like working per se with like let's say employment relations you know what I mean or the importance of setting up an employer contract and HR for your business and how to get that going when you're just a small business with three or four employees you know how do you deal with HR how do you deal with that and there's a lot of small people or small businesses excuse me in the community um that help with this and help other small businesses grow their business and we've seen them a lot in the chamber so that's something we're going to go for um and then now this is the the bigger thing that I wanted to talk to you guys about and hopefully get a little bit of opinion on this and how best to do this and luckily I had um Team me up here a little bit with the whole Main Street um discussion so I've been speaking to a lot of the businesses um throughout the year I guess you could say when it comes to Main Street and what they want to do to liven it up um a lot of the businesses like she was saying want to put a lot of more focus into Main Street and I agree and I brought it up at the at the committee chair meeting a couple months ago in that we want to have Main Street be really that town center you know where people can kind of come in see what the town has to offer um participate um and just kind of really treat as the Town Center um in kind of going with this I needed to speak with a lot of different players because Main Street doesn't just involve the town as you guys know it involves the merchants and it involves the grams you know there's a lot of people that are have their hands in Main Street so I kind of reached out to everybody I know I probed a little bit at the chairman meeting and Peterman brought up to me that there's the M streat Merchants group right so I remember hearing about that so I questioned the grams a little bit about that brought it up at the at the last EDC meeting and I questioned as well the the business owners about that and like how you know they go along with that and you know maybe you're barking up the wrong tree by talking to me you should talk to those Main Street Merchants groups see how that goes um and the the feedback that I got from businesses that were here I spoke to three distinct ones one that was here about a year one that's been here about five years and then one that's been here 18 years and all three of them had never heard of the Mainstreet Merchants group like they it does exist because I did speak to to the grams it does exist they're the ones that were in charge of the Awesome event that just happened the cars for aure that set up you know help that get that going um so obviously they're working you know and they're doing things but the main street Merchants don't really know exactly what it is they're doing and they feel like you know they want to have a little bit more of a say and by Ming Merchants I mean the real M like the owners the actual business owners so in that sense we kind of discussed it at the meeting and of course we've got Andrea on our you know Council there at the meeting so we had her opinion as well and we kind of came to the conclusion of is it possible for us at the EDC to kind of hold a mediation meeting or something along those lines where we can kind of get those people together the Main Street Merchants that will show up I guess or are willing people from the uh Main Street Merchants group and then let's say um some members from the town Communications Department because I know that the Main Street Merchants have come up with you know their own proposal on how to approach and how to push Main Street as a whole so and I know that they want to have the opportunity to be able to pitch it to the communications of the town to the grams and kind of everybody work together and again I don't know what my abilities are as the EDC chair to be able to do that but the goal is really just to get everybody communicating working together and talking and it worked great for us at the chamber the BNI and the EDC all coming together so I just wanted to see if that's something that maybe we could help to do with the main street but uh that's that's about it you know so I just wanted to pitch that here and see the best options for that to the uh to the manager what what kind of action would be needed by the council to for you to facilitate that well right now you can't take any action cuz you don't have four physical Quorum but um if you suggest to us I can I can work and have uh our Communications which oversees the Committees anyway so you guys have direct access to them time with Jonathan specifically on him Jonathan and uh and his boss glad and then you guys can coordinate come up with a plan and once you have a plan of action in place then come and and Pitch it and I'm sure it will be able to make it work cool but this is something then that is within the books that we can do on our end I I just want to make sure I'm not stepping on any toes as you know just voluntary dcy think it's in your Economic Development okay I mean that's it's one1 there's nothing holding you back and I know that we've talked about this before and it's not just been this oneoff in the past and I I'm going way back I remember when street closures on Main Street were happening maybe once a month yeah right for different arts and crafts fairs and a lot of a lot of the the merchants like that as long as it didn't compete right as long as it didn't compete with their product and you know so I think that's the caveat right well who's competing who's not competing if you bring a bunch of food trucks are the restaurant's going to be happy no but if you bring an Arts and Crafts Festival or is the jewelry store going to get upset right so it's finding that sweet spot and I think cars for accure kind of showed you yeah that if you bring something you know maybe art you know maybe something cultural once a month like you said working with the cultural Affairs committee and closing down that street and finding what's that right synergistic blend I think yeah I think there's a lot of unlocked potential there I agree and um if there's anything that cars for a cured showed us did the restaurant do well yeah Amazonia I saw a lot of people trafficking you know so it's it's doing what exactly what you're doing you're seeing it and I don't think you're going to see any any you're not going to hit any roadblocks from us cool right um so it's just your bandwidth yeah you know how much you can take on and how much and um I'm almost certain that the grams will will will embrace it as well you know but I remember that used to be an issue as long as it didn't compete right if it was if you're bringing in people that are going to compete against me you know if you're bringing in food vendors and I'm a I'm a restaurant no trust me yeah yeah yeah I I know that the biggest roadblock is going to having all the different opinions and heads in a room you know everybody's going have a different opinion everyone's have a different say I just want to be able to give people the opportunity to have that say because that's a lot of what I'm hearing from the business owners that they feel like oh I don't hear about that or I don't know what that is you know exactly and that's what I want to get going all right cool so that's real quick look having something once a month is is what what it's needed absolutely but in the inum just you know anel started to do it um The Garrison some live music music I mean literally just somebody with a guitar hooked up to where the fountain was playing some music so people know you know what there's live music playing let me go listen okay now now I'm here where am I going to eat you know kind of thing even between the the events that uh C mquest was talking about just just some just even someone with a guitar for God's sakes you know playing playing some music uh not me there we already have you know we have so much going on no I mean you have a you have a limit of course but I like music man I mean that's something that that that we need that that definitely yeah no I agree that's why I wanted to partner with the culture Affairs I think their meeting is tomorrow their next meeting so I'll probably try to sneak in there all right but um but yeah when it comes to the actual coordination event and all that I'll I'll speak back with the council now or committee I guess and let them know that we're good to go and we'll try to set an actual hard date and you know more of a location and schedules all that and I'll come back and do it that way um separate I guess from committee reports just a quick question when it comes time to do that and we have things in order can I just come in in terms of public comments or I have to submit to have Jonathan put on the agenda before what's the correct process to do that I mean if it's time s if it's time sensitive if like there's an emergency then we kind of take you know the Committees out of order there's something time sensitive not we try and stick to our our but but we'll be flexible right so let's let's come up with your plan of action together with the Merchants Association and then we'll support that it can't be our plan right it's got to be Economic Development together with the mer Association and we'll support that plan with uh assistance from Communications to get the word out to get different promotional stuff out and so forth um so once you have that plan of action really from our perspective it'll probably be supporting that initiative or that partnership between the economic development committee and the uh Merchants Association gotcha I like that makes it more efficient yeah cool well thank you guys thank you uh chair kasay and I believe the next item we have up is the presentation of the caffer you have to say a the Aur the Aur I anymore listen I'm I'm an it we change acronyms every uh every 3 to six months so good evening Mr Mayor and members of the Town Council Mr manager uh good evening everyone K Grant Chief Financial Officer for the town um I don't get to come to the podium very often and I like it but um so this evening um it is with great pleasure and a s of accomplishment that I stand before you to present the outcome of our annual audit for the fiscal year ended September 30th 2023 um our independent Auditors who are here with us uh Garcia Espinosa mies Rodriguez it's more than a mouthful I say this every year througha and we use gemrt for short um they conducted the audit over a 5 six month period and it was just completed about 2 weeks ago on March 28th um in front of you on the desk is the final product and um and it says town of Miami Lakes 2023 annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended September 30th 2023 um tomorrow the report will be uh published online under the finance section um of the town's website for every on to peruse at their Leisure um before I introduce the audit team and and just briefly um I'd like to take the proud moment to say that and I say this we use this word all the time for eight consecutive years um we've had no findings no material W uh weaknesses were identified and no significant deficiencies reported I'm also please yes and I'm also pleased to say for the 11th consecutive year uh we received the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the government Finance Officers Association for last year's um audit report we've already submitted uh this year's to the gfoa um to be considered for another award um I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that contributed to making this audit a success um and especially the finance staff that we have here tonight Maria uh Maria nips and our controller um s Leon trillo um they have been great and and I think I said this last year but I'm going to say it again we have a great team um we worked hand inand and I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout the entire process and last but not least um it's always a pleasure working with J morti uh tonight we have here Jerry donatus by the way he just made uh a few months ago he just made partner for the firm so Jerry will come up and you know give you the details of the audit also I'd like to recognize Francis Cabrera yak are po uh the manager of audit assurances um for the great work that she's done her team as well Mariana and Alejandra they're true professionals and in addition we appreciate their thoroughness and efficiency in conducting the audit so with that I'd like to ask Jerry to come up and do your thing thank you K thank you very much for that introduction uh good evening mayor Town Council Town Administration and I see the mayor arrived for the exciting exciting uh part of the of the meeting um kay kay did a great job I mean uh pretty much going through the summary of of the results in terms of no findings and things like that so I'll keep this short but uh as as Kay mentioned my name is Jerry lates with J Marti and and with me is Francis kek who was the manager on the audit for the engagement for fiscal year ended September 30th 2023 and the report date uh was March 28th so that was that was issued uh with the gfoa in accordance uh with the required timeline to submit it and apply and and receive the certificate of achievement once again this year the opinion in the audit report was an unmodified opinion so that means there were no material misstatements and everything was fairly stated in the financials um again as she mentioned there was no uh no current year findings and there are no prior year findings to address either um as you know as has been the case working with K and and uh the last couple years and doing the audit um we we did not encounter any issues uh during the process and the procedures that we completed we we ask a lot of questions we asked for a lot of information and uh you know we have a good communication back and forth in uh you know between the fieldwork that we do and we come out here as well as uh electronically whenever we're we may not be here uh at the town and we we had no complications in in dealing with with her and her team and and completing our testing and Analysis during the audit uh in terms of audit adjustments uh once again this year the trial balances were provided that with that required very very minimal adjusting entries there were a few that were just reclassifications for presentation purposes on on the in the financials and uh there was an entry related to adjusting the lease liabilities related to a new standard that was implemented last year but you know besides that there weren't really any material adjusting entries um and and again she did uh K and and the entire finance department did a good team uh job giving us the trial balances uh finalized that that did not require much much adjustment and the only numbers I I want to mention are uh fund balance so the town had approximately $5.8 million of unassigned fund balance as of September 30th 2023 and that is in compliance with the town's Reserve policy this represented an increase of approximately $446,000 when compared to the prior year in terms of the budget revenues and and Appropriations were sufficient to cover expenditures um and then this year uh there was not a federal or state single audit that was required just due to the expenditure thresholds so the thresholds weren't met um however we still look at the grant schedules to make sure that they're uh presented properly for reporting purposes so we examin those uh to determine that indeed there was not um a requirement for the single audit uh so you know that that basically sums it up um to to keep it short but again thank you to to K and and the finance uh Department uh like I said they facilitate uh our team and and and her team to get the audit completed timely and and efficiently and always within the deadline um and again very very responsive to our requests and forthcoming as expected with with the information that we we asked for and um also Francis again she's she's led the audit the last few years uh this is our busiest time but you know we've come in and and she's delivered delivered the results for us so um as always we're always available during the year if if you ever have any questions or have any concerns or anything of that nature we we're you know we'll make ourselves available to to speak with you at any time so with that if if you don't have any