From City Hall II

At its first meeting in September, the Coral Gables City Commission:

Menendez rejected

Voted 3-2 to deny former City Commissioner Kirk Menendez’s appointment to the Planning and Zoning Board, as per Commissioner Melissa Castro’s nomination. Menendez came under fire during election season for allegedly auctioning off multiple properties to developers during a purportedly rough financial time for him. City Manager Peter Iglesias also accused him of exerting his power as a commissioner to try to upzone his block – a move that would have also made his properties more valuable and significantly increased the height and density of the development (see “A Tale of Two Cities” in Coral Gables Magazine’s March 2025 issue for more information). Castro and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, who voted for his instatement, claimed they had never heard of Iglesias’ accusation, despite it being well-publicized

Menendez is also the president of the War Memorial Youth Center’s Association, which recently lost its 501(c)(3) status and is withholding important documents from the city, despite it being on city-owned property.

Menendez made an appearance later in the meeting where he claimed that, during his tenure as a commissioner, he was tipped off to the possibility of receiving a bribe from a resident to move elections – a resident he claims is Mayor Vince Lago’s “dear friend.” He allegedly skipped the meeting with the resident, but did not report the bribe to any authority. Lago immediately requested that Menendez’s “dereliction of duty” be reported to the state attorney and the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. Menendez’s only comment on the Youth Center scandal was to say that the government should not be interfering in a private entity’s matters.

Civility codified

Discussed rules regarding decorum both on the dais and in the public gallery. Mayor Lago, who runs the meetings as commission chair, brought multiple issues up, including eating in the gallery, Commission members speaking out of turn, a lack of civility amongst the Commission, members of the public speaking beyond their allotted time during public comment, and insults being thrown from the gallery. Commissioner Castro, who in a heated moment called Lago “a liar” at the last Commission meeting, took the opportunity to apologize for her actions. Lago, who still expressed his dissatisfaction with the incident, nonetheless discontinued his move to censure her.

Israel x Coral Gables

Deferred an item to raise the Israeli flag outside City Hall on October 7 to honor the victims of the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack. Mayor Lago, who sponsored the item, declared it was “not about politics,” while also calling Israel the United States’ “number one ally” and noting its pro-minority policies for women and gay people. He repeatedly emphasized that this action was only to memorialize the tragedy. During public comment, multiple residents spoke against the resolution, declaring that the decision to raise the flag should be personal and Coral Gables should not be involved in such matters.

Vice Mayor Anderson suggested flying both the U.S. and Israeli flags, or only the U.S. flag at half-mast, to signal that the city is not taking a stance in the Israel-Palestine conflict but is simply memorializing the victims. Commissioner Richard Lara was against the ordinance outright, declaring the flag would “likely be viewed… as an act of division,” regardless of intention. The Commission agreed to memorialize the victims but did not land on a specific action.

E-bike & e-scooter safety

Discussed safety regulations for the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in the city. E-bike and e-scooter accidents have become more prevalent as micromobility vehicles rise in popularity, with some going as fast as 70 miles per hour and no license required to use them (rental scooters on the city’s streets are limited to 15 mph). Local ordinances can set an age limit for the operation of e-bikes and require operators to have a government-issued ID. The city will bring the issue back at the next meeting with more specific legislation.

Permitting incentives

Voted 5-0 to establish a permit fee incentive program to encourage the installation of living seawalls. The program will provide a 20 percent discount in permitting fees for qualifying projects. Kind Designs, a Miami-based startup, has designed the living seawalls, which use environmentally friendly materials and a textured surface to make it easier for marine life (like algae) to attach, providing food for manatees and other animals.