“So we don't know the nature of those incomplete or incorrect submittals. They're all over the place. That's something that the planning department, when we get through the presentation, we could discuss, but we don't have data. Do we actually have data?”

Commissioner noting lack of specific data on types of submission errors

“What I've heard a lot from people is that even ministerial things, things having to do with a stamp and we discuss what stamps, what stamps, dry stamps. And then all of a sudden, people lose a week to three weeks on something that is really not directly impacting the structure, the safety or anything, it's pure bureaucracy that is getting in the way.”

Complaint about bureaucratic requirements that don't affect safety or structural integrity

“I'd be very curious to see when you start evaluating what is generating the incomplete and incorrect submittals. And you know, where are those pain points? Because I know how hard it is to create a website that is functional for something as complex as this, and it's never going to be perfect.”

Commissioner requesting analysis of root causes of submission problems

“68% of our permits are in only 1 or 2 reviews. That's significant. The biggest category is one review at 38%. The second biggest category is two reviews at 30%. I think we should set a goal to reduce that by half the amount of permits that are in four plus review cycles.”

Permit review cycle analysis and goal setting

“The fiscal impact of this was like $700. It's like less than $1,000. It's mostly just a cost per text, but it's fractions of a penny.”

Cost of implementing text notification system for inspections

“The most important thing is if you have an inspection and you call for a re-inspection, that it be the same person who comes out for the inspection. That's one of the biggest complaints that I get.”

Inspector consistency for re-inspections

“Our reputation has been damaged. I do think we should be seeing, would it be worth hiring a public relations company that specifically works in fixing damaged reputations? All the initiatives are there, all the resources are there for us to be able to show we're fixing things. We're open for business.”

Discussion of hiring a PR firm to address long-term reputational damage

“We shouldn't normalize a lockdown posture when a managed open condition can work safely.”

Expressing philosophy on Spring Break management

“My concern about leaving too much flexibility. I feel like that was part of the problem that we had in the past, because our Commission came together and gave some strict restrictions. It makes it difficult when there's this amorphous moving goalpost depending on the situation.”

Expressing concern about maintaining clear policies rather than flexible approaches

“Is there a way to implement like a voucher program, like where businesses actually, whatever the business is, that they have an X amount of vouchers, that they can use a QR code for their.”

Proposing voucher program for business parking

“On the causeways, what's interesting, because I spent a lot of time actually on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle during last spring break. I was out there at one point where the officers had to confiscate guns, illegal weapons from a vehicle.”

Discussing serious public safety issues encountered during DUI checkpoints

“The longest complaint I got this last year was 45 minutes. So I think our police and in coordination with us from policy is we've done a better job about doing the police work they need to do, but also not having extreme wait times.”

Comparing current checkpoint wait times (45 minutes) to historical waits (4 hours)

“As Commissioner Magazine mentioned, something that was important which is the partying we've seen in the past out of the cars that are parked. So it's important to open the garages and to encourage people to use garages on street parking. I was trying to go and support some of the local businesses. I wasn't able to park because of the barricades. While I agree we don't want that unruly activity on the streets, we do want to have parking. We need enforcement to make sure we don't have loud music coming out of these cars, we don't have open containers, people tailgating, we don't have people selling drugs out of these cars. That's what I think we need to make sure.”

Supporting street parking availability while maintaining enforcement against illegal activity

“This proposal establishes a pilot program intended to incentivize the reactivation of vacant storefronts. Our residents speak so nostalgically about the old Miami Beach where they often recall live music, places where they could go have dinner, have coffee, have brunch, listen to some live music.”

Introducing R5-D regarding temporary conditional use regulations

“Places like Van Dike's, a beloved establishment like that, that people reminisce about, wanted to come back to our city today. It wouldn't be able to open as of right in our city because our zoning code, our laws don't allow it.”

Discussing why new entertainment regulations are needed

“It establishes a temporary period until December 31st. During which businesses can apply to the administration to have live entertainment in areas like Lincoln Road from Collins to Alton Road or other areas of our city like Washington Avenue without having to go through the conditional use process.”

Explaining the scope and duration of R5-D pilot program

“Since it does have an expiration date, the intent of this is to encourage property owners to fill up their storefronts while this policy exists because it's not a given that it will continue. Fill up your empty storefronts because you have no guarantee that next year this policy is going to continue.”

Explaining urgency for property owners to use pilot program

“One of the things that I'm going to be looking at is, has it been used? If this policy doesn't yield them filling up their storefronts and retail spaces remain empty, then I'm not going to sponsor or support a continuation of the pilot. It really is about reactivating our corridors that need help.”

Stating conditions for supporting extension of R5-D

“We will definitely encourage Washington Avenue businesses to participate. This is something that is needed, and I think we will encourage and do as much as we can to support this.”

Responding to BID representative about supporting businesses participating in the entertainment ordinance

“I don't know which Inez just spoke, but if it's the one who I think it is, is someone who has written on social media calling Democrats demon rats. And when we're talking about not demonizing people, it's across the board.”

