City Commission

City of Coral Gables 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, Fl 33134 www.coralgables.com Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 29, 2013 9:00 AM City Hall, Commission Chambers City Commission Mayor Jim Cason Vice Mayor William H. Kerdyk, Jr. Commissioner Patricia Keon Commissioner Vince Lago Commissioner Frank C. Quesada Patrick G. Salerno, City Manager Craig E. Leen, City Attorney Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 ROLL CALL Present: 4 - Commissioner Keon, Vice Mayor Kerdyk Jr., Commissioner Lago and Commissioner Quesada Absent: 1 - Mayor Cason INVOCATION Father Daniel Martin from Church of the Little Flower gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Lago led the Pledge of Allegiance. LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY The following minutes summary includes all presentations made, and actions taken which information is supplemented by the following exhibits on file in the Office of the City Clerk, and which are by reference made a part of the record herein: (a) Resolution(s) adopted (Resolution No. 2013-272 through Resolution No. 2013-281); (b) Video; (c) Audio Recording; (d) Minutes Folder with Agenda and background information, including items which were submitted at the meeting. City of Coral Gables Page 1 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 A. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS A.-1. 13-2713 Presentation of a $750.00 donation from the Coral Gables Woman's Club to the City of Coral Gables to provide Venetian Aquatic Club "Learn to Swim" Program Scholarships at the Venetian Pool. [Note for the Record: Following the reading of the title into the public record by Vice Mayor Kerdyk, he called to the podium former Mayor Dorothy Thomson, who in return acknowledged the presence of Mireya Kilman and Robin Burr. Mayor Thomson reminisced about when she and Vice Mayor Kerdyk’s father served on the City Commission and the old fire truck which was recently replaced was going around going City; further acknowledging that said vehicle had provided much service over the years. Vice Mayor Kerdyk told former Mayor Thomson that it is great to have her back in City Hall, further informing the viewing public that despite the many years Mayor Thomson has served on the Commission that she still stays intricately involved in organizations such as the Coral Gables Swimming Club, but also serves on the Historic Preservation Board; further thanking her for all of the service performed by her. In accepting this acknowledgement, Mayor Thomson further added that she also serves on the Coral Gables Women Club, and that said organization always has issues to bring before the governing body, such as the one on the agenda (A-1) that she is appearing before this morning; further introducing the president of the Coral Gables Women Club, namely Mireya Kilman. Mrs. Kilman prefaced her remarks by stating that the “Learn to Swim Program” is an annual event, adding that said organization is proud to sponsor said event, stating that it is comprised of kids and adults, pointing to the fact that over the summer months during said program event over the years, there have been many lives lost, and that the Woman’s Club is proud to support this program throughout the years, further introducing Mrs. Robin Burr (i.e. the Public Issues Chairperson of said organization), who explained to the viewing audience what has been accomplished with the check/donation. Mrs. Burr explained that the Venetian Aquatic Club has been teaching lessons since 1959; further explaining that when she became involved with the Aquatic Club, she found out that in the past, it was giving donations to those children who could not afford to pay for swimming lessons, adding that she was instrumental in bringing this initiative back; pointing out that her organization has been doing this for approximately 8 years since the renewal of same. Mrs. Burr introduced Eileen Brennan, President of the Venetian Aquatic Club, to explain about the swimming lessons that are offered. Mrs. Brennan prefaced her remarks by stating that the Venetian Aquatic Club is very City of Coral Gables Page 2 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 grateful to the Woman’s Club of Coral Gables for beginning this scholarship program, which now has been joined by generous donors such as the firefighters and Ralph Cabrera, which has resulted in a wonderful summer for our scholarship recipients-42 people have been able to accept scholarships, which she pointed out represents a 500 percent increase from the preceding year. She further informed the public that with the inability to have the scholarship program be fully functional until this summer thwarted the attempts of those willing to learn, but unable to do so because of the unaffordability by some to pay for the local lessons. She also pointed out that in an attempt to make said lessons affordable, that the Aquatic Club staff also volunteered their time. She further acknowledged the generosity on the part of the City in enabling her organization to use its facilities at the Venetian Pool, pointing out that as a result of the current management existing at the pool, they have expanded the program to include adults, which has resulted in the serving some of the most underserved segments of our community; pointing to the fact that now they are teaching fearful adults how to swim, as well as teaching those individuals eager to hone their skills is now a reality. Mrs. Brennan concluded her remarks by explaining that between the children and the adults that she believes the Woman’s Club has done a wonderful thing for our community in offering the Venetian Aquatic Club the opportunity to serve people who otherwise could not afford it. Vice Mayor Kerdyk thanked Mrs. Brennan and her organization, further recognizing that her organization currently maintains 100 members, and further acknowledging the inclusion of adults into the program now. Mrs. Brennan added that there also 46 juniors that participated as aides this year; further adding that young people are teaching adults now, which provides them with an amazing feeling of confidence]. This Presentation/Protocol Document was Presented and Filed City Clerk Item No. 1 City of Coral Gables Page 3 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 A.-2. 