HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-February 10, 2021 RCMCITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
February 10, 2021
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on February 10, 2021 at
Sherbondy Village, 215 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida.
2. ROLL CALL:
The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Alvin E. Burke,
Commissioner Chris Davis, Commissioner John H. Taylor Jr., Vice Mayor Veronica J. Williams
and Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt. Also in attendance were: Assistant City Manager City George
Ellis, City Attomey Burnadette Norris -Weeks and City Clerk Joanna Flores. City Manager John
E. Pate joined remotely by Zoom.
3. INVOCATION:
The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
5. AWARDS/PROCLAMATIONS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
There were none.
6. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA AND PULL LIST (deferrals and deletions):
Item 13-2 from the Consent Agenda was deferred by Assistant City Manager George Ellis.
Vice Mayor Williams pulled item 13-1 from the Consent Agenda.
It was moved by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Vice Mayor Williams to pass the consent
agenda (13-3).
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
7. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Clerk Flores stated that a request was made to amend the agenda to include the following item as
14-1:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF Opa-locka,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A UTILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE CONVEYANCE AND SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SAILBOAT
TH DEVELOPMENT LLC; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF THE TITLE;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager
Mayor Pigatt asked the City Manager to state the emergency nature of this item.
City Manager Pate stated that the emergency nature of the item is based on the health, safety and
welfare of the subdivision of Sailboat Cove in regards to initiating water and sewer services for
that specific subdivision.
It was moved by Commissioner Burke, seconded by Commissioner Davis to amend the agenda
to include 14-1.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams, seconded by Commissioner Taylor to approve the agenda.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Commissioner Davis Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Virtual COVID-19 Workshop Minutes — May 28, 2020
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams, seconded by Commissioner Davis to approve the minutes
of the Virtual COVID-19 Workshop on May 28, 2020.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Burke Yes
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — January 13, 2021
It was moved by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Vice Mayor Williams to approve the minutes
of the Regular Commission Meeting on January 13, 2021.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams, seconded by Commissioner Taylor to approve the minutes
of the Special Commission Meeting on February 1, 2021.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Commissioner Davis Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
9. DISTRICT ONE / DISTRICT TWO - COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT:
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Ms. Melanie Burke, Miami -Dade County Mayor's Office Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison for
Municipalities in the North County introduced herself in her new capacity. The County Mayor
wants to bring the County government close to the people. Last week Mayor Levine Cava
launched the historic civic engagement campaign "Thrive 305" to seek input directly from
residents to inform them of her priorities and policies through a county -wide survey and
engagement event, to make sure diverse voices across Miami -Dade are uplifted. With their ideas
and voices at the table, we will be able to build a more equitable and inclusive economy where all
Miami -Dade families can prosper. The community can learn more and take the survey at
Thrive305.org Today, the Mayor launched Miami-Dade's first Office of Equity and Inclusion
which entails doubling down on investments in communities that have been historically
disenfranchised and underserved. Ms. Burke shared that her job is to bring the Commission
information, so that it can share the information with the community, knowing that the Mayor
wants to make sure that she can be reached. If there is an event or there is a request to have her
tour an area where there is an issue, she will be the go -to person between the city and the Mayor.
The Clerk has all her contact information.
Commissioner Davis highlighted our new County Mayor and Progressive County Commission
and all the great work that is being seen. As a former organizer, he has always been an advocate
of community engagement and encouraging the community to be involved in every level of
planning of government. He gave props to the Mayor and the County Commission for taking on
an initiative to look at ways that we can make Miami -Dade County more equitable.
Mayor Pigatt echoed Commissioner Davis' sentiments. He noted that Miami -Dade County Mayor
Daniella Levine Cava's administration so far has been impressive to see. The Mayor expressed
much respect for the opening of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. He said that Mayor Levine
Cava has been a friend to Opa-locka and the City will be there in support, and to ensure that the
City of Opa-locka gets the resources it needs to battle the pandemic and address infrastructure
problems.
10. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS:
1. Senator Shevrin Jones
Florida Senate District 35
ref: Legislative agenda and update on city's appropriations request
Senator Shevrin Jones connected to the meeting from Tallahassee, and acknowledged that while
he did not represent Opa-locka while he served in the Florida House of Representatives for 8 years,
he is looking forward to serving the city in Senate District 35. The Senator stated that the hope is
for a legislative session that provides relief for the most vulnerable Floridians, putting forward
bills including assistance for small businesses, a tax credit for businesses that provide full time
work for former interns, a path for people who can't afford the fees for their license renewal,
eviction assistance that is being worked on with the Governor, a legal overhaul of police reform
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
that the Black Caucus did a presentation to show what that looks like. Senator Jones shared the
restrictions that have been put in place within the Capitol to protect the health of the community,
including requiring staff to wear masks, a restriction on visitors including lobbyists, weekly testing
of elected officials, and a lot of the work is getting done on Zoom. Having been in the legislature
since 2012, Senator Jones shared that this is one of the most interesting times in the budget year.
Because tourism was one of the strongest industries in Florida, we have all of our eggs in that
basket, but the pandemic has changed all of that. The constraints of the reduced budget will make
the appropriations process all the more difficult, Senator Jones is working with the Senate
President's Office to advocate specifically for the City of Opa-locka, and working on committees
like the Transportation Committee to determine what is going to be done for communities like
Opa-locka, Miami Gardens and some of the unincorporated areas of Miami -Dade County that are
dealing with flooding and drainage concerns. While the Senate President was going to visit a few
weeks ago, he contracted COVID, but the relationship with all of the mayors, including Mayor
Pigatt is providing the open line of communication so that the practitioners on the dais can talk
with the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House to help them understand how
difficult the city issues are and help Opa-locka in its 8 local funding requests. While the Senator
has not yet been able to meet with members of the Florida House of Representatives on those 8
projects, he is staying in Tallahassee on Friday to meet with the House about the things that are
important to Opa-locka. Senator Jones brought to the attention of the Commission, HB 1 the public
disorder bill because it will impact municipalities like Opa-locka. As the top legislative priority
bill for the majority in leadership, the bill is expected to pass. Senator Jones asserted that he does
not support it, and stated that the bill came in the summer during the Black Lives Matter protests.
