Agenda Digest: City Commission Meeting (06/11/2024)

Javier Baños

Baños is the Editor of Gables Insider

On Tuesday, June 11, 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, June 11, 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. 24-7428 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Miami and the City of Coral Gables; and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Budget to recognize the $173,755.00 grant as revenue and to appropriate such funds to cover the grant expenditures.
D.-2. 24-7601 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the execution of an agreement for sewer connection for property located outside the City’s sewer district at 1238 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables, Florida into the City of Coral Gables wastewater collection / transmission system, subject to the requirements of the Public Works Department, as provided under Chapters 62 and 78 of the City Code, Ordinance Nos. 2007-29 and 2009-39 and Resolution No. 2008-07; and provided that the executed agreement be made part of this resolution.
D.-3. 24-7603 A Resolution of the City Commission appointing Javier Banos (Nominated by Commissioner Fernandez) to serve as a member of the Historic Preservation Board, for remainder of the current term, which began on June 1, 2023 and continues through May 31, 2025.
D.-4. 24-7606 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation to waive the competitive bid process of the Procurement Code as a Special Procurement/Bid Waiver for the continuation of professional services with Evolve Theatre for theater related programming, camps and shows including rehearsals and ticket admission services at the War Memorial Youth Center, pursuant to Section 2-691 of the City’s Procurement Code.
D.-5. 24-7623 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing a Third Amendment to the License Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and Bonjour, LLC granting a thirty (30) day extension of the License Agreement for the operation of the Café space at the Coral Gables Golf and Country Club.

Presentation of Boards and/or Committees draft/final minutes requesting action from the City Commission

2.-1. 24-7460 A Resolution from the Historic Preservation Board requesting that the City Commission adopt a Resolution authorizing Ad Valorem tax relief for the property located at 112-116 Alhambra Circle, a Local Historic Landmark, legally described as Lots 1 & 2, Block 22, Coral Gables Section “L,” according to the Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 8, at Page 85, of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida. (Historic Preservation Board Meeting of May 15, 2024, Vote: 5-0, four members absent).

Constructed c.1924-5, the Cla-Reina / La Palma Hotel located at 112 Alhambra Circle (also known as 116 Alhambra Circle) is significant as one of the first hotels to be constructed in the City of Coral Gables and one of the few to still remain standing. When founder George Merrick began planning and developing Coral Gables, he envisioned it as a cohesively-designed Mediterranean-inspired city. During the 1920s, careful attention was paid by his development team to ensure that the buildings and streetscapes conformed to Mediterranean ideals as Merrick felt that this type of architecture harmonized best with south Florida’s climate and lifestyle. Designed by architect H. George Fink, who was an original member of this team, the building represents a superb example of the small-scale Mediterranean-inspired architecture that characterized the City during the 1920s.
The applicant is requesting Ad Valorem Tax Relief for the restoration and renovation of the historic structure and interior and exterior alterations.

ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
E.-1. 24-7424 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the Code of the City of Coral Gables, Florida, Chapter 6 entitled “Alcoholic Beverages,” Section 6-12 “Retail Package Store” and Section 6-13 “Retail Package Beverage Stores; Retail Beverage Stores; Retail Liquor Stores; Club Vendors: by changing the prohibited hours of operation on Sundays for Retail Package Stores; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)

Currently retail package liquor stores and retail package beverage stores, both of which are defined to provide only for the sale of consumption off the premises, are prohibited from alcoholic sales between the hours of 1:00 am and 9:00 am on Sunday. The number of grocery stores, liquor stores, and stores selling alcohol for off-premises consumption are increasingly often open prior to 9:00 am on Sundays. In order to be consistent with the prohibited hours of operation the other days of the week the City wishes to amend the Code to allow for sale of alcoholic beverages at 7:00 am on Sundays at retail package liquor stores and retain package beverage stores.

