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2025-10-21 Council Meeting Minutes1 MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2025 6:30 PM COUNCILCHAMBERS 1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Charles called the meeting to order at 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 Councilmember Burch requested to defer Item 10D regarding stormwater handling in Shores Estates until the second November meeting. 2 Village Manager Scott requested to move the discussion regarding the proposed pump station site for the Little River Adaptation Area Grant to the presentations section of the agenda. After brief discussion about placement, the Council agreed to include it under the presentations. Mayor Charles moved to amend the agenda as discussed, and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 5) PRESENTATIONS 5.A VILLAGE LOBBYIST UPDATE (BY: THE SOUTHERN GROUP). Nelson Diaz and Kate DeLoach from the Southern Group presented an update on the upcoming legislative session. Councilmember Burch raised the priority of securing funding for the septic-to-sewer conversion program, noting Kimley-Horn's estimate of $160 million if completed immediately, rising to $211 million over 20 years due to inflation. He emphasized the additional $7 million annual cost due to delays. Mr. Diaz noted that while the state allocates significant funding to resiliency programs through DEP, these are distributed as grants after legislative funding. Councilmember Burch also mentioned the fish kills and algae blooms affecting coastal cities, requesting assistance in securing funding from Tallahassee for Biscayne Bay cleanup efforts. Vice Mayor Cantor questioned whether the property tax discussion might be a "red herring" for another agenda. Mr. Diaz responded that the governor was pushing hard for it and believed the legislature would pass something, though the final form remained uncertain. Ms. DeLoach added that some proposals were more palatable than others, with those targeting seniors or increasing exemptions being easier to implement than those creating harder burdens for local governments. 5.B HOLIDAY OF MIRACLES BOAT PARADE RECOGNITION (SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER GEORGE BURCH). Kim Juanico extended an invitation to residents to participate in the boat parade to help raise funds and celebrate the life of children in palliative care. Approximately 15 patients and their families would ride on the primary boat, which has been wrapped by sponsor Romero Britto. The event includes toy drives throughout November, with the Holtz ambulance collecting donations the Monday after the parade to allow donors to see the direct impact of their contributions. 5) MANAGER'S UPDATE No update. 6) PUBLIC COMMENTS Paula Correa addressed the Council about preserving Miami Shores' century of history, unique homes, dense vegetation, and distinctive character. She expressed concern about the demolition at 1080 96th Street. As a board member, she offered to help maintain historic homes for the future and to honor the Village's history. 3 Jeffrey Saadeh spoke about the unfortunate loss of the Miami Shores centennial home at 1080 Northeast 96th Street. Mr. Saadeh explained that when the remodel proposal came before Planning and Zoning in September 2024, the applicant represented that 90% of the structure would be preserved. However, the house was later demolished after the owner claimed structural damage was more extensive than believed. He urged the Village to strengthen review processes, suggesting projects with major revisions affecting over 50% of a structure should return to Planning and Zoning, and demolitions for homes over 50 years old should notify the Historic Preservation Board before approval. eComments were read into the record. 8) ORDINANCE(S) ON SECOND READING- PUBLIC HEARING 8.A AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCILOF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 6 BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS, SECTION 6-9 GENERAL ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE VILLAGE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE FOR A VARIANCE PROCESS FOR NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF FLOOD HAZARD AREAS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: BUILDING OFFICIAL). Village Clerk Rodriguez read the caption of the ordinance into the record. Building Official Naranjo presented the proposed ordinance, allowing variances related to finished floor elevations on commercial buildings outside special flood hazard areas only. He noted it had no financial impact and recommended approval. Mayor Charles opened the public hearing; however, as no one came forward to speak, he closed public comments. Councilmember Burch moved to adopt the ordinance and Vice Mayor Cantor seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 9) ORDINANCE(S) ON FIRST READING 9.A AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCILOF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE VI, CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY, TO CLARIFY THE CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY BOARDS 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 Wood presented an ordinance requested by the Doctors Charter School Board to clarify the latest amendment regarding core functions and governance. The amendment