Senate District 35 is the largest black district in the State of Florida and the third largest in the
country, and the Senator acknowledged that he is in a fight. The Senator wants to be in a
partnership, and has asked his office to be on Commission calls at least once a week to give an
update on what's happening in Tallahassee, and to keep the Commission in the know how he's
fighting for the issues that Opa-locka has, to ensure the city can continue to thrive.
Vice Mayor Williams thanked Senator Shevrin Jones for his leadership and stressed how much
she felt the agenda needed to be heard. She expressed her excitement to continue the partnership
with the Commission and support him in any way possible.
Commissioner Taylor congratulated Senator Shevrin Jones on his win, thanked him for his support
of the great City of Opa-locka, and said he looked forward to working with him.
Mayor Pigatt expressed his respect for Senator Shevrin Jones fighting for the community for quite
a while, and recognized that he will continue to fight for the City of Opa-locka. The Mayor
expressed how instrumental Senator Jones was in getting the COVID testing center in the City of
Opa-locka. He further recognized that Senator Jones recently hired one of his mentees Timothy
Hill for his office, and gave a shout -out to Mr. Hill's talent, as he continues to build his team in
Tallahassee to fight for us.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Senator Jones added that his goal is to make sure people feel safe with getting tested for COVID
in their community, so the Senator's office is working directly with Florida Emergency
Management Director Jared Moskowitz to bring a POD to Opa-locka. He stated that the Director's
Office said that they were going to reach out to the city. It is his belief that an effort was under
way to intertwine Opa-locka, Miami Gardens and Miramar, and while the Senator stated that he
had wanted to let it be known that only the people of the City of Opa-locka can get tested at the
city's site, that will not be allowed, but he at least wants to make it more accessible to the residents
of Opa-locka, so that they know it is available.
Mayor Pigatt confirmed that Senator Shevrin Jones put him in direct contact with Florida
Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and thanked the Senator for his advocacy for
the City of Opa-locka.
2. Christina Banks
ref: Retirement Payment / Insurance Reimbursement
Christina Banks asked the Commission to take a good look at themselves and reminded them all
that they took an oath to serve the community. She expressed that she feels it is a shame that she
has to come before the Commission in order to get something that is hers. She went on to say that
there is not one person on the dais that doesn't know about it. Assurances were given that she did
not come to bash or put anyone on call, and asked the Commission to make the right decisions for
the community. Ms. Banks asserted that when the Commission and the city asked her to give
hours and money towards anything she did for the municipality, she did it. She recounted working
24 years with the city, from working with four of the main and major departments, including the
City Manager's Office, Human Resources, Police Department and Parks & Recreation. Ms. Banks
stated that there is not one employee that can't say that she didn't try to touch their lives to make
it better in this community, and recalled living in the city for 50 years. She asked when she will
be getting the retirement funds that she is entitled to, adding that the same way that she gave her
hours when she was expected to be here, she expects for the Commission to do the right thing.
Ms. Banks said she received a call from Ms. Kierra Ward, City of Opa-locka Human Resource
Director, indicating that it would be ready on the 17th, which is the next payroll. She would like
for the Commission to look at that, to make sure that it happens, and asserted that she is not asking
for anything that isn't owed to her. Ms. Banks stated that in her file it doesn't say anything about
anyone complaining about anything she did at that time. She invited the Commission to look at
their employees, because they have good employees, and said she feels they don't deserve to fight
for what belongs to them, and urged them to not let power and prestige get in the way. Mr. Banks
asked that someone tell her that she is definitely going to get it, and when she can pick it up, and
would like to put it on record that she would like to have a breakdown of the funds. She thanked
the Mayor and Commission for their time, and wished them all the best, praying that they do the
right thing.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Commissioner Burke asked Ms. Christina Banks when she retired.
Ms. Banks said she retired from the city on October 31St and she stated that as of today, she had
not received one payment. She recalled offering to take positions at half salary, and she expects
the Commission to do the right thing for every employee. She reiterated that she was asking for
what she earned as an Executive Secretary for the municipality. Ms. Banks went on to say that
she wants to receive a breakdown of what was sent to the state, because she has received nothing
but lies, and wants the Commission to know that.
Mayor Pigatt recalled that this was brought to his attention during agenda briefmg. While the
Commissioners on the dais can't get involved in the day-to-day operations of city employees, they
can inquire. He asked the City Manager to answer Ms. Banks' question and to let the Commission
know if there was any breakdown in protocol that led to this, and how it is being addressed so that
it doesn't happen again.
Assistant City Manager Ellis reminded the Commission that the city has to get approval from the
state. He acknowledged that Ms. Banks spoke with Ms. Kierra Ward, City of Opa-locka Human
Resource Director this week and will receive her payment on Wednesday, because it must be done
through payroll. A calculation of what is really owed to her, has to be approved, and that had to
go through a process.
Mayor Pigatt asked what the traditional timeline is, and how can it they make sure that if there is
any breakaway from that timeline, that people are communicated with so that issues like this are
resolved.
Assistant City Manager Ellis said he would have to refer to the H.R. Director on the process. He
stated that once he found out about the issue, he inquired about it and called Ms. Banks to let her
know when she was going to get her payout. Manager Ellis recalls doing requisition for data back
in November, and explained that the state asks for information and backup documentation on what
is being paid to employees.
Mayor Pigatt explained that the delay in payment is an issue that has been going on since the city
has been under financial oversight. As a consideration, sometimes it is out of the city's control in
terms of the approval office. He wants to be sure that she is communicated with, and hopes that
what was discussed and said by management is followed through on, and if not, she should feel
free to come back before the Commission to make them aware of whatever issues she may be
experiencing. He further thanked Ms. Banks for serving the people of Opa-locka for so long.
Vice Mayor Williams stated that she believes in giving people their flowers while they are living,
and while she has never personally met Ms. Banks, she wanted to publicly thank her for the many
years of service to Opa-locka. She said she prays that all that is due and owed to her, will be given.
