City Commission Recap (2/28/2023)

Ariel Fernandez

Founder & Editor
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Below is a copy of the Commission Digest for this Commission meeting with the brief explanations of discussion taken and/or final votes cast by the Commission on February 28th.

Discussion/explanation can be found in blue. If opening on a smartphone, turn your phone horizontally to avoid having to scroll right to see how all members of the Commission voted on each item.

Non-credited quotes in this article are excerpts from the memos presented to the Commission explaining the items.

Mayor’s Comments

C-1: Discussion regarding street signs in downtown.

Lago wants the Chamber and Community Foundation to partner with the City to help fund the repairs of the blade signs on poles in Downtown.

The Commission voted to ask the Manager to come back with a presentation on replacements of the blade signs in downtown.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded

C-2: Discussion regarding golf carts.

The Commission discussed the current legislation regarding the use of golf carts. The City Attorney confirmed that Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) are allowed on roads under 35 miles per hour. They are required to have to be registered, have seat belts, lights, and turn signals. Golf carts, below 20 miles per hour, are not allowed on City roads.

C-3: Discussion regarding Unleashed dogs at Catalonia and Majorca Park.

The Commission addressed the concerns that dogs are being found inside the non-dog sections of the parks. The Commission discussed adding cameras and signage to the parks to help with enforcement. The Commission asked staff to come back with information on what fines are for unleashed dogs in parks.

C-4: Discussion regarding implementing cameras and signage at Salvadore Park.

Commission discussed adding cameras to Salvadore for increased security.

Consent Agenda

E-1: A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the waiver of City -related fees and the use of a storage container at Ponce Circle/Fred B. Hartnett Park for Moon over the Gables, a project co-sponsored by the Coral Gables Community Foundation and the City of Coral Gables taking place March 9-25, 2023.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded

Public Comments

David Renshaw of the Teamsters Union said that the Evergreen Wage Study should be in today and the union hopes to have the City adhere to the results of said study.

Appeals

F-1: An appeal to the City of Coral Gables City Commission from the decision of the Historic Preservation Board on December 21, 2022, for a Special Certificate of Appropriateness application requesting approval for the demolition of the existing residents at the property located at 1258 Obispo Avenue, a contributing resource within the “Obispo Avenue Historic District”, legally described as Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Coral Gables Section “E”, according to the Plat thereof, as recorded in PLat Book 8, Page 13 of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

“In 2014, a Special Certificate of Appropriateness (SCOA) was approved for a one-story addition to the residence. It was not built, and the COA expired. In 2019, a SCOA for additions and alterations to the residence and sitework was approved with conditions by the Historic Preservation Board. It was not built. In 2021, the Historic Preservation Board reviewed a request for a revision for the removal and replacement of the roof and floor framing due to their poor condition. The Board deferred the request and suggested a structural engineer be present at the next meeting. The applicant did not return to the Board and the proposal did not proceed. Staff met with the current owners prior to their purchase of the property and explained the outcomes of the previous Board reviews. The Historical Resources & Cultural Arts Department received a complete Certificate of Appropriateness application on December 8, 2022, from the Property Owners requesting design approval for the demolition of the existing residence. On December 21, 2022, the Historical Preservation Board approved a motion to deny the demolition of the existing residence as the demolition is historically inappropriate, detracts from the integrity of the historic structure and the historic district, and is inconsistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The motion passed 9-0. On December 28, 2022, the Property Owner submitted a Notice of Intent to Appeal the Board’s Decision to the City Clerk. On February 7, 2023, the Property Owner submitted the completed appeals package to the City Clerk.”

The Commission had a lengthy discussion about the application. Since the home is in a contributing property in a historic district, the Commission had only one option, which was to affirm the Historic Preservation Board decision.

The Commission could not consider any factors outside what was in the application and the factors presented to the Historic Preservation Board.

City Attorney Cristina Suarez, Assistant City Attorney Gus Ceballos and Director of Historical Resources and Cultural Arts Warren Adams all tried to keep the Commission on topic and explain the parameters of the application before them. Without their efforts, the Commission seemed to be heading in many different directions outside of the scope of the application.

