Javier Baños
Baños is the Editor of Gables Insider
On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the Coral Gables City Commission will hold its next City Commission meeting. Here is a rundown of the agenda for this upcoming meeting. Click here to see the full agenda.
Non-credited quotes in this article are excerpts from the memos presented to the Commission explaining the items.
Gables Insider comments on specific items can be found in blue.
Watch Meeting
To watch the meeting live on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 9:00AM, click here. The meeting will also be available live on the City’s YouTube Channel. You can watch it by clicking here.
Consent Agenda
D.-1. 23-6887 A Resolution of the City Commission confirming the appointment of P. Tristan Bourgoignie (Nominated by Board-As-A-Whole) to serve as a member of the Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board, for a two (2) year term which began on June 1, 2023 and continues through May 31, 2025.
D.-2. 23-6884 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the poetry-based temporary public art activation “Dear Human” in partnership with O, Miami and the Lowe Art Museum, and funding up to $10,000 from the Art Fund; authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Budget to recognize the $10,000 transfer from the Art in Public Places reserve as revenue and appropriate such funds to put toward the cost of the project .(unanimously recommended by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 6 to 0).
D.-3. 23-6893 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the annual review required by the City of Coral Gables and University of Miami agreement and section 163.3235 of the Florida Statutes, for the period from September 28, 2022 through September 27, 2023.
D.-4. 23-6902 A Resolution of the City Commission confirming the appointments of Gonzalo Sanabria (Nominated by the Gables by the Sea Homeowners’ Association), Eileen Higgins Faradji (Nominated by the Hammock Oaks Homeowners’ Association), Robert Martinez (Nominated by the Journeys End Homeowners’ Association), Toni Schrager (Old Cutler Bay Homeowners’ Association), and Alex Quevedo (Nominated by the Snapper Creek Lakes Club) to serve as members of the South Waterways Homeowners’ Associations Advisory Board, for a two (2) year term which began on June 1, 2023 and continues through May 31, 2025.
D.-5. 24-6914 A Resolution of the City Commission confirming the appointment of Kurt Schubert (Nominated by Board-As-A-Whole) to serve as a member of the Landscape Beautification Advisory Board, for a two (2) year term which began on June 1, 2023 and continues through May 31, 2025.
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
E.-1. 23-6732 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to Article 2, “Zoning Districts,” Section 2-201, “Mixed Use 1, 2 and 3 (MX1, MX2 and MX3) Districts” and Article 3, “Uses,” Section 3-209, “Live work minimum requirements,” of the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code to allow a reduction of storefront transparency on frontages facing single-family and multi-family uses, providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
“As requested by a member of the City Commission, Staff prepared a Zoning Code text amendment that requires a minimum shopfront windowsill height in mixed-use districts and allows a reduction of storefront transparency on frontages facing single-family and multi-family uses.”
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
E.-2. 23-6579 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving and granting to Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc. d/b/a Florida City Gas, its successors and assigns, a non-exclusive gas franchise, imposing provisions and conditions relating thereto; providing for monthly payment of a franchise fee to the City; providing for adoption of representations; repealing all ordinances in conflict; providing a severability clause; and providing for an effective date.
“The City of Coral Gables and Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc. (doing business as Florida City Gas) have negotiated the attached non-exclusive franchise to permit the construction, maintenance, and operation of natural gas facilities within the City.”
(Agenda Items E-3 and E-4 are related)
E.-3. 23-6566 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving a Planned Area Development (PAD) pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-206, “General Procedures for Planned Area Development” for a proposed Publix grocery store and liquor store on the property legally described as Lots 1 through 48, Block 8, Coral Gables Crafts Section (2551 Le Jeune Rd), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and an effective date. ( 11 08 23 PZB recommended approval with conditions, Vote: 5-1) Lobbyist: Mario Garcia-Serra
2551 LeJeune Road – 56,000 Sq. Ft. Commercial. FAR: 2.4. Height: 36′.
“At the November 8th, 2023 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval with conditions of the Planned Area Development (PAD) designation (vote: 5-1) and recommended approval with conditions of the site plan as a conditional use (vote: 5-1). After a lengthy discourse, the Board made a recommendation to approve the Application with the following amendments to Staff’s suggested conditions of approval:
- Proposed park on Salzedo shall not be enlarged and not conveyed to the City;
- Proposed retail space facing the proposed park shall not be reduced;
- One-way bike lanes shall be placed on the north side of Andalusia, west side of Salzedo, and north side of Valencia without a curb or landscaping;
- Undergrounding of the overhead utilities shall not be required beyond Andalucia and Valencia;
- Driveways for the loading area shall not be enlarged/revised; and
- Applicant shall not be responsible to pay for the loss of any on-street parking.