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11. CITIZENS' FORUM:
(Opportunity for discussion of any concerns — please limit to 3 minutes)
Clerk Flores announced the protocol for public participation at city commission meetings.
The following public comment was submitted by email and read into the record by Clerk Flores:
Shirley Sherry Brown of 361 Sinbad Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida — To whom it may concern: I
would like to send out a huge thank you to the City of Opa-locka Public Works Department, for
the assistance I received today. I called earlier today reporting an issue and I spoke with Cathy
who immediately relayed the information to Supervisor Ken or Kenneth and he responded swiftly
by calling me to investigate the issue. Within an hour my issue was resolved. The level of service
I received was exceptional. Kudos to Ken and Cathy. Thank you.
Michele Henney of 10640 Paris Street, Cooper City, FL 33026 — How is the Commission sure that
John Pate is still not job searching while being employed by the city? Is the Commission aware
that George Ellis, Assistant City Manager has acted very aggressively toward several city
employees, both past and present? There have been several witnesses to his behavior. One of the
very few people that Geraldine Lazarre of TriMerge has hired as a city employee in the last three
years is Jeanette Lutsama, who has sued her previous employer, the City of Miami Beach, accusing
them of slut shaming and sexual harassment. This story has been in the news. Geraldine Lazarre
has complained that she is short staffed in the Finance Department. Lazarre makes $139 per hour,
in addition to half of every hour charged by her TriMerge associates. One can clearly understand
why she would directly benefit from railroading and lying on several city employees, and
discrediting them so that they would become frustrated and leave their employment, forfeiting
their pension opportunity and other benefits. In the event that someone was not paying attention
in the last Commission meeting, 13 people have resigned in the Finance Department since Lazarre
took office. This would explain why the department is short-staffed and your audits are
consistently behind. Any capable, reputable and professional CPA firm would have had your
audits up to date by now. It has been over 3 year, and way over $1 million later and you are still
2 years behind and the City has lost several great employees. Sounds like not much has changed
under the new Commission.
Mayor Pigatt opened the floor for Citizen's Forum for those who were in the audience.
Dorothy Johnson of 13724 NW 22nd Place, Opa-locka, Florida appeared before the City
Commission and shared that when the resolution that was removed from the agenda returns, that
she hopes it will have a line item and also provide clarification whether it includes all the City
Commission and the City Manager or just the City Manager. She went on to say that the workshop
from yesterday was excellent, although she believes that the Chair of the Audit Committee should
schedule their own meeting so that their own motions can be made. Ms. Johnson also clarified
that she is not soliciting to be a mentor to any Commissioner, current or past. She went on to share
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
that mentorship is when you have a relationship, and she doesn't think she can have any of that at
this time with the new elected officials or others. The ones that she poured into, she poured into
really good, and she asserted that she was not soliciting for anyone to contact her, because someone
told her it was very rudely misconstrued. She offered kudos to every city official who got their
temperature checked, because they are exposed to too many people. She said that everyone should
go through the temperature check, and that city officials are not exempt. Ms. Johnson said that
she was given bad information, not by the Clerk, that all of the retirement comes out of the budget,
and ended up losing $14,000 in her retirement from the city. She added that you have to have thick
skin to be up there on the dais, and that everything should not be taken personal. While some things
that happened are absolutely wrong, she stated that isn't her battle and wished the Commission a
blessed day.
Mayor Pigatt gave a shout -out to Ms. Shirley Sherry Brown for highlighting the work of the Public
Works Department. He stated that he had many residents comment that they have called and Public
Works have been responsive to citizens' concerns.
There being no further persons to speak, Citizen's Forum was closed.
12. ACTION ITEMS (items from consent agenda pull list):
1. (13-1) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-
-LOCKA, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL EVENTS POLICY AND
PROCEDURES AND ADOPTING A SPECIAL EVENTS HANDBOOK; PROVIDING
FOR REPEAL OF ALL PRIOR RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager
The above resolution was read by Attorney Norris -Weeks.
It was moved by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Burke to approve the
resolution.
Assistant City Manager City Manager George Ellis asked Parks & Recreation Director Delven
Patterson to explain the item in detail.
Parks & Recreation Director Delven Patterson presented the special events policy for the City of
Opa-locka. A special event is defined as any event, meeting, activity or gathering of persons
invited by public advertisement for the purpose of witnessing or participating in any common
purpose in attainment or exhibition or pursuing, or selling any merchandise, food or beverage, or
consuming any food or beverage upon any city owned public facility, street, sidewalk, ally, park,
parking lot or other public places. There are city produced events, city contracted events,
Commission initiatives (internal or external), and regular producer or organizer events. A major
event is defined as anything that has a road closure, amplified music, the length of the event is four
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
hours or more, and it is more than one hundred people with the above characteristics. For major
event and Commissioner sponsored events, a special event committee will be assembled to go over
the application of the event. This committee consists of different department heads and the public
relations team. For each event had in the city, a permit will be needed. A major event has to come
before the Commission and has to be approved. A city produced event is any event produced and
managed by the city and is approved in the annually adopted city budget, and will also come before
the Commission. A city contracted event is any event that is contracted with the city and an outside
entity and that also has to come before the Commission. Internal Commission initiatives are events
with an internal department, which would be inside of the annual budget and will come before the
Commission. External Commission initiatives are events with an external group, and will come
before the Commission, with the funding coming from either a sponsorship or the organization.
