2025-11-04 Council Meeting Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 4, 2025 6:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Jerome Charles called the meeting to order 6:32 PM.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Jerome Charles via Zoom
Vice Mayor Neil Cantor
Councilmember George Burch
Councilmember Patrick B. Devaney
Councilmember Jesse Valinsky
Also Present:
Village Manager Esmond Scott
Village Attorney Chanae Wood
Village Clerk Ysabely Rodriguez
4. ORDER OF BUSINESS (ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, & DEFERRALS)
Mayor Jerome Charles asked if there were any additions, deletions, or deferrals to the agenda.
Seeing none, the agenda stood as presented.
5. BOARDS/COMMITTEES REPORT
5.A AD HOC TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
REPORT.
Village Clerk Ysabely Rodriguez announced that item 5A had been deferred as the chairperson
was not available to deliver the report. The board requested that the report be presented at the
December 2nd meeting, indicating they wanted to make sure the entire board was present to
deliver the committee report.
6. MANAGER'S UPDATE
Village Manager Esmond Scott indicated he had nothing to report at this time.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS 3-Minute Time Limit
Julio Martinez thanked the board for approving the variance ordinance, expressing his
appreciation for what they had done.
Ed Nadall addressed the Council about construction in Miami Shores. He expressed concern
about the uptick in construction where beautiful homes were being torn down and replaced with
single-story 3,000-4,000 square foot homes on lots that were never meant for these types of
homes. He emphasized that all structures being built should be harmonious to the existing
structures and homes around that area.
The Village Clerk read eComments into the record.
8. CONSENT AGENDA All items listed within this section entitled "Consent Agenda" are
considered to be self-explanatory and are not expected to require additional review or
discussion, unless a member of the Village Council requests, in which case, the item will
be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered along with the regular order of
business.
Councilmember Burch moved to approve the consent agenda and Vice Mayor Cantor
seconded the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
8.A APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 COUNCIL WORKSHOP
(STAFF: VILLAGE CLERK).
Passed on Consent.
8.B APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 7, 2025 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES (STAFF: VILLAGE CLERK).
Passed on Consent.
8.C A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF MIAMI SHORES
VILLAGE, FLORIDA; APPROVING THE AWARD OF RFP 2025-08-01
DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES AND FINANCIAL
RECOVERY ASSISTANCE; AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE MANAGER
TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH TETRA TECH, INC. FOR A
THREE-YEAR PERIOD, WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR
RENEWAL OPTIONS (PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR).
Passed on Consent.
8.D A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE,
FLORIDA, WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION 1124-07, SECTION 1. 6); AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE
OF CELLULAR ENCLOSURES FROM HIGH TIDE TECHNOLOGIES AS A
SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$27,839.70; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR).
Passed on Consent.
9. ORDINANCE(S) ON SECOND READING- PUBLIC HEARING
9.A AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF MIAMI SHORES
VILLAGE, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ADMINISTRATION,
ARTICLE VI, CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY, TO CLARIFY THE
CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY BOARD’S CONTRACTING AUTHORITY;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS, AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE (STAFF: VILLAGE ATTORNEY).
Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the ordinance into the record.
Village Attorney Chanae Wood explained this was the second reading of the ordinance to provide
clarity as to what the Charter School Board can approve on their own authority, removing the
language of administrative service contracts.
Mayor Jerome Charles opened the public hearing. There were no public comments or e-
comments on this item.
Councilmember Burch moved the adoption of the ordinance and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded
the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
10.BOARD APPOINTMENT(S)
10.A APPOINTMENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY COMMITTEE (1
UNEXPIRED TERM).
Village Clerk Ysabely Rodriguez explained there was one unexpired term vacancy. The Clerk's
office opened the application process for approximately two months and received two
applications from Marcia Page and Paul Madsen.
Paul Madsen introduced himself, stating he had lived in the Shores for 49 years and was looking
forward to serving on this board and helping because he loved the Shores and wanted to help
as much as he could.
The Village Clerk's Office prepared paper ballots for Council to cast votes. Following the vote
count, Paul Madsen received unanimous support and was selected to serve on the Sustainability
and Resiliency Committee.
11.RESOLUTION(S)
11.A A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF MIAMI
SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA; APPROVING A PIGGYBACK
AGREEMENT WITH YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF
SOUTH FLORIDA, INC., DBA YMCA OF SOUTH FLORIDA, FOR
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UNDER THE CITY OF
AVENTURA CONTRACT RFP #2025-03 COMMUNITY
PROGRAMMING SERVICES, FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD, WITH
TWO ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS, UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR TERMS AND CONDITIONS; AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE
MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE PIGGYBACK AGREEMENT (STAFF:
PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR).
Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the resolution into the record.
Parks and Recreation Director Angela Dorney presented the request to piggyback with the
City of Aventura's agreement to partner with the YMCA to provide an aftercare program for
Miami Shores Village residents. She explained that she and the recreation department team
had been working diligently on this for the past six months. The City of Aventura had awarded
the YMCA the contract following a competitive solicitation process on September 25, 2025.
Once the agreement is signed, the YMCA can seek licensing through the Department of
Children and Families to provide aftercare at the Fieldhouse facility. If all goes well, the
program will begin in January 2026, mid-school year.