questions that's you know that's pretty much wraps it up any questions got it thank you all right thank you guys apprciate you guys appreciate it you guys have been already working on our books for for how many is it eight years uh no I want to say seven possibly because we yeah yeah possibly seven yeah yeah that also makes it you know once the first few years it's you know you're you're documenting the controls and getting through the process so that's always the time that takes a little longer than normal once once you're there about 3 years that's when you can start you know offering and adding the value and and doing things so that's that's we appreciate the the business relationship for sure congrats thank you I appreciate it just want to thank you and I want to thank our staff and the finance department of Kate and and everybody the consistency of the great work that you provide to go this many years with these results and shows shows your your passion and testament to to what you do every day and and we appreciate um and the residents also appreciate that um and they can take pride and also they can feel that their their tax dolls are safe and we're using them and we're we're we're accounting for for them um you know every every year and and these reports show it and these audits show it so it's transparency that we're showing that that uh and I want to thank you again and the staff for your hard work thank you so much I appreciate it thank you thank you have a good evening hi guys have a good night Jerry have a good night Francis say hi to Mariano and JC all right we're moving on to any other items that were pulled up uh vice mayor or no no the consent calendar we only have the approval of minutes are there any I'll move it second all those in favor I any opposed see none the motion passes uh we're on to ordinances in first reading uh 11a an ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes Florida amending the town's fiscal year 20232 24 budget established by ordinance number 23- 318 providing for expenditure of funds providing for amendments providing for conflicts authorizing the town manager to take all actions necessary to implement the terms and conditions of this ordinance providing for severability and providing for an effective date any motions on the table Council I'll move it and I do have some discussion there's a motion the motion fails uh item there's no second item 11 a fails uh we're moving on to item 11b Mr attorney in ordinance of the Town Council town of Miami Lakes Florida amending town of Miami Lakes code chapter 13 amending article 12 division 1 Section 13 - 2107 restrictions for sponsorship providing for inclusion into the code providing for severability and providing for an effective date I'll move it I'll second uh this is an ordinance in first reading is an ordinance in first reading any discussion on the ordinance in first reading see none Madame clerk please call the rule ordinance in first reading item 11b council member Garcia yes council member coyaso yes council member ruano no council member dieas is absent vice mayor Fernandez yes mayor Sid yes the motion passes thank you madam clerk uh we are on to item 13B uh a resolution a resolution of the Town Council of Miami Lakes Florida requesting chief judge nin Safi of the 11th Circuit Court in in for Miami date County and pursuant to Florida statute section 102.1 141 to appoint a standby County Judge to the town of Miami Lakes Cal canvasing board for the town of Miami lak's runoff special election on April 30th 2024 providing for in instructions to the town clerk providing for incorporation of recitals and providing for an effective date are any motions I'll move it all second any discussion all those in favor I I I any opposed see none the motion passes uh we're on to my item um on Juan Escobar so in the past uh we made line item adjustments for the clerk's position we made line item adjustments I think one time even for I think it was oro's position and and we as a council have the authority uh to change those line items obviously the uh the instructions after that come from the uh the manager want esar is somebody who's shown an immense amount of loyalty I've been here for a long time where we compensate folks incredibly well and they leave and and I think we've seen a a great amount of people leave our organization uh in the last several years and I think people like Juan there should be uh loyalty bonuses there should be retention should be treated a little different so in my perspective is to uh the direct the manager with the carry forward funds to uh to adjust uh Juan Escobar's salary moving forward I'll moveing for discuss councilman Garcia um i u i I agree that sometimes you have people here here or any organization here a long time um and you know they're they've been working for for a long time and then new people come in and they might have U being paid at the same rate rates or or even higher uh and and it causes them to maybe to think I need to go somewhere else so we want to retain especially our loyal uh employees now I I know that the the the manager was looking into re reviewing um salaries and and how we handle salaries how we handle um loyal employees that worked here a long time are are we paying them what other cities our size are paying um and and can you discuss a little bit about about that or where you are with that uh Mr manager yeah this this Council gave us direction to develop a uh pay plan it was uh right at the right before the last this uh fiscal year budget uh started didn't obviously make sense to rush it and come back with a uh product that was not fully vetted so we have been working on developing based on the direction of this Council a pay plan that we will be ready to lay out for this council's consideration during the normal budget process this uh through throughout the summer that pay plan will take into uh consideration uh longevity pays U any kind of uh differentials for evening or night uh it'll also take into account uh steps and uh also market analysis to make sure that we're competitive with uh neighboring municipalities especially those that are closely uh that are very similar to us so uh that pay plan will be laid out for you during the budget process through throughout the summer and through the chair and also any differential if if if uh if our employees are working yeah we it's not a finished product yet so we're still in that development and we'll we're still looking uh and comparing us ourselves to other cities and see exactly what cities uh provide and make sure that we're maintaining ourselves uh competitive and especially that we're properly compensating our staff members sure i' just like to uh ask if there of course could be a mechanism for uh staff members who who have been here for a really long time and um uh I know that cola's come into play as well but uh just to to take a look especially the differential part of it I'd be willing to to uh Mr Mayor to um go ahead and and uh and vote for this item with with an um an amendment that we um we do it for you know all the employees to make sure that it is done you know the most even way possible and safest way possible but to ensure that that we're we're awarding loyalty as much as we can Mr Escobar has been doing a great job for a long time uh as you know so I will make a friendly amendment to in the process if he if if he includes what we just spoke about to that'll eventually include Mr Escobar in consideration for uh raising raising his salary um in in the um in the studies that the the manager is doing right now okay mayor yes there are some considerations that I'd like for the council to take into account uh number one is the item that uh the only member of our staff that uh was whose pay was individually single uh adjusted was the town clerk who obviously is a uh one of the charter officers and the relationship with the council is different than every other uh staff member the um the the managerial practice of individually making adjustments for uh members of the staff from this stus I think is problematic I think it is not a good managerial practice when you one is responsible for 40 to 50 60 employees to one by one have the council make uh Direction and to uh individually adjust uh salaries of individual employees I don't believe it is a good managerial practice and while taking into account that Juan Escobar would be a benign uh practice the opening even slightly the Pandora's box or the door to having individual employees beholden to individual members of the council is not a good practice it is it could be the precursor to a tam Hall type scenario where uh you're paying political patronage and giving rewarding people uh for political favor I and I'm I repeat Juan Escobar is not that person but we potentially are opening the door for that to happen we obviously are working on the pay plan and this should be something that is looked at holistically with the entire uh staff in uh taken into account and finally while Others May disagree with me I believe that this the adjustment of individual salaries for staff members that fall under the control of the uh Town Administration under the town manager is is within the purview of the manager and not by Charter not within the purview of the Town Council I appreciate that uh that opinion and I think we've always had discrepancies in in terms of how Administration should work and how how employees get compensated um I can tell you I think I think it's an injustice to see longevity not being rewarded uh in this organization I see folks who uh have given their ra for this organization who are getting paid what a line cook at McDonald's gets paid right and yet there's other folks right and and I know the managerial class the bureaucratic class sometimes aren't held accountable and I think it's I won't it's not something that I would do to go to you Mr manager want to oh please pay this person plee no I make it transparent in terms of the line item that's why I said specifically the line item and also spoke to our attorneys beforehand and they both said it was not a a charter issue um but I've always said it I think colas have created a culture that I'm not in in favor of uh because everybody gets treated the the same a and I and I just don't see I really cherish a longevity in an organization and look you you you look at all the surveys recently you look at the manager survey from staff 35% of Staff didn't respond H you look at the police one and some of the discrepancies there the real reality is I the way that I would love to see public administration done is not the style that you have and I I respect your position but I asked the attorneys they said it was they said it was fine to to word it in this way to change the line item for for this employee at the end of the day I'm the one this councel are the ones who hold the purse strings and I really believe in longevity uh bonuses and again and again I know the easy rout has always been a a c this Council has voted I think four or five years in a row or four years whatever it was to to add colas and I can tell you it's not working right I think people need to be paid what they're worth I think longevity is really important in an organization it it so that's just and I I respect your position I respect your perspective but I I've always believed that and and i' I've seen it here in the past where where it worked but I just don't believe the cola system it works and it's just not something um that I that I'd be in favor of but it's completely in my purview to to propose a change in a line item in a budgetary line item um and at the end of the day if you don't want to give that Stafford like like it happened I believe before right there was a line item that that we had made a change and you decided not to and that's in your purview but if this Council the majority wants to make a line item for a specific position we're with well within our Authority because we're the ones that hold the per strings and we're the ones that are really accountable to the people you're accountable to the whoever the majority of the council may be I'm accountable to everybody um and I and I've always said My Style and what I like to see in management styles and again it's in Conflict to to how you see it is longevity pay it longevity bonuses these types of are something that I would love to see in in organization and and the reason I I saw I've always just watched Juan from afar and he's somebody who loves his organization who gives all who works on weekends who works all the time whatever time that we need and I believe his line item what is required of that position is worth more and his longevity than $18 or $17 whatever maybe so I felt that it was really appropriate to change the item if look if at the end of the day you use your managerial ER duties and say hey we're not going to give them that like you've done in the past right we've made the change we added more line it to a specific um a member and you decided not to to move that and that's within your your Authority you believe so but the changes within line items 100% it's in perview of this Council if you decide not to give this Council decides to move money into line item and you don't want to give it to to that individual that's within your right and that's something that I spoke to the attorneys and it was very clear it's not something tomorrow I'm hey this person no but I feel that that position in particular should is worth more than 17 $18 uh an hour and that's 100% in other cities you have Personnel boards that decide this stuff you don't even have a managerial class right that does this so I felt that it's really appropriate specifically for this L line item similar to how we did it forget about the clerk we did it in the past for I believe it was it was oro's line item and you ultimately made a decision not to um give that money when we when we made a decision at some point to to lower um it was the arborist or or or what not way back then on that line but I digress and I and I understand your position but if this passes tonight and and there's a votes there's a votes there's not there's not ultimately the line item changes and and you get to decide but I really believe the line item for that position is worth um a lot more yeah if you don't mind I I'll just say one thing I've been in public service now for almost uh 40 years been in a supervisory role since 1990 uh supervising uh members many members up to as many as 700 and uh my management style has actually served me very well it is proven to be uh very successful for me um so we may disagree I know my style has been very successful I never said it it for you it has definitely been very successful but it's not one that I see is an ideal right that's not that's up for opinion right I live in a in a in many of us live in a different world where if we make bad decisions if I make bad decisions in my private business those are boats that can sink in government tomorrow you can make 20,000 bad decisions like the city of Miami is a perfect example the ship keeps going right bankruptcies happen private sector those ships close um but look ultimately it's you're right that managerial perspective has worked for you um but it's not one that I adopt and I and I think it it it will continue to see folks it who differ in in that perspective um but mayor I'd like to give some some feedback on the item yes Council M quazo and then in closing anyone else and we'll just vote it up or down yeah I appreciate it and thank you mayor um for bringing the item forward and and I'm going to be one that speaks up on on behalf of Juan Escobar I think he's very deserving um he's one of these people that embodies the not your typical government employee right when you use it tagline right to to to put a negative connotation on government employees I I value all of them in town staff I'm married to to one of them that that proudly wears that brand on her sleeve and um just like I can say for everybody that's sitting in this audience you know um Juan Escobar is one of these people that doesn't say no you know what can I do to help how can I help um is he valued is he paying and here's where I'm going to I guess go a little bit against the grain um mayor I'm going to say that that's not our position right we we we pay a