Response to public speaker about civility and demonization

“One of the things that I love about being a Miami Beach City Commissioner is a diversity that we get to represent. I love representing just the broad spectrum of people that make up the beautiful melting pot of this community, whether it be the Jewish community, whether it be the Episcopalian community over at the Church at All Souls, or whether it be the Black community and working with Glendon or our LGBTQ community or women and the Women's Commission or different Hispanic groups or different or other groups. It's really what I love about Miami Beach is our diversity, representing that diversity and fighting for that diversity and speaking up when the different groups of our community are being targeted.”

Discussion about diverse communities in Miami Beach and protecting them from discrimination

“I feel like sometimes what people want to see is, you know, that passion across the board. You know, the passion that we have, they I think some people want to just make sure that, you know, we are equally, you know, passionate with all different groups and protecting all different groups. And I think we are. I think this Commission has displayed that and I think they have that expectation of us. You know, to passionately fight against anti-Semitism, to passionately fight against racism, all types of discrimination. Discrimination against Hispanics, discrimination against the LGBTQ community. But to do it vocally and to do it for all groups with the same passion that we would do it for one group.”

Response to concerns about equal protection and advocacy for all communities

“Meg is a new executive director. She's only been there three months. She can't change an organization over time. Dealing with Art Deco weekends, dealing with the legislature, dealing with an inspector general request and all that. It's a lot to do in a short period of time.”

Discussing extension of timeline for Art Deco Historic District compliance

“Right now, residents or units in buildings of 9 to 16 units find themselves in this difficult, expensive situation where there are usually too small to negotiate a favorable contract with private waste haulers. Buildings of fewer than nine units are part of our residential garbage collection. But the moment you go beyond nine units, you have to negotiate your own contract. This ordinance would put those units 9 to 16 unit apartment buildings and condominium buildings as part of the residential waste collection program.”

Explaining rationale for solid waste ordinance amendment

“Some buildings might be getting up to $1,900 in savings. A lot of them over $1,000 in savings on a monthly basis. These are real big numbers and significant savings that we can pass along to our residents.”

Quantifying potential waste collection savings

“Mr. Director, would it be possible to allow owners of these multi-family structures, whether they be apartment buildings or condominiums, to opt into the program on an annual basis?”

Proposing annual opt-in flexibility for waste collection program

“What would be great is between first and second reading, if we could find a way in which these 9 to 16 unit apartment buildings, if they want to opt out and have their own individual contract, they can opt out. But if we don't hear from them, they're just part of our residential program.”

Proposing opt-out mechanism with default automatic enrollment

“We can help make it easier for them, and hopefully save costs that get passed down to the tenants. These oftentimes are self-managed associations. They don't have professional management. They don't have brokers. Oftentimes these are mom and pop landlords who are unsophisticated or buildings that are passed on from generation to generation.”

Emphasizing benefit of default enrollment for self-managed properties

“When we were talking about the dividend, about the return of the surplus, there was a lot of discussion. Well, what are you going to do for tenants? This is one of the things that we can do. Finding ways where in our structure of how we operate our services, we can identify not a one time dividend check, but actually a continuing and recurring saving on a monthly basis.”

Framing waste collection change as tenant relief measure related to budget surplus discussions

“My intent is for them to opt out. So that if they don't... What I want is the default to be that we're going to help these tenants, these condo owners save money by having their buildings automatically be part of the residential waste agreement. But if the buildings choose not to because they want to negotiate their own contract, then they opt out.”

Clarifying intent for opt-out default with automatic enrollment

“If they opt out initially, can we just put it on them to contact us if they want to opt in in the future. So we're not doing an annual.”

Proposing one-time opt-out with future opt-in option

“If they opt out initially, can we just put it on them to contact us if they want to opt in in the future. So we're not doing an annual.”

Requesting modification to annual opt-in procedure

“With all my heart, I want to thank Commissioner Bhatt for sponsoring this resolution. Commissioner Mateo-Salinas for co-sponsoring this item because preserving the legacy, reinstalling our rainbow crosswalk using these salvaged pavers. It's about visibility. It's about dignity. So, as you mentioned, it's about recognizing how emotional this was and sending a message to our LGBTQ community and to the world about who we are.”

Thanking sponsors of rainbow crosswalk resolution

“My concern is that even with a sunset date, this legislation would immediately reward bad property owners.”

Expressing concerns about upzoning benefits accruing to neglectful property owners

“The moment this is passed, the market value would be created at second reading. Once this is passed, the land value would happen.”

Explaining the immediate value creation from the upzoning

“Let's look at corridors like this and say, okay, if you're seeking to redevelop your property up to a certain amount of F.A., you'll have a more streamlined process rather than a six-sevenths vote, you'll have a five-sevenths vote.”

Proposing an alternative approach to incentivize development while maintaining city leverage

“I serve as a Commissioner in the City of Miami Beach. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today regarding HB 943... While we have serious reservations about certain provisions in the Bill, I'm grateful for the respectful dialog and the opportunity to provide input in Miami Beach. We're deeply committed to creating housing for the missing middle.”