would remove language addressing administrative service contracts for clarity. Mayor Charles opened the public hearing; however, as no one came forward to speak, he closed public comments. Councilmember Burch opposed the ordinance, reading from line 54 which restricts the charter school from entering agreements binding the authority over $300,000, materially altering obligations over 4 $300,000, or materially altering governance structure including management agreements and strategic partnerships. He argued this would require Council approval for hiring principals or department heads and represented micromanagement. He noted the charter school has maintained an A rating every year except during COVID. Discussion ensued and the remaining Councilmembers and Mayor found the language acceptable and did not hinder operational capability. Councilmember Cantor moved to approve the ordinance on first reading and Councilmember Valinsky seconded the motion, which carried a 4-1 voice vote. Councilmember Burch voted in opposition. 10) DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 10.A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCILOF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20, STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES, ARTICLE IV, PUBLIC PLACES, DIVISION 2, LIBRARY, OF THE VILLAGE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO UPDATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LIBRARY; AMENDING THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (STAFF: VILLAGE ATTORNEY). Village Attorney Wood explained this item arose from the boards and committee workshop where consensus emerged regarding the Village manager's authority over the librarian/library director. However, a conflict exists between the Charter and the governing ordinance language. Mayor Charles opened public comments. Marie Mennes, Library Board Trustee, warned about libraries facing political pressure, censorship, and federal funding cuts. She emphasized that governance by trustees shields libraries from political interference and ensures long-term stability. The original 1943 ordinance established board governance, which has successfully operated for 76 years. She urged finding an alternate solution, preserving board independence. Jeffrey Saadeh spoke about the technical conflict between Village Charter giving the manager authority over all employees and the ordinance empowering the library board to make appointments. He expressed confidence in the current Village manager but was concerned about unknown future managers in an era of pressure on libraries. He suggested changing the charter instead of the ordinance. Deborah Lynn Goldwasser praised Brockway Library's special nature and programming. She maintained that librarians deserve a respectful reporting structure, reflecting their professionalism, comparing them to faculty rather than clerical staff. She called the proposed ordinance amendment unacceptable and insisted on maintaining board governing authority. Cheryl Gowing, former Library Board trustee and professional librarian for 40 years, explained that Brockway operates as a governing board (best practice) versus advisory board. She noted governing boards hire and fire library directors, providing protection in collection development, advocacy, and from local politics. She questioned why library board language was problematic when Doctors Charter School Board has virtually identical language. 5 Alice Burch, 52-year Miami Shores resident and former board member, praised the council's courageous review of boards and committees but urged not “messing with success.” She recounted that in her 10 years on the library board, the Village manager had limited involvement with trustees, operating independently and successfully. Nancy Dowson suggested that if changes ensure community input and reflection of community desires, that would be positive, as independence can sometimes not reflect community needs. Christine Gay, current Library Board President, thanked Manager Scott for meeting with them. As a lawyer, she understood the desire to resolve language conflicts but asked to work collaboratively on revisions, reflecting actual day-to-day operations between board and manager regarding the library director. Village Manager Scott addressed the discussion, emphasizing this was not a "power grab" from him personally. He visited the library board to clarify his position, stating he simply wanted to address unclear language conflicts. He praised the library's history and his own support during his tenure, wanting only clarity on how to proceed. Councilmembers engaged in lengthy discussion. Councilmember Valinsky stated they weren't trying to fix problems but doing housekeeping on ordinances. He noted the library director cannot be hired without the manager due to budget authority, making comparisons to Doctors Charter School inappropriate since the library runs on Village budget with Village employees. Mayor Charles suggested that claiming board independence is a "logical fallacy" since Council appoints board members who serve at will. He proposed true independence would require private fundraising and operation separate from Village budget. He connected this to the earlier historic preservation discussion, suggesting the community should form independent trusts for both library and historic preservation. Councilmember