town manager to make those decisions for us right and if if if we want to undermine him this is exactly what I start doing right start making it seem like his decisions are bad judgment and going to you know ruin our town in some capacity um there are cities that have strong mayor forms of government and the mayor has that under the prview right that's just not the way that this city governs and if anything this is just bad governance right and I can remember Katie senson and some of the takeaways um that I remember Tony llama kind of talking to me about um the good government initiative was you know it depends on the city that you're in right in this city it's more of a policy board and you brought up some great examples of maybe where we haven't um maybe held steadfast to that and I think that's kind of the issue right that we've created then right when we haven't held steadfast to that to that policy I I don't agree that that's the way that we should handle our our Charter officers I think that that that line is drawn with us but my decision on this item is going to be simple and to the point and my question are going to be directed to the manager and is is Juan Escobar one of these individuals that is being considered for an increase in pay when this process that you're going through um is going to happen say that again I'm sorry is Juan Escobar one of the employees that will see an increase in his pay based on Performance Based on longevity is he one of the individuals that's being considered for pay increase when you come back to the council he will be be I don't want a single Juan Escobar out Juan Escobar since I have been here has gotten multiple pay increases as of based on the recommendation that we've made to this Council and this Council has a adopted uh with the colus so is he one of I I know that there may be many right that that are going to go through this process I just wanted to know if he's one of them that's going to be included obviously one Escobar is somebody with with a lot of longevity here and the recommendation that we're going to come back to you is with a pay plan that's going to take longevity as well as other factors into account got it all right thank you thank you councilman Kazo look and I respect your perspective in position I I definitely on the complete opposite side right I think uh I think when it comes to the pur strings we we hold them and I and I think when it comes to to policymaking we hold them manager takes direction right manager manager manages we lead and this is one area where I think it's important to speak um sometimes for those whose voices don't get heard in in this chamber um because they don't interact with us or or walk around these Halls um every day so as as a and i' I've asked other other councils and it's definitely appropriate in terms of and I asked our attorneys in terms of of the line item but I again I respect yeah I don't I don't have any issue with the item I think what you're doing is really speaking up for somebody whose merits you know um what I have issue with is just bad governance you know when we set that that when we set that Trend right that somebody can Lobby us and undermine the authority that we've put into to the manager then what we have done is basically we're almost pseudo changing the form of government that we are and that's what I have an issue with which is what this small incremental change may lead to larger issues right and who would keep somebody from lobbying us then what we're paying anybody else is not fair and just right so then we then become The Gatekeepers of pay which I agree at the end of the day we are right but again I go back to my governance right if I'm hiring a CEO on any of my boards right and my CEO isn't allocating the enough resources then I hold my CEO accountable right I don't ask my Frontline workers right and say hey no you're going to pay these people this much I'm going to ask him to come back with a plan like we have and he's directing us that he's going to include Juan Escobar in that plan from a governance perspective I have the direction that the CEO is going in I have the Peace of Mind that we're Reen numerating the actually in a very fair manner right if his plan is not up to Snuff with us we have an opportunity to come back at his plan we can even second guess who we have as a CEO right like if you've done you've tried to do that on several occasions right we can do that as a board but I'm not going to undermine I'm picking and choosing who gets well not to pick and choose how did you get to $22 right what was the methodology what was the metric what was what was your idea behind that what constitutes him getting a 20 plus% increase over some other people that have been here just as long and that's what I'm saying is if there's a method that we're going to follow I rather follow the method than under undermine the governance that we have that's all so in spirit I agree with your motion it's just style and I I think it's subjective right the perspective what good government or not so my motion was very clear right it change the line item in the budget which is 100% in our Authority and if ultimately the manager decides not to give it to him doesn't give it to him right CU I think that's it's it's a lotting the funds and it gives the manager that opportunity and hears hears from us but ultimately he's the one that gets to decide uh yeah or nay but um appreciate the perspective obviously we don't see I eye on that and but I think it's a it's a healthy conversation through the chair yep um so I think there's a could be a compromise here honestly there not just one I'm sure there's employees here that have worked here a long time and and are not where they should be uh I just would love to see one EST Esco included along with you know uh all all of our employees and added to whatever mechanism uh that they the the manager comes up with to make sure that we're rewarding uh employees like one but we're you know we're we're doing that equally across you know all the employees you know so so we don't single anybody out in the sense although we understand that this person deserves deserve does deserve a raid but to make the mechanism work for everybody who is in the same category and that's why when you say colas absolutely to me I would prefer instead of colas you know a merit based may maybe a comp a little bit of a cola but mostly Merit based the employees here who are doing excellent work consistently year after year after year well their their their salary increase should reflect that like anything it's a onethird game you have one-third superstars onethird that are working hard and onethird who yes they do work hard but they're not providing the same work product that others do and that's just in any organization so I would love to reward a mechanism put in place that rewards those people that are yes somebody like like Juan absolutely a merit-based I think I profer an amendment to include employees like onean in in in your study um and to be open to that honestly uh but equally across the board for all employees because of course you know I I believe you you need to be as equal and transparent as possible the employees understand not employe I say employees I'm sorry Associates members of you're you're basically family you work you you work with us you work directly with the with with the council you we're Partners in this not employees or not you know um but to have a mechanism for them so they understand this is what's required of me if I perform at a higher level than my colleague my peer then I'm G to get I'm gonna get that extra extra you know raise extra money uh and I think that would go a long a long way um instead of using Cola to do that I'd be willing to profer an amendment that incorporates what what the mayor's saying that we're going to recognize all employees like Wang Escobar uh but equally across the board um in your in in and how long is it going to take to to come up with that that's that that uh plan that it'll be ready by the summertime when we start uh meeting for the uh the budget process yeah I I I just think that if we do it equally across the board that recognizes the hard work of employees especially Juan Escobar who's been doing it for so long and always says yes and things like that when you do do your your evaluations um are you using a point system are you using a percentage system or using we I don't want to we haven't finished developing it so we don't have yeah so it'll be ready by the time that uh we meet with you in the summertime for the budget uh process I would make an uh you know a um you you putting the kpis together their kpis yeah yeah I mean we have that already as far as job descriptions and and all of that but their gos I think what you're asking is the same thing that council member goaso asked a minute ago all of that will be taken into account longevity and and and all of that yeah I the only issue that I have councilman Garcia is that we're putting one employe right on this on this tagline no but that's why my amendment is to right right to me I have no issue if we're doing it comprehensively like the work we we already we already asked this for the manager we already made a motion we asked them I have no problem taking it back effective today right there'll be a budget implication right making it retrospective but I I I want to make sure that the manager has a methodology that he can support that he can defend right because while we know that there's some shining stars the ones that we interface with the mostly maybe there are some that we don't right so the precedent of just highlighting one is the issue that I have which is the same issue that you have I don't mind him coming back I don't mind making it retrospective and finding out what that budget implication is I just have the issue saying hey we're going to single out one employee through the chair when would the when would this if for example we we decide to create a line item would this be Auto the next pay period that he would get an exted or that would be more in the future after after your plan like I like to see a mechanism that that that says Hey listen this person or or or or our um you know uh your staff there's more I'm sure there's more than just one but that that's a mechanism that's like okay it shows that these these two or three or four employees uh do deserve this kind of raise and that and that mechanism can be put in place and if that's the case would that be starting October 1st or when would the when would that start the ra the raising October 1st right our our plan was to develop this pay plan to put it before you during the budget process for fiscal year for the new fisal year so that it'll be adopted and we can plan for and do it uh properly um and so it would be for October 1 for the new fiscal year and and currently this item even if it were to pass against you know my objections if this item were to pass as stated in the mayor's uh memo there is no money to fund this item it would have to be you know some type of a budget amendment would have to pass to be able to fund this item all right so I would be I would be willing to um to to to vote for for for this with an amendment that we start moving toward more Merit based evaluation and pay than than than that that so to award the $4 an hour uh increase to ju Escobar that if it's if it if it if it coincides with we do a merit-based process and it shows in this marbay process not only him but there's others that that warrant that right uh a a marit based process and I'm sure a merit Bas process will will not only bring him him up up a couple doll or up to maybe maybe not the four but a couple dollars but other other other of your more of your staff or staff of the town but if it if it's aligned with a change from the cola based to to more of a merit-based I mean there could be some Cola in there but kind of like a a mismatch to incentivize our you know the staff you know to to and reward the staff I I always thought that that was a better way of of doing that when it comes to any organization we're private or public and and and and I know that uh youve you've been looking into to that is is is that part of of your your research yeah I I mean I guess I I'll say it again the the it's going to have multiple components to it including longevity including Merit including some steps when people walk through the door to get them to a certain point so it's going to have it's going to be multifaceted but I can't tell you exactly what it's going to be because we haven't finished developing it right so that's that's the FR not frustrating but that's the difficult part of trying to answer your questions and I don't want to seem uh evasive but we don't have the finished product yet but it's going to take all of those factors into account and do you have a timeline on when that's going to happen in the summer during the budget process during but the summer is kind of so no no but remember that we have multiple uh uh workshops we have uh you know the different uh meetings that we have in the development there and then obviously at the end in September is going to be be the culmination of that whole process is going to be the two budget hearings in September but well before that is when you're going to have that before you uh for you to consider I would be willing to then it it's going to be used to develop it's going to be from the bottom up right so the the proposed uh pay plan is going to be used to develop the first blush or the first draft of the uh general of the entire budget so when you see the budget it will have that so in the whole explanation process of telling you how we came to the budget proposal that we're going to put before you is going to be the pay plan yeah so I would I would be willing to um to vote for the mayor's item with the caveat that if the new process um doesn't show or doesn't you know doesn't reward Merit enough for Juan or any other any other associate I mean any other staff member then we can come back and say and we can come back give them an opportunity to see if if their new system works and does reward you know loyalty and if it doesn't we come back and profer that line item uh uh that new item again and then we vote for for the individual line item but I would like to give at least an opportunity to see if the system you know does work and does reward employees like him yeah and obviously I I I don't want to speak for the mayor but my understanding of this item is to award this to Juan Escobar now well but and I don't if if there's if it's something different that the motion was and you know I just want to make sure that Gina captures it correctly um so when the when the vote happens I want to make sure that our direction is clear okay all right any further discussion my only issue with with councilman Garcia and and I appreciate you know you really trying to to find that that common ground and it's that caveat that if if so now we we compensate this particular employee at this point in time how about all the others right will they then be brought up to that level where they're retrospectively right if there are others right are we going to then go back in time and make it retroactive as of this date and that's why I'm I'm fearful of putting one employee before the others and especially when you're talking about a 20 plus perc increase I and I don't know if anybody else is going to have that reflected in their pay grade again I'm I'm in favor of what the mayor's proposing especially for somebody like like like Juan Escobar but there may be others so now have we just kind of given preferential treatment to somebody who's just as equally right deserving and that's and that's the issue I think the the process that I would like to see is that we see what that manager report is right and if we want to award it retrospectively to everybody and that was the conversation that I was saying that then let's have that conversation it really comes up to us it really behooves us because we control the purse strings right if if if we're going to go ahead and make that decision but awarding it to one employee now leaving the others behind until we see what the finished product is I I think it's just bad governance and um I know that we may disagree on that and um but if there's anybody