City Council

Jacqueline Garcia - Roves Council Members Mayor M elinda D el L a V ega Luis Rodriguez Juan Junco President M onica Perez Jesus T undidor Carl Zogby Vice President City Council Meeting Minutes First Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 September 11, 2025 5:30 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER Council President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Jesus Tundidor, Council Member Juan Junco, Council Member Melinda De La Vega, Council Member Monica Perez, Council Member Luis Rodriguez, President Carl Zogby, Vice President Staff Present: Marbelys Fatjo, City Clerk Rafael Suarez-Rivas, City Attorney Attendees: Jacqueline Garcia-Roves, Mayor 3. INVOCATION The invocation was led by Marbelys Fatjo, City Clerk. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Perez led the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. MEETING GUIDELINES The following guidelines have been established by the City Council: • A LL LO BBY I STS M U ST REG I STER W I TH TH E CI TY CLERK. • As a courtesy to others, please refrain from using cellular telephones or other similar electronic devices in the Council Chamber. • A maximum of three (3) speakers in favor and three (3) speakers in opposition will be allowed to address the Council on any one item. Each speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. • No signs or placards, in support of or in opposition to an item or speaker, shall be permitted within the Council Chamber. • Any person, whether participating via the web platform, telephonic conferencing or physical presence at City Hall, interested in making comments or posing questions on matters of public concern or on any item on the agenda, may do so during the meeting.  • Members of the public may address the City Council on any item pertaining to City business during the Comments and Questions portion of the meeting. A member of the public is limited to one appearance before the City Council and the speaker's comments will be limited to three (3) minutes. • Individuals should be respectful of the elected officials and staff who are on the dais and make every effort to speak with a moderate tone using appropriate language and avoiding personal attacks. Members of the public in the audience shall refrain from shouting or making remarks from their seats to the Mayor, Council Members or staff sitting on the dais. • The public can view public meetings on the City's YouTube page (www.youtube.com/cityofhialeahgov). 6. PRESENTATIONS A. Ruth Rubi, Executive Director of Finance Management, spoke and illustrated a visual presentation, presentation which is on file with the Office of the City Clerk. B. Rafael Suarez-Rivas, City Attorney, spoke. C. Kevin Lynskey, Director of the Public Works Department, spoke and illustrated a visual presentation. D. Mayor Garcia-Roves spoke. 7. COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS 1. Jose Azze, 788 Southeast Park Drive, (registered speaker), spoke. 2. Eric Johnson, Local 1102, (registered speaker), spoke. 8. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AMENDMENTS/CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA 9. AGENDA ITEMS A. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance accepting for budget purposes the Miami-Dade County Assessment Roll; establishing a tax millage rate of 6.3018 mills for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, which is an increase of 9.86% over the Rolled-Back Rate of 5.7362; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. R E P O RT: Council President Rodriguez opened the item for public participation and one member of the public expressed an interest in speaking: Eric Johnson, on behalf of Local 1102. Motion by Council Member Juan Junco, seconded by Vice President Carl Zogby REPORT: Mayor Garcia-Roves proposed an amendment -- first reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance accepting for budget purposes the Miami-Dade County Assessment Roll; establishing a tax millage rate of 6.2388 mills for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, which is an increase of 8.76% over the Rolled Back Rate of 5.7362; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. Motion to Approve as Amended - AYE: Council Member Juan Junco President Luis Rodriguez Vice President Carl Zogby NAY: Council Member Jesus Tundidor Council Member Melinda De La Vega Council Member Monica Perez Motion to Approve as Amended fails at the pleasure of the Council 3-3 with Council Members De La Vega, Perez and Tundidor voting "No".  Motion by Council Member Jesus Tundidor, seconded by Council Member Monica Perez C ouncil Member Tundidor proposed an amendment - first reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance accepting for budget purposes the Miami-D ade C ounty A ssessment R oll; establishing a tax millage rate of 5.6717 mills for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on O ctober 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, which is a decrease of 1.12% over the R olled-B ack R ate of 5.7362; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. Motion to Approve as Amended - AYE: Council Member Jesus Tundidor Council Member Melinda De La Vega Council Member Monica Perez NAY: Council Member Juan Junco President Luis Rodriguez Vice President Carl Zogby Motion to Approve as Amended fails at the pleasure of the Council 3-3 with Council President Rodriguez, Council Vice President Zogby and Council Member Junco voting "No". B. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the General Fund Budget for the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026; appropriating for funds for operative expenses of the City of Hialeah for the general operation of citywide departments and other fixed obligations of the City for and during the fiscal year; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for conflict and severability clause; and providing for an effective date. C. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Public Works Fund of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, as provided for herein, to maintain proper coverage ratios as required by outstanding bond covenants; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. D. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Streets Funds of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewtih; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. E. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Stormwater Fund of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. F. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Special Revenue Funds of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. G. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Capital Project Funds of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. H. O RD I N A N CE : First reading and public hearing of proposed ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the Debt Service Funds of the City of Hialeah, Florida for Fiscal Year 2026, commencing on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date. I. RESO LU TI O N : Proposed resolution adopting the Tentative Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the five- year period of Fiscal Years 2026 through 2030 and adopting the City of Hialeah Tentative Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, subject to a second public hearing scheduled on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 5:30  p.m., in the amount as specified in the attached Exhibit "A"; and providing for an effective date. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 11. NEW BUSINESS 12. ADJOURNMENT REPORT : Mayor Garcia-Roves called for a recess and a continuance of this meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. REPORT: Council President Rodriguez adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m. NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m . SECOND BUDGET HEARING: Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of an agenda item should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 883- 5820 or visit at 501 Palm Avenue, 3rd Floor, Hialeah, Florida, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Persons wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Council, with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purposes, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. An ordinance or resolution shall become effective when passed by the City Council and signed by the Mayor or at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting, if the Mayor's signature is withheld or if the City Council overrides the Mayor's veto. If the Mayor's veto is sustained, the affected ordinance or resolution does not become law and is deemed null and void. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in the proceeding should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 883-5820 for assistance no later than two (2) days prior to the proceeding; if hearing impaired you may telephone the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TDD), (877) 955-8773 (Spanish) or (800) 955-8770 (Voice). A D JO U R N M E N T R E PO RT: Mayor G arcia-R oves called for a recess with a continuance of the meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. N E X T C IT Y C O U N C IL M E E T IN G : T uesday, September 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m . N E X T B U D G E T H E A R IN G : M onday, September 15, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of an agenda item should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 883-5820 or visit at 501 Palm Avenue, 3rd Floor, Hialeah, Florida, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Persons wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Council, with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purposes, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. An ordinance or resolution shall become effective when passed by the City Council and signed by the Mayor or at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting, if the Mayor's signature is withheld or if the City Council overrides the Mayor's veto. If the Mayor's veto is sustained, the affected ordinance or resolution does not become law and is deemed null and void. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in the proceeding should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 883-5820 for assistance no later than two (2) days prior to the proceeding; if hearing impaired you may telephone the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TDD), (877) 955-8773 (Spanish) or (800) 955-8770 (Voice).