In the end, the Commission voted 4-1 to confirm the Historic Preservation Board’s decision. Lago voted against the approval without providing a legal basis for his decision.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded

Ordinances On Second Reading

F-2: An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 62 – Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places to reduce abandoned construction signage and barricades in connection with approved work on the right of way and amending Section 1-7 entitled “Penalties” to include additional penalties for violations; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago).

“In the City of Coral Gables there has been a prevalence of abandoned construction signage and barricades after the completion of work in the public right-of-way and a relaxed sense of urgency on contractors to remove unnecessary obstructions on the right-of-way. This proposed ordinance would provide our Code Enforcement and Public Works teams with additional tools to remove, discard, and cite as necessary any unapproved obstructions in the right-of-way. Passed first reading on February 14, 2023. There have been no changes since first reading.”

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
SecondedMotioned

F-3: An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the City Code, Chapter I -General Provisions, Section 1-7 Entitled “Penalties” to include additional penalties for violations of Section 74-241, entitled “Motorized Scooters on Sidewalks” and Section 74-2 “Prohibiting Skateboard Use Generally”; providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Anderson).

“Section 74-241 of the City Code currently allows the riding of motorized scooters upon all sidewalks located within the city, except where prohibited by official posting. Section 74-2 of the City Code prohibits skateboarding on the city’s public sidewalks where prohibited by official posting. In order to deter prohibited riding and increase pedestrian safety this ordinance adds additional penalties for violations of those sections. This ordinance sets the fines for these violations as: first violation $35.00, second violation $100.00, and for third or subsequent violations $200.00. This item was adopted on first reading, February 14, 2023, and there have been no changes since first presented to the City Commission.”

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded

Ordinances On First Reading

F-4: An Ordinance of the City Commission combining the Human Resources Department and the Labor Relations and Risk Management Department in accordance with Section 17 of the City Charter and amending the FY 2023 Budget to reflect that change.

“The City of Coral Gables’ Human Resources Department provides internal support to all City Departments and the City’s full-time and part-time employee population. The City’s Labor Relations and Risk Management department works to promote positive and effective relationships between labor and management and to provide a safe environment for City employees and the public they serve. Given the natural intersection of the two departments, the City Manager wishes to combine the employees, functions, duties, and budgets of the two departments under the Human Resources Department and the Human Resources Department Director. A budget amendment with a zero dollar change is required to combine the two department budgets and is set forth in this Ordinance.”

Resident Maria Cruz spoke against this item. She explained that Risk Management was never created into a Department by the Commission. She explained that putting it back together will be a cost-saving measure. The City Clerk clarified that the measure was approved by the Commission when the budget was approved in 2016.

The Manager stated that the Labor Relations Director has always been in the succession plan for the Human Resources Department.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
SecondedMotioned

F-5: An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Article 6, “Landscape,” Section 6-103, “Landscape general requirements,” and Article 16, “Definitions,” providing a definition, requirements, and review processes to utilize artificial turf within athletic fields in the Special Use (S) Zoning district; providing conditional use review and approval when such artificial turf athletic field are visible from the street; clarifying minimal usage and requirements of artificial turf; and providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. ( 02 08 23 PZB Meeting – Board recommended approval; Vote; 6-0).

“Staff has prepared Zoning Code text amendments for landscape regulations and general requirements to allow the installment of artificial turf for athletic fields and grassed areas actively used for sports when not seen from a street. Otherwise, the use of artificial turf on athletic fields will require Conditional Use approval. Conditional use review requires review by the Development Review Committee (DRC), preliminary approval by the Board of Architects, Planning & Zoning Board recommendation, and final approval from the City Commission. Planning & Zoning Board: At the February 8th, 2023, Planning & Zoning Board meeting, this proposed text amendment was well received by the Board due to artificial turf’s advancement in technology and installment in the last 5 years. The Board is interested in seeing artificial turf installed beyond athletic fields.”

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded

F-6: An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code, Article 16, “Definitions”, by amending the definition of carport; and providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and an effective date. (02 08 23 PZB Meeting – Board recommended approval; Vote; 6-0).