that's deserving is Juan Escobar but there may be others as well Madame clerk please call the rule council member Garcia no council member Diez no council member goaso no council member ruano no vice mayor Fernandez no mayor Sid yes the motion fails thank you madam clerk we are on to the next item uh 14b councilman Garcia a speeding detail and educational campaign thank you um I've I've been um recently U walking through Fairway um drive and and due to excessive speeding along Fairway Drive which I personally saw all um a car just literally just Burn Rubber and take off take off at 70 80 M hour um you know and I know we're working on bike Lanes there to make it more narrow and things like that but I'm requesting a speeding detail along uh along with an educational campaign through our through our marketing department to kind of you know let let the residents know you know that just again let them know what can happen when you speed and also the cost to their not only their their uh their their pocketbook but their insurance and everything that goes along with speeding especially XX speeding work along with the major and our Communications Department and have that detail there uh you know for as long as we can have it to kind of show show residents and non-residents that we're not playing around I always thought that you know parking the police cars are good for the first couple days but people figure that out especially those who use that road every day but man have I have I seen yeah I mean honestly that car could have lost control and there was people walking those was Fairway gets used so much there's dog walking and people run and they walk and and until we get to the point where where we have those things put in place um I would ask I would ask for that uh that detail it just it's it's warranted uh right now people are just taking advantage of the long stretch between um between 154 and Miami Lakes dri Lakes Drive North so I'm just ask my colleagues if if it's possible in the in the next you know maybe now or the carry forward to to add that to to um to Fairway detail uh was there there was a clear motion there councilman yeah I move to add that a detail traffic detail is there a second I'll second it discussion council member Garcia yes you're you're moving to a have the trffic detail the the way that I understood it when I seconded it is that we're going to add the traffic detail to the list of things that we're going to consider with the carry forward next month now the carry forward goad the carry forward did not get a second today it was before you and there was a motion with no second so it died for lack of a second well I I would assume that eventually we will do something with the carry forward unless we just yeah and there's a lot of different factors because even all of the money that we have in all of for instance all the special funds like the storm water fund the uhu uh arpa fund all of those funds will just sit idle in last year and they're not going to be pushed into the new fiscal year without some passage of some form of the of the carry forward all of the money that by ordinance you have designated for fpnl franchise to the different infrastructure items all all of those items won't happen without passage of some version of of a carry forward so maybe maybe just for Simplicity I I think what we should do is add that speeding detail to the list of un already because the spe the uh in the list of the items in the carry forward you already have a a number for 120,000 for police overtime it was three uh there's three elements to that the uh auto theft detail the minimum Staffing detail and the third item was the traffic detail so when they have done traffic detail uh assignments they did they spread them around throughout the town one of the areas that they do Target and I don't want to speak for major Gonzalez but one of the areas that they do Target with the uh overtime uh traffic detail is Fairway Drive because of the speeding so if that item gets funded um because right now the the overtime that you funded originally back in September for October 1st it it it's done because we you funded through half the year so it's the end of March that was the end of it so until we pass some version of a carry forward and if you consider that in funded that's when we can re uh reignite the uh the overtime how about the um I'm sorry through the chair how about the education process or what currently if I may ask the major currently educationwise when it comes to using our communic Department do you have anything consistently you know about about speeding or about uh you know we're watching you kind of thing kind of like to to get it out there to let the residents know hey uh you speed on Fairway you you might get you might get a tick you might get caught at least something you know something and those do you have anything right now in place uh with our Communications Department right so so maybe the motion should be council member if I if you don't mind me uh helping you along would be to have the uh the major work with our Communications Department to use the resources that already exist within the Miami date Police Department for different uh campaigns surrounding the speeding issue to work to see how we can Target that and if there there's a way of focusing on Fairway grade if not we'll do it townwide uh yeah okay that will be my motion then to yeah something like that yeah so discussion discussion Council dieas yeah um my concern with this item is that it's very hyper local to one street uh on Fairway and as the manager pointed out we already do a version of this when we fund the uh speeding details in particular and having family members on both sides of Fairway and and knowing their neighbors this at least has not been something that that has specifically come up to me enough to again to hyperfocus on this particular Street I know other residents want to see us also expand those details to other residential streets in particular where they have long unobstructed uh uh areas um you know and and those are typically the areas where they ask us to put in the the speed humps um so so that's just my my issue with the way it's currently at and why at the moment I'm not inclined to support it uh through the chair if um the the major identifies those those streets uh and includes Fairway in it I'd be more than happy to to make that to change the motion to to include all the streets but but of course include Fairway I guess I guess my my point is that I have no problem with that and I think he's going to do that anyway as part of the carry forward uh discussion is all I'm saying so I just don't see what exactly we're accomplishing at the moment with the way the item is currently worded is is what I'm trying to say okay uh I guess bring attention to that that area um because i' I've I've I've seen it uh and I've actually called I had to call the police department and you know actually report that that that individual and give their license plate and things like that so it actually happened to me and I saw it and I was speaking to a resident at the time who said you see this happens all the time um can you do something about it so I guess that's the you know that's the reason why I'm here in front of you to to try to get um yeah to try to get uh your support on that one yeah we would just be in the rotation of the of the list you know we have the complaints come in that we obviously we know that's like a an area of concern in the past and we kind of like you said we just keep oiling the the squeaky wheel so we just continue to to fight at it and educate and part of the part of the education process too is stopping people and having a conversation with them and explain to them you know to Ed we don't have to give them a ticket it could be a verbal warning that's what part of the educational process too um you know and then we you know we could start off with with the educational side and then we could escalate or you know upgrade to enforcement by written citations thank you and I know you have to be fair across the board to to to Miami Lakes resent not you have to treat them if they're not resent Orly treat them as fairly as possible and I totally understand that um and I know there's you know you don't have certain amount you have uh but I I would love to you know to see perhaps if possible the education start and and honestly if if if we start getting repeat offenders you know uh let foot let people with let let Le feet start you know really yeah I know the officers have discretion on what they give but it also depends on the person's demeanor also there's you know a lot of contributing factors how faster they were going and that that also adds to if it's an egregious speed then there's less room you know for for Education it might it might might warrant the citation so you when you do give you know give a a warning is is that documented so then when you so that when you look them up again see I gave there's a yeah there's written warnings yeah and do you find officers are more willing to give the actual ticket when they've seen oh this guy has already had a warning this guy of course yeah okay so you're seeing the officers are following through on that yes and I think that's that's great that's great because then then the message gets gets especially for that one individual is going to and what is um for example someone going Fairway is 30 correct 30 miles an hour yes and if they go I think that that was 25 that they move 25 now yeah so if they go what if they double that they're going 50 what what what's the 20 20 miles per hour over the posted speedum is Criminal and that's that's arrestable that's arrestable yes but the actual fine is a couple hundred dollars well the fine goes up as by speed so if they're going cuz this car was definitely going 60 M hour I mean he took off and he kept going I mean my estimation I may be wrong but in my estimation um so if he's going 50 60 70 mil hour on Fairway he's getting a what4 $500 ticket maybe well it depends you know if if it's something like what you saw they prob to go jail because he's peeling out and he's driving reckless in uh 25 M per hour Zone with people walking around and okay that's called Reckless re re okay re driving and and see that is what you just told me right now I'd love to see that spread you on our social media and everywhere and I'll I'll be more than happy to spread that as well you know if we get to one or two P people that that think twice maybe we'll save a life maybe not but you know it'll be a more pleasant Community thank you thank you much all right what was uh Madam clerk you want to repeat the motion it was a motion a second Mr manager because the first motion that was made by council member Garcia is no longer in place what I have his motion for major Gonzalez to work with the commun the Communications Department to identify dangers to the area that was um pointed out by council member Garcia but other areas as well areas of concern and educate the residents but you also stated something yeah for the record the same thing okay that captures so motion by council member Garcia and we need a second for this new motion education campaign yeah Madam clerk may I we hear you Council woman Rano may I yes thank you and I'm sorry I didn't have a an opportunity to chime in um I feel that when these things occur and and they're brought to my attention or when I witness them I forward the information to our Police Department because they are very efficient and more than capable of handling these things on their own I don't think that we have to move in any particular direction um they do tackle these issues they do monitor the streets and and you know deploy their resources to where they are most needed um as far as the education campaign to be quite honest I think that Speeders um are only educated by traffic stops and traffic tickets so I don't really think that posting something anywhere telling people not to speed is really going to make an impact we have to be realistic when we when we talk about these things people speed because they're in a hurry because they're late because at that moment they're not going to remember you know a campaign that they saw somewhere we've had the electronic signs on the street many times you know uh watch your speed you know don't don't even think about speeding these are not things that will deter Speeders so I want to make sure that we don't spin our wheels and that we don't you know put unnecessary burdens on our staff with regards to campaigns that really are not going to be effective um I would much rather see the police officers stopping individuals and educating them um by explaining you know what can happen if they do decide to proceed with a with a citation that's just my my two sense I can't support this item thank you thank you councilman Rono any further discuss question on this Madame clerk please call the RO just to make sure vice mayor Fernandez you're still second you second the original motion you second this one for as it was um communicated by Town manager yes okay perfect and and to be clear it's just on the the the the campaign component right which is not going to just focus on Fairway and it's going to Encompass townwide okay yes council member Garcia yes council member Diez no council member coyaso yes council member ruano no vice mayor Fernandez yes mayor Sid yes the motion passes thank you madam clerk we're on to 14c vice mayor Fernandez all right thank you Mr Mayor 14c is a is an item and uh I had a I had a good interaction with the with the town manager uh during my briefing and I think um what uh what I'm going to request is that we look at h both our regular operations our um large H town events uh as well as some of some of our programming Sports Programming and and other recreational programming and look at um Emergency Services ER response capabilities at these um you know different programs and events and see if um there's there's an appetite for an appetite or a need for um either having off duty um rescues at some of these events or maybe having some other form of emergency uh medical personnel on standby at at some of these events or programs so that really my motion is is to direct the town manager uh to to do this um leg work and come back with some recommendations and some cost options on doing this I'll second discussion discussion councilman quaz yeah and um thank you uh councilman um Fernandez for bringing this forward I was actually at lamus Park when one of the gentleman's passed away um I don't know you know if having a truck there or or having an AED Deployable you know all those factors we never know but I can tell you that when we had the elderly Affairs committee and we had Senior Olympics we had to man um I think we had a a private ambulance provider uh on standby and it was just a lot of money and it was just something that wasn't sustainable unless we had the private sector in this particular case a sponsorship and and come forward so it's one of these things where we're going to direct the manager to come back and it's going to come back with a hefty price tag and and then we'll have to see what the the risk reward ratio is on that but if it's just a study by the manager I have I have no issues and and uh thank you for bringing it forward any further discussion discussion see none all those in favor I I I any oppos see none the motion h councilman Rano what was that I'm a name H one no Madam clerk um thank you uh my this item was uh a promise to a resident they brought this to my attention and I told them I put it on the agenda for them um and I actually drive by there all the time 149th and 77th a is a is a stop where it's very hard to see if you're making a left there's a huge um electric a box whatever you want to call those humongous and now there's a new building being built that there's going to be different areas there you can't see anything at all uh resin brought it to my attention I've gone on out there several times and I've seen it for myself it's a little dangerous you have to go straight almost straight into the intersection to make a left and you can't see folks coming uh Southbound on 77th so i' said look I don't know if it's feasible to do a three-way stop there but just wanted to direct staff to go out there