September City Hall: Patriots Day, City Hall Repairs, and More
At its first meeting in September, the Coral Gables City Commission:
Centennial Concert
Voted 5-0 to have Commission members raise funds from private entities and individuals for a centennial celebration and concert at the Venetian Pool. Though the pool is currently undergoing renovations, these will hopefully be finished by the time of the concert.
Artistic Notice
Voted 5-0 to explore additional notice options for residents when the City is acquiring and installing new works of art using the public art fund. Previously, residents have expressed varying opinions on artworks installed near their homes, despite strong support from the Art Advisory Panel and Cultural Development Board. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, who sponsored the item, said this was a mechanism to get more public feedback to those boards before they vote to approve artworks. The Commission retains final say.
Police and Firefighter Appreciation
Voted 5-0 to declare January 9 as Law Enforcement and Firefighter (LEAF) Appreciation Day in the City of Coral Gables. Created by Willy Bermello, chairman of Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, and Tom Prescott, executive VP of the Biltmore Hotel, LEAF also represents a new endowment fund for local firefighters and police officers and their families at the Coral Gables Community Foundation. The organization will host a yearly gala, with the first scheduled for January 9, 2025.
Live La Vida Local
Voted 5-0 to work with adjacent local governments to provide notice of Live Local Act projects within 1,000-feet of another municipality’s border. The Live Local Act, recently passed by the State of Florida, prohibits municipalities from enacting zoning code restrictions on workforce housing projects.
Let There be Light
Discussed city standards for residential lights. Some residents have complained about the lights across from them shining too brightly into their homes. Lower light temperatures mitigate negative effects on the environment and on human health. Recently, several large U.S. cities, including Austin, TX and Los Angeles, CA have begun replacing LEDs with 3000 or 4000 Kelvin lights, which are much warmer and easier on the eyes. A resolution will be brought at the next Commission meeting.
Alhambra Sidewalk Postponed
Voted 3-2 to further postpone the Alhambra Circle sidewalk project. Ballots were sent out to affected property owners with two potential options, taking into account tree roots and ADA compliance. Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez, and Kirk Menendez expressed concern for pedestrian safety where the sidewalk comes close to the street. Vice Mayor Anderson advocated for traffic calming measures to mitigate safety concerns, as well as removing two trees in poor condition to allow the sidewalk more room. With multiple locals weighing in via public comment in support, Anderson pushed to move the project forward, but the three commissioners voted against. A third option will be presented in the future.
City Hall Repairs
Discussed the repairs needed for City Hall, some of which were outlined by structural engineering firm Douglas Wood Associates in a letter presented to the Commission during its last meeting. Thirteen out of the 16 items will be completed by Oct. 2 while the other three are in progress and will be completed in three to four months. In the meantime, City Hall is safe for occupation.
Where the funding will come for these projects remains to be seen, as the Commission earlier voted 3-2 to shoot down revisions to the 2024-2025 budget that Vice Mayor Anderson suggested to allocate funding toward repairs. Part of the revisions included only adding one sanitation worker rather than two, which Commissioner Castro opposed. Her two fellow commissioners joined her in voting against changing the budget.
Instead, the three commissioners voted 3-2 vote to direct staff to bring back an intent resolution stating that the city intends to go into debt by borrowing against its available cash. The resolution will also set aside $5 million dedicated to a five-year capital improvement program, and use the funds instead for debt service. The debt is not to exceed a maturity of 15 years. Vice Mayor Anderson and Mayor Lago both voted against, saying putting the city in debt was fiscally irresponsible.
Patriot Day
Voted 5-0 to designate Patriot Day (Sept. 11) as an official city holiday and urge the U.S. Congress to recognize the day as a federal holiday. The issue of 9/11 arose at the last Commission meeting, when Mayor Lago invited his colleagues to a clock unveiling on Sept. 11, which Commissioner Fernandez found offensive. Multiple firefighters spoke during the meeting to urge Lago and his colleagues to make the day a city holiday. Commissioner Castro took things a step further, demanding an apology from Lago “not only to the City of Coral Gables, but to the rest of the country.” Lago, meanwhile, explained that his words at the last meeting had been taken out of context and pointed to his track record of supporting police and fire, though his relationship with the Coral Gables Fire Department has notably soured in recent years.
City Staff Cleared
Listened to an update on the audit and review of Amazon purchases by city employees. Finance Director Diana Gomez stated, “[We] found that no misuse of city funds had been identified. It was noted that certain purchases were made to increase engagement and productivity in the workplace for employees and the public.” All purchases were approved by department heads. Despite this, Commissioner Castro insisted that “… there could’ve been questionable transactions, but they all fit into the policies and guidelines.” Commissioner Fernandez, who earlier accused city employees of making private purchases, joined her in her skepticism.
Stay informed with the latest updates in the Gables by exploring our Talk of the Town and City Hall sections, bringing you local news and community highlights.