Video testimony from Tallahassee regarding HB 943

“One of my colleagues is advancing legislation to allow increased heights for non-luxury housing along more than one mile of Washington Avenue. One of our major commercial corridors, I'm sponsoring zoning legislation to bring attainable housing to our iconic and historic Lincoln Road.”

Describing local housing initiatives in Tallahassee testimony

“These local initiatives eliminate outdated parking mandates. They increase unit counts and expand housing opportunity for those in the in the missing middle. Those who don't qualify for workforce but who are being priced out of our communities. And those are our nurses, our teachers, our professionals who are being pushed out.”

Describing benefits of proposed housing policies in Tallahassee testimony

“Together, these housing policies we're advancing locally could result in over 3600 new residential units, all within floor area ratio and height limits that respect the scale and the character of Miami Beach.”

Projecting housing unit impact of local policies in Tallahassee testimony

“And that's why we're concerned about the bill's preemption of local height and FAR standards, as well as provisions that eliminate supermajority voting thresholds for height and FAR changes. And the reason why we're concerned with with that is that that will directly impact our historic districts, our Art Deco collection of buildings.”

Explaining concerns about HB 943 in Tallahassee testimony

“Those are low scale districts that could potentially be replaced with buildings up to 500ft tall. And that's a significant change. So we support more housing, but it must be done responsibly in the context that fits our community.”

Expressing concerns about height impacts on historic districts in Tallahassee testimony

“Thank you, Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So you mentioned that I advocated for this in Tallahassee. I didn't advocate for this policy. I mentioned the policy, the policy that is being brought forward. And and I'm happy that I did. I'm happy that I did because we were able to secure certain, certain exemptions because they see that we are having this conversation.”

Clarifying his Tallahassee testimony position

“They say that we are discussing policy. The process is very important. Have you heard what I said at the at the end, responsibly, in the context that fits? Those were my words towards the end of my comments, responsibly. In the context that fits. We lose that. We lose that responsible, responsible approach and the context when we do blanket policy that doesn't allow us to consider nearby buildings, setbacks, height issues, infrastructure issues, not just the infrastructure of that one building and the immediate infrastructure in front of it, but the downstream impact that is going to have.”

Emphasizing importance of responsible, contextual approach

“And that's why I'm saying we can consider zoning policy. We can consider this very same zoning policy without adopting it. Commissioner Suarez. Earlier today, you brought legislation about the UDB. Well, you know, we could do something similar with with the UDB.”

Proposing alternative approach using UDB model

“The UDB has an urban expansion area, which I assume you're familiar with. And and in that urban expansion area that's designated for, for for development outside of of of the UDB developers know that if there were to be any development is within the UEA. We could do something similar here. You have your capped FAR. But if you go beyond that capped FAR up to 4.0 FAR. You don't have to go through the six month process. You don't have to get six votes. You can do five votes so that we make it easier.”

Proposing UDB urban expansion area model for Washington Avenue

“And we keep for our city manager, for our city attorney, the leverage that the public needs in order to negotiate with each one of these developments, the public benefits that are needed to deal with the impacts.”

Emphasizing need to retain negotiating leverage

“So I think I think this policy, yes, we all want and I think you're hearing it from from everyone in this dais. We all want to see redevelopment in Washington Avenue. We all want to see housing. What we don't want to see is a broad policy that creates, as of right, zoning for property owners who I believe have purposefully, purposefully abandoned their properties to force us to do policies like this.”

Criticizing as-of-right zoning and property owner behavior

“Because I believe it's what's happened. People have purposefully abandoned their properties to corner the city, to push the city into adopting policy like this that artificially increases their property value. That the moment that this passes, they can flip this property to a developer. That that developer can then get an approval and an a building permit that can then be flipped again and kept open beyond the sunset of this, of this, of this ordinance.”

Alleging intentional property abandonment strategy

“So, so my my, my my suggestion here is the approach. Rather than doing it as of right, doing it in such a way where you're saying we're going to facilitate you to get this zoning so that we can still retain the individual review of each project before we end up with 100 foot buildings up and down Washington Avenue.”

Proposing alternative approach to maintain project review

“I also have a question because, you know, talking about Tallahassee, we have SB 180. And, you know, one of the good things from this bill, from this ordinance would be if we could actually take away the incentive from hotel development. But Mr. Attorney, can we really can we really take away. I mean, this is proposing taking away height from hotels, but does SB 180 allow us to do that?”

Questioning legality of hotel height reduction under SB 180

“So, I mean, so I think we can have this conversation of facilitating this zoning. And I think we can help that zoning happen where the market interest would be at without saying that you have to jump through the hurdle of of a six seventh vote without having to put people through a six month process, streamlining it so that we make it more realistic and more feasible for people to achieve without creating this. As of right zoning that people will have. It's just the approach.”

Proposing streamlined approach without as-of-right zoning

“There's a lot of good ideas. There's a lot of good in this policy. I think there's a path forward. I think we should talk about land use. We do have those 13,000,000 square feet of unused FAR. We currently have a TDR study that we're doing. What's the status of that TDR study?”