public works check it out um now that we own 77th I know4 is a it's a little crazy it's a private road um that's owned by the gram I believe cuz that's a road that always has potholes um has a couple really bad potholes on there all the time they fix it themselves but the 77th we do own see if it's possible if not if not but I did promise a resident I would put it on the agenda and I went out there myself and I saw it and it's it's a it's a little dangerous um making it left there so just want to make a motion to have staff uh go out there check it out see if it's feasible then come back to the council um with their uh with their findings second discussion discussion discussion seeing none all those in favor I I any oppos the motion passes uh we're on to the next item which is 14 e uh councilman Garcia thank you so much um bringing up Fairway again right um I Fairway Drive is is uh again very highly used uh and since we are already made some improvements to to the safety the crosswalks we're adding the bike Lanes want to just consider this this is this is more for safety than Aesthetics right now the the lighting uh we discussed I know uh councilwoman Rano discussed it as well in last the last meeting um the the polls are very far and few far in between so there's a lot of dark areas they're they're higher they're not the smaller poles so then they get they get covered by the tree limbs and and the the canopy is so beautiful in Fairway I I hate to see anything that would ask us to cut some of those trees uh branches away to consider just the how we can perhaps in the future start adding those low um uh you know Gaslight looking lights that we have all over the town on Fairway uh since we're already adding you know we're adding those Lanes to it I just it would inove improve safety uh the aesthetic look to the town to to that area but more for safety there's a lot of dark areas in that area um and just to to see if we can get some perhaps some um some grants possible for the lighting for this anything we can get uh State funding or or grant money um leveraging the bike lanes that we're going to add there because people do ride bikes at night and it's really really dark I don't know if we can we can figure it out maybe get some private funding or something um to add lighting to Fair way I think it's desperately needed uh at this time so i' I'd like to Second uh for discussion and I actually have um some some ideas so I know for a while we've discussed the the possibility of entering into an agreement with FPL for um the management and and maintenance of our existing a light poles throughout the town right um and and getting you know a price and an agreement for doing that is a is a big ask it's it's it's a lot of polls it's you know it's a lot of a lot of bureaucracy and a lot of time right so maybe what we can do um and and longterm I think that's you know the the right thing to look at um but maybe what we can do shortterm is explore using Fairway as a as a pilot for that kind of program and just you know sometimes it's it's easier to cut some you know cut out a a small chunk and just work on that and that way we can start learning how that process goes um and and seeing if it's something that we want to look at you know scaling townwide and then just as we rebuild Fairway with the construction of the bike Lanes transition into you know contract with FPL have them as part of of that agreement replace all of the the lighting on Fairway to the the similar lighting that we have like on 67 87th really um um which are the the smaller the black shorter de ex the shorter Lantern type uh poles which just generally speaking going forward because of our tree canopy are probably the way for us to go across the board right it it provides for the illumination to happen beneath the level of the tree canopy so as that continues to grow vertically we're not um you know trimming trees around lights so it it it does um have some some additional expense obviously having you know the the light fixture up higher mean means it's more efficient it it uh you need less poles per uh you know per per linear foot um but it it is more efficient in in our case because we're not fighting our canopy so yeah what we could do we we could because when we explored it with fpnl we only explored it with all or nothing all of our lights so what we'll do is we'll approach them and see if they want to consider doing this as like you say like a pilot uh program to just do the Fairway Drive conversion convert the lights that are there take them over there'll be FPL lights but they'll install the lights that we like the the shorter decorative ones if they are not willing to do the peace meal approach then we'll go out and get a price and bring it back to you and report back to you and say okay to convert the lights on fpn on Fairway Drive it'll be X and then we'll bring it back to you your consideration can can and I request that you do both in parallel that way we we can also keep FPL honest and we can we can compare okay thank you yeah yeah I know the only challenge we've had with FPL is is um if one of their lights is out their um their fixed time Fram is about 40 days right so one of the reasons why in the past we never went with FPL was their the the the service part right which if you look at our our average it's a lot faster our lights get f a lot faster than fpls but their average is about 40 days you know so that's something that would have to get worked out in an agreement and and I do know that that was historically that's been one of the challenges obviously FPL is the biggest player they can do a lot but from a service standpoint they uh they they leave a lot to be desired and I know that's why we've never uh gone with FPL in the past so something something to consider is um I think when we looked at this the the last time it included them having a smart monitoring of these lights right so it it may be a situation I'd want to look at the metrics number one to see contractually what what metrics there there are as far as you know their fix response time and being able to fix them and so forth yeah exactly and two it may be one of those things that their their fix time might be the same or worse uh but if the the smart monitoring notifies them of the issue faster than than you know it would take for somebody to notice it and report it and it starts the clock faster exactly the the interruption to to lighting may actually be uh less time because it'll it'll proactively start the clock when when it notices the uh the light's not working so um def definitely something to explore but thank you we'll explore both those options and bring them back to you and report back to you so that you're aware thank you sir all right uh hold a motion again so we can take a vote to explore to explore the uh the possibility of FPL as a pilot program taking over replacing the lights currently on Fairway uh with the gas uh gas light looking lamps and and also making sure that there's a smart um smart monitoring system in place and trying to see if that's workable what the cost would be to to explore that area and start as a small pilot program on along Fairway for lighting correct and also directing the town manager to to uh explore a nonf option as a as a comparison okay all those in favor I I any oppos see none the motion passes 14 F vice mayor all right so um I I think uh I think we've we've all kind of noticed that there's um there are some businesses and establishments on 154th uh mainly the two uh hotel properties that are kind of bringing about a certain set of of uh of issues um to our community so I've spoken to several uh business owners in the uh the adjoining shopping center and um they've expressed that there there seem to be um people that look either to be transients um or um perhaps even um you know those engaging in prostitution or things of activities of that nature right and so kind of what it you know where it started my my thought process is you know are those um are those two hotel properties on 154th the the best um possible use for um you know for our town right and how compatible are they uh with with the rest of our community and what if anything right us from from the public sector uh can do to um to encourage uh a change in in their use right and so obviously those those properties are zoned as hotels they have the the right to to be hotels um at some point um and I think countywide there's a you know obviously an affordable housing crisis and it's it's kind of bridged the gap between what um what it cost to you know stay in one of these hotels Long Term versus what it cost to pay rent and utilities and um you know especially some some of these places you have to pay three months worth of deposit not everybody has you know 78 n10,000 uh to to be able to give as a as a Al deposit so um it it's kind of I think those those properties and those businesses have kind of shifted from what the original uh envisioned intent for that area was um and so I I kind of got to brainstorming on how uh we can we can help turn that uh around so the the current uh Zoning for that area I think is R50 which uh allows preponderance of uses uh the the one thing it explicitly uh prohibits is retail right and so retail um is is something that you know and we had a somebody that spoke earlier about traffic retail is is a use that is not necessarily tied to rush hour traffic patterns right so re you know activity and traffic to and from retail is not something that happens at peak hours gener most retail you know opens opens later and um you know most people patronize these establishments after work uh or on weekends so um it it checked off my traffic box right the the biggest issue on4 is traffic the second box um and I I think there's um there's a lot of of want in the community for a specialty grosser right something like uh a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's or something like that so kind of the the the Genesis of this is um starting the pro you know it's obviously very preliminary but um maybe enabling me to to work with Susanna and come up with uh an idea for a zoning overlay that we can do on 154th uh to encourage something like a specialty grosser and and look at you know and I I I did some research there are um there's there's one in there's one in South we there's actually two in in on the beach um where they're able to do one of those specialty groceries within the footprints that we have on those properties it may mean you know um some concessions as as far as you know either green space or or some other things to to make that happen but um I think they would still keep um keep with the character of of the area and I think they would provide a huge benefit to our to our residents so uh my my motion is to to enable me to work with with our town planner to come up uh with with options and parameters um that we can look at so that I can bring back um a zoning overlay for 154 I'll second discussion discussion discussion coun so any discussion just that through the chair um I know that these areas have been higher in crime area sometimes and and and there's been I've been called by residents with pictures of of how they their lack of Maintenance of these of these hotels and and it's a higher crime area and uh and maybe maybe the major could speak to uh the hotels on 154 um the number amount of crime that that perhaps you we've been called to to these areas has it has it been something that's more than usual in those linta and different different uh hotels that are there on 154th um we would have to do an analysis of the calls there to give an accurate report um but we have haven't had anything significant of like any major crimes like shootings or robbery except for the the we did have an armed robbery in the back parking lot of the the Sonesta one the one that's in 77 Court recently probably a couple months I think that was the the License Plate Reader um hit with the getaway vehicle that we were able to apprehend found a vehicle uh using the LPR system park there yeah the the vehicle the getaway vehicle using the arm robbery at the back of the hotel um hit the License Plate Reader on 154 Street when it left and we were able to hand that vehicle later in the day but that's the only one that comes to mind recently where there it was an armed crime at one of the the local hotels yeah thank you so much yes sir um but aesthetically also that those those hotels do not to me my estimation are an isore in some in certain areas that they don't keep up maintenance so the option of having something different come in there I think to look at uh I think is a good idea just to take a look at that and see if there's an option of bringing in something um that will uh of course not not add to traffic but it's an amenity that the residents have been asking for for a while correct and one of one of the things that I think happens is when you think of when you think of a hotel and this this may be something that we want to we want to look at as well when you think of a hotel and how you calculate trips to and from a hotel it it's it's Hotel use right ER this is essentially de facto apartment use now and so now all of your trips if if there's people living here long term now all of your trips are at peak hours right and so it's it's adding more traffic than than what it's supposed to because Hotel traffic is supposed to be somewhat off peak a residential traffic is is very much Peak Mr Mayor yes councilman dieas thank you and uh to my colleague I respect your your point of view on that but having my office behind the linta um and having to deal with the wind Dixie trucks that Supply uh their produce and all that I I just can't support this I think and especially in the context of where these properties are located we're talking about these big trucks that are coming in and out on4 um without any real maybe in the in the case of the L if that were ever redeveloped they can maybe get in there but I just again that's already enough problems for for my area and the residents in that area that have to deal with the school traffic and and other vehicles that constantly flood that that area during uh peak hours um and and I think in terms of the um the issue of the specialty grosser I agree our residents want that I just like I said I just think that that creates other issues such as the issue of the loading and unloading of produce um you know again on a very busy street for us especially during peak hours and I think with respect to the eyesore comments and the public safety concerns I think there are other ways to address that um so at this time I'm I'm a no thank you councilman dieas and and vice mayor I I was also um going to vote no on this item um but I think when you started mentioning working with Susanna that all you wanted was the ability to work with Susanna I'm really interested um in seeing Susanna sinker into something like that and give her that opportunity at least to come back to us um with a report right and at the end of the day if we don't we don't like it we don't like it but the way that you you you asked for this item was simply uh to give you the ability to work Susanna a and come back with something um which I think I think it's I'm sure and I don't I can't speak for suzan I haven't talked to her about this but I know that she she would love I know these types of opportunities are always awesome for planners and I'm just interested in seeing what she brings back so um the way that you couch the the uh the motion initially I was going to vote no but the way that you presented it ER 100% in support giving you the opportunity to work Susanna and come back with something look if it doesn't work it doesn't work but I think I'm especially from Susanna standpoint I'm I'm really excited to see what she comes back with cuz I I what happened here in Main Street uh work she was her along with Darby during that transition and she was the the the last one she did he in Main Street now in hindsight everybody sees that that it really worked and it stimulated uh economic opportunities on on Main Street that people love uh today um and I really want to see her have that opportunity to take something like this to to to put into into Vision like I wish she would have worked on Town Center District from the beginning I think you