Burch supported deferring the item to research what other libraries do and find compromise language. Councilmember Devaney and Valinsky supported finding different language to address the issues more delicately. Vice Mayor Cantor expressed being torn, appreciating concerns about censorship and freedom of expression. While trusting current Village Manager Scott, he worried about future managers with different agendas. He supported taking time to find a solution accomplishing the manager's intent while protecting library independence. The Council reached consensus to defer the item and work on alternative language. Village Attorney Wood noted she would bring it back as another discussion item rather than first reading, as there wasn't enough consensus on all proposed changes beyond the specific provision discussed. No further action was taken. Mayor Charles recessed the meeting at 8:36 PM and resumed at 8:47 PM. 10.B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING INFORMING RESIDENTS AND OBTAINING THEIR APPROVAL FOR A SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION PROCESS (SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER GEORGE BURCH). Councilmember Burch provided opening remarks, raising concerns about educating affected residents on septic-to-sewer conversion costs and timeline. He cited Kimley-Horn's estimates, showing the project costing $211 million over 20 years with $7 million annual inflation costs at 3% per year. 6 Mayor Charles clarified that the Council had approved a master plan, not a study, and confirmed that the Village would proceed with the first 236 homes in the southeast section, utilizing granted funds, acquiring land, and installing a pump station. He noted that this approach aligns with recommendations emphasizing that securing funding should be the initial step. Vice Mayor Cantor stated residents in flood-prone areas with failing septic systems were already aware of the issues through years of public meetings. He noted Shores Estates had been contentious but shovel-ready and committed to educating the public when appropriate after securing grants. Councilmember Valinsky explained they couldn't provide individual cost numbers until projects were complete, as they were still securing funding for Shores Estates. He emphasized the east side conversions weren't optional but required, with clear priorities. More complicated discussions would come later for other areas. Mayor Charles added that dividing estimated costs by homes was abstract without knowing actual bid costs and available grants. He outlined the planned approach: complete project 1 (Shores Estates), build the pump station with County help, run mainlines, then proceed north. Councilmember Burch raised concerns about different per-home costs across basins ranging from $48,000 to $56,000-58,000. Council colleagues expressed no concern about cost variations, noting different construction timeframes would naturally result in different costs due to inflation and that future federal intervention might even reduce costs for later phases. No action was taken. 10.C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE GENERAL EMPLOYEE PENSION BOARD (SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER GEORGE BURCH). Councilmember Burch provided introductory remarks, noting said board application process had been open for seven months. He referenced previous discussions regarding the number of board members and the removal of the ex officio Village manager seat. Mayor Charles proposed a five-member board structure: two general employees elected by general employees, two residents appointed by council, and 1 at-large member (potentially including Councilmembers or outside financial experts) selected by the other four board members. Vice Mayor Cantor supported this structure and questioned whether to eliminate the non-voting Council liaison and manager positions. Mayor Charles felt they could voluntarily attend given quarterly meetings. Discussion clarified that employees currently don't select their representatives on the board, which all agreed must change. The fifth at-large position could include Councilmembers interested in pension oversight. Village Attorney Wood confirmed consensus for the proposed five-member structure and indicated she would incorporate the proposed composition with previously discussed suggestions from Elizabeth 7 Keeley into a draft ordinance for future consideration. The goal was to have the new structure in place by January. Councilmember Burch initially moved to defer, but after it was clarified that the item was only for providing direction on drafting, the Council reached consensus on the proposed structure without taking formal action. 10.D DISCUSSION REGARDING AN IDEA FOR EFFICIENT HANDLING OF STORMWATER IN SHORES ESTATES (SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER GEORGE BURCH). This item was deferred to the November 18, 2025 Council Meeting. 