13-2706 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring November 30, 2013 as Small Business Saturday in Coral Gables. [Note for the Record: Following Vice Mayor Kerdyk’s reading of the title to Agenda Item, A-2 into the public record, he requested of Commissioner Quesada to present and read the proclamation to Mark Trowbridge, President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce declaring November 30, 2013 as “Small Business Saturday” in Coral Gables. Following the reading of the proclamation, Commissioner Quesada mentioned that he attended the “Small Business Saturday” event last year, and he stated that it was a great turnout for the City; adding that it is one of those events whereby one can give back to the community; further pointing out that Coral Gables has its residential community and its business community, which is so strong, and that this local organization is what makes it such a great downtown sector that we have. Following a photographic session Mr. Trowbridge thanked the City Commission for the remarks and for having him here before the City Commission on this same date; further stating that this represents the third year that the Coral Gables Chamber has led the efforts here for this event; however, he mentioned that American Express started the program some four years ago; further informing the viewing public that the Coral Gables Chamber feels very fortunate that American Express recognizes them Coral Gables as one of their shining star communities-citing that the first year that the event was held, American Express came and shot a national commercial, and that some of those segments are still running; further noting that this year one of its clients from Cal Chocolate is featured in the new commercial. Mr. Trowbridge also provided the viewing public with some statistics regarding the Small Business Saturday event, citing that in the first year of said event, there was 19 participating business; last year there were 55 participating businesses, and this year 100 businesses are anticipated, with said event roughly one month away (i.e. November 30, 2013); further noting to the public that it is common knowledge that traditionally, the advertising budgets of the big box retailers dominate the space on Fridays, and that the neighbors, friends really need the participating public on Small Business Saturday; therefore he urged everyone to shop locally that day, to dine out locally that day and really support our businesses that make us who we are and who we are proud to be. Immediately thereafter, there was a photo session. Following the photo session, Vice Mayor Kerdyk asked Mr. Trowbridge to talk about the upcoming Burgerlicious event of November 7th, 2013; whereby Mr. Trowbridge mentioned that he briefly talked about it at the last City Commission meeting-said event will feature 22 different restaurants, and there will be several new restaurants joining the event this year-including the Eating House and Swine. He concluded his remarks City of Coral Gables Page 4 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 by informing the public that said event will be held at Ponce Circle Park; further information may be obtained by going to the event website located at www.burgerlicious.com]. This Presentation/Protocol Document was Presented and Filed City Clerk Item No. 2 B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES B.-1. 13-2716 Impasse Hearing of September 4, 2013. Attachments: Meeting Minutes Transcript of Impasse Hearing This Minutes wasapproved Yeas : 4- Commissioner Keon, Vice Mayor Kerdyk, Jr., Commissioner Lago and Commissioner Quesada Absent : 1- Mayor Cason City Clerk Item No. 3 B.-2. 13-2715 Regular City Commission Meeting of October 15, 2013. Attachments: Meeting Minutes Verbatim Transcripts - Agenda Item F-1 - Discussion re MDC Ordinance relating to taxi cabs - Pa Verbatim Transcripts - Agenda Item H-1 - Reso authorizing Merrick Park LLC to change name to Verbatim Transcripts - Agenda Item H-2 - Reso approving the concept for a work of public art A motion was made by Commissioner Quesada, seconded by Commissioner Keon, that this matter be approved. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas : 4- Commissioner Lago, Commissioner Quesada, Commissioner Keon and Vice Mayor Kerdyk, Jr. Absent : 1- Mayor Cason City Clerk Item No. 4 City of Coral Gables Page 5 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 C. CONSENT AGENDA All items listed within this section entitled "Consent Agenda" are considered to be self-explanatory and are not expected to require additional review or discussion , unless a member of the City Commission or a citizen so requests, in which case, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered along with the regular order of business. Hearing no objections to the items listed under the "Consent Agenda", a vote on the adoption of the Consent Agenda will be taken. Passed the Consent Agenda A motion was made by Commissioner Quesada, seconded by Commissioner Lago, to Adopt the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yeas : 4- Commissioner Lago, Commissioner Quesada, Commissioner Keon and Vice Mayor Kerdyk, Jr. Absent : 1- Mayor Cason RESOLUTION NO. 2013-272 C.-1. 13-2693 Resolution authorizing encumbrance in the amount of $4,660.95 or 15% of the State Forfeited Asset Fund (F.A.F.) moneys to provide for the support and operation of crime prevention, drug abuse prevention, safe neighborhood, or school resource officer programs, as required under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act . Attachments: Resolution Draft-$4,660.95-2014 15% Set Aside-10.23.2013.pdf C-1 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ENCUMBRANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,660.95 OR 15% OF THE STATE FORFEITED ASSET FUND (F.A.F.) MONEYS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPORT AND OPERATION OF CRIME PREVENTION, DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, OR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAMS, AS REQUIRED UNDER THE FLORIDA CONTRABAND FORFEITURE ACT. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-272 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 5 City of Coral Gables Page 6 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-273 C.-2. 13-2694 Resolution authorizing expenditure in the amount of $20,000 from previously encumbered State Forfeited Asset Fund (F.A.F.) moneys to support the Youth Resource Officer activities and programs of the Coral Gables Police Athletic League . Attachments: Resolution Draft-$20,000-2014 PAL-10.23.2013.pdf C-2 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 FROM PREVIOUSLY ENCUMBERED STATE FORFEITED ASSET FUND (F.A.F.) MONEYS TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH RESOURCE OFFICER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE CORAL GABLES POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-273 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 6 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-274 C.