June City Hall: Police Contract, Historic Properties Funding, New Bike Lanes, and More
At its meeting in June, the Coral Gables City Commission discussed:
Honors for Jeannett
Voted 5-0 to name the thoroughfare where the Gables Family Literacy Festival is held (located parallel to University Drive within the Youth Center) in honor of former Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick. Commissioner Fernandez sponsored the item, requesting it be named “Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick Literacy Row” to reflect the late commissioner’s dedication to literacy for all.
RELATED The Passing of a Star: Jeannett Slesnick
Police Contract Okayed
Voted 5-0 to ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police in Coral Gables. The long-awaited two-year agreement sees significant salary increases, better pensions, and other benefits for the police officers of Coral Gables.
ADA Ramp for the Miracle Theatre
Voted 3-2 to authorize $41,900 for the installation of a new ADA-compliant ramp at the Miracle Theatre. The issue became controversial after Commissioner Menendez introduced it in May, with questions about why the City was footing the bill when the lease made it clear that the tenant (Actors’ Playhouse) should pay for it.
Playhouse Executive Producing Director Barbara Stein appeared at the meeting, arguing that funding needed to be approved soon so improvements could occur when the theater would be closed for other maintenance. Vice Mayor Anderson spoke in favor of trying to fundraise for the project or treating it as a loan, concerned the precedent would lead to similar requests from other city property tenants. That suggestion was voted down by Commissioners Fernandez, Castro, and Menendez.
The discussion grew heated when Commissioners Fernandez and Menendez argued with City Attorney Cristina Suarez that they had already approved the $41,900 at the last meeting. Suarez read the previous meeting’s transcript into the record to show that Commissioner Fernandez himself had clarified that the item should come back to the Commission. An emotional Menendez took to shouting, crying out, “We’re letting politics dictate the day and I’m not going to allow it!”
Historic Properties Funding
Voted 5-0 to amend the 2023-2024 budget to include roughly $2.68 million in revenue from the sale of transfers of historic property development rights. Half a million will go to the Coral Gables Museum, $150,000 to the Merrick House, and about $1 million each to the Venetian Pool and the Alhambra Water Tower.
Commissioner Kirk Menendez and Mayor Lago requested that the allocation for the Merrick House be increased from $75,000 to $150,000 for repairs and renovations the historic property needs. The extra $75,000 will come from the monies allocated to the Venetian Pool.
A Blogger Onboard
Voted 4-1 to appoint Javier Banos, editor of the online blog Gables Insider, to the Historic Preservation Board. Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, who sold the blog to Banos upon his election, nominated the blogger. Mayor Vince Lago was the sole dissenter, expressing concerns about Banos’ expertise and his credibility and political agenda as a journalist/blogger.
A Delay for an Inspector General
Voted 3-2 against immediately establishing an Office of Inspector General to investigate corruption in the city. Surprisingly, the no votes came from Commissioners Ariel Fernandez, Melissa Castro, and Kirk Menendez, all of whom have previously accused the city of corruption without evidence. Mayor Lago and Vice Mayor Anderson both argued that establishing such an office now would clear the air. “There is strong support for this in the community. If we don’t move forward today, it appears that we’re trying to hide something,” said Anderson.
Instead, the Commission voted 5-0 to wait to establish an Office of Inspector General through the city charter, which is a year away from being amended. Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez argued that establishing the office via the Commission would allow it to be dissolved by the Commission. Lago and Anderson reluctantly voted for the amended resolution despite believing that the process was being delayed without reason, saying it wasted a year’s worth of time instead of “sending a message” of honesty and transparency now.
Bicycle Lanes Move Forward, Slowly
Voted 5-0 to design bicycle lanes on Alhambra Circle from Bird Road to the University of Miami. The discussion went on for some time as Vice Mayor Anderson, who sponsored the item, outlined her reasoning for the creation of bike lanes along this road in the wake of the death of University of Miami student Daniel Bishop. Bishop was using an electronic scooter on a street without bicycle lanes when he was struck and killed by a vehicle.
To get public input, Anderson and a team of volunteers knocked on doors along Alhambra Circle and received extremely positive responses from residents in the area. Commissioner Castro nonetheless expressed concerns over public input. There will now be a community meeting in November to receive further input from residents, at which time there may be funding from a state grant application.
Watch the full Coral Gables City Commission meeting here.
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