10.E DISCUSSION REGARDING A PUMP STATION PROPOSED SITE FOR THE LITTLE RIVER ADAPTATION AREA GRANT AND THE SOUTHEASTERN SHORES SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION PROJECT GRANT AS RECOMMENDED BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT (STAFF: VILLAGE MANAGER). Village Manager Scott introduced this item as exciting news in the Village's continued partnership with Miami-Dade County for the Little River Adaptation Area. He noted they had previously sought land through legislative sessions for a pump station location. Debbie Griner, Chief of Resilience and Sustainability at Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, presented alongside Jim Ferguson, Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Compliance. Ms. Griner explained that in 2022, Mayor Levine Cava directed them to work closely with cities on septic- to-sewer challenges. They worked with the Village and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson to develop a federal earmark request for funding to extend sewer service. The Little River Adaptation Action Plan had identified the area along the C-7 canal as vulnerable to flooding and prioritized it for mitigation investments. Combined with a separate $5 million grant from DEP with a $5 million match, they had secured approximately $13.8 million total funding. Mr. Ferguson detailed the proposed pump station location at the convergence of streets forming an island, which would serve an initial phase of approximately 236 properties in the green-highlighted area from 91st to 96th Street and over to 10th Avenue. The pump station would connect via force main to existing county infrastructure. He noted the location could potentially serve up to 700 properties depending on ground conditions. Councilmembers asked various questions about the project. Mayor Charles inquired about the relationship to the Biscayne Canal Adaptation Area, with Ms. Griner explaining it was scheduled for 2027. Councilmember Burch asked about the discrepancy between their identified 236 homes and Kimley-Horn's Basin 11 containing 461 homes, with staff explaining the current phase was limited by available funding. Councilmember Valinsky asked about the pump station's impact on neighbors. Mr. Ferguson assured that pumps would be 20 feet underground in concrete, producing no noise, with only a cabinet and low concrete structure visible above ground. The station would not require a permanent generator based on flow requirements, though portable generators could be deployed during outages. 8 Vice Mayor Cantor confirmed the power lines in the area were both buried and overhead. Council Member Burch asked about railroad crossings, which county staff confirmed were common throughout their system despite permitting requirements. Village Grants Manager Elizabeth Healy requested official action to use the property for the pump station. By way of consensus, the Village Council approved the proposed location for the pump station. 11) MANAGER'S REPORT Village Manager Scott sought consensus regarding pension distribution options for the late employee Eric, clarifying that while the Council had previously directed the pension attorney to bring back language about 100% distribution, there were multiple options to consider. The Council confirmed they wanted the attorney to return with various options, not just the 100% option discussed that evening. Regarding the golf and country club timeline, Manager Scott emphasized the need to move quickly despite the April deadline in their amendment. He stated they should proceed with due haste on an RFP to secure a management company ready to take over when the time comes, potentially by May 1st. 12) ATTORNEY'S REPORT Village Attorney Wood provided several updates: Victor Bruce and Planning & Zoning Board Appointment: The Miami-Dade Ethics Commission ruled that Mr. Bruce cannot serve on the Planning and Zoning Board if he continues appearing before the board as an architect. After discussion, the Council took action to address this issue. Councilmember Valinsky moved to declare Victor Bruce's Planning and Zoning Board seat vacant, Vice Mayor Cantor seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. The Clerk was directed to reopen the application process and instructed to contact previous applicants to see if they remained interested. The prospective Council appointment date is December 2, 2025. After discussion about timing and preparation needed for quasi-judicial matters, they agreed the new member would begin serving at the December P&Z meeting. Demolition Permit Ordinance: Wood reported that the ordinance requiring site plan approval before demolition permits was being vetted internally, with plans to take it to the November 20th P&Z meeting after complying with noticing requirements. Certified Recovery Residences: This ordinance would also need local planning agency review and two Council readings before January, making November presentation crucial. Attorney Wood noted these two ordinances were top priority and welcomed any direction on other priorities. 13) ANNOUNCEMENTS Village Clerk Rodriguez read the announcements into the records. 9 14) VILLAGE COUNCILCOMMENTS Mayor asked Council to consider directing staff to draft process and procedures related to properties that have historic significance and centennial homes to better inform staff and Councilmembers. Attorney Wood noted the code currently authorizes the Village Council and Historic Preservation Board. to designate a property as a historic designated home without owner consent. Mayor recommended conducting a workshop between Council, P&Z Board, Attorney, and Historic Preservation Board. 15) ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion before the Village Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:41 PM.