Commissioner Fernandez responding to public comments on Washington Avenue proposal

“What is the authority of the North Beach CRA? Do they have decision making authority, or are they plainly advisory? And what is the main purpose of a community redevelopment agency?”

Questioning City Attorney about CRA authority

“So this individual really doesn't have any real decision making authority over the CRA. Their role is advisory in nature. They make recommendations through motions. Is it any different than when we appoint real estate developers to certain categories on the planning board?”

Distinguishing between advisory and decision-making roles

“I get where you're coming from, and I respect it. But, you know, she's also a resident. She's been a long time stakeholder. And they deserve respect. I don't like to call them out this way in public. They've been serving there. She's also a very philanthropic family. They help pay for many things in the North Beach fountain area and long term residents.”

Defending Vatia's appointment despite Suarez's concerns

“I just want to publicly apologize to Corey Rice and Christopher Rollins, especially Christopher, who I know personally. I had committed to support them. And I realized here on the dais that I overcommitted myself and I wasn't able to support them.”

Board and committee appointments, explaining why she was voting differently than previously promised

“When we create departments, departments are created by the Commission and they're created by the Commission through ordinance. And then based on those units and those departments that are created by ordinance of the City Commission, we pass a budget and there's directors. We haven't amended our work chart. We haven't passed an ordinance saying we no longer want to have a Fleet Department. We no longer want to have a Facilities Department. We want to consolidate this all into one department. I would want to see what are the cost savings, what are the unintended consequences to our parks department.”

C7-E, objecting to the appointment of John Rebar as director of newly restructured department without formal ordinance creating the new department structure

“The Parks Department is second to none and people absolutely love it. I don't want to jeopardize that by putting one director in charge of a mega department. In essence, we're making John unofficially kind of like an ACM, even though it's not an assistant manager position with this size of a portfolio.”

C7-E, expressing concerns about the scope of the new departmental structure

“I fully support this. I think it's great that Barry Sternlicht is supporting our community. I just want to make sure that when we approve this, that when this funding is being used for senior events, that it's clear that it's coming from Barry Sternlicht and is approved by the Office of the Mayor and Commission, not just one elected official, but through the support of the Barry Sternlicht Foundation and by the Office of the Mayor and Commission.”

C7-AZ, donation from Barry S. Sternlicht Foundation for senior programming, expressing concerns about attribution of funding

“The contract stipulates that the City Manager shall be evaluated by the Commission within 45 days before following his anniversary date of July 24th. That would put the earliest we could do this as early June. How did this item end up on the agenda? It's outside of what the contract calls for. We're a few months ahead of that. So why is this happening?”

C4-A, City Manager's annual performance evaluation, questioning the timing of the evaluation

“I've enumerated publicly a number of issues, including permitting, which is one of the things that I've asked you to take a look at. I would feel more comfortable doing this in June at that time, just so that we can give you time to advance on some of these goals that at least I've given you. I would feel more comfortable just following what the contract says, waiting to those 45 days prior to the anniversary date.”

C4-A, City Manager's annual performance evaluation, explaining preference for delaying the evaluation

“I'd be remiss not to thank Gustavo Brian from the Hispanic Affairs Committee, who not only led this effort in the Hispanic Affairs Committee, but put money out of his own pocket to get the bust commissioned and to have it donated to the city.”

Recognition of Gustavo Brian's contributions to the General Jose de San Martin bust installation project (R7-P)

“When we're talking about creating or conducting a comprehensive analysis about something that is so tied to our police department, to law enforcement, we're talking about outlining potential benefits and drawbacks and concerns on patrol and its operational effectiveness and public safety considerations. I think it's only respectful to the Public Safety Committee that we also refer this to the Public Safety Committee. I was actually quite surprised when I saw a public safety item referred to the Finance Committee.”

Justification for dual referral of mounted horse police patrol feasibility (C4-H) to both Finance and Public Safety committees

“The longest complaint I got this last year was 45 minutes. So I think our police and in coordination with us from policy is we've done a better job about doing the police work they need to do, but also not having extreme wait times.”

Comparing current checkpoint wait times (45 minutes) to historical waits (4 hours)

“My concern is that even with a sunset date, this legislation would immediately reward bad property owners.”

Expressing concerns about upzoning benefits accruing to neglectful property owners

“The moment this is passed, the market value would be created at second reading. Once this is passed, the land value would happen.”

Explaining the immediate value creation from the upzoning

“Let's look at corridors like this and say, okay, if you're seeking to redevelop your property up to a certain amount of F.A., you'll have a more streamlined process rather than a six-sevenths vote, you'll have a five-sevenths vote.”

Proposing an alternative approach to incentivize development while maintaining city leverage

“Portraying Jewish individuals as evil is actually an old anti-Semitic practice that has been used throughout history to justify hatred, to justify violence towards Jewish people. And it's the kind of imagery and rhetoric that is divisive. It has no place in the public discourse.”

Response to incidents involving hateful rhetoric and portrayal of Jewish people

“We have a two fold responsibility. We have a responsibility to stand firmly with our Jewish community, to call out anti-Semitism... And we also have a responsibility to ensure that our public institutions, our public resources, respond in a way that are measured in a way that are constitutional in a way where we don't reward bad messages, hateful messages, vile messages, divisive messages with a larger platform than what they deserve.”