E.-4. 23-6565 A Resolution of the City Commission approving Conditional Use Review of a Site Plan pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process” Section 14-203, “Conditional Uses,” for a proposed Publix grocery store and liquor store on the property legally described as Lots 1 through 48, Block 8, Coral Gables Crafts Section (2551 Le Jeune Rd), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and an effective date. (11 08 23 PZB recommended approval with conditions, Vote: 5-1) (This Resolution is not for consideration at this time and will be included with the above ordinances on Second Reading if approved on First Reading.) Lobbyist: Mario Garcia-Serra
E.-5. 23-6794 A Resolution of the City Commission granting conditional use approval pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-203, “Conditional Uses” for a walk-up counter as an accessory use to Sanguich, a restaurant, on property legally described as Track A, Plaza Coral Gables, also generally known as 111 Palermo Ave, Suite 103, Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date.
“Sanguich has submitted an application for conditional use review of a walk-up counter on a property located at 111 Palermo Ave, Suite 103. The Applicant seeks to use the walk-up counter, otherwise known as the “ventanita,” to serve patrons of Sanguich, a 2,127 square foot Cuban sandwich shop within the Plaza.”
Planning & Zoning Board
“At the January 10, 2024 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Board discussed the proposed walk-up counter and questioned why such an accessory use requires a Conditional Use review and approval. The Board unanimously recommended approval, with a condition that the Applicant have an appropriate trash receptacle (vote: 6-0). The Board also included in their recommendation that the City Commission consider allowing walk-up windows as permitted uses under certain circumstances and not require to be a conditional use in a public hearing. Additionally, members of the Board suggested that a couple of on-street parking spaces directly in front of the upcoming restaurant be 15-minute parking spaces. This has been discussed with the Parking Department, who will be analyzing the on-street parking comprehensively.”
F. CITY COMMISSION ITEMS
F.-1. 23-6833 Discussion regarding MetroConnect. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez)
F.-2. 24-6925 Presentation by PHIT America Foundation, Inc. program and PHIT Center for elementary school students. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
F.-3. 23-6895 Discussion regarding potholes on Old Cutler Road. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-4. 23-6898 Discussion regarding bike lane markings. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
F.-5. 24-6932 Discussion regarding Fritz and Franz. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
F.-6. 24-6933 Discussion regarding intersection of Galiano, Giralda and Merrick Way. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
F.-7. 24-6934 Discussion regarding City PCards, credit cards and external expense accounts. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
F.-8. 24-6935 Update on the Blue Road bridge. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-9. 24-6936 Update of the South Waterways Homeowner’s Associations Advisory Board. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-10. 24-6938 Discussion regarding quorum requirements for the Code Enforcement Board. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
F.-11. 24-6939 Discussion on creation of a Coral Gables charrette. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez)
F.-12. 24-6940 Discussion regarding sidewalks and bicycle paths on Old Cutler Road. (Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
H. CITY MANAGER ITEMS
H.-1. 24-6926 Presentation on City lighting.
H.-2. 23-6816 Presentation on the 2023 Community Survey results.
H.-3. 23-6749 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the temporary public art installation “The Water Below Us” in partnership with Blue Missions, contingent upon approval of the art design through the Historical Resources and Cultural Arts Department, and funding up to $50,000 from the Art Fund; authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Budget to recognize the transfer of $50,000 from the Art in Public Places reserve as revenue and appropriate such funds towards the cost of the project (unanimously recommended by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 6 to 0).
“The Water Below Us” is a public awareness campaign using public art to draw attention toward
the protection of our local water sources. Public calls to action will include invitations for people
to conserve water and avoid polluting activities.”
H.-4. 23-6899 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing an amendment from the three-year traffic technology grant amount of $392,361 to recognize year two amount of $130,787 as revenue and to appropriate such funds to cover the grant expenditures to the fiscal year 2023-2024 annual budget.
H.-5. 24-6931 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Innovations and Technology Department to waive the competitive process to purchase Software Maintenance and Support from CentralSquare as a “Special Procurement/Bid Waiver,” pursuant to Section 2-691of the Procurement Code.
I. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
I.-1. 24-6929 Discussion regarding lawsuit seeking a declaration that the provisions of Florida Statutes S. 112.3144(1)(d) that require municipal elected officials to file Form 6 financial disclosure forms is unconstitutional and invalid.