An organized producer event, encompasses events like weddings and party rentals, would have the
organizer be responsible for any financial fees and damages. Anyone on the Commission or city
boards can't be financially involved in a major event. The procedures for special events will be
handled through the Parks & Recreation Department. Assessments and evaluations of all special
events will be made to determine the effectiveness, and then brought before the Commission for
them to adopt. A yearly schedule of all special events will be created. A program for donations
will be established, with all funds being forwarded to the Finance Department, and all donations
being considered gifts to the city. To donate, a letter must be written to the city including the who,
what, where, when and why, and a donation proposal will be brought before the Commission. All
special events will be advertised through flyers, the city website, and any owned city media. Each
department will have responsibilities when there are major special events. Anyone who wants to
do a special event in the city, will be given the special events handbook. The handbook includes
a letter written by the Parks & Recreations Department Director, a table of contents, and answers
any questions they may have. Section 1 includes information on what an event is, who can hold
an event, who can apply for an event, the application process, where they can pay, the final
approval process, and the department directory in case they need additional permitting. The
handbook also includes a breakdown of the fees charged by the Parks & Recreation Department,
and information to get any additional permits they may need. Additionally, in the handbook, there
are guidelines on amplified sound, cancellation, filming, and insurance. Director Patterson then
offered to make himself available to answer any questions.
Vice Mayor Williams asked Mr. Patterson how the policy affects the Commission, or anyone
outside the Commission who wants to plan an event.
Mr. Patterson stated that the policy was designed to affect everyone.
Vice Mayor Williams pointed out that the community cleanup would not have been able to fit into
the timeline proposed in the policy. She also pointed out that the event had no fmancial bearing
on the city.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Mr. Patterson explained that the community cleanup was not the city's event, and the city was just
a part of. Once an event like that comes, there will probably be a special event permit.
Vice Mayor Williams asked if an event was initiated by a Commissioner, and it had no financial
bearing on the city, if it would still have to fit within the timeline in the policy.
Mr. Patterson clarified that he revised the language in the handbook for Commissioner and city
events.
Vice Mayor Williams asked if Director Patterson knew the language.
Mr. Patterson explained that for non -city or Commissioner sponsored events, there is a process.
Vice Mayor Williams also said she would like to know what the difference is between an initiative
and an event.
Mr. Patterson advised that an initiative is adopted in the annual budget.
Commissioner Burke stated that it is a good thing that the city finally has a special events policy,
but it is sort of confusing as the Vice Mayor said. He said he was aware of the fact that in the past
people just did what they wanted to do, and he asked if it would be necessary to obtain a permit
for events such as a cleanup.
Mr. Patterson stated that any type of event in the city, would just have a permitting process, and
there will be no charge for any city initiatives, but does need to go through the process.
Commissioner Burke also asked if anybody that wants to make a donation to the city, has to come
before the Commission.
Mr. Patterson clarified that they do not have to, but if the Commission asks, they will have to come
before them and let them know what they are donating.
Commissioner Taylor said that he understood the confusion that everyone has had, because it is
the same confusion he had. He used the example of the cleanup and that one of the Commissioners
faces was on the flyer, so he wanted to know if that event would have to go before the Commission.
Mr. Patterson stated that it wouldn't necessarily have to go before the Commission, because it was
not the city's event.
Commissioner Taylor asked for clarification on whether an outside entity would have to have the
organizer and producer come before the Commission prior to having an event.
Mr. Patterson responded that it would be like a normal birthday party.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Commissioner Taylor asked if someone who just wants to do a cleanup can just do it.
Mr. Patterson asserted that to do a cleanup, a permit is needed.
Commissioner Taylor asked if the 2 month period prior to the event would apply to such a cleanup.
Mr. Patterson clarified that it would be 30 days for a regular event, but the city's annual events
will be presented way before the time of the event.
Commissioner Taylor noted that Sherbondy Village Pavilion is not listed under the rentals.
Mr. Patterson confirmed that will be changed.
Commissioner Taylor pointed out that there is a flat rate fee for residents and non-residents, but
no specification of the length of time.
Mr. Patterson clarified that it is calculated hourly.
Commissioner Taylor also noted that the language says that you can have alcohol and then says
there can't be alcohol.
Mr. Patterson explained that there are some changes to be made in that language.
Commissioner Taylor sought clarification on how the changes m the agenda order will affect how
events will be considered.
Mayor Pigatt offered context, explaining that this policy was a direct result of the operational audit
fording which said that the city was not being accountable to events. Every event has an amount
of city resources. It costs for staff to be there, clean up, so even if the city doesn't invest, it is an
investment of staff time and the audit committee saw that there were events that were not
appropriated in the budget. He explained that the policy is similar to the policies he's seen in other
cities, and offered respect to Director Patterson for bringing his knowledge and insight to the City
of Opa-locka to help with this. He shared that the specific recommendation from the operational
audit was for the city to establish policies and procedures for each special event. He hoped that
after the policy is approved, the Commission will detail what events they would like to see
throughout the year. After that, if there are any events that come up, it is just brought up to the
Commission so that everyone is on the same page. He noted that there have been issues with
promoting events, having security, marketing, and he is impressed that the policy covers almost
all the bases that are identified in the operational audit. Mayor Pigatt asked the City Attorney if
the approval of events that come outside of the budget, can be moved by just a motion, or if it has
to be a full resolution.
Commissioner Burke asked if this can be workshopped.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Mayor Pigatt acknowledged hearing Commissioner Burke, and then proceeded to ask for the City
Attorney's clarification on his question.
City Attorney Norris -Weeks explained that the Commission is always free to consider things that
are within its budget, because it is not an ordinance. She explained the concern that staff has
mentioned that certain things are going to be added or changed. If things will be added or changed,
it should come back with those things in it, so that the document that is understood is approved.
Staff can say it on the record, but it probably would be more appropriate to do it in a workshop
setting as suggested by Commissioner Burke.
Mayor Pigatt said he is in favor of discussing this item in a workshop setting. He asked the City
Manager if he wants to defer it to a workshop or do a motion to move into a workshop, so it
addresses all concerns.
City Manager Pate asked to defer this matter to the next available workshop.
Mayor Pigatt confirmed the item is deferred to a workshop, and stated that he will be calling for
one of those in his report.
13. ADMINISTRATION:
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. (13-3) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF Opa-
locka, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A YEAR-END
STATE OF THE CITY REPORT AND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY; PROVIDING
FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sponsored by Mayor Pigatt
Vote taken on Consent Agenda items can be viewed under Agenda Item 6 — Approval of the
Consent Agenda.