Discussing community response to anti-Semitic incidents

“As I go through my committee appointments today as I cast my vote today on committee appointments, I am not going to be voting for individuals who are using their platforms to promote hate and division in our community.”

Stating position on committee appointments in light of hateful rhetoric

“I serve as a Commissioner in the City of Miami Beach. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today regarding HB 943... While we have serious reservations about certain provisions in the Bill, I'm grateful for the respectful dialog and the opportunity to provide input in Miami Beach. We're deeply committed to creating housing for the missing middle.”

Video testimony from Tallahassee regarding HB 943

“One of my colleagues is advancing legislation to allow increased heights for non-luxury housing along more than one mile of Washington Avenue. One of our major commercial corridors, I'm sponsoring zoning legislation to bring attainable housing to our iconic and historic Lincoln Road.”

Describing local housing initiatives in Tallahassee testimony

“These local initiatives eliminate outdated parking mandates. They increase unit counts and expand housing opportunity for those in the in the missing middle. Those who don't qualify for workforce but who are being priced out of our communities. And those are our nurses, our teachers, our professionals who are being pushed out.”

Describing benefits of proposed housing policies in Tallahassee testimony

“Together, these housing policies we're advancing locally could result in over 3600 new residential units, all within floor area ratio and height limits that respect the scale and the character of Miami Beach.”

Projecting housing unit impact of local policies in Tallahassee testimony

“And that's why we're concerned about the bill's preemption of local height and FAR standards, as well as provisions that eliminate supermajority voting thresholds for height and FAR changes. And the reason why we're concerned with with that is that that will directly impact our historic districts, our Art Deco collection of buildings.”

Explaining concerns about HB 943 in Tallahassee testimony

“Those are low scale districts that could potentially be replaced with buildings up to 500ft tall. And that's a significant change. So we support more housing, but it must be done responsibly in the context that fits our community.”

Expressing concerns about height impacts on historic districts in Tallahassee testimony

“Thank you, Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So you mentioned that I advocated for this in Tallahassee. I didn't advocate for this policy. I mentioned the policy, the policy that is being brought forward. And and I'm happy that I did. I'm happy that I did because we were able to secure certain, certain exemptions because they see that we are having this conversation.”

Clarifying his Tallahassee testimony position

“They say that we are discussing policy. The process is very important. Have you heard what I said at the at the end, responsibly, in the context that fits? Those were my words towards the end of my comments, responsibly. In the context that fits. We lose that. We lose that responsible, responsible approach and the context when we do blanket policy that doesn't allow us to consider nearby buildings, setbacks, height issues, infrastructure issues, not just the infrastructure of that one building and the immediate infrastructure in front of it, but the downstream impact that is going to have.”

Emphasizing importance of responsible, contextual approach

“And that's why I'm saying we can consider zoning policy. We can consider this very same zoning policy without adopting it. Commissioner Suarez. Earlier today, you brought legislation about the UDB. Well, you know, we could do something similar with with the UDB.”

Proposing alternative approach using UDB model

“The UDB has an urban expansion area, which I assume you're familiar with. And and in that urban expansion area that's designated for, for for development outside of of of the UDB developers know that if there were to be any development is within the UEA. We could do something similar here. You have your capped FAR. But if you go beyond that capped FAR up to 4.0 FAR. You don't have to go through the six month process. You don't have to get six votes. You can do five votes so that we make it easier.”

Proposing UDB urban expansion area model for Washington Avenue

“And we keep for our city manager, for our city attorney, the leverage that the public needs in order to negotiate with each one of these developments, the public benefits that are needed to deal with the impacts.”

Emphasizing need to retain negotiating leverage

“So I think I think this policy, yes, we all want and I think you're hearing it from from everyone in this dais. We all want to see redevelopment in Washington Avenue. We all want to see housing. What we don't want to see is a broad policy that creates, as of right, zoning for property owners who I believe have purposefully, purposefully abandoned their properties to force us to do policies like this.”

Criticizing as-of-right zoning and property owner behavior

“Because I believe it's what's happened. People have purposefully abandoned their properties to corner the city, to push the city into adopting policy like this that artificially increases their property value. That the moment that this passes, they can flip this property to a developer. That that developer can then get an approval and an a building permit that can then be flipped again and kept open beyond the sunset of this, of this, of this ordinance.”

Alleging intentional property abandonment strategy

“So, so my my, my my suggestion here is the approach. Rather than doing it as of right, doing it in such a way where you're saying we're going to facilitate you to get this zoning so that we can still retain the individual review of each project before we end up with 100 foot buildings up and down Washington Avenue.”

Proposing alternative approach to maintain project review

“I also have a question because, you know, talking about Tallahassee, we have SB 180. And, you know, one of the good things from this bill, from this ordinance would be if we could actually take away the incentive from hotel development. But Mr. Attorney, can we really can we really take away. I mean, this is proposing taking away height from hotels, but does SB 180 allow us to do that?”

