1. INVOCATION. Police Chief Nelson Andreu gave the Invocation. 7:30 PM COMMISSION CHAMBERS 901 S.W. 62 ND AVENUE WEST MIAMI, FLORIDA 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Police Captain Carlos Avila led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 7:45 P.M. Present were Mayor Eduardo H. Muhiña, Vice-Mayor Juan M. Blanes, Commissioner Candida Blanca, Commissioner Rhonda A. Rodriguez and Commissioner Luciano L. Suarez. NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Mayor Muhiña requested taking item 11A) out of order. 4. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES FOR APPROVAL FOR: DECEMBER 3 RD, 2014 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Blanca. All voted in favor. DECEMBER 11 TH, 2014 SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING (VICE-MAYOR BLANES ABSTAINS). Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Blanca. All voted in favor. Vice-Mayor Blanes abstained. 5. REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER. The City Manager submitted a verbal and written report, which included the following: - 2015 State Surgeon General Healthy Weight Champion Recognition Program - Parking Meters Update - 2014 Lighting of the Tree Ceremony - Comprehensive Plan - 2015 Legislative Priorities - Public Works Building 6. REPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. The City Attorney was excused. 7. REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER. No report submitted. M-01/07/2015-Page 1 of 5
(PAGE 2 OF 5) 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS: REPORT OF THE MAYOR. The Mayor expressed this was the first meeting of the year and he was looking forward to a great year 2015. Commissioner Rodriguez reported about the Tutoring Program offered by the City at the West Miami Recreation Center. 9. CITIZEN PRESENTATIONS. No presentations. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A) NOMINATION OF MEMBERS TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD. Commissioner Rodriguez nominated Lisa Coello to the Code Enforcement Board. All voted in favor. Mayor Muhiña nominated Michael Smart to the Code Enforcement Board. All voted in favor. Commissioner Blanca nominated Mitchell Zuriarrain to the Code Enforcement Board. All voted in favor. Vice-Mayor Blanes announced he would make his nomination at the meeting of January 21 st, 2015. B) RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI JOINING OTHER CITIES IN THE CORRIDOR PROPERTY ASSESMENT CLEAN ENERGY (PACE) DISTRICT EXPRESSING ITS INTENT TO UTILIZE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF LEVYING, COLLECTING AND ENFORCING NON AD VALOREM ASSESMENTS WHICH HEREAFTER MAY BE LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 197.3632, FLORIDA STATUTES, PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER AND TAX COLLECTOR; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION; AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Clerk informed this item had been postponed at the December 3 rd, 2014 City Commission meeting pending further research on the matter. The City Manager reported on the item on behalf of the City Attorney and recommended deferring this item. Commissioner Rodriguez added a recommendation to defer this item indefinitely. Commissioner Suarez motioned in favor of Commissioner Rodriguez recommendation. Commissioner Blanca seconded the motion. All voted in favor. M-01/07/2015-Page 2 of 5
(PAGE 3 OF 5) 11. NEW BUSINESS AGENDA ITEMS: A) PUBLIC HEARING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE GRANTING GABLES GATE TOWER, LLC AND GABLES GATE TOWER II, LLC'S PETITION TO CLOSE ROAD FROM SW 21 st STREET BETWEEN SW 66 TH AVENUE AND SW 67 TH AVENUE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Clerk informed this Public Hearing had been advertised in accordance to statutory requirements. Felix Lasarte, from The Lasarte Law Firm, 3250 NE 1 st Avenue, Suite # 334, Miami, FL 33137 spoke in support of the item. Richard Garcia, Traffic Engineer, 8065 NW 98 th Street, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33010 gave details of traffic related issues of the project and answered questions. Robert Suris, Principal at The Estates Companies, 4949 SW 75 th Street, Miami, FL 33155 spoke in support of the item. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing. There being no comments for or against the subject matter the Mayor closed the Public Hearing. Upon motion by Commissioner Rodriguez for approval, second by Commissioner Blanca and unanimous 5-0 voice vote, the foregoing Ordinance was adopted. B) RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA TO REIMBURSE THE STATE FOR THE COST OF THE STATE ATTORNEY PROSECUTION OF THE CERTAIN CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY S MUNICIPAL CODE, PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. Commissioner Suarez motioned to approve the Resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez. All voted in favor. C) RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A MITIGATION OFFER IN THE AMOUNT OF $ FROM WELLS FARGO BANK ON CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS FOR CODE VIOLATIONS AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6521 SW 13 TH STREET, WEST MIAMI, FL; PROVIDING THAT IF PAYMENT IN FULL IS NOT PAID BY, THEN THE AMOUNT OWED SHALL REVERT TO THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Clerk informed her office and the City Attorney s had been in contact with Abimael Ochoa and Petru Pusta on behalf of Wells Fargo Bank and they were advised that Financial Institutions must be represented by Legal Counsel before the City Commission. The City Clerk recommended postponing this item until the meeting of January 21 st, 2015 since no representative was present. Commissioner Suarez motioned in favor of the postponement. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez. All voted in favor. M-01/07/2015-Page 3 of 5
(PAGE 4 OF 5) D) DISCUSSION RE: S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2015. The City Manager informed that at the meeting of January 21 st, 2015 Fausto Gomez, the City s legislative consultant will be appearing before the City Commission on Wednesday, January 21 st, 2015 to discuss the 2015 legislative topics. Also the City has been invited to appear before the Dade County Delegation on Monday, January 26 th, 2015 to present the legislative priorities. The City Manager recommended to defer item 11 E) until the meeting of January 21 st, 2015. E) RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI ADOPTING THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. Commissioner Blanca motioned in favor of postponing this item until January 21 st, 2015. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez. All voted in favor. F) REPORT BY THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING THE GRANT AWARD BY MIAMI DADE COUNTY FY 2014-2015 COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM 2 ND QUARTER. The City Manager informed the City had received a notice from the County that a Grant amount of $2,973.00 was approved. The City reserved a match of $3,750.00 at the end of September 30 th, 2014 as required. Robert Ruano, the City s Grant Writer wrote the grant and the Cultural Event Date G) RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE CITY S CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR THE UPCOMING MARCH 14, 2015 CULTURAL EVENT PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Manager recommended appointing Lissette Benitez, Mayor Velia Yedra-Chruszcz, Josie Ramirez and Robert Ruano. All were in favor of the Manager s recommendations. Corporate resident Elliot Asbel pledged to donate $2,500.00 towards the event. H) REQUEST FOR PROCLAMATION RE: LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION WEEK. The Chief of Police informed the week of January 5-9 had been declared as First Responders Appreciation Week by the Governor honoring the first responders who risk their lives every day to protect Florida families, visitors, and businesses. All voted in favor of presenting the Proclamation to the West Miami Police Department at the meeting of January 21 st, 2015. 12. GOOD OF THE ORDER. None. M-01/07/2015-Page 4 of 5
(PAGE 5 OF 5) ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the City Commission the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:55 P.M. NOTE FOR THE RECORD: The Mayor called the meeting back to order at 8:56 P.M. to announce he had been invited to the 2015 Three Kings Parade, taking place on Sunday, January 11 th, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. The Mayor extended the invitation to his colleagues. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the City Commission the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:58 P.M. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY ANNERY GONZALEZ, CITY CLERK M-01/07/2015-Page 5 of 5