14. NEW ITEMS:
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF Opa-locka,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A UTILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE CONVEYANCE AND SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SAILBOAT
TH DEVELOPMENT LLC; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF THE TITLE;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager
The above resolution was read by Attorney Norris -Weeks.
It was moved by Commissioner Burke, seconded by Commissioner Davis to pass the resolution.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Mayor Pigatt asked Assistant City Manager Ellis to introduce the item.
Assistant City Manager Ellis asked Public Works Director Airia Austin to explain the item.
Public Works Director Airia Austin stated that this item is for the conveyance of sanitary and water
distribution infrastructure in a private development to be managed and maintained by the City of
Opa-locka. This is necessary for Miami -Dade County to install water meters on the property, since
meters can't be installed on private property. He said he was available to respond to any questions
or concerns on this item.
Commissioner Burke asked if this had anything to do with a pump station.
Mr. Austin said that it will also convey the pump station.
Commissioner Burke asked if they are going to build the pump station.
Mr. Austin clarified that the pump station has already been built and the infrastructure is already
in place. This will convey it to the City of Opa-locka.
Commissioner Burke asked for clarification on whether the conveyance to the city will make the
City of Opa-locka responsible for it.
Mr. Austin confirmed with an affirmative yes.
Commissioner Burke asked if a deed comes with that.
Mr. Austin confirmed with an affirmative yes.
There being no further discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Burke Yes
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
15. PLANNING & ZONING:
A. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
B. APPEALS:
16. ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. FIRST READING ORDINANCE(S)/PUBLIC HEARING(S):
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
B. SECOND READING ORDINANCE(S)/PUBLIC HEARING(S):
C. RESOLUTION(S):
17. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT:
Assistant City Manager George Ellis stated that he had nothing to report.
Commissioner Burke stated that he had received a written request from a citizen that was troubling
to him, informing him that there is a tenant at City Hall that hasn't paid rent in over a year. He
said he is trying to find out who that is, and if there is something in writing that they shouldn't pay
rent, or if it has to do with COVID-19.
Assistant City Manager George Ellis stated that he will have to get back with the Commissioner
on that after doing some research because there are several tenants in the building. He will try to
find out if there is someone with that problem, and get back with the Commissioner.
Commissioner Davis reminded the Manager and Commission that the county extended the
deadline to expend CARES Act funding until September of this calendar year. With that new
opportunity being afforded to the City of Opa-locka, while it has not been realized what exact
dollar amount is left, to reallocate those funds towards much needed programs like food gift cards,
rental and mortgage assistance for residents. He alerted the Commission that this is something he
is working on through the City Manager's office.
Commissioner Burke asked if the financial help for rent had been extended.
Commissioner Davis explained that the city was awarded $2.1 million to expend on rental
mortgage and grocery gift cards. The County originally gave a deadline of December 31st to
expend those funds, which is why there was a big push ahead of the holidays. Since then, a new
County Commission was elected, and they chose to go a different direction with those funds, to
mirror the federal government's extension for CARES Act funding to September of this year. With
that new opportunity, the city has a longer timeline and the ability to re -allocate the funds that
were not expended before December 31St to either rental and mortgage assistance or grocery gift
cards.
Commissioner Burke asked who should be contacted, because he had a citizen contact him saying
she needed rental assistance because she got laid off during COVID. He was under the impression
that he needed to wait until the new COVID relief package passes, but wanted to know who he
could refer to for assistance.
Commissioner Davis deferred to Assistant City Manager Ellis for his response.
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Assistant City Manager Ellis explained that the monies received in the first round of the CARES
Act program was approximately $2.1 million. About $1.9 million was spent on food cards. About
$400,000 was put aside for the rental and mortgage assistance program, but that money was being
controlled by an entity that worked with the county, and they qualified the people. Only about 28
of 200 that applied got the funds, which was about $150,000. The rest of the money was used to
buy more food cards. The city was just reimbursed today the $1.9 million for the food cards. The
rest of the funds went for an administrative cost. They are analyzing that and will let the city know
what is left over that the city has not spent yet. The county is currently working to see if there are
any additional funds to give to municipalities, and has opened the door to the community to get
funding for small business loans, and also mortgage and rental assistance, for anyone in the county.
No other appropriations have been provided as of yet to the municipalities.
Commissioner Burke asked the Manager if residents who need rental assistance now, need to
contact Miami -Dade County.
Assistant City Manager Ellis confirmed that is correct. The city was very blessed to have a very
knowledgeable person in Ms. Linda Taylor to work with the city on the program, because she
spent many years working with the county operating those types of programs. Ms. Taylor has
identified other entities that received monies, that the city is trying to work with on a continual
basis for the citizens, including rental assistance, FPL assistance and other entities that can provide
corporate funding to provide services to people in need. Ms. Taylor has also been working with
the Miami -Dade County CARES administrators, in the hopes that up to date information will be
available by the end of the week, and believes that there will be more opportunities for the citizens.
Vice Mayor Williams shared her concerns that the branding and marketing of Opa-locka is moving
slow. She referenced a news report on Channel 7 that was absolutely ridiculous, and that the city
can't continue to allow the news to write the narrative about what's going on in Opa-locka. She
extolled all of the amazing things that have happened in the city, in addition to what the City
Manager and all of the departments are doing, including the workshops. She stated that she has
asked for presentations to go on websites that are still not there. The Vice Mayor said it is
unacceptable that 300 people get the city's newsletter, and that the city can't rely on people liking
the Facebook page. She urged for more to be done, recalling that someone did it for 4 years on
Twitter with the message going out the way they wanted it to go out. She stressed that the city
needs to figure out how to reshape its message and branding, and urged the City Manager's office
to get the ball rolling.
Assistant City Manager Ellis thanked the Vice Mayor and assured her that he will follow-up on
that.