Questioning legality of hotel height reduction under SB 180

“So, I mean, so I think we can have this conversation of facilitating this zoning. And I think we can help that zoning happen where the market interest would be at without saying that you have to jump through the hurdle of of a six seventh vote without having to put people through a six month process, streamlining it so that we make it more realistic and more feasible for people to achieve without creating this. As of right zoning that people will have. It's just the approach.”

Proposing streamlined approach without as-of-right zoning

“There's a lot of good ideas. There's a lot of good in this policy. I think there's a path forward. I think we should talk about land use. We do have those 13,000,000 square feet of unused FAR. We currently have a TDR study that we're doing. What's the status of that TDR study?”

Commissioner Fernandez responding to public comments on Washington Avenue proposal

“I don't know which Inez just spoke, but if it's the one who I think it is, is someone who has written on social media calling Democrats demon rats. And when we're talking about not demonizing people, it's across the board.”

Response to public speaker about civility and demonization

“What is the authority of the North Beach CRA? Do they have decision making authority, or are they plainly advisory? And what is the main purpose of a community redevelopment agency?”

Questioning City Attorney about CRA authority

“So this individual really doesn't have any real decision making authority over the CRA. Their role is advisory in nature. They make recommendations through motions. Is it any different than when we appoint real estate developers to certain categories on the planning board?”

Distinguishing between advisory and decision-making roles

“I get where you're coming from, and I respect it. But, you know, she's also a resident. She's been a long time stakeholder. And they deserve respect. I don't like to call them out this way in public. They've been serving there. She's also a very philanthropic family. They help pay for many things in the North Beach fountain area and long term residents.”

Defending Vatia's appointment despite Suarez's concerns

“I just want to publicly apologize to Corey Rice and Christopher Rollins, especially Christopher, who I know personally. I had committed to support them. And I realized here on the dais that I overcommitted myself and I wasn't able to support them.”

Board and committee appointments, explaining why she was voting differently than previously promised

“When we create departments, departments are created by the Commission and they're created by the Commission through ordinance. And then based on those units and those departments that are created by ordinance of the City Commission, we pass a budget and there's directors. We haven't amended our work chart. We haven't passed an ordinance saying we no longer want to have a Fleet Department. We no longer want to have a Facilities Department. We want to consolidate this all into one department. I would want to see what are the cost savings, what are the unintended consequences to our parks department.”

C7-E, objecting to the appointment of John Rebar as director of newly restructured department without formal ordinance creating the new department structure

“The Parks Department is second to none and people absolutely love it. I don't want to jeopardize that by putting one director in charge of a mega department. In essence, we're making John unofficially kind of like an ACM, even though it's not an assistant manager position with this size of a portfolio.”

C7-E, expressing concerns about the scope of the new departmental structure

“I fully support this. I think it's great that Barry Sternlicht is supporting our community. I just want to make sure that when we approve this, that when this funding is being used for senior events, that it's clear that it's coming from Barry Sternlicht and is approved by the Office of the Mayor and Commission, not just one elected official, but through the support of the Barry Sternlicht Foundation and by the Office of the Mayor and Commission.”

C7-AZ, donation from Barry S. Sternlicht Foundation for senior programming, expressing concerns about attribution of funding

“The contract stipulates that the City Manager shall be evaluated by the Commission within 45 days before following his anniversary date of July 24th. That would put the earliest we could do this as early June. How did this item end up on the agenda? It's outside of what the contract calls for. We're a few months ahead of that. So why is this happening?”

C4-A, City Manager's annual performance evaluation, questioning the timing of the evaluation

“I've enumerated publicly a number of issues, including permitting, which is one of the things that I've asked you to take a look at. I would feel more comfortable doing this in June at that time, just so that we can give you time to advance on some of these goals that at least I've given you. I would feel more comfortable just following what the contract says, waiting to those 45 days prior to the anniversary date.”

C4-A, City Manager's annual performance evaluation, explaining preference for delaying the evaluation

“I'd be remiss not to thank Gustavo Brian from the Hispanic Affairs Committee, who not only led this effort in the Hispanic Affairs Committee, but put money out of his own pocket to get the bust commissioned and to have it donated to the city.”

Recognition of Gustavo Brian's contributions to the General Jose de San Martin bust installation project (R7-P)

“When we're talking about creating or conducting a comprehensive analysis about something that is so tied to our police department, to law enforcement, we're talking about outlining potential benefits and drawbacks and concerns on patrol and its operational effectiveness and public safety considerations. I think it's only respectful to the Public Safety Committee that we also refer this to the Public Safety Committee. I was actually quite surprised when I saw a public safety item referred to the Finance Committee.”

Justification for dual referral of mounted horse police patrol feasibility (C4-H) to both Finance and Public Safety committees

“I think what we need to look at is a calibrated and flexible Spring Break operational plan, one that keeps public safety as our priority... A plan that preserves the tools we've developed and we've adopted over the past year, but apply some with precision based on the real time conditions of what's happening in our city.”

