From City Hall

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AT ITS FIRST MEETING IN MAY, THE CITY COMMISSION:

LISTENED TO A CIELO UPDATE

The city’s director of economic development, Belkys Perez, described the success of the Cielo Tejido, the colorful covering over Giralda Plaza starting May 1. The covering was crocheted by 200 women from Jalisco, Mexico. Thanks to the Cielo, the First Friday in May drew 5,300 people to Giralda Plaza, compared to the typical 3,400 to 3,600 First Friday visitors. The Cielo will be replaced in three months with another display.

LISTENED TO A HIGH-TECH UPDATE

The city’s director of innovation and technology, Raimundo Rodulfo, discussed the accomplishments of the Smart City Research Laboratory, which recently won the 2026 Smart 20 Award. The Lab is a tech tank incubator for students whose innovations solve city problems, such as developing a sidewalk speed violation sensor (to monitor scooters), programming a voice activated interactive AI agent for the city website, and developing electronic business cards for city employees. The Lab, which will expand in the future, is also a talent pipeline connecting kids to jobs.

VOTED TO RECOGNIZE HISTORIC TEE-TIMES

The Commission voted 5-0 to recognize the Granada Golf Course’s historic relationship with the Granada Golf Association, the Greenway Women’s Golf Association, and the Coral Gables Women’s Golf and Bridge Association, authorizing the continued reservation of certain tee times for members of these organizations. These tee times had been threatened by the revamping of golf fees to support renovation of the course.

REJECTED PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER GOLF DISCOUNTS

The Commission voted 3-2 to not offer 30% discounts to seniors (to $21 each round) and not to offer golf memberships at $2,500 for 100 rounds of golf ($25 each round). City Manager Peter Iglesias explained why the city must limit annual rounds to 50,000 at $30 each, which will produce an annual income of $1.5 million, the amount required to upgrade and maintain the golf course, now in serious disrepair. Mayor Vince Lago admonished Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez for proposing the discounts, which could have cost the city $300,000 or more each year. “I’m always the bad guy who says that winter is coming” said Lago, who said Castro was reckless to introduce discounts without researching the consequences. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson said the discounts would mean taxpayers subsidizing certain golf club users.

OUSTED A VOCAL CRITIC

The Commission voted 3-2 to deny further comment during the session from Maria Cruz, a long-time Lago critic, who attacked the mayor, calling him a self-appointed king. Cruz had been repeatedly warned in previous commission meetings to keep her comments to criticism about policies and decisions, rather than personal attacks on the mayor (Mrs. Cruz in 2024 spearheaded a recall of the mayor, which has since been investigated by the FDLE for forging recall signatures). “I do believe we have been beyond patient,” said Commissioner Richard Lara, who voted for ousting Cruz. Commissioners Castro and Fernandez voted against censure, claiming it was a violation of the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.

HELPED FUND THE ART CINEMA EXPANSION

The Commission voted 5-0 to allocate another $100,000 to the Coral Gables Art Cinema to help add an additional screen to the movie theater. The city had previously allocated $350,000 for the additional screen, but construction costs have since skyrocketed. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson noted that every dollar spent on the arts has a seven-times return on investment. The city will manage the construction. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago).

ASKED THE COUNTY FOR SIGNALING

The Commission voted 5-0 to urge Miami-Dade County to complete its approval to prioritize traffic signals for fire, police, and trolley. The city has been quietly asking Miami-Dade to do this for five years, but to no avail. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)

ENDED PHISHING IN THE CITY

The City Commission voted 3-2 to condemn the use of fictitious organizations and deceptive digital interfaces to conduct anonymous political intelligence-gathering from Coral Gables voters. In particular, the referendum called for the investigation of Analytics 305, disguised as a link from Survey Monkey, which asked how city employees would likely cast their ballots. The resolution was sponsored by Mayor Lago partly in response to evidence linking Commissioner Ariel Fernandez to Count USA, a similarly illegal “phishing” operation.

“I don’t know who, in good faith, would not be in favor of condemning anonymous political phishing in this city,” said Commissioner Lara. “That is my opinion, not Claude or ChatGPT,” he

added, referring to Commissioner Castro, who voted against the resolution after reading aloud what appeared to be a chatbox statement about how the resolution “implies a coordinated political operation without naming a responsible party or proving intent,” that would “open the city to defamation exposure and political retaliation.” She was referring to Commissioner Fernandez, whom she said should sue Mayor Lago. The Mayor said he welcomed such a lawsuit, since it would further expose Commissioner Fernandez – who refused to answer Mayor Lago when he asked whether Fernandez was behind the People Count operation.

SAID YES TO RUMBLE STRIPS

The Commission voted 5-0 to direct staff to review, develop, and implement a process for the installation of rumble strips – raised edges – along the edges of existing and future bicycle lanes. The item was sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson in response to the deaths of two bicyclists struck by cars in the city. The strips stop bikers from crossing into car lanes, as well as noisily alerting cars that they are crossing into bike lanes.