there could have been some different aspects that she would have introduced um but yeah the way that you you you made the I'm 100% in favor allowing you to to work directly with suzan and come back with something and again if we don't like it we don't like it and it gets voted down so really interested in seeing what you come back with any further discussion Council Council wi yeah and I appreciate it I and my my initial vote um it might may continue I just didn't think overlay was a solution um while it might be one of the solutions um you know any any way that we can hit this if it's a Code Enforcement issue if people people are parking commercial vehicles if it's an egress issue um it might not be and again there might be different opinions on Main Street right whether it's successful whether it was what we envisioned it to be whether it was the Renaissance that it was sold at in the beginning I think it's fallen way short of that right and I think we're hearing it even from the vendors right say hey we still want that Renaissance we we still want something more right we're hearing that today from our own Economic Development and I believe that's what was sold I think that was the path that we wanted right um but somehow we missed the mark So I really wanted to see um maybe what's not overlay right because I I just don't want to go down a pigeon hole rabbit hole and then we have residential units now popping in because they're bringing in a Whole Foods right well no that's right no nobody thought again there was a vision that was laid out for Main Street and we're hearing from our own economic development that we're still not there right so I I I want to make sure that that maybe we're hitting it from all angles right and and maybe some of that angle can be looking at enforcement right if it's police uh looking at um traffic flow issues right if it's if it's creating gridlock right the these cars coming in um and maybe it's code enforcement because I've gotten the pictures as well the complaints are real I applaud you for bringing forward the solution what I would like to see is just not a Susanna Focus solution right go back with staff and see hey what are the things that we could do maybe it's options right zoning overlay maybe it's uh uh uh something I'd be open to that if it's not a caveat that's just limited to zoning no I'm I I I think e even if even if we decide to go down the path of of a overlay that's a long-term then I I can definitely support if if it's if it's not just strictly looking at that this is going to be the be all end all and and looking at other ways that we can improve it I sure love to see a staff report that that's more comprehensive rather than than maybe just just looking at that one Silo so to speak appreciate thank you thank you any further comments on this item any further comments any further comments anybody seen none all those in favor hold on just was the motion restated or are we leaving it just or was because if it's just as it is I'm not going to support it no no no I'll I'll I'll restate it so it's it's um for me to work with with Susanna on the zoning overlay and to explore non zoning overlay Solutions to some of the problems that I discussed sure I can I can support that thank you for coming a little closer got it all right all those in favor I any opposed no no two knows Madam clerk all right H we're on to my item this was another Resident item that was brought to my attention I've been told that other cities when uh folks that do public comments ER they come up spend their time speak for 3 minutes and they leave and so there were some folks that said hey maybe there's a process as to when public comments is closed um that the council take four or five minutes to acknowledge um some of the concerns that were brought forward and and have a moment there for staff and the council um to address ER some of the issues that were brought forward I think that'll make the meetings a lot better h a little bit more holistic and kind of improve Communications with residents but it's not to go to into a back and forth it's simply if there's residents that come up and ask a question on the record once public comments is closed the council just take you know five minutes 10 minutes just to address some of them hey you know this is what we're working on this is what we're doing um and that way it keeps a very uniform meeting and this is an item that was just brought to my attention by a resident and I promis I'd bring it up I have no issues with it cuz I think if we format it correctly once all the questions are asked we just write it down if there's a question maybe there's not maybe it's just statements that folks want to make a lot of times just people come up here and and they want to make a statement instead of but there are folks who take the time to come here and they ask questions and sometimes we're just caught back and forth hey you know Co do this Co do that I think once public comments is closed telling hey Mr manager can you tell us about this this resident asked about this or we can answer some of those questions but not a back and forth that'll drag on the meeting for a long time I think it'll create a really good process so just wanted to amend our rules um to to allow that in a uniform fashion where people can ask questions once it's closed H we address them and we just continue on with the meeting because I've had some folks tell me who've never been to Council meetings that when they come they felt that it was a waste of time because nobody takes the time to really address their issues and I was like you know what let me at least propose it I don't know if it'll pass but I'll at least take a a swing in it so that's uh that's my motion so I'm going to I'm going to Second for for discussion and actually have a have a few thoughts right so one of one of the things and I it was one of my first impressions the you know the first couple Council meetings that that I came to before I understood the the process to somebody that you know and obviously you know we're we're all well aware of of how the process works but for um for for John Q homeowner out there who comes and expresses their view on on the particular issue that's affecting you know their their home or business it it the process kind of seems cold like they come up they get their three minutes thank you for your comments and we move on to the next question right and sometimes they don't they're left wanting more they don't realize that maybe we'll discuss it later in the meeting or they don't realize you know who who the right person to contact uh is a lot of times it it happens organically right so you know I I know there's been times where somebody has come and expressed thoughts about an issue or an item that that I've worked on the airbnbs is a good example right and so at some point then then I have to kind of Juggle do do I want to step off the days and go speak to them before they leave um at at the expense of the next public comment that I'm not now not going to be able to listen to or do I want to try to you know hurly ask you know know Victoria to go run them down and get their contact information or whatever the there there's there's a part of that process that that I think could improve the the biggest ER thing um that I just got from it as you explained it is a lot of times what would have huge value is for us to be able to ask them questions right which we don't always have that opportunity they'll come and they'll explain an issue and maybe it's something we're dealing uh with later in the agenda or whatnot but we don't have an opportunity uh you know before they leave to get that information from them so I I definitely think there could be value I could understand how it could become a a slippery slope of you know a back and forth I could understand how it could lead to you know the the temptation of pulling items out of the you know other parts of of the agenda and and legislating them on the fly at the at the beginning of the meeting I I definitely don't want that to happen because I I think that you know kind of creates an incentive to you know come and and and talk about this we're going to you know move your item ahead and you get you know squeaky wheel syndrome to to an extent right so I don't want that to happen I don't want it to become a uh you know retaliatory back and forth um and I don't want it to become something uh required right where we must because I think in the memo it says you know to to Josh's favorite word shall right um I I don't I right right I don't I don't necessarily think it's something that that we're required to to respond necessarily but if there is an interaction at the end of of public comments where we do want to engage uh we should definitely have the opportunity to do so if if if we want and I I can definitely see Great Value to to that Mr Mayor if I may yes councilman die and uh thank you Mr Mayor I appreciate the spirit of where your item comes from and and I and I understand what the vice mayor is trying to say um but I think that to your point about how sometimes those interactions can be stilted um right when they're cold I think the same thing will occur and if not be worse if we choose not to respond to somebody because we just don't want to give them an answer or whatever the case might be um and and also what's more is if I had more faith in our ability to follow our own rules then then sure but time and time again you know we are very willy-nilly with the rules and everything and as you pointed out we're generally still pretty good either I've seen staff on their own go out and engage a resident um or the major has gone out and engage a resident when it's something related to Public Safety or as you stated we on our own have told them hey this is coming up later or hey can Omar or someone get their information and talk to them um so so yes like like bulb went off um how amable would you be to like a like a three minute recess after public comments again in theory that would work but I think I think in we need to consider perhaps then just reformatting our entire agenda right I mean look at look look at the time for a meeting that we all thought you know at least in the over under that I remember everybody was throwing around we were going to be done a long time ago and we're already at 10:15 um so our meetings are pretty long as it is we just created another board so so that that's my hesitation with that and and again I think you know we are just very accessible you me uh council member Garcia the mayor council member Rano and and um and we all have been very responsive by email Facebook cell phone you know there's a million ways to get a hold of it so I just think while I I respect where it's coming from and I really do get it I do think it's a Pandora box that we're opening um that's going to create more problems especially the part if we choose not to respond now the three minute timeout you know in essence it it's it's interesting it's novel but again I just think that that also is going to just prolong the meeting on top of everything else we have going on and we did if you recall we did start the open mic sessions and I think and I don't remember what the I um you know we ended up stopping those because there just wasn't you know um a whole lot of appetite so I get it but I just think that there's just not enough of a demand and I think it creates more problems for me at this time to to actually get behind this item through the chair Council Garcia I was wondering if perhaps uh the my colleagues would be amable to having uh the town clerk perhaps because this is something that she's going to be presiding over um research other councils and other towns across the country to see if any other towns have implemented something like that we're we're looking at and do a little research see if it's worked or maybe it's worked and and then they had to repeal it uh because I I I honestly as long as it doesn't add additional time uh you know there three minutes is there three minutes perhaps if they ask a question it the answer is also part of the three minutes so if they decide to ask a question well if the answer is is takes up the the rest of the uh two two minutes and 50 seconds that's it that's your time um something like that or you know different things but if you can since you're the one you know you're going to be looking into it if you can maybe look into it I if if my uh colleagues are open to that to see if it has been successful in other in other towns and if it has you know how do they do it absolutely that's I can reach out to the city clerks Association in Miami day County in Broward to see how they do this if they do this if not just not just Florida but you know perhaps in other small towns across the country uh I I've never seen it happen in in in day County myself I don't know if anybody else has but um maybe look into it and see and report back to us and say hey this works and then we can we can look into that so I'll I'll second that as as an amendment which is what I'm guessing it was yes amendment to Friendly Amendment yes if I may on the amendment uh just again I still think that we run into the same problem which if you if you'll recall what I mentioned just now is that specific to us we which is horrible at following our own rules so regardless of whether say Mount Dora uh has this format and let's say out of the 413 cities in Florida or whatever half of them do that specific to our circumstance I just I I really do think that it's just not going to you know work to our benefit in the longer run that so that that that would be my concern got it just on the amendment just on the amendment alone all those in favor I any oppose no no Madame clerk please call the rle so the amendment passed only council member dieas voted against the am I voted against I voted against um I voted against as well okay so for the amendment which is for the town clerk to look into what other municipalities in Florida and in the entire United States a do and to bring back a report council member coyaso no council member Diez no council member Garcia yes council member ruano no a vice mayor Fernandez yes mayor Sid yes the motion fails it's a tie thank you madam clerk please call the RO on the main motion okay I I wanted to I I was trying to signal that I wanted to to offer something discussion no no no no worries um one of the I agree with councilman for now as I agree kind of where you're coming from um you know if there was some type of follow-up mechanism and let it be completely on us right so if the person says yeah I'd like to some followup you know give your name what I'd hate to do is open up a Q&A session start putting staff on the spot to come up with an answer right that is then being publicly recorded that is then can be say Hey you know or not come up with an answer say well you know staff is not being responsive you know if we can do it some way in the back of the house I can't support it how it is now if it was it was something that we do on our own you know please give the name to the clerk and and it's kind of what we're doing now right it's it's kind of exactly how we're operating now if it's something that we can address we usually pull staff away say please go have a private meeting if it's something we're interested in I've seen you Dart from the day to go get somebody's uh you know I've done it myself hey give me your name we hand out a business card so I'd kind of like to keep it like that I'd hate to say well we're having an open Q&A and you're going to get a resp response right and if you don't get a response then here's another opportunity for you to soap box and say how unresponsive we are right I I I I understand the spirit of it and I appreciate the comments that you made that maybe it's kind of cold and callous um so I'd be open to doing something on the back end why don't we then um I'll propose a strike all um that instead of having a Q&A then it just a general policy of this Council directing staff that anytime there's a question related to a service request or something staff automatically has to engage them to get their information I'm okay with that you know or or at least some type of followup to to their concern so there is an accountability right that said your your complaint your concern is