Mayor Jerome Charles that issues discussed like fence height were not impactful as they
were installing a fence per DCF requirements.
Councilmember Jesse Valinsky commended the effort, noting that going back to June when
the path forward looked "real murky" and it didn't look like there was a path to have a program,
he thanked them for coming up with this phenomenal solution.
Mayor Jerome Charles opened public comments. There were no public comments or e-
comments on this item.
Village Manager Esmond Scott thanked Ms. Dorney, Jackie, and Anne Marie for their hard
work, noting they never stopped and continually had meetings despite the initial dismal
outlook.
Councilmember Burch moved to approve the resolution and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded
the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
11.B A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
CREATING BUDGET AMENDMENT #1 TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-
2026 OPERATING BUDGETS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM
VARIOUS FUND BALANCES TO INCREASE ANNUAL OPERATING
BUDGETS TO INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS WHICH BEGAN IN THE
PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR BUT WERE NOT COMPLETED;
PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR).
Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the resolution into the record.
Village Manager Esmond Scott provided extensive explanation of this budget amendment,
also known as a roll forward of purchase orders.
Deputy Finance Director Marcia Fennell added that this was a formality that municipalities do
every year at the end of the fiscal year, as all encumbrances lapse and they need to move
these purchase orders into the new year.
Mayor Jerome Charles opened public comments. There were no public comments or e-
comments on this item.
Councilmember Burch moved to approve the resolution and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded
the motion which carried a 5-0 voice vote.
11.C A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
APPROVING A FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE ANNUAL
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2024, TO SEPTEMBER
30, 2025; INCREASING REVENUES AND EFFECTUATING
TRANSFERS TO REVERSE THE YEAR END BUDGETARY DEFICIT;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: DEPUTY
FINANCE DIRECTOR).
Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the resolution into the record.
Village Manager Esmond Scott explained this was another item with state statute implications
that municipalities must bring by the end of November each fiscal year after closing the
previous fiscal year. He provided specific examples of cost overruns in planning and zoning,
where they didn't have full-time staff and opted to use consultants at high cost, including costs
for meetings and even taking minutes for board meetings. He also cited issues in the finance
department where they operated with one individual instead of a complement of four, requiring
correct resources to meet statutory reporting responsibilities.
The manager highlighted that they had anticipated these overruns and had set aside $1.8
million in contingency for fiscal year 2025, which he noted was rare for municipalities. He
assured Council this wouldn't assume permanence as it was an odd year, but they were
thankful for their foresight to set aside dollars to address concerns.
Mayor Jerome Charles asked about the consultant serving as interim Planning and Zoning
director and whether there was still a job opening listed. Village Manager Esmond Scott
confirmed there were two candidates identified and HR was reaching out for interviews, with
someone from Corradino Group sitting on the interview panel. He anticipated having someone
in position by January if one of the candidates works out.
Councilmember Burch moved to approve the resolution and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded
the motion which carried a 4-1 voice vote. Councilmember Devaney voted in opposition.
6
12.MANAGER'S REPORT
Village Manager Esmond Scott introduced the new Deputy Village Manager, Christia Alou. Ms. Alou
introduced herself as a resident and property owner who had lived in Miami Shores for 18 years. She
expressed enthusiasm about serving her home community.
13.ATTORNEY'S REPORT
Village Attorney Chanae Wood provided several updates:
● The building permit ordinance would be at P&Z on November 20th
● The certified recovery residence ordinance would also be heard at that time
● The R Districts regulations were being worked on by Corradino Group with a final draft expected
soon
● She was working on board and committee ordinances as requested, including language for the
library board that honors both the charter and concerns raised
● The Historic Preservation Board had come back with proposed changes to their ordinance after
initially having none, largely based on claimed conflicts with Miami-Dade County Code, though
she believed most were policy decisions rather than true conflicts
She requested consensus to bring forth the Historic Preservation Board's proposed changes, noting
she would differentiate between clarifications and expansions of power. Examples included changes to
powers and duties, recommendations to other boards, and changes to decision hierarchy between
boards. Currently, if there's a conflict between Historic Preservation Board and P&Z decisions, P&Z
holds more weight, but the proposed changes would require appeals to the manager or Village Council.
Councilmember George Burch expressed concerns about previous ordinance language giving the
Historic Preservation Board authority over golf course changes and about homes being designated
historic without owner consent. He requested to see a draft of any proposed changes.
Regarding SB 180, there was no substantive update beyond an amended complaint updating
defendant email addresses.
14.ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Village Clerk read announcements into the record.
7
15.VILLAGE COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Jesse Valinsky expressed disappointment with the traffic committee not presenting
tonight despite having a good report with recommendations for a new traffic study. He was concerned
about delays and wanted action, noting residents email frequently about traffic issues. He
Councilmember Jesse Valinsky expressed full support for Vice Mayor Cantor's efforts, noting he was
putting in significant time and effort. He observed some resistance to outside help at the school and
would like to see them take advantage of offered assistance.
Mayor Jerome Charles and the rest of Council confirmed their support for Vice Mayor Cantor's
continued work as liaison.
16.ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Village Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:43 PM.