Mayor Pigatt stated that he thinks kudos are deserved for the City Manager's Office and Financial
Consultant Gerri Lazarre, for the extension of the 2018 and 2019 audits which will allow the city
to get its capital assessments included and set the city on a course to get a modified opinion, and
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hopefully get one year shaved off the financial oversight. He thanked the Manager and staff for
taking care of that and for hosting the audit workshop. Mayor Pigatt shared that earlier today he
had a meeting with the owner of Glorieta Gardens, who expressed that lots of work has been done
by them and the city to tackle flooding within that area, including cleaning out retention ponds and
renovating apartments. He said that the owner of Glorieta Gardens did express a concern about
public safety, with that area being one of the areas with a high concentration of violent crimes. He
recalled being told that there would be an active police sub -station there on January 18th, and asked
what the status is because it is not there.
City Manager Pate stated that he observed the call this morning, and asserted that the city has been
in constant communication with Glorieta Gardens in regards to the police substation, which is all
part of the public record. The substation was available to the city approximately four years ago,
but the previous administration and the Police Department refused to use that facility. He stated
that an on -site assessment was done with his staff, led by Lieutenant Nikeya Jenkins back in
January, and required that there were various public safety related upgrades that were required,
mentioned by the Police Department back in January, including security systems, additional
cameras being installed, and various resources that were needed for officers to man the station on
a constant basis. Lots of those items were recently done, and the sub -station was going to be
operational at 6:00 tonight, but it was learned that there are additional items that were required to
be done by Glorieta Gardens that have not been done as of yet, such as issuing individual pin codes
issued per officer, so that who is going in and out of the facility can be traced. While it is not
stopping the sub -station from being opened, one of the upgrades the city has invested into the sub-
station includes the purchasing of signage to be installed outside the substation. There are
technology related matters that are supposed to be resolved tomorrow morning. Since things are
coming to light in regards to relationships between Glorieta Gardens and Cordoba Courts, Manager
Pate suggested that a workshop be done with the management of Glorieta Gardens and Cordoba
Courts to transparently state what the city has done and what they have done, and give a full status
update, so that the public understands the resources the city has placed into both of the apartment
complexes on a constant basis. He further confirmed that the sub -station will be operational
tomorrow.
Mayor Pigatt acknowledged that a police substation becoming operational is a very significant
event in the city, and usually there are ribbon cuttings. He asked if there will be an event to let the
public know that the Commission has heard the issues and is responding with the establishment of
a substation in one of the highest crime areas.
City Manager Pate stated that with most openings you have a soft opening, to make sure everything
is operational and working smoothly and that shifts are flowing in a proper manner. Lieutenant
Nikeya Jenkins has already reached out to Public Relations Consultant Jessica Modkins to start
planning a ribbon cutting, but it is not uncommon for a ribbon cutting to occur after the opening
of a facility, and the ribbon cutting is in the works.
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Commissioner Burke stated that he welcomes the substation and is sure it will be a great asset to
the community and the city, but because it is one of the high crime areas, the he urged the City
Manager to not move too fast and make sure that the sub -station is ready to go before officers are
put in there.
City Manager Pate acknowledged hearing Commissioner Burke loud and clear, and stated that
they are moving slow and the sub -station wasn't opened in January for the security upgrades to be
done. He said they are looking for other things to be done as well, but that they are going to slowly
implement the sub -station, look at staffing and lessons learned, and then appropriately celebrate
it, once the city gets it going for at least two weeks to a month to say it has been a successful
mission, and then do a ribbon cutting. He acknowledged hearing both the sentiments from Mayor
Pigatt and Commissioner Burke loud and clear. City Manager Pate also added that he heard the
sentiments on the call with the ownership of Glorieta Gardens, and the Manager expressed that
sometimes silence is better than making statements, which is why the Manager's Office didn't
have much to say during the call, because they didn't want to get into a contentious debate over
facts.
Mayor Pigatt asked the City Manager what he means by doing things slowly, and went on to say
that usually everything is done when necessary. He stated that the city wants to make sure officers
are protected, but that is a part of the process, and to his understanding there are just certain things
that need to be done to make sure that it is an operational area. He asked for clarity because he
wouldn't want to go to the residents and say that the city is slowly putting in place a police
substation.
City Manager Pate responded saying that it was a use of words, and offered different words such
as methodically, properly planned, ensuring that the residents get full efficiency and effectiveness
of the sub -station, making sure there are enough officers and manpower to man the substation, not
just opening an empty building and not having enough officers on the street because of the shortage
of officers. He asked for trust that the concerns of the residents have been heard, but the city wants
to do things responsibly. The city has done a lot of things out of haste and rush, and it ends up
putting liability on the city and the officers as well. He added that when he speaks of doing things
safely or methodically, he is speaking of officer and public safety, in consideration of risk
management and not just having a building that says Opa-locka Police Department that isn't
serving the way the residents need to be served.
Mayor Pigatt said the Commission would move on, but that the City Manager needed to make sure
that those residents are not living in fear. He recalled that last year at around this time, the
Commission called for a Code Enforcement investigation, and then a brief executive report came
out in September saying that there would be a full report in 30-45 days. Mayor Pigatt asked where
the city is at with the investigation, recommendations, and the plan of action to address the issues
that were found.
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
City Manager Pate responded by stating that as with anything, delays happen. He added that the
Code Enforcement investigation led to the arrest and termination of some of the employees. Some
of those employees are going through the process of fighting for their jobs. The Manager stated
that he is very methodically, without haste, making sure that when a complete report is put out,
that it is accurate and does not put the city in any unnecessary liability position. Manager Pate
added that new Code Enforcement officers have been hired and the Police Department is currently
indoctrinating them. He said he is in the midst of evaluating his recommendations to the
Commission, as to whether Code Enforcement will be kept the way it is, or make changes including
possibly outsourcing the department entirely or partially. Budgetary issues have also led to a full
report not being released. Assurances were offered by the Manager that it has not been forgotten.
Lieutenant Sergio Perez and the leadership of the Police Department and Code Enforcement are
looking at making improvements on an everyday basis. As soon as the assessment is done, and
not rushed, Manager Pate stated that a full report will go out, along with the thousands of pages of
exhibits that are required. The Commission required immediate action based on some allegations
that occurred, and the Manager asserted that he did take decisive action, and a lot of other pending
actions going on that transpired based on the Code Enforcement inquiry that was requested. Now,
we're waiting on a report with recommendations on how to move the department forward for the
future.