-3. 13-2695 Resolution authorizing expenditure in the amount of $14,587 from State Forfeited Asset Fund (F.A.F.) moneys to partially fund the Coral Gables Citizens Crime Watch, Inc. Program. Attachments: Resolution Draft-$14,587-2014 Crime Watch-10.23.2013.pdf C-3 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,587 FROM STATE FORFEITED ASSET FUND (F.A.F.) MONEYS FOR THE CORAL GABLES CITIZENS CRIME WATCH, INC. PROGRAM. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-274 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 7 City of Coral Gables Page 7 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-275 C.-4. 13-2697 Resolution authorizing expenditure in the amount of $4,950 from previously encumbered State Forfeited Asset Fund (F.A.F.) monies to support activities and programs associated with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) instruction conducted by the Coral Gables Police Department Youth Resource Unit. Attachments: Resolution Draft-$4,950-2014 D.A.R.E.-10.23.2013.pdf C-4 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,950 FROM PREVIOUSLY ENCUMBERED STATE FORFEITED ASSET FUND (F.A.F.) MONIES TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION (D.A.R.E.) INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED BY THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT YOUTH RESOURCE UNIT. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-275 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 8 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-276 C.-5. 13-2698 Resolution authorizing expenditure in the amount of $9,000 from previously encumbered State Forfeited Asset Fund (F.A.F.) moneys to support the Youth Resource Officer activities and programs of the Coral Gables Police Explorer Post #594. Attachments: Resolution Draft-$9,000-2014 Explorer Post-10.23.2013.pdf C-5 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,000 FROM PREVIOUSLY ENCUMBERED STATE FORFEITED ASSET FUND (F.A.F.) MONEYS TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH RESOURCE OFFICER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE CORAL GABLES POLICE EXPLORER POST #594. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-276 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 9 City of Coral Gables Page 8 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-277 C.-6. 13-2700 Resolution of the City Commission appointing Sally Baumgartner (Nominated by Mayor Cason) to serve as a member of the Coral Gables Advisory Board on Disability Affairs for a two (2) year term, which began on June 1, 2013 and continues through May 31, 2015. Attachments: Sally Baumgartner - Resume - Bio R-2013-Draft- Sally Baumgartner - Disability Affairs C-6 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING SALLY BAUMGARTNER (NOMINATED BY MAYOR CASON) TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE CORAL GABLES ADVISORY BOARD ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS FOR A TWO (2) YEAR TERM, WHICH BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2013 AND CONTINUES THROUGH MAY 31, 2015. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-277 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 10 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-278 C.-7. 13-2707 Resolution of the City Commission re-appointing Callum Gibb, Nelson de Leon, Aramis Alvarez, Don Sackman, Juan Carlos Riesco, Glenn Pratt and Mike Sardinas (Nominated by City Manager Salerno) to serve as members of the Board of Architects for a two (2) year term, which began on June 1, 2013 and continues through May 31, 2015. Attachments: R-2013-Draft- Board of Architects C-7 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION RE-APPOINTING CALLUM GIBB, NELSON DE LEON, ARAMIS ALVAREZ, DON SACKMAN, JUAN CARLOS RIESCO, GLENN PRATT AND MIKE SARDINAS (NOMINATED BY CITY MANAGER SALERNO) TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS FOR A TWO (2) YEAR TERM, WHICH BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2013 AND CONTINUES THROUGH MAY 31, 2015. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-278 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 11 City of Coral Gables Page 9 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-279 C.-8. 13-2709 Resolution of the City Commission to support the "Golden Veterans Parade" - November 8, 2013, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, thereby welcoming home and remembering our Vietnam Veterans, as well as all veterans in Miami-Dade County and the entire state of Florida. Attachments: R-2013-Draft- Golden Veterans Parade C-8 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE "GOLDEN VETERANS PARADE" - NOVEMBER 8, 2013, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR, THEREBY WELCOMING HOME AND REMEMBERING OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, AS WELL AS ALL VETERANS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. This Matter was adopted by Resolution Number 2013-279 on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 12 Presentation of Boards and/or Committees minutes requesting no action from the City Commission: C.-9. 13-2692 Property Advisory Board Meeting of May 15, 2013 Attachments: PAB 10-29-13 Commission cover 5-15-13 PAB minutes This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 13 C.-10. 13-2704 Board of Adjustment Meeting of October 7, 2013 Attachments: CC Cover Memo - Board of Adj. re 10 07 2013 Exhibit B - Recap of Board of Adjustment Dated 10 07 13 Exhibit A - Advertisement re Meeting of October 7, 2013 This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 14 City of Coral Gables Page 10 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 C.-11. 13-2683 Communications Committee Meeting of September 19, 2013 Attachments: Agendaitemoctober 2013 minutes september 2013 This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda. City Clerk Item No. 15 D. PERSONAL APPEARANCES D.-1. 13-2699 Appearance of representatives of Doctors Hospital regarding the opening of the new emergency room facility. [Note for the Record: The verbatim transcript for Agenda Item D-1 is available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk and also in Legistar]. This Agenda Item was Discussed and Filed City Clerk Item No. 16 E. PUBLIC HEARINGS None City Clerk Item No. 17 F. CITY COMMISSION ITEMS None City Clerk Item No. 18 G. BOARDS/COMMITTEES ITEMS None City Clerk Item No. 19 City of Coral Gables Page 11 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 H. CITY MANAGER ITEMS RESOLUTION NO. 2013-280 H.-1. 