“Staff has prepared a Zoning Code text amendment to update the definition of a carport. The Zoning Code initially defined CARPORT in 1983 as “a roofed structure not more than seventy-five (75%) enclosed by walls and attached to the main building for the purpose of providing shelter for one or more motor vehicles.” In 2018, the single-family residential (SFR) district section in the Zoning Code was amended substantially to both clarify regulations and encourage certain features in single-family residences. One of the desired outcomes was to reduce the massing of homes by encouraging detached accessory structures. This was intended to be accomplished by excluding “detached one- and two-story structures less than or equal to four-hundred (400) square feet where the ground floor level is a carport or garage” from the building’s maximum square footage. However, the definition of carport still requires that it be attached to the main building. Therefore, to fulfill the original intent of encouraging the smaller building bulk and massing, Staff is proposing to update the definition of carport to be consistent with the single-family residential regulations and allow detached carports.”

This clarifies “a glitch” in the definition.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
SecondedMotioned

Boards/Committees Items

H-1: Discussion regarding the Cultural Development Grant Program.

The Commission has been concerned for the last two years about where the funds were going. In the list from last year, the Montgomery Botanical Center drew some discussion. Whether a Botanical Center qualifies as cultural. Others were concerned about the Center being open by appointment only. Commissioner Menendez asked that a points category, in the application, be added for Coral Gables based organizations. A request for a potential audit of financials on event costs was made. Staff confirmed a sworn statement is submitted on the use of the funds. Mena brought up that he thinks having the events be Coral Gables based instead of the organization being Coral Gables based is also an advantage, as he believes this could bring in new cultural offerings to the City. Staff was asked to return at the next Commission meeting with a proposal that factors in the Commission recommendations.

City Manager Items

I-1: A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $1,000,000.00 from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the Last Mile Transit Stop Improvements Program; authorizing execution of the grant contract; and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Budget to recognize the $1,000,000.00 grant as revenue and to appropriate such funds to put toward the cost of the program.

“The City of Coral Gables was awarded a grant for the purpose of the last mile transit stop improvements program. The purpose of this program is to bring each of the City’s trolley stops on local Coral Gables streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in addition to making other beneficial improvement to encourage mass transit ridership. This program compliments the City’s ongoing multi-modal transportation plan and aligns with the adopted strategic plan. With grantor approval, the City’s $1,028,650 match will be satisfied over two fiscal years; $635,000 already appropriated in FY 2022-2023, and $393,650 to be appropriated in FY 2023-2024. An amendment to the FY 2022-2023 annual budget is required to recognize the $1,000,000 grant as revenue, and to appropriate such funds to put toward the cost of the project. The completion date of the project is on or before December 31, 2024. The City of Coral Gables will implement the grant funded initiative in accordance will all requirements provided by the State of Florida Department of Transportation last mile transit stop improvements program.”

This will cover about 55% of the cost of the project.

Mayor
Vince Lago
Vice Mayor
Michael Mena
Commissioner
Rhonda Anderson
Commissioner
Jim Cason
Commissioner
Kirk R. Menendez
MotionedSeconded
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5 thoughts on “City Commission Recap (2/28/2023)

  1. Regarding 1258 Obispo AV, what makes the property so attractive is the huge backyard. The new owners, just like the previous, want(ed) to cover the entire lot with construction. I understand Lago’s vote since the home is not so attractive. An attractive, new, 2 story home with the same architectural style & solely on the footprint of the existing 1 story home, would be all right. However, we live surrounded by GREEDY speculators who want to show off to friends & family their BIG homes. Maybe their competing with folks in Pinecrest? How sad people don’t appreciate a big yard. Many morons in the Gables don’t realize that they may achieve with the McMansions the square footage of Pinecrest, but they are at the same time eliminating green space. The green area is what really makes the drive to Pinecrest worthwhile. How sad these nouveau riche don’t realize they’re telling everyone they don’t have a second home or coastal apartment, by building so much on their lots. Sort of like cheap, fat people with tight fitting clothes. The Fatties don’t want to spend on new, loose fitting clothes to cover the love handles & these poor upstarts don’t want to buy much land or maybe purchase an adjacent property to make their palaces congruent.

  2. How much you want to bet the golf cart issue is just L’Ego trying to throw shade at Ariel Fernandez.

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