Mayor Pigatt stated that he asked because of the timeline. He recalled a previous Commission
meeting when there was an issue with the Building & Licensing Department where the city was
potentially about to get fined, and Code Enforcement was initially under the Building & Licensing
Department. He said he is trying to figure out when the investigation will be completed, so that
attention can be directed to the Building & Licensing Department. Mayor Pigatt noted that one of
the things the Manager is tasked with is going through each department to make assessments, and
he's seen a lot of changes happen in the Police Department and the Code Enforcement Department,
and he knows there was mention of the Building & Licensing Department. He stressed that it is
important because the city is still under the DERM moratorium that affects the business
community and occupational licensing. He said he wanted to get clarity on where the process was,
because not having proper Code Enforcement or Building & Licensing is one of the things that
holds the city back, which can help with the development of the city. He asked the Manager if he
had a timeline for the completion of the investigation.
City Manager Pate stated that it would be irresponsible of him to provide a timeline for the
completion. He shared that he is working hand -in -hand with DERM on the administration of the
Code Enforcement Department and the operation of the Building & Licensing Department.
Manager Pate reminded the Mayor that when he began as Manager, one of the requests that were
made by the Mayor as well as the previous Commission was for him to do an assessment of each
department. The manager also reminded the Commission that he was the one who enlisted the
assistance of DERM to do the assessment of the Building Department by releasing the documents
that were needed for the current consent decree that was just approved at the last Commission
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meeting. The Manager added that he has been enlisting the assistance of county and local
partners, to fmd solutions that will make the city's systems more efficient and effective. As an
example, the Manager cited the fact that today the IT department head met with DERM to upgrade
the Code Enforcement systems and get direct integration with DERM and various other databases,
so there will be simpler ways to communicate, in addition to integration with the website and more
automation. Manager Pate offered assurances that actions are being taken by his office to address
the Commission's concerns and they are making progress. He apologized that they are not moving
at the pace the Mayor wants them to move, but said that they are moving as rapidly and responsibly
as possible.
Mayor Pigatt stated that he is not worried about the pacing, but he wants to be able to have a
timeline in place, so that it can be communicated to residents, and they can understand what is
going on. He asked the Manager to let the Commission know when he is going to be clearer on the
completion, because it is not something that he does not want to be dropped because it is not being
brought up in Commission meetings.
Commissioner Burke added to his previous questions to the City Manager about the tenant that
has been in City Hall for over a year without paying rent, that he needs to know how much money
the city is owed, why the tenant was not paying rent and what the city is doing to get rid of or evict
the tenant. He requested this information to be able to respond to a resident.
18. OFFICIAL BOARD REPORTS:
19. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Mayor Pigatt said he would like to have the city's water billing considered moving forward. That
is the second major challenge as a city. Recently, he received more requests and comments about
what is being done with the past water bills. One thing that has been done that made significant
progress was replacing the meters and transitioning. He asked what the plan is for the outstanding
debts. He further asked the City Manager how much is currently outstanding in the city.
City Manager Pate stated that it is over $1 million.
Mayor Pigatt said he believes it is a couple of million dollars, and is an issue that has been going
on for almost 4 years. There are still residents that have bills from that time. The Mayor would
like to put on the agenda a plan to address that and close it out, whether it be through collections
or another means, so that everyone is clear about what's going on with the water bills.
City Manager Pate stated that the reason that he hasn't gotten any plan is because of on -going class
action litigation in regards to water billing and he wouldn't be able to provide a plan until that is
resolved. Any action that the city may take in regards to that, may affect that litigation. The city
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has been provided advice to that in the past. He asserted that he wouldn't be able to put a plan in
writing at this time.
Mayor Pigatt asked City Attorney Norris Weeks to weigh in on whether or not the city can put
some type of plan together for residents.
City Attorney Norris -Weeks confirmed that this issue has come up before and she is not clear on
exactly what is being asked. Generally thinking she and outside counsel have spoken with the
Manager in the past about issues that can affect the litigation. Attorney Norris -Weeks stated that
the Manager is correct, and she is not sure how some of the things can be separated. She suggested
having a meeting with the Mayor, and figure out how to address his concerns if they can, outside
of anything that may impact the litigation activities.
Mayor Pigatt stated that it is not particularly his concern. There are literally thousands of residents
that have kind of been in limbo, so at what point will clarity be provided. He wondered how long
the case will take considering it's already been a few years. While he knows that litigation can
last quite a while, and he knows that litigation deals with a class, he asked if that litigation stops
all the residents in Opa-locka from getting some type of clarity and resolution on what to do with
those past due bills. He said he just wants to see how this can be addressed.
City Attorney Norris -Weeks stated that she thinks the city has done some things already, including
some collection efforts. The City Manager's Office would be in a better position to address that.
City Manager Pate said that the City Manager's Office has attempted collections activities, and
those activities caused an injunction to be filed against the city for filing liens against properties
that owed on past water bills as of a couple months ago. Court action was filed and that action
was requested to be halted and included as part of the class action suit. He asserted that there is
nothing the City Manager can do at this point without it affecting litigation.
Mayor Pigatt stated that he doesn't want this to be something that the Commission doesn't stay on
top of because there are literally thousands of people in the city in limbo, and the Commission
needs to find out what is going on. He would like some type of statement or plan that gives them
an understanding of this fmancial situation. He said he understands the sensitive nature of this
because of the litigation, but he believes the Commission has to give residents some kind of
process. Currently, he has been referring people to Public Works and Ms. Braynon in the Finance
Department to get some type of review, but there are still a lot of questions. He said he will hold
back on this for another meeting or two, but believes that the Commission needs to put something
in place to address this and make a very clear statement on how the Commission is dealing with
this issue moving forward.