13-2702 Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Coral Gables, Florida supporting efforts to reduce gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking through more responsible gun sales and marketing practices, directing the City Manager to coordinate with the Police Chief to partner with other municipalities to create a coalition in support of this initiative and to work with gun and ammunition suppliers to encourage the consideration of sales and marketing safeguards, and directing the City Clerk to send a certified copy of this resolution to all South Florida municipalities, the Florida League of Cities, Inc., all members of Florida’s congressional delegation, and to President Obama 's Administration. Attachments: 2010 Counter-Marketing Against Product Diversion.pdf Firearms Retailer Partnership Code of Conduct.pdf RESOLUTION - GUN CONTROL.pdf H-1 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF THE CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA SUPPORTING LAWFUL EFFORTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE AND ILLEGAL FIREARMS TRAFFICKING THROUGH MORE RESPONSIBLE GUN SALES AND MARKETING PRACTICES, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COORDINATE WITH THE POLICE CHIEF TO PARTNER WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE A COALITION IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE AND TO WORK WITH GUN AND AMMUNITION SUPPLIERS TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSIDERATION OF SALES AND MARKETING SAFEGUARDS, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO ALL SOUTH FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC., ALL MEMBERS OF FLORIDA’S CONGRESSIONAL DELGATION, AND TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION. [Note for the Record: The verbatim transcript for Agenda Item H-1 is available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk and in Legistar]. A motion was made by Commissioner Keon, seconded by Commissioner Lago, that this matter be adopted by Resolution Number 2013-280. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas : 4- Commissioner Quesada, Commissioner Keon, Vice Mayor Kerdyk, Jr. and Commissioner Lago Absent : 1- Mayor Cason City Clerk Item No. 20 City of Coral Gables Page 12 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-281 H.-2. 13-2714 Resolution of the City Commission approving the legislative priorities for the 2014 legislative session as requested by the Miami Dade County League of Cities. Attachments: 2013 Legislative Priorities Resoloution Legislative Priorities H-2 Signed Cover Memo RESOLUTION APPROVING THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. [Note for the Record: The verbatim transcript for Agenda Item H-2 is available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk and in Legistar]. A motion was made by Commissioner Keon, seconded by Commissioner Lago, that this matter be adopted by Resolution Number 2013-281. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas : 4- Commissioner Keon, Vice Mayor Kerdyk, Jr., Commissioner Lago and Commissioner Quesada Absent : 1- Mayor Cason City Clerk Item No. 21 I. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS Non Agenda Item Non 13-2733 Discussion of City Attorney Items. Agenda [Note for the Record: The verbatim transcript for the City Attorney discussion is available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk and in Legistar]. This Agenda Item was Discussed and Filed City Clerk Item No. 22 J. CITY CLERK ITEMS None City Clerk Item No. 23 City of Coral Gables Page 13 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 K. DISCUSSION ITEMS Vice Mayor Kerdyk: OK. Discussion Items. Commissioner Keon? Commissioner Keon: I would like to after I received the Mediterranean style design handbook that you had asked that everyone see, in looking at, it I’m glad to see that if to encourage Mediterranean style design if that is what we want to see happen in the City. I’m glad that it is being interpreted in such a way as to require that it be a Mediterranean design. I have a question though and what has been brought to my attention or discussed is most of the Mediterranean style buildings that we have in the City and that we are looking at are small buildings. They are two-story buildings, three-story buildings, even the Biltmore is a few stories or whatever, but it really is a tower that defines it as Mediterranean. I would like us to see or I would like to see some examples, because the buildings that we are building now and that are applying for the Mediterranean bonuses are 14-16-story buildings that are a much, that are more dense than the buildings that we are asking architects and people to build to, so these elements are beautiful in that type of building and I had spent a lot of time this summer in Mexico where there are a number of Spanish-Colonial cities and also in Venezuela where there are a lot of Spanish-Colonial cities and throughout South America, over the last two years I’ve traveled extensively in South America, and you know these Spanish-Colonial buildings and it also stuck me that most of them that are old are also - these are not huge buildings, they are small buildings and so they have some very pretty design elements on them, but they are small buildings, so how do you take those elements and then apply them to very large buildings and have them retain - what are the elements that retains the Mediterranean style and still allows you to build those large buildings. I know two years ago I was in Spain twice, and I also don’t remember seeing large buildings that emulated the small buildings, old buildings just because of their size, and I don’t know if it’s because of the size, I don’t know if it’s because of the lack of trades people that actually do the type of work that was done at one time, I don’t really know why. I was in Italy and saw the same thing, and I really had never, I had not given that a lot of thoughts until having a discussion with two or three architects on this issue, so I don’ know. I’d like to see it further addressed and I’m not sure how the best way to go about that would be. I don’t know if that’s a Planning and Zoning Board issue, I don’t know if that’s a Planning Director issue, if we can just ask the Planning Director, tell me what you - how do we look at this? City Manager Salerno: I think first of all, the best example in the Code…(his phone rings)…the Mayor - I’m muting him. I hope he understands. Mayor, I’m muting you, City of Coral Gables Page 14 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 I’m in the middle of the meeting. Let me just check, it may be that he is watching the meeting. I’ll get back to him. It may be about 5 o’clock on Friday, I don’t know, maybe he is watching. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Maybe he wants to speak on this Commission item (laughter). Commissioner Keon: I would welcome his thoughts. City Manager Salerno: I hope the Mayor is having a good productive trip; he is on City related business. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: OK. City Manager Salerno: The best example in our Code right now is the Biltmore; it is also the tallest structure in the City by far, substantially taller that is allowed by Code today. So the best example for height is to look there. I think what we could do with the help of staff is to look at - right now all the examples that are included in the Code are examples from within Coral Gables. Commissioner Keon: Right. City Manager Salerno: We could perhaps give some, we could look toward other locations to give some guidance that would be representative, because we have the Mediterranean Revival Architecture is our style, so I think we could get some other examples that would provide some guidance in that regard, so through the Planning and Zoning Director Ramon Trias, I think we would be able to, at least present for the Commission some consideration, and then you could decide later whether or not you would like to amend the Code or not to incorporate those. Commissioner Keon: OK. Although the Biltmore is the tallest, it is also really the spire in that one central area that really defines it, so if you built up 14 stories on each side of that spire that would change the look of the Biltmore considerably, but that’s what we are looking at, because no one is going to build or replicate the Biltmore, no hotel would ever build a hotel like the Biltmore ever again just because of functionality, so we are not going to find those buildings being rebuilt, so what are the elements that we can incorporate into that 14-story building that would eventually be a 16-story building if they are given the bonuses. So I would very much appreciate that; would they then work with staff? City of Coral Gables Page 15 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 Commissioner Lago: I just wanted to mention something because you have brought up the handbook. The reason why I asked the City Manager and Mr. Trias to put it together was for two reasons, number one, for my edification, I think it’s something that is a simple handbook which will provide substantive breakdown of what is the Mediterranean style and what does the Code dictate to obtain the bonuses, and then obviously in the back it has the two different types of bonuses that you can attain if you follow certain criteria; and I think that’s something that we can take it from, not only from the Commission, but also take it to the other Boards… Commissioner Keon: Right. Commissioner Lago:…to Historic, which - I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know every ins and outs of the Mediterranean style in the Code, and I’m not going to pretend to know that, so that’s something that helped me get my hands around the Code in that aspect, because like you I’ve also spoken to several architects who told me, what defines the Mediterranean bonus?- why am I not getting the Mediterranean bonus?- or what do I have to do to achieve the Mediterranean bonus? I think and I say this with complete certainty, this is a starting point, this is just for me, that was just a starting point just to give myself some education and let’s let this handbook or - let it evolve into something which in the future could potentially be handed out to individuals in this community, and say look, this is what Mediterranean represents in the City of Coral Gables. Commissioner Keon: But I think it’s important that we look at how does it relate to what is going to be built today, and I just want to see very good architecture in our City, I want to see beautiful buildings, so I would hate to see a building that is kind of a box with something stuck on top that gives them the bonus that doesn’t make it really a beautiful building, but it does qualify, and I don’t want to see - and we all are fully aware that there are buildings that have been given the bonuses that if kind of questionable how that happened, so I just would like to see beautiful buildings with beautiful elements of the Mediterranean style, but that can be built today with the craftsmen that we have available to us and with the materials that we have available to us to be able to build at the size and density that’s likely to be built, so that would be perfect if you could do that. Will you schedule that as a presentation by the Planning Director for us at some point? City Manager Salerno: I’ll have a discussion with him, first of all we’ll start working on City of Coral Gables Page 16 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 some of those and we can present it at a Commission meeting certainly. Commissioner Keon: OK. Thank you very much. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: I think that would be very helpful. Just to add one note to that. Over the years I’ve been part of like three Mediterranean Ordinance Boards where we’ve reconvened Board of Architects, I mean your top Board of Architects here, the “John Fullerton’s”, the “George Hernandez” have served on this Board and they’ve reconvened because of exactly what you said. So they see a building, oh this is not exactly what we want, so they reconvene and they move it here and there. So I think it’s good, I think it’s always good that you take a look at - and this is a live ordinance you should be able to change it and make it better and better, but it has been reviewed by independent boards that were set up specifically and met for months on months on months to try to refine this Mediterranean ordinance, but as you say there are some buildings I look around and sometimes say, does that really meet our Mediterranean ordinance. Commissioner Keon: And sometimes people add elements to an existing plan to be able to qualify and they are not really pretty, they are not beautiful buildings, so I’d like to see that not happen anymore. Thank you. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: OK. Commissioner Lago. Commissioner Lago: Thank you. Just one brief item. First of all, I’d like to say thank you for Mr. Lazo and Elsa who were here from Baptist Hospital, from Doctors Hospital, obviously they are a part of the Baptist family. We have scheduled and it’s finally coming to fruition on November 9th we are going to do an event, which is going to be “Baptist Health Day”, they’ve chosen a few different locations, it’s this November 9th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church in Coral Gables, in the Lola B. Walker area of our City. We are going to be doing some painting, some gardening, some light maintenance. So if anybody is interested in coming out and volunteering for a few hours, we’d greatly appreciate it. This is an interesting part of the City of Coral Gables, it’s the oldest church in the City, and it’s designated on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so it would be something - if you want to get a little bit familiar about the City of Coral Gables, again like I mentioned before, I wasn’t 100 percent aware that this church was the oldest church in the City, but as I’ve become more and more aware and been on the ground in this area of our City, I’m becoming very intrigued at how that area of our City is City of Coral Gables Page 17 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 really evolving and how much the residents care about the City of Coral Gables. So when you get a chance take a look at St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church, we are going to be doing work on November 9th and if anybody is interested you can call in and speak with Danette, who is the secretary, the assistant for all four Commissioners, she has more than enough information and I look forward to seeing you there. Thank you. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Anything else Commissioner? Very good job organizing that, we really appreciate it. You are doing a lot for the community over there and the City of Coral Gables, very, very good job, appreciate it. Commissioner Quesada? Commissioner Quesada: I look forward to shoveling some mulch on that day (laughter). Commissioner Lago: Can I just interrupt, I’m sorry, there is one person I forgot to thank, Jessie Barron, she is, I think her position is community outreach, she has really put an incredible job together along with Danette, with Baptist, excuse me, Jessie with Baptist, and obviously Danette with our staff who has really done an incredible job putting this event together, without them this would not come to fruition. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Commissioner Quesada? Commissioner Quesada: The only item I had was the Executive Session issue with the trolley, I think that’s the key right now. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: OK. Commissioner Quesada: Other than that, that’s it. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: City Manager? City Manager Salerno: Thank you. I’d like to give you an update on the progress we are making with the garage RFP. Mr. Barry Abrahamson was in town last week actually, he is the consultant that the Commission has engaged to prepare the RFP. He is in full work mode at this moment, we reviewed many of the principles and concepts that had been expressed to me either in the group setting of the Commission or individually that you shared with me that you would like to see addressed in the RFP. I don’t want to give an exact date yet, because I haven’t seen a first draft from him yet, City of Coral Gables Page 18 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 but he is working full steam ahead on that. If I was estimating that timeframe, we are probably in the 30 to 45 day timeframe to have that task, let’s say approaching completing, I don’t want to say it will be complete, because what I plan to do is to give you copies of that, meet with you each individually and depending upon how long that process takes, that could affect the time that we would issue the RFP, so that’s ongoing. Barry is very excited, you know consultants, he’s got a long history with the City and the City made, I’ve made a good decision over the past many years in engaging his services, and he recognizes the significance and the importance of this to our community, to the downtown, and the potential opportunities that we have here, so he is fully engaged and excited which is nice to have that approach to it. He gets the opportunities out of Boston, so he gets the opportunity to work on some very small projects, in fact he is doing one project for the City of Pinecrest right now, which is a snack bar at the former Parrot Jungle site, where he is preparing an RFP for their small café there, and he gets involved in very large projects, for instance, Margaretville up in the City of Hollywood, and everything in between. So this is one he is very engaged in and recognizes how important it is to the City. So I’m looking forward to moving that along and then meeting with you each individually to discuss your perspectives in that. Secondly, I’d like to brief you on a project that’s ongoing. We are working on preparing an RFP for a sustainability master plan. Commissioner Lago is very interested in green initiatives, we are nicknaming him behind his back “Mr. Green”, but I think he knows that, that is with fondness that we call him such. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: He could be called a lot worse, believe me (laughter). City Manager Salerno:…and I didn’t think you would mind… Commissioner Lago: I roll with the punches…I’ll take the name and get some things accomplished, so it’s all good. City Manager Salerno: We are looking at a 10 year master plan for the City, we think if we go longer than 10 years the technology is changing such that a longer horizon than that we are going to lose value there, and people would be guessing at what the technology is going to be, etc. So we are looking at a mid-term master plan and a long term being the 10 year cycle. The RFP is nearly complete, it will go out, it’s going out through the CCNA process, the Consultant Competitive Negotiation Act is required by state law, is likely the firms that we will engage are going to be have engineering and architectural skills and therefore this will fall under CCNA. Once those responses come back they’ll be a staff committee that will review them, rank order the top three, City of Coral Gables Page 19 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 that will come to the Commission, you’ll be able to review those if you’d like, even have presentations from them. I expect the master plan study to be not an inexpensive endeavor, because to do a comprehensive master plan, a sustainability management plan, if you may, and to have it to give meaningful recommendations and priorities as to where we should be today and what is our 10 year goal. To do that, that’s not without considerable effort, so I think it’s critical to the City that we have such a plan, we have plans being developed now in very significant others, and trolleys and bike plans, and we have a capital improvement clearly, but this document would provide guidance to us with respect to all those other plans, so I expect the study to cost us, I don’t want to give an exact number now, but it’s clearly going to be in the $150 to $200,000 range, so