not falling on deaf ears and what maybe it's us responding right and then we say look councilman uh dieas is responding to your complaint that you know there's too much speeding I I I just want to make sure that there's some type of followup but at the same time that it's not it doesn't become the Q&A session and I I agree with you I remember when we had the public forms to address this very similar thing it was Bonnie Centron right she wanted to have a dialogue with us on issues that maybe she understood or didn't understand on the the items on the agenda we said you know what I think it's a good idea but it's logistically it's impossible to have a private meeting with each resident on what these individuals are let's open them up to the entire Community let's show case I think I can count on one hand M the public attendees that came I can count maybe and maybe I'm UND maybe I'm under you know but less than a dozen people and this was done over four nights every single Department I remember councilwoman Rono was present I believe on almost everyone I believe some of us were present at some of them and it was just grossly either Mis understood or misrepresented or it just we didn't have the buyback um so I I I kind of in the spirit of it like I want people to feel that they're being heard they're being responded to and and that's kind of on us right as well as as elected officials we should know I know sometimes they're even encouraged that they don't have to give their name and address on the record but sometimes that helps us right that helps us figure out who they are and respond to them so I I would say yeah if we can do it but it's not like a steadfast rule we must have a Q&A on every issue that you bring forward all the time whatever that is whether it's a strike all Amendment I'd be supportive of otherwise in its current form I'm not supportive through through the chair I just my my last comments I I honestly don't mind in within the three minutes that that the residents have to speak to if they ask if they ask a question um within the three minutes then if we can come up with an answer within those three minutes great if not then we can do what we usually do is hey can you get with staff can you get with Jeremy can you get with or you know something like that but if it's in in the three minutes I don't I got to get back on on on the proper posture here there was a motion by councilman Diez for a strike call councilman quazo you second that motion correct can I hear the motion again yeah just to restate it it was simply a strike all that would have a standing policy that staff whenever a question is asked um would have to go ahead and engage them either give them the answer or uh take their information down to get back to them I'll support it yes I I'll I'll second it may I comment on that yes councilman Ron thank you Mr Mayor and I appreciate where everyone is coming from I know that we want to be incredibly accessible to all of our residents and I feel that there are few councils that are as responsive and as accessible as we are that includes Our Town manager our clerk our staff I don't want to put something in place where the staff members have to reach out to someone have to pursue a comment or a question it is the residents's prerogative to reach out to us and there are many ways to do so public comments is for public comments if you have a specific question you can email us you can leave us a message at Town Hall we will direct you towards the proper person we have to give staff the opportunity to research and give proper answers and not put them in a position where they can perhaps you know inadvertently be unprepared I don't like to do that I don't like to put anyone on the spot there are more than enough ways to communicate with us if we create a a Q&A we will be here forever I just I think that the process is what it is the residents may not understand it and that's on us to educate them as to how this process works we don't have to change every single rule to accommodate the desires of everyone it just doesn't work that way there have to be procedures that are in place and stay that way so I I appreciate where where the where the strike all amendment is coming from I don't want to do that to the staff I don't think that it's necessary we have emails and we have other forms of communication for for questions public comments should be strictly just to come and voice your opinion and that is that so I can't support any of these thank you thank you Council M ronal uh any further discussion on the strike Hall amendmen Madame clerk please call the rule council member Diez yes council member ruano no council member Garcia no C council member coyaso yes vice mayor Fernandez yes mayor Sid yes the motion passes the amendment made by council member Diez passes thank you madam clerk uh we're moving on to item s sorry Mr Mayor I we got caught in the back and forth and I wanted to add something to it I don't know if I I make an amendment or if we can just do it administratively the the information that staff is going to take down with the different residents um contact information and whatever their issues is if that can also be sent to the council following the meeting so that we're able to individually follow up if if any of those issues are ger to something we're working on sure I mean we we we kind of do this already right so we just go and we handle it if somebody's got a complaint about whatever whether it's speeding or a tree or what have you we just go and and we handle it if you want uh feedback back and say hey uh resident John Doe their issue was this tree and this is their address and we're handling it with an inspection and followup and we'll give you a recap of any of those that uh that you know that are like that I would appreciate that okay thank you all right we're moving on to item 14 uh H let's be as expeditious as possible with the rest of these items thank you marus it's just really quick especially now during the the season where the yeah where every where the leaves are falling there's some areas that get because of the wind the leaves block entire sidewalks and I just want to direct staff to see if if during this time I know it's it's if certain areas especially in front of um uh Optimus Park along the wall 15 uh 67th it gets so bad that people can't walk and they have to you know sometimes it's it's dangerous especially if you're r a bike just to focus on these certain areas that accumulate more you know more uh more leaves and see if we can do something to to mitigate that uh especially during the times of of the leaves falling it's only like two or three times a year we discuss that just just to focus on those areas to make sure they're passible yeah obviously our crews on 67th Avenue for instance where we we maintain all the medians and every time they go out there they do sweeps of that entire area including the median they they obviously pick up a bunch of leaves Jeremy even showed me a photo of the back of an entire truck full of just full of leaves so they they do that what this would entail would be just during those two or three weeks that the leaves are falling those two or three times a year uh doing additional sweeps to pick up leaves in those certain areas that you you you and I talked about that had the wall and passible so what we can do like everything that we deal with here it's it's about the money right so we'll we'll get idea of what it'll cost and then we'll come back and we'll report to you and say okay look for any additional sweeps on these areas when we call for it we won't even do it scheduled we'll do you know we'll we'll monitor it and when we think we need it we'll call but we'll we'll give you an idea of what each additional sweeps not for new mowing but just for uh for Lea pickup and then that way you guys can act on it uh in you know from that point forward that that that's fine I'll make a motion that uh the manager take a look at that um and see if uh cost bring back the cost of doing those additional uh leaf leaf sweepings a second any further discussion any further discussion all those in favor I I any opposed see none the motion passes we're on to item 14 I thank you Mr Mayor so this this item is mine um and it comes it comes from uh kind of two different places I did have a a conversation with a with a member of staff and with the manager during my briefing um so my understanding is uh Communications Department is already working on um kind of like a like a monthly video series um I think their their original uh Focus for it was more uh community and event um focused and and uh kind of creating awareness for for events in the community and and using it to promote um events but I think there's an opportunity to to do something if you think about it as a as a a smaller quicker version of the video uh that gets prepared for the the state of the town uh where each department kind of has you know some some brag items and and some blurbs and some information about some of their their uh accomplishments and achievements uh so to kind of do that for the different operational departments really the ones that are more um resident the have the most Resident contact points um you know building Public Works um but really to give all all the different departments on a on a rotating basis the opportunity to talk about maybe some projects that are coming up in their wheelhouse or things that were recently completed um things like that in a in a very you know short format maybe you know 90 seconds 2 minutes max and and to be able to get it out there uh for people that consume cons like to consume their information in a in a video format um so that's essentially my my motion to um kind of piggybacking on the on the efforts that they've they've already uh under undertaken to produce this um community and event related video series uh but to encorporate uh more operational aspects of of the town to inform the residents of of the happenings in our in our town that is my motion I'll second discussion discussion discussion more of a quick comment pre last time when when this was proposed um there was a restriction placed on the videos that it could not include elected officials um and whatnot so I just want to know that that that still stands so yeah it was a comment to staff got it yep no I'm I'm uh I'm I'm perfect uh perfectly fine with uh with that um and uh and nobody's going to make a comment about my acronym I'm I'm disappointed I loved it you're obsessed with cows I I I wanted somebody to set up you know that so that I could say it's a little cheesy but you know nobody nobody bit all right next item requires a waiver no wait wait wait nobody voted on this all in favor hi I any oppose see none the motion passes the next item requires a waiver is there a a motion to wave s I'll move the waiver I'll second all those in favor I I any oppose the motion passes vice mayor thank you Mr Mayor um so this item should be uh fairly straightforward for the last um I think we're on the on the sixth phase of West Lakes reforestation kind of the the focus has been um to to take this all-encompassing holistic approach which is is is generally a good thing right um you know block by block section by section um replace all of the undesirable trees and plant whatever the the new planting um that has been selected for that area is right so um there there's and and I've gotten a lot of feedback there's there's an abundance of people that have existing trees be they palm trees or be they other kinds of trees um that that are healthy and and there and sometimes you know not aesthetically offensive um and we come in we chop them down and we we plant uh another tree so kind of what what I wanted to do is is to direct staff to prioritize before we continue um cutting all the trees on a block and replacing them all rather than than doing that shifting our strategy to try to focus on planting a trees in all all the available spots there's plenty of of spots that have been identified that don't have any tree whatsoever um and and to exhaust all the opportunities to plant trees in those voids first um and then that would also kind of give you know some of these new plantings time to start growing in and once we've done that to our satisfaction and we've exhausted all those um you know opportunities to to plant those trees then we can start going back into those neighborhoods and replacing some of the the less desirable trees but the the idea is to try to you know maximize the the bang for our buck and try to fill in empty spots first rather than cutting you know existing healthy trees to replace them with um with new trees so that's my motion I'll second it discussion discussion all those in favor I I any see none the most councilwoman Ronald how did you vote no hey there is one no Madam clerk uh my next item has it's a quick report that I'm doing has a a waiver of rules it'll take me 10 seconds to do it so move to wave section Point okay all those in favor I any oppos no h just one no thank you ER motion passes real quick tree canopy Miami Lake Wake South I wanted to report on this um I've had several residents one resident specific requested a meeting with me I sat down with his resident and he showcased several areas on Miami Lake Way South Lake Patricia area that are missing a trees so in line with um the reforestation program strategy that the vice mayor wants to talk about um it's something I'm going to start looking into Joseph's already looking into in terms of and I'll bring it back to the council and if it has to be in form a new business item in the future but to see if some of those trees that we don't utilize can start um being placed in areas where trees are missing even on the east side of town so and that Resident promising I put it on the agenda and I have follow-up so we're bring back that uh that followup uh we're moving on to the manager report monthly police report uh by our town Commander good evening everyone uh Jose Gonzalez Town Commander with the police report for March um crime was down 10% year to date un targeted crimes so we're looking good with that uh we continue with the high visibility patrols during the evenings and the early mornings for any vehicle burglaries uh we just wrapped up our um vehicle burglary detail that uh was funded for the first half of the year and um we did have a the install of the license plate readers um that are that will be should be fully operational by next week once the SIM cards are installed in the community iations are up but they are already installed in uh in one of the older locations that we're replacing the mobiles so that's that's good news and then after that probably have like two more spots and then we're going to be um entertaining interior intersections also to get more of a localizer in the near future once the the Net's complete uh that's it from me any questions questions of uh just great job thank you sir 10% uh year year today year to year for the the year to date yeah compared to last year at this time we're down 10% great hey Town Commander one thing I wanted to mention I read the um the police survey that um that the manager put out so a couple years back um when the discussion started happening about augmenting um our department I know there's always been differences of opinion between management and and and and maybe the the town commander and and those folks who who are on the field a there were off officers even back then that's maybe a handful that were like you know we need more officers you know we need more officers we need more officers second year a little bit more this year it was resounding I read the the the notes and I was taking it back with the amount and I've been a big believer of this for the last four years I've been talking about it even when we had a major excess money we had opportunities to augment to officers um I'm going to be very honest with I'm concerned because if if our men and women who are in uniform are at the point where dozens of them are are expressing this in writing I can only imagine you know with the camaraderie that exists so I don't know how the approach is going to be but but if they're saying it it I it's a concern to me right as mayor um because the manager took the time to put it out he wants their feedback and he he sent us he sent us that