Proposing balanced approach to Spring Break 2026 measures

“I don't think anything of what the City Manager is saying is about undoing the Spring Break strategy that we've had over the past few years. They've been incredibly successful. It's a framework. It's a safety framework that works. The question is how to apply it in a way that's intelligent, that's proportional, that doesn't hurt our businesses, that doesn't hurt our residents quality of life.”

Clarifying position on Spring Break measures

“I support keeping sidewalk cafes open unless and until conditions would require otherwise. These are permitted businesses. They count with sidewalk space. And the people who come from other parts of the country, they want to be able to sit outside, have a meal outside, enjoy our weather.”

Position on sidewalk cafe operations during Spring Break

“I support rolling, removing, scaling back barricades where feasible... There might be certain hot spots where you may want to be able to consider keeping them, like the 900 block of Collins Avenue... or the 700 block of Washington, where we know based on data and history, these are hotspots where it might be prudent to keep those barricades there, but not imposing them by default.”

Position on barricade strategy during Spring Break

“We shouldn't normalize a lockdown posture when a managed open condition can work safely.”

Expressing philosophy on Spring Break management

“My concern about leaving too much flexibility. I feel like that was part of the problem that we had in the past, because our Commission came together and gave some strict restrictions. It makes it difficult when there's this amorphous moving goalpost depending on the situation.”

Expressing concern about maintaining clear policies rather than flexible approaches

“Is there a way to implement like a voucher program, like where businesses actually, whatever the business is, that they have an X amount of vouchers, that they can use a QR code for their.”

Proposing voucher program for business parking

“On the causeways, what's interesting, because I spent a lot of time actually on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle during last spring break. I was out there at one point where the officers had to confiscate guns, illegal weapons from a vehicle.”

Discussing serious public safety issues encountered during DUI checkpoints

“As Commissioner Magazine mentioned, something that was important which is the partying we've seen in the past out of the cars that are parked. So it's important to open the garages and to encourage people to use garages on street parking. I was trying to go and support some of the local businesses. I wasn't able to park because of the barricades. While I agree we don't want that unruly activity on the streets, we do want to have parking. We need enforcement to make sure we don't have loud music coming out of these cars, we don't have open containers, people tailgating, we don't have people selling drugs out of these cars. That's what I think we need to make sure.”

Supporting street parking availability while maintaining enforcement against illegal activity

“This proposal establishes a pilot program intended to incentivize the reactivation of vacant storefronts. Our residents speak so nostalgically about the old Miami Beach where they often recall live music, places where they could go have dinner, have coffee, have brunch, listen to some live music.”

Introducing R5-D regarding temporary conditional use regulations

“Places like Van Dike's, a beloved establishment like that, that people reminisce about, wanted to come back to our city today. It wouldn't be able to open as of right in our city because our zoning code, our laws don't allow it.”

Discussing why new entertainment regulations are needed

“It establishes a temporary period until December 31st. During which businesses can apply to the administration to have live entertainment in areas like Lincoln Road from Collins to Alton Road or other areas of our city like Washington Avenue without having to go through the conditional use process.”

Explaining the scope and duration of R5-D pilot program

“Since it does have an expiration date, the intent of this is to encourage property owners to fill up their storefronts while this policy exists because it's not a given that it will continue. Fill up your empty storefronts because you have no guarantee that next year this policy is going to continue.”

Explaining urgency for property owners to use pilot program

“One of the things that I'm going to be looking at is, has it been used? If this policy doesn't yield them filling up their storefronts and retail spaces remain empty, then I'm not going to sponsor or support a continuation of the pilot. It really is about reactivating our corridors that need help.”

Stating conditions for supporting extension of R5-D

“We will definitely encourage Washington Avenue businesses to participate. This is something that is needed, and I think we will encourage and do as much as we can to support this.”

Responding to BID representative about supporting businesses participating in the entertainment ordinance

“One of the things that I love about being a Miami Beach City Commissioner is a diversity that we get to represent. I love representing just the broad spectrum of people that make up the beautiful melting pot of this community, whether it be the Jewish community, whether it be the Episcopalian community over at the Church at All Souls, or whether it be the Black community and working with Glendon or our LGBTQ community or women and the Women's Commission or different Hispanic groups or different or other groups. It's really what I love about Miami Beach is our diversity, representing that diversity and fighting for that diversity and speaking up when the different groups of our community are being targeted.”

Discussion about diverse communities in Miami Beach and protecting them from discrimination

“I feel like sometimes what people want to see is, you know, that passion across the board. You know, the passion that we have, they I think some people want to just make sure that, you know, we are equally, you know, passionate with all different groups and protecting all different groups. And I think we are. I think this Commission has displayed that and I think they have that expectation of us. You know, to passionately fight against anti-Semitism, to passionately fight against racism, all types of discrimination. Discrimination against Hispanics, discrimination against the LGBTQ community. But to do it vocally and to do it for all groups with the same passion that we would do it for one group.”

Response to concerns about equal protection and advocacy for all communities

“Meg is a new executive director. She's only been there three months. She can't change an organization over time. Dealing with Art Deco weekends, dealing with the legislature, dealing with an inspector general request and all that. It's a lot to do in a short period of time.”

