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2025-09-15 Council Meeting Minutes SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 10:00 AM COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Charles called the meeting to order at 10:20 AM. 2. MOMENT OF SILENCE / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Jerome Charles Councilmember George Burch Councilmember Patrick B. Devaney Councilmember Jesse Valinsky Vice Mayor Neil Cantor was absent. Also Present: Village Manager Esmond Scott Village Attorney Chanae Wood Village Clerk Ysabely Rodriguez 4. RESOLUTION(S)- PUBLIC HEARING(S) 4.A A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGECOUNCIL OF THE VILLAGEOF MIAMI SHORES, FLORIDA RELATING TO THE VILLAGE’S SEPTIC TO SEWER PROGRAM; DECLARING THE IMPOSITION OF NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION WITHIN THE SHORES ESTATES RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA; ESTABLISHING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE CALCULATED; ESTIMATING THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDING FOR THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM; PROVIDING FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION; PROVIDING FOR THE METHODOLOGY AND APPORTIONMENT OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS TO THE BENIFITTED PARCELS; CONFIRMING THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION; ESTABLISHING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE PROPOSED NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE MADE; PROVIDING FOR EQUALIZATION, FILING, AND LIEN ON PROPERTIES TO BE ASSESSED; PROVIDING FOR EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR). Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the resolution into the record. Mayor Charles opened the public hearing and explained the protocol for public comments. Luz Lera expressed concern about the assessment, stating she was unsure of its purpose and felt it was being imposed without the possibility of dispute. She mentioned living in Miami Shores for over 30 years and questioned what difference the additional money would make, noting issues with bulk pickup and recycling service. Eric Bancroft acknowledged the increase was necessary to balance the budget rather than for service changes. He expressed appreciation to the Council for their service and suggested that the lack of attendance indicated that most residents were not upset about the assessment. Mary Anne Schmidhoffer expressed confusion about the project funding, noting she thought federal funding had been secured and budgeted for the project, and questioned why an additional assessment was necessary. Village Manager Scott provided background on the septic to sewer project, explaining it had been in progress for about five years. He noted that the Village had received more grant funding than initially anticipated, including funds to help residents with hookup costs. He emphasized that the Village had communicated with the community throughout the process, including a well-attended meeting about three weeks prior, and that the project had already started. Elizabeth Keeley, Grants and Special Projects Manager, provided a detailed history of the project. She explained that the project originated after Hurricane Irma in 2017, and the Village received approximately $2.2 million in federal funding as a fifty-fifty matching grant, with the village's portion being $1,135,000. Due to post-COVID cost increases, when the project went out to bid, costs came in about 1.5 times higher than expected. The Village secured an additional $2 million in funding, bringing the total project cost to over $4 million. Following the direction of both current and previous councils, the uniform method of assessment was chosen to distribute costs to the 99 residential properties and one multi-family property in Shores Estates that would benefit from the conversion. The assessment would fund a 20-year loan to cover the village's matching portion. Councilmember Valinsky asked Ms. Keeley to clarify the original agreement with Shores Estates residents versus the current situation. Ms. Keeley explained that the initial plan called for a fifty- fifty split, with residents paying half. However, with the additional grant funding secured, residents would now only pay approximately 25% of the total project cost. Additionally, some grant funds might be left over to help residents with their individual property hookups. Delroy Peters, Public Works Director, added that the project had broken ground on June 2, and the Village had held numerous meetings with residents throughout the process, including setting up a tent in the neighborhood to discuss costs with residents. During Council discussion, Councilmember Burch raised questions about the loan interest rate, prepayment options, and how the assessment was calculated for the undeveloped land at 105th Street and the Boulevard. Ms. Keeley explained that the variable rate loan was currently at about 2.6%, and attorney Lori Smith-Lalla (via Zoom) clarified that residents would have a one-time option to prepay their assessments before financing is finalized. Kyle Stevens from Stantec Consulting explained that the vacant parcel at 105th Street was currently assigned 6.3 assessment units based on the village's minimum lot size requirements for single-family homes, but this would be adjusted if the property is developed in the future to ensure proportional assessment. There being no further discussion, Councilmember Valinsky moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Burch seconded the motion which carried a 4-0 voice vote. 4 4.B A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGECOUNCIL OF THE VILLAGEOF MIAMI SHORES, FLORIDA RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA; ESTABLISHING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTON AND DISPOSAL SERVICES SHALL BE CALCULATED; ESTIMATING THE COST FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTON AND DISPOSAL SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR THE METHODOLOGY AND APPORTIONMENT OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTON AND DISPOSAL SERVICES; CONFIRMING THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION; ESTABLISHING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE PROPOSED NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTON AND DISPOSAL SERVICES SHALL BE MADE; PROVIDING FOR EQUALIZATION, FILING, AND LIEN ON PROPERTIES TO BE ASSESSED; PROVIDING FOR EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR). Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the resolution into the record. Village Manager Scott introduced the resolution, explaining that it proposed a $140 per year increase in solid waste assessment for residential properties. He explained that this increase was necessary due to rising costs of garbage trucks (from $180,000 five years ago to $340,000 today), tipping fees, labor, diesel, and equipment. Manager Scott explained that solid waste is managed through an enterprise fund, which is used to ensure fair allocation of costs to all residents. He noted that Miami Shores provides exceptional service compared to other municipalities, except for perhaps Coral Gables, and has the lowest recycling contamination rate in Miami-Dade County. He emphasized that the increase was modest given the quality of service provided and the rising costs. He also clarified that some residents might have been confused by the assessment notices they received, explaining that the total figure shown (approximately $1,140) was the total assessment, not the increase, which is only about $140 per year for residential properties. Mary Anne Schmidhoffer commented that rather than focusing on processing more waste, the Village should address waste reduction through composting and re-purposing. She noted that her garbage output was minimal due to composting and recycling practices. She expressed concern that her assessment notice indicated a $1,100 increase rather than $140, and advocated for more sustainability efforts, better education on repurposing, and reducing what goes to landfills. Mayor Charles opened the public hearing. Luz Lera thanked the manager for clarifying that the amount on the notice was the total assessment, not the increase. She acknowledged that costs have increased and expressed appreciation for Village 5 services, though noted an instance where she felt the enforcement of bulk pickup rules was overly strict when she rarely used the service. Clerk Rodriguez read an e-comment. Councilmember Valinsky asked if the solid waste fund was operating at a deficit, to which Manager Scott replied it was not but was getting close to where adjustments were needed. Vice Mayor Cantor explained that the fees being charged reflect the actual costs of providing the service, unlike some neighboring municipalities that subsidize their solid waste operations from general funds. He highlighted the exceptional level of service provided in Miami Shores, including hand collection in narrow alleyways, frequent bulk pickup, and rapid storm debris removal. Councilmember Burch suggested exploring the possibility of handling solid waste in the public works land rather than continuing to raise fees to send it elsewhere. He noted that about 60% of what is collected is trash rather than garbage, and that the land was already approved for storing tree branches during hurricanes. He proposed that Miami Shores could become a leader in handling its own refuse and suggested revisiting conversations with the county's solid waste department about potential solutions. Manager Scott agreed to meet with County officials to discuss possibilities and acknowledged the creative efforts already underway to reduce tonnage and divert clean yard waste. Mayor Charles added that he had been meeting with the County's resiliency officer and noted that the county was addressing this area as part of its planning for future projects, including the Biscayne Canal action area. Councilmember Valinsky moved to approve the resolution and Councilmember Burch seconded the motion which carried a 4-0 voice vote. 5. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Village Council, the meeting adjourned at 11:52 AM.