feedback and we have to act upon it so I feel as mayor at the beginning again I always believed in the last four years augmenting our Force but it started it was a small trickle small trickle now it's dozens of officers saying that I'm concerned I'm really concerned and I and I and I want to back them up a th% we have to augment our Force I know it's not your position I know the pur strings are held by this Council and the direction this Council has to go to the manager than to you but I I don't know how I don't want to put you in a position because you don't work for this Council you work for the manager then the manager works for us and I don't want but hearing that how do we how do we take that that feedback because it's dozens it's not just one or two and and their feedback is really important and I'm I'm concerned because there's new developments coming online there's one coming online on Commerce I know the culture has always been Mr manager this is not don't see this a dis as a disrespect but the culture that that you've added is more of of the fire service right where you've always said well there's not enough cost for service right fire department 100 he's absolutely right right it's c for service police in our town does a lot of different things right that that is not cost for service that don't get Quantified and if I'm already hearing those officers asking for more I'm concerned majoran I I just want to put that on record and I and I want to I would hope it get gets addressed um so on once the uh manager shared the survey with me we had a meeting uh early early Monday morning to discuss the the concerns they were uh expressed so we're working together to come to a a solution on the concerns and we're looking at different Avenues of you know the workload that we're having we would discussed additional um workloads that we have that's just just cost of service it's all the all the the the speeding enforcement we have to do and the park checks and uh watch orders and the contact cards and high visibility so there's a lot more to our workload and we're we're exploring you know the uh the amount we're going to do a report for the manager to see what we could do in the near future to address that thank you any other questions of uh the major if not thank you for for your service thank you have a good night a monthly infrastructure report Omar Santos director Santos good evening mayor and council members I'll start like I always do I'll highlight a few projects if there are any questions please go ahead and ask them first one Northwest 59th Avenue project we've received the proposal for the RFQ for the project management service we'll be putting together our evaluation committee and determine if that proposal uh qualifies and then proceed to make a recommendation through the manager excuse me we got two projects drainage uh for the bond that have already received their final pavement those are the royal on the 87th and 162 that that neighborhood there and the West Lakes Gardens first edition this is 153rd Court Terrace and 150 second terce so those were in the final inspections getting all the all the the final items taken care of before we finalize this project Commerce Way is is going well we still have our lane closures there we are helping tremendously to expedite that project we will have the the 5K coming up this weekend and we working with the contractor to to make sure there's there's a a path through the project for them to to get through and similar to what we did during the the Christmas uh run one 158 Street drainage that one is in the closeup phase we've already have uh the the paint down we're waiting to get the thermoplastic which is the the final reflective painting but that's pretty much done looks pretty nice if I want to say so if I say so myself encourage you drive by there and and go check it out the HVAC the three HVAC units in town hall were replaced uh two weeks ago or two Fridays ago so this is the new AC unit that's working right now and the I'll let use and the last item I didn't get a chance to add it but I want I wanted to mention it uh May 29th we have the first public Outreach meeting for the vulnerability assessment adaptation plan encourage everybody to attend we we're looking for feedback to be able to put that plan together and and hopefully present that during our second Outreach meeting with the the first draft along with the your feedback and the resident feedback and that's all I have for now any questions yeah Omar if first off Kudos on Commerce Commerce has been is probably one of the most complicated uh projects to pull off right it's not in a in a residential area where you it's a little different the traffic is not that much it's a very high trffic area and you all did a phenomenal job in in coordination so so kudos to you and your team because the way you all pulled it off it there wasn't a lot of hiccups and it was excellent because I I know folks were like hey when is it getting done but now people saw how you guys move traffic and that was a awesome way to uh to to second were you able to hire a a new CIP manager to oversee um the rest of the bomb program so yes yeah I I announced to all of you earlier today that we uh actually have taken the measure of rehiring an I padon obviously she saw that uh this was not a bad place to work and uh her work product was uh incredible she was a strong member of our team and uh she reached out and uh with the recommendation from uh Omar and Tony I concurred with their recommendation and we rehired her uh uh and she'll be starting I think I don't remember the exact start date but it'll be later this month yeah so I I think that was a good move right because you see from the time that she left to to now it's kind of like we haven't even voted on any new projects right and I understand the permanent but it's just a reality so I think her coming back is going to be a huge um a plug in place so that's that's definitely uh really good news so anyone else for for questions comments and not thank you director Santos appreciate good evening director Bown good evening mayor council Jer Bown director of pars Recreation uh the item uh in the report you have before you essentially is a culmination of two different items from uh earlier this year uh regarding K9 Cove uh one aspect of the report looks at uh enhancing and improving some of the uh conditions at the park while the other item goes and looks at recommendations for uh seeking and and receiving public input for uh later budget um decision making um as you see in the recommendations for the maintenance plan uh there are three tiers to it uh which include uh increasing the maintenance frequencies uh bringing us back to our usual 35 Cycles um the other item you see there is some new maintenance actions as this park is actually coupled with uh the rest of the town's pocket Parks it is actually rather different in the use and the amount of imp impact to the turf um so one of the recommendations there is some of the uh more high impact uh Turf related maintenance practices that should be called for uh and then the third item similar to our athletic parks and uh similar to Turf that is impacted uh quite frequently is rest periods instituting a series of rest periods that um allow the turf to recuperate allow us time to provide some maintenance without that much uh paw traffic I guess you would say um and we be able to do so without reducing uh the ability or availability for use so we would close one side of K9 Cove um while the other's resting and then we'll flop back and forth that way we can have continuity of operations there um and then on the public input options um one aspect that we looked at especially after hearing some of the remarks from uh the Farah family and some of the individuals that I've run into at K9 coov is to host a uh inperson um Workshop annually at K9 Cove talk about some of the needs talk about um where some of the demand and what they would like to see uh at this one time I guess you what I would call it as the Bark for your Park U we'll be able to take a a Needs A needs assessment of what the community is looking for but also tie that in with a survey aspect uh so that those that can attend uh this uh proposed Saturday Workshop can still submit their comments submit some of their feedback uh we'll be able to also create a space on the website that can actually harness and take in this feedback um and then use it for our report later on during the budget cycle for our proposed recommendations and input from the actual residents on what they want to see at K9 Cove whether it be increased Arbor whether it be more play amenities um anything of that nature um so with that I'm open for any questions any uh any questions on bark for the park through the chair that what it was called yeah barkk I see you said tree trimming to reduce heavy shade areas is that because the grass won't grow in that area because so on top of the the impact and use of dogs and kind of their Tendencies of digging yes the shade is another huge impact there and we have two beautiful large Oaks um so making sure we keep their canopy uh still lavish but not too dense uh to help the turf recuperate and and give it a good chance of maintaining its Aesthetics qualities would any areas benefit from artificial turf like especially those areas that are very hard because the the tree canopies would make it nice you know you want you want that shade I know it it it it does weaks Happ with the actual grass growing but any areas around the trunk or something that's that you find the given the root structure eventually that might become a bit of a concern um but we can look at other ways the only thing is uh there's some more disinfecting sprays that'll go with some of that artificial turf and and and pets being on them okay um all right that's all questions thank you any further comments councilman quazo no I just wanted to thank Jeremy I think you hit all comp you know all the components that I think the residents brought forward that the mayor brought forward in his item um with an advisory committee um really it's going to come back down to us to fund it right and and and talk about what we you know what we see is is is appropriate for that for that level of funding um I just appreciate the time you put into it and you know you kind of listen to all of ours so all of our points so I appreciate it thank you thank you director hey we're moving on to attorney's report yeah um I've been talking to you guys for the last uh week or so so um about the mediation uh I reached out to opposing Council um haven't really gotten a response I can't say that it was a negative uh reaction when I spoke to him but uh I haven't gotten a response as soon as I do I'll start relaying it to you um so that you guys can uh plan accordingly thank you uh Mr attorney uh real quick before I hand it over to uh to councilman quazo uh Madam Clerk and I were part of the caving board tonight along with two other judges Madam clerk is there do you want to give the community an update before folks start inundating your hold on have we move are we moving away from the attorney's report oh I apologize I thought he had finished oh he he did but I wanted to bring up an elephant in the room so to speak um absent of there being a response there there was um a number that he negotiated one that's going to have a a significant impact on on our budget in what we do now what we do in the present um I know that we didn't uh pass the the budget um but I think at a minimum we need to have an opportunity to have a workshop I think um so we can start prioritizing what what our priorities are what we're going to do with the carry forward um I'd like for all of us to be present um at that workshop and um you know I I think we need to have a budget Workshop we need to we need to plan one way or another depending on what we do uh we need to plan we're set for trial in August and uh we need to make some de some hard decisions and um none of them are none of them are going to be any fun um as you guys know we've been talking quite a bit with each of you I wanted to make a motion to set up um a workshop date that we can all be at and um for planning purposes uh that include uh budgeting uh for future litigation expenses and um the items that that we didn't move forward on the budget I'll second that all those in favor I I any opposed see none the motion passes uh Madam clerk before we go back to to councilman quazo if you want to give everybody an update on uh the canvasing board tonight that we were a part of yes um I just first want to say thank you to the canvasing board and the two judges who dilig ently and gracefully volunteered and did their work and mayor as well and myself um basically we posted at 7 pm in our town website the preliminary or unofficial results these are directly from the elections Department you can find them in our website and what it basically states are the results from the five candidates um Mr Brian Mora received 618 votes which is a 29% um so he will be going to the runoff Mr ector Abad and Miss Esther cand results are very close very narrow so the Department of Elections also told us and showed us there are eight ballots that were identified with issues six ballots were not signed two ballots were identified by the campusing board with signature um discrepancies so those eight ballots are given the opportunity to be cured by the people who casted their B their vote in those ballots um and by this we mean that for 48 hours they're giving the opportunity or the window to cure those ballots so as of right now now um we're on hold we have to wait and uh for the final results of these eight ballots and the cusing board will be meeting again Friday at 900 a.m. in the Department of Elections we will meet and we will determine then what happened to those eight ballots if they were cured if they were not cured um and we will make the determination as to whether there will be a recount because again the results of Miss Esther colen and Mr ector Abad are very close we want to say I think it's like seven seven votes apart so Department of Elections did tell us about the the machine recount um and we have to wait all right I just want to make sure that the What the residents see on the website which again is a and it was given to me as well as a clerk it's the tabulation of results this is unofficial and it's preliminary it's not final right right but no matter what no matter what there will be a runoff election on April 30th um we have that date the Department of Elections um told us that we need to wait until Friday Mr morera got the the 29 29% Mr Mora got have to have a runoff if he's the leader and we're waiting for to know who's the other person the other candidate exactly I just want to make that clear that to the public that no matter what there will be a runoff election on April 30th did I miss anything mayor said you were there we had people from no no no and if anybody wants to to attend a Friday's c meeting you can attend there's I believe the Miami Laker was in there the whole time with us and absolutely so it is it is an open room for the public so if everybody wants to be there for the canvasing board meeting on Friday uh you can all sit in so at 9 9 o' in the morning and um the 2700 Northwest 87th Avenue this is the municipal campusing board which has been um as well published several times at 9 a.m. you can see what we're going to be doing and what you know the results will be got it thank you madam clerk uh we're moving on to uh a point of personal privilege by councilman quazo then we'll move on in a drink thank you very much mayor I'm not going to hold up everybody's time but I do want to recognize Lucas colazo who came here after a baseball game and you you might see him celebrating with a Happy Meal but he first time ever I think his uh in his career he he's celebrating a triple play very rare in baseball but Triple [Applause] Play that's awesome man Triple Play you get McDonald's Happy Meal congrats bro good job we're proud of you man we're proud of uh the young man that you're becoming man we all saw you we were on the days when he was born right it's amazing man so kudos to you keep it up man all right good job buddy he have a good night guys this meeting is a journ we'll see you and me