Discussing extension of timeline for Art Deco Historic District compliance

“Right now, residents or units in buildings of 9 to 16 units find themselves in this difficult, expensive situation where there are usually too small to negotiate a favorable contract with private waste haulers. Buildings of fewer than nine units are part of our residential garbage collection. But the moment you go beyond nine units, you have to negotiate your own contract. This ordinance would put those units 9 to 16 unit apartment buildings and condominium buildings as part of the residential waste collection program.”

Explaining rationale for solid waste ordinance amendment

“Some buildings might be getting up to $1,900 in savings. A lot of them over $1,000 in savings on a monthly basis. These are real big numbers and significant savings that we can pass along to our residents.”

Quantifying potential waste collection savings

“Mr. Director, would it be possible to allow owners of these multi-family structures, whether they be apartment buildings or condominiums, to opt into the program on an annual basis?”

Proposing annual opt-in flexibility for waste collection program

“What would be great is between first and second reading, if we could find a way in which these 9 to 16 unit apartment buildings, if they want to opt out and have their own individual contract, they can opt out. But if we don't hear from them, they're just part of our residential program.”

Proposing opt-out mechanism with default automatic enrollment

“We can help make it easier for them, and hopefully save costs that get passed down to the tenants. These oftentimes are self-managed associations. They don't have professional management. They don't have brokers. Oftentimes these are mom and pop landlords who are unsophisticated or buildings that are passed on from generation to generation.”

Emphasizing benefit of default enrollment for self-managed properties

“When we were talking about the dividend, about the return of the surplus, there was a lot of discussion. Well, what are you going to do for tenants? This is one of the things that we can do. Finding ways where in our structure of how we operate our services, we can identify not a one time dividend check, but actually a continuing and recurring saving on a monthly basis.”

Framing waste collection change as tenant relief measure related to budget surplus discussions

“My intent is for them to opt out. So that if they don't... What I want is the default to be that we're going to help these tenants, these condo owners save money by having their buildings automatically be part of the residential waste agreement. But if the buildings choose not to because they want to negotiate their own contract, then they opt out.”

Clarifying intent for opt-out default with automatic enrollment

“If they opt out initially, can we just put it on them to contact us if they want to opt in in the future. So we're not doing an annual.”

Proposing one-time opt-out with future opt-in option

“If they opt out initially, can we just put it on them to contact us if they want to opt in in the future. So we're not doing an annual.”

Requesting modification to annual opt-in procedure

“Portraying Jewish individuals as evil is actually an old anti-Semitic practice that has been used throughout history to justify hatred, to justify violence towards Jewish people. And it's the kind of imagery and rhetoric that is divisive. It has no place in the public discourse.”

Response to incidents involving hateful rhetoric and portrayal of Jewish people

“With all my heart, I want to thank Commissioner Bhatt for sponsoring this resolution. Commissioner Mateo-Salinas for co-sponsoring this item because preserving the legacy, reinstalling our rainbow crosswalk using these salvaged pavers. It's about visibility. It's about dignity. So, as you mentioned, it's about recognizing how emotional this was and sending a message to our LGBTQ community and to the world about who we are.”

Thanking sponsors of rainbow crosswalk resolution

“We have a two fold responsibility. We have a responsibility to stand firmly with our Jewish community, to call out anti-Semitism... And we also have a responsibility to ensure that our public institutions, our public resources, respond in a way that are measured in a way that are constitutional in a way where we don't reward bad messages, hateful messages, vile messages, divisive messages with a larger platform than what they deserve.”

Discussing community response to anti-Semitic incidents

“As I go through my committee appointments today as I cast my vote today on committee appointments, I am not going to be voting for individuals who are using their platforms to promote hate and division in our community.”

Stating position on committee appointments in light of hateful rhetoric

“I think what we need to look at is a calibrated and flexible Spring Break operational plan, one that keeps public safety as our priority... A plan that preserves the tools we've developed and we've adopted over the past year, but apply some with precision based on the real time conditions of what's happening in our city.”

Proposing balanced approach to Spring Break 2026 measures

“I don't think anything of what the City Manager is saying is about undoing the Spring Break strategy that we've had over the past few years. They've been incredibly successful. It's a framework. It's a safety framework that works. The question is how to apply it in a way that's intelligent, that's proportional, that doesn't hurt our businesses, that doesn't hurt our residents quality of life.”

Clarifying position on Spring Break measures

“I support keeping sidewalk cafes open unless and until conditions would require otherwise. These are permitted businesses. They count with sidewalk space. And the people who come from other parts of the country, they want to be able to sit outside, have a meal outside, enjoy our weather.”

Position on sidewalk cafe operations during Spring Break

“I support rolling, removing, scaling back barricades where feasible... There might be certain hot spots where you may want to be able to consider keeping them, like the 900 block of Collins Avenue... or the 700 block of Washington, where we know based on data and history, these are hotspots where it might be prudent to keep those barricades there, but not imposing them by default.”

Position on barricade strategy during Spring Break