this is a meaningful engagement. Other cities that have done it have taken 9 months to a year to finish it. We will talk with whoever gets ultimately selected by the Commission as the number one firm, how we can shorten that. The City of Ashville did a comprehensive study, their scope - took them one year to complete that task at a cost of $150,000. We will see if we can do that and get it done quicker, but that may be the ability to do it in an expeditious fashion could also be a factor in considering whom the firm selected ultimately is. So that’s where we are right now. Commissioner Lago: Mr. Manager, may I ask you just a quick question? City Manager Salerno: Yes sir. Commissioner Lago: Number one; do we have the funds allocated to perform this study? City Manager Salerno: No, but it’s my job when the study comes and I’ve indicated that I will give you a recommendation and the funding for that at the appropriate time. Commissioner Lago: And the second question, when do you think that we will be submitting to the street the RFQ? City Manager Salerno: I did a review of it over the weekend and met with staff actually yesterday morning and went over that with the Public Works Director. I think the document is in relatively good order. I asked staff if they could acquire a couple of other RFQ’s that I wanted to see in relation to other cities to make sure ours is as comprehensive as possible. You know, I critique other studies that had been done and I found them to be - they are all different grades of good, but we really, I think want some detailed recommendations so that when we have this document we don’t have to City of Coral Gables Page 20 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 study, going to another study area on each of these individual issues, that’s why I think it’s going to be the number is not going to be small, but that’s my job to present to you where we can get the money, I’m not concerned that we will be able to present to you… Commissioner Lago: I know that we’ve had this discussion before and I want to say thank you to staff, just give me one second Mayor, I want to say thank you to staff for showing me, Carmen with her incredible job, not only on this issue, but also on the Baptist Health issue, she’s been very helpful on that, and also Mr. Pino who we’ve had several meetings with. The City of Coral Gables deserves this plan and you’ve been incredible, so has the Commission getting behind “Mr. Green” on this matter, but the City deserves this and I think it is really going to set us up for the next 10 years with what we are doing in downtown, the plans that we have for the CBD, and then also a sustainability plan hand-in-hand with that with the bike master plan with the tree succession plan, you know you are going to really see the City transform itself into something like we’ve never seen before. So, I can’t thank you enough, I know we’ve been pushing hard, I know you’ve really helped make this happen, so in the next few meetings that we have, hopefully in the next few months we’ll have this out in the street and we’ll start working on this. City Manager Salerno: Commissioner, it will be out fairly quick; it’s a function right now that I just asked staff to get me a couple of other RFP’s, I wanted to check how some other communities approached it. My problem, I can’t tell if I’m going to get that in a week or two weeks, but the moment I get it’s on the top of the list to see if there is something else that I think should be incorporated. If this was a small RFQ I’d be issuing it right now, but when you are spending perhaps $200,000, we want to make sure that we are sending the right message to the firms and we get the best firms around to get their expertise to help us, so you’re right. Commissioner Lago: Thank you. Commissioner Keon: Can I ask one question? I know there was a mention in the newsletter about looking for people to serve on the Green Task Force, have we gotten a good response? City Manager Salerno: I’d have to check with the Clerk. Commissioner Lago: We haven’t had a meeting yet. City of Coral Gables Page 21 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 Commissioner Keon: I know, but… Commissioner Lago: Probably one of the next meetings soon. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Mr. City Clerk do you have anything to add to that. City Clerk Foeman: We’ve had two responses thus far, so others will be forthcoming. Commissioner Quesada: I had one that reached out to me directly as well. Commissioner Lago: Great. I’m meeting with a gentleman next week, let’s see if he has an interest obviously in sustainability practice, so hopefully what I’ll do is I’ll bring it up to him and see if he wants to serve, but if anybody is interested in serving on the Green Task Force, please feel free to call, the City welcomes you with open arms. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Mr. City Manager you were talking a little bit about plans, just very quick could you go over the tree success plan. We met with the neighborhoods, now what’s the next step as far as that plan goes? City Manager Salerno: Thank you Mayor. First of all, let me thank each of the Commissioners, I know each of you made it to one of the tree succession public meetings, we had five of them, we started just based on scheduling issues from the south, moved to the north. We had decent turnout, we received excellent input from the residents. That information is being compiled and we actually have a meeting with our consultant within the next week in which we will review the input from the different neighborhoods and communities and see whether or not, see whether we can incorporate their suggestions into the plan, whether it’s affordable, whether or not it makes sense, and with the goal being to try to accommodate their requests unless it is something that’s not practical or possible, that’s the goal that we are taking, so once that document is complete it will be called the Tree Succession and Initiation Plan, it will be presented to the Commission and then my task will have to be to once we have a price tag for the plan present options to the Commission as to how we go forward and implement the plan. So that’s where we are standing, but we are glad that those five - we receive excellent input, by and large people were pleased that the City was undertaking such an effort, it is an unusual effort. I don’t know of another city that is attempting to do this, but in a community that prides its greenness as much as Coral Gables does, it deserves to be a high priority and given the resources so that what we City of Coral Gables Page 22 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 are known for and the reason in part why lots of people decide to live here is being managed the right way and over the long term. Staff was just telling me we only right now have about $7,500 in the budget for tree replacement, the number you will get when the plan gets presented to you is going to be multiples of that, but we got to start and most communities don’t have the priority that you all have stressed to me that you would like to see paid to our canopy and the greenness of this community and because of the desire of the Commission that we make this a priority that’s what we’ve been doing and we are looking forward to getting that before you, so we can move into an implementation stage. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Very good. I have no items, are there any further items? Commissioner Keon: One issue that came up the other day and it deals with also a quality of life issue; it is a matter of how our streets look and whatever else. One of the complaints with regards to the trash piles is that not only it isn’t the yard debris that’s in the piles, it is the boxes that end up in the piles that make them particularly unsightly. Now it’s my understanding that we don’t recycle cardboard, that cardboard is not a recyclable so they can’t put cardboard in the recycle bins, and it takes up so much room in the garbage cans that if you break up a cardboard box and you put it in your can that’s like a whole weeks’ worth of groceries, so I mean garbage, so it makes it difficult to discard cardboard in this City, so I’d like you to if you could work with Public Works and talk to them about how do we deal with cardboard, because that’s why it ends up in the trash piles because there isn’t another good way for people to dispose of cardboard boxes. City Manager Salerno: What I’d like to do in that regard, as we talked about the sustainability master plan, we’ll look at solid waste issues, and rather than just pick on one particular item, we want to have a comprehensive approach to make sure all of our practices makes sense and that we have the equipment in order to collect those items, so it really becomes part of a bigger issue than one item. Commissioner Keon: I understand, but that’s an issue that right now today is very unsightly on our City streets, so I don’t know how we deal with that. Commissioner Lago: I’ve had a, as the Manager will tell you, I’ve been wanting to address probably about half dozen to a dozen issues and I’ve had to put the brakes on, and this I have to give credit to the Manager because when we discussed about a handful of issues he told me, look let’s get the sustainability plan done, it just makes a City of Coral Gables Page 23 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 lot of sense. Once you have a plan in place then you know where to spend your resources the most adequately. So, I’m telling you I agree with you 100 percent and I’m not going to mention why I agree with you because if I mention the issue my neighbor is going to know why, but I think that’s an issue that we need to figure out along with a whole host of, like you mentioned before which will be part of the sustainability plan, large electronic recycling locations, people are clamoring for it, a lot of things, we are not going to go into it right now because that’s for the sustainability plan. That will be an issue that will be addressed hopefully in the near future once we have the RFQ on the street. Commissioner Keon: Yes. My concern is - and I do understand that, but I think that is a long term plan and it could be a couple of years in the making and if we could get rid of those boxes sooner than a couple years, I think it will help our streets look better, but it’s just a matter of how you dispose of it and who disposes of it, whether that’s Waste Management, whether it’s our trucks, and maybe we can just talk about it, you can just tell me why we can’t recycle cardboard? Commissioner Lago: That’s a huge issue for me, that’s a huge issue. Commissioner Keon: Why can’t we recycle cardboard?- maybe you could just answer that question and then we can work it into the whatever the plan is. Commissioner Lago: I think it has to do with the size of our trucks and our inability to house the cardboard, that’s what I was… Commissioner Keon: That we don’t crush them, break them down, whatever it is. Commissioner Lago: But that issue right there, that answer I just gave you which is obviously an unacceptable answer, that nobody on this dais wants to accept is an issue that is going to be delineated in a sustainability plan. Commissioner Keon: It’s a much bigger issue. Commissioner Lago: Maybe we can’t attack this issue today because the cost to retrofit our existing fleet is going to be X, Y, and Z, but that is something we can attack in five years or in ten years. Commissioner Keon: But at least we can say that. City of Coral Gables Page 24 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 Commissioner Lago: Of course. Commissioner Keon: At least we know it’s not that we are ignoring it; it’s really that it is an issue and this is why. Commissioner Lago: And that’s why the plan is so important. Commissioner Keon: Thank you. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: Anything else? City Attorney Leen: I just wanted to let you know that on November 21st my office will be doing the Boards and Committees Biannual Meeting, so please encourage your Board members to go. We are also going to be publishing an updated book, which I hope will be leading one in the state on the Sunshine Law, Public Records Law, Quasi-Judicial Boards, etc., we have an older pamphlet but I think it needs to be updated based on changes in the law, so we are in the process of doing that with the City Clerk’s office, City Manager has been supportive as well and we will have this Boards and Committees presentation be, I think the best one that’s done in the State of Florida and we are hoping to get legal education credit as well for our lawyers that are on the Board. Vice Mayor Kerdyk: I wish each of our children a very safe and happy trick or treating October 31st, and if I hear no other the meeting is adjourned. Commissioner Lago: Thank you Mayor. City Clerk Item No. 24 City of Coral Gables Page 25 City Commission Meeting Minutes October 29, 2013 ADJOURNMENT [Note for the Record: There being no further business on the Regular City Commission Meeting Agenda. The Commission of the City of Coral Gables adjourned its meeting at 10:27 am on October 29, 2013. The next regular meeting of the City Commission has been scheduled for November 12, 2013, beginning 9 a.m.] JIM CASON MAYOR ATTEST: WALTER J. FOEMAN CITY CLERK City of Coral Gables Page 26