E.-2. 24-7431 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving the purchase and sale agreement between the City of Coral Gables, a municipal corporation existing under the laws of Florida, and 4241 Aurora, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, for the transfer of development rights, as defined in Article 16 and Sections 8-114 And 14-204 of the Zoning Code from the Coral Gables Museum property located at 285 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, and directing that all proceeds from the transfer of the development rights be placed in the City’s Historic Building Fund, and providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez) (Co-sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) Lobbyist: Jorge Navarro

Proposed Terms:
 Development Rights to be Transferred: 25,812 square feet.
 Purchase Price: $40.00 per square foot. ($1,032,480.00).
 10% Deposit of Total Purchase Price. ($103,248.00)
 Closing no later than either the date of issuance of the building permit for the 4241 Aurora Street, Coral Gables, FL 33146, project or one (1) year following the date of City Commission adoption of the Ordinance approving this Agreement, whichever is earlier.

E.-3. 24-7416 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the Code of the City of Coral Gables,
Florida, Chapter 2, entitled “Administration”, Article III “Boards, Commissions, Committees”, Division 3 “Trial Board” by creating Section 2-124 “Procedures” and amending Chapter 2 entitled “Administration”, Article IV “Officers and Employees” by creating Section 2-255 “Employee Protection” in order to provide for an administrative procedure for handling complaints made in accordance with the Florida Whistle-Blower’s Act, F.S. §112.3187; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez) (Co-Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) (Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)

In consultation with the City Manager, Commissioner Menendez has proposed an ordinance to create an administrative procedure for handling complaints made pursuant to the state Whistle-blower’s Act. This Ordinance establishes an administrative procedure utilizing the City’s existing trial board and requires an amendment to the City Code to create that procedure and codifies the trial board’s authority to establish rules of procedure consistent with state law. Since first reading there has been language added to require that the rules of procedure provide for the possibility of mediation prior to a full hearing of the Trial Board.

E.-4. 24-7199 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code Article 15, “Notices,” Section 15-102, “Notice,” to require door hangers as an additional notification for required public information meetings for multi-family and mixed-use projects; providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (05 08 24 PZB recommended denial, Vote 5-1) (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)

No changes have been made since First Reading.

As requested by a Commissioner, Staff prepared a Zoning Code text amendment to require an Applicant to provide door hangers as an additional type of notification to surrounding properties within the identified mail notification radius for public information meetings that discuss proposed multi-family and mixed-use projects. Recently adopted, Zoning Code Section 15-102(D) requires Applicants to host two public information meetings for proposed projects on building sites greater than 20,000 square feet – the first to occur prior to preliminary review by the Board of Architects and the second prior to Planning and Zoning Board. Therefore, the proposed amendment requires the doorhangers to be distributed before each public information meeting. In addition, the amendment requires the Applicant’s door hangers to provide the website and QR Code for residents to sign up for all future notices as to the property. All other requirements for the public information meeting would remain.
E.-5. 24-7198 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving the vacation of a public right-of-way pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-211, “Abandonment and Vacations” and City Code Chapter 62, Article 8 “Vacation, abandonment and closure of streets, easements and alleys by private owners and the city; application process,” providing for the vacation of the seventy (70) foot wide Biltmore Drive between Lots 1 and 2 in Block 25 and Lot 1 in Block 27, Riviera Section Part 1 (757 Blue Road), Coral Gables, Florida; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (Legal description on file). (04 10 24 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-0)

No changes have been made since First Reading.

The City of Coral Gables Public Works Department submitted an Application for consideration to vacate the remaining portion of Biltmore Drive that is north of the Blue Road traffic circle. Biltmore Drive is platted to dead-end into the canal and is not serving a purpose as an unimproved right-of-way. The right-of-way, together with the abutting lots, are only being used to provide access for canal maintenance. Additionally, the remaining portion of Biltmore Drive does not have any hardscape elements nor has any roadway development plans. The purpose of the vacation is to execute the park improvement project known as the “Blue Road Open Space” at 757 Blue Road with quality landscape design and pedestrian amenities.

ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING

E.-6. 24-7596 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the City of Coral Gables Code, Chapter 2 “Administration,” Article III “Boards and Committees,” Division 11 “South Waterways Homeowners’ Associations Advisory Board,” to rename the board to the Coral Gables Waterfront Communities Homeowners’ Association Board, providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) (Co-Sponsored by Mayor Lago)

The City Commission established the South Waterways Homeowners’ Associations Advisory Board in 2023 to facilitate communication between the board members and the City staff and the City Commission regarding common concerns including security, waterway use, and traffic and road issues. The South Waterways Homeowners’ Associations Advisory Board wishes to change its name to Coral Gables Waterfront Communities Homeowners’ Association Board to distinguish itself from the Waterways Advisory Board and the City Commission agrees that this change would be beneficial.

E.-7. 24-7620 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the City of Coral Gables Code, Chapter 2 “Administration,” Article III “Boards and Committees,” Division 3 “Trial Board,” to amend the terms of Trial Board members to align with general City policy, providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez)

A majority of the City’s over thirty boards and committees have terms of office which begin on
June 1 for a two-year period, ending May 31st in odd numbered year. Currently the City’s Trial
Board appointments do not follow the same term schedule. This ordinance amends the terms of the
Trial Board members to match that June 1st term. All other requirements of trial board membership
remain unchanged.

Agenda Items E-8 and E-9 are related
E.-8. 24-7554 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 46 of the “Code of the City of Coral Gables,” entitled “Pensions,” implementing provisions of the 2023-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police (“FOP”); amending Section 46-25, Definitions; amending Section 46-253, Normal Retirement Income; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date.

This Ordinance implements the following pension changes contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police, Local Number 7, covering the time period from October 1, 2023 through September 20, 2026 (the “Agreement”):
 Effective the first full pay period after the ratification date of this Agreement, overtime hours worked on or after the first full pay period after the ratification date of this Agreement, shall be included in the definition of pensionable earnings up to a maximum of 300 hours of overtime per fiscal year.
 Effective the first full pay period after the ratification date of this Agreement, the current cap for normal retirement of $98,838 will be eliminated.
 The definition of pensionable earnings shall be amended to include FDLE Pay.

RESOLUTIONS
Agenda Items E-8 and E-9 are related
E.-9. 24-7518 A Resolution of the City Commission with attachments, ratifying the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the Fraternal Order of Police, Coral Gables Lodge Number 7, for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.
E.-10. 24-7516 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Budget to recognize as revenue $2,675,240 from the sale of historic facility Transfer of Development Rights (TDRS) and to appropriate $500,000 towards the Coral Gables Museum, $75,000 towards the Merrick House, $1,064,740 towards the Venetian Pool, and $1,035,500 towards the Alhambra Water Tower. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez). (Co-Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) (Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)

The City of Coral Gables (“City”) and the Fraternal Order of Police, Coral Gables Lodge Number 7 (“FOP”), have been negotiating a successor collective bargaining agreement and have reached an agreement for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025 (the “Agreement”). Upon ratification of the Agreement, the Agreement will reflect the following material changes:
 Article 15 “Wages”
o Fiscal Year 2024 – Implementation of an updated pay plan.
o Fiscal Year 2025 – 3.5% pay increase. Additionally, all employees who maintain certification by the State of Florida Department Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Training Commission will receive a 4.5% pensionable pay supplement (“FDLE Pay”) going forward.
o $3,000 non-pensionable lump sum payment, minus taxes and applicable deductions, payable on or before October 31, 2024, in exchange for the execution of an agreement that employee will repay the full lump sum payment if they leave City employment on or before September 30,

2026.  Article 36 “Special Unit Allowances”
      o Fiscal Year 2025
       Increase the following special unit allowances from $75 bi-weekly to $150:
      a. Motors, K-9, SWAT/SWAT Negotiators, Marine Patrol, Bicycle/Foot Patrol, &
      Underwater Search and Recovery.
       Increase the Honor Guard special unit allowance from $25 bi-weekly to $50.
       Increase the special unit allowance for secondary assignments from $40 bi-weekly to $80.
      o Effective upon ratification
       FTOs’ that are assigned to a secondary unit that has a special unit allowance of 5%, will
      be allowed to receive the second 5% special unit allowance.

 Article 38 “Retirement”
o Effective the first full pay period after the ratification date, up to 300 hours of overtime hours each fiscal year will be included as pensionable earnings.

 Article 17 “Vehicles and Safety Equipment”
o Employees will be allowed to run errands outside City limits provided that the errands are within 90 minutes of the employees’ start and end time of their shift with the City or their off duty shift.

 Article 22 “Uniform Maintenance Allowance”
o Effective October 2024, the bi-annual uniform allowance shall increase by $100.

 Overtime 14 “Workweek, Overtime and Shift Differential”
o Mandatory overtime on July 4th would be paid at 2.5 times (time and one-half times pay for the
day worked plus an additional day’s pay at the employee’s regular rate straight-time rate of pay)
 Article 45 “Retiree Health Savings Plan”
o The City agrees to enter discussions with the FOP to reach an agreement to send excess sick leave accruals and final payout of sick leave (once the bargaining unit member reaches normal retirement) to a deferred compensation plan other than PEHP after the member’s PEHP account reaches $200,000.

 Article 40 “Group Health”
o Effective the month following ratification, for each employee with employee-only coverage through the Union’s insurance plan, the City would contribute a monthly amount equal to the full cost of the City’s least expensive individual HMO coverage that it offers its general employees.
o For each employee with dependent coverage through the Union’s insurance plan, the City would contribute per month an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the cost for dependent coverage for the City’s least expensive individual HMO coverage that it offers its general employees up to an amount not to exceed $284.33 per month for Employee and Spouse, $220.28 per month for Employee and Child(ren), and $404.23 per month for Employee and Family.

F. CITY COMMISSION ITEMS

F.-1. 24-7602 A Resolution of the City Commission naming the primary thoroughfare of the Gables Family Literacy Festival located parallel to University Drive within the War Memorial Youth Center, in honor of former Coral Gables Commissioner, Jeannett Slesnick, with the name “Jeannett Slesnick Literacy Row.”(Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)

F.-2. 24-7595 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Attorney and the City Manager to proceed with next steps to establish an Office of Inspector General, including preparation of appropriate legislation and budgeting. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)

F.-3. 24-7510 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing a maximum reimbursement amount not to exceed $41,900.00 for the labor and materials necessary to install a new ADA compliant ramp and railings on the second-floor stage area of the Miracle Theater located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134 as previously authorized by Resolution No. 2024-96. (Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez) (Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez)
F.-4. 24-7625 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager and City Staff to plan out and design bicycle lanes on Alhambra Circle from Bird Road to the University of Miami at San Amaro Drive.(Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
F.-5. 24-7673 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing Satchmo Blues Bar and Grill, Inc. D/B/A Fritz & Franz Bierhaus to utilize the public space and sell alcoholic beverages subject to applicable state law requirements at the plaza located at 60 Merrick Way June 20th through July 15th, 2024 for a UEFA European Championship and Copa America watch party. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)
F.-6. 24-7607 Discussion regarding the Jose Marti sculpture. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-7. 24-7608 Discussion regarding 1465 Certosa Avenue. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-8. 24-7612 Update regarding NexTrex plastic film recycling. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)
F.-9. 24-7447 Update regarding North Ponce Historic Designation Study. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
F.-10. 24-7445 Discussion regarding temporary speed tables. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) (Co-Sponsored by Mayor Lago)

F.-11. 24-7627 Discussion on regarding Jolt EV charging stations. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)
CITY MANAGER ITEMS
H.-1. 24-7593 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the acceptance of Grant Agreement No. G24MI0016A in the amount of $443,069 on behalf of the Coral Gables Police Department as part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program to support Fiscal Year 2023-2024 operations of the South Florida Money Laundering Strick Force; and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 annual budget to recognize the $443,069 grant as revenue and to appropriate such funds to put toward the cost of the program.
H.-2. 24-7587 A Resolution of the City Commission supporting the rights, freedoms, equal treatment and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (referred to in this resolution as “LGBTQ+”) individuals in our community, encouraging cities and states around the country to take action to ensure equality and inclusiveness in their own cities and supporting efforts to ensure that the City remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment and inclusion of all individuals, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
H.-3. 24-7619 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the acceptance of the donation of real property located to the West of 755 Blue Road.

The owners of the property located at 755 Blue Road Coral Gables, FL 33146, Kevin Neal and Annick Iwanowski (the “Property Owner”), have offered to donate to the City certain real property located to the West of 755 Blue(the “Property”).

The Property consists of a lot that is approximately 2,500 square feet and the City will use the Property for a public purpose by incorporating said land into the renovation and redesign of a City park located at 757 Blue Road

Under Resolution No. 2013-250, donation of the Property should be treated as a non-monetary donation not subject to advisory board review as described in Section 6(c), but subject to Commission approval under Section 9 as the value is over $50,000.00.

H.-4. 24-7611 Update regarding plans for the City’s Centennial Celebration.