20. MAYOR/COMMISSION REPORTS:
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Commissioner Burke reported that on Saturday morning he was invited to the grand opening at a
new business in the city and ran into the Vice Mayor doing her rounds talking to the business
people on Ali Baba Avenue. He said he invited the Vice Mayor down to Lucy B's Thrift Store, a
business owned by two young sisters who named the business after their mother. They met the
owners and toured the store. He was surprised and amazed and thinks it is something all the
Commissioners should do, getting out in the neighborhood to talk to the business people and let
them know that the Commission is there. He further shared that after the Vice Mayor left, the
business owners had nothing but kudos for her. Acknowledging that not all the Commissioners
are on the same page, he asserted that he knows they all want the same thing for the city. He
thanked the Vice Mayor for being there.
Vice Mayor Williams shared that on Saturday, she became family with Lucy B's Thrift Store. She
explained that while the business used to work thrift, it is not thrift, and their items were amazing
and beautiful. She reported that she also met a lot of business owners, including new business
owners in Opa-locka, interestingly they were women doing their thing. She shared that she met
another one today at Empowering Kids. She said she is really touched and that's why her passion
is there, and asserted that the Commission must highlight what is happening in Opa-locka either
through the CRA or something. She thanked Commissioner Burke for his invitation and everyone
that showed up for the community clean-up, including everyone that works for Opa-locka and
those who don't work for the city. Vice Mayor Williams also thanked Sergeant German Bosque
and Sergeant Michael Steel for accompanying her to present a proclamation to the family at the
funeral of Damon Richardson.
Commissioner Davis thanked his colleagues for hitting the pavement and having the conversations
that keep the Commission grounded in the work that is done to impact the community. He sent a
special thank you to Vice Mayor Williams for leading the community cleanup in the Triangle,
which is an almost forgotten neighborhood, a part of the city that is near and dear to his heart. He
recalled that the park that was cleaned was actually developed by him a couple of years ago during
his time at the CDC, and explained that the park is a community park that was worked on by
members of the community, despite the lack of political will to get it done. He expressed that he
is glad that the area that has been forgotten, continues to receive support from this Commission.
He offered kudos for doing that and all that the Vice Mayor does in the community, including
reaching out to business owners. As an organizer, the Commissioner said that one of his favorite
responsibilities was going out into the community and listening to authentic conversations, because
it has so much value. Commissioner Davis thanked Commissioner Burke, Vice Mayor Williams
and everyone who was a part of the cleanup at Magnolia North to help the community.
Commissioner Taylor also thanked Vice Mayor Williams and shared that it was fun when they
were cleaning up. He said it was truly an honor to be out there cleaning up the community. He
agreed with Commissioner Davis, saying that the Commission focuses more on the west side than
the area that was called the Triangle and is now called Magnolia North.
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Mayor Pigatt echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, and that it was good to see on Facebook that
Vice Mayor Williams and Commissioner Burke showed up at Lucy B's Thrift Store. The Mayor
also extended thanks to Vice Chair Oliver Gilbert and Vice Mayor Williams for hosting the
community event, which was great and he expressed that the Commission needs to do that more
often, which is why he began by calling for a workshop. He reminded the Commission that a
series of workshops have been organized with the State of the City Address, Operational Audit,
and Audit Workshops which have identified all of the good and the things that need to be worked
on in the City of Opa-locka. With the current conversation about events policy, the Mayor thinks
it is time to start to prioritize what those events are and make sure things get put into the budget.
One of the things the Mayor realized when doing the State of the City Address, is that almost all
of his goals for being an elected official have been accomplished. Mayor Pigatt said that most of
it was bringing in a new generation of leadership and making changes to address the four major
challenges which have been moving significantly. A large part of that was being very strategic
about the budget and priorities and working with the City Manager, Attorney and colleagues to
make sure that happened. He wants to make sure that the Commission has a workshop where the
Commission can clearly lay out all of the goals and priorities, whether they be public relations,
housing, public safety so that all those things are moved forward in the City of Opa-locka. He
asked the City Manager and City Clerk when the strategic planning workshop can begin and asked
for a good date and time. He further asked who would take the lead on this to really bring out the
ideas that the Commission has and put together a plan for the priorities.
City Manager Pate stated that the Mayor can have the City Clerk poll the Commission and call the
workshop as he wishes and he will ensure that his staff will be available, based on whatever subject
he wants to discuss at that given time. He offered to send out an email to ask about various subjects
that each Commissioner wants to discuss and then break it out over the next couple of months
based on those themes, to make sure it is organized. He said that he thinks everyone on the
Commission has similar wishes. He asked if the Mayor will allow him to work with the City Clerk
to poll the commission via email in regards to goals and subjects of discussion and then set dates,
which he can get done pretty quickly.
Mayor Pigatt said that is exactly what he would like to see, so that the Commission can plan it out,
pull out their ideas and make sure they are structured, so that priorities can be put with budget
items and plan out events for the year, and work on the events policy.
City Manager John Pate replied that he understood.
Mayor Pigatt brought to the attention of the Commission that he had just gotten off a call just
before coming to the Commission meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and all the Mayors
of the African American Mayors Association where they talked about the COVID vaccine and the
plans of the Biden administration to bring those vaccinations to the community in an equitable
fashion. He said it was very promising to hear the level of detail in terms of data and the request
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021
Matthew A. Pigatt
Mayor
to get the vaccine down to the municipal level. Many of the mayors including Mayor Pigatt
expressed concerns about the bottleneck of vaccines that happens with the state, and there was
discussion of getting as much of that directly to cities and to the communities in different PODS.
The Mayor characterized it as a very good conversation, and included an expression by Vice
President Harris on the importance of masking up. He went on to say that he is happy to see that
the city is leading by example, masking up and even double masking now or using N -95's to reduce
the spread. This was, as the Mayor put it, an on the ground call from the very highest up, trying
to make sure the message is communicated all the way down on a municipal and residential level.
As those conversations continue, the Mayor committed to bring it back to the Commission. From
the highest levels all the way down to the municipal level, the Commission is working on trying
to get more doses of the vaccine out and put up mobile vaccination sites and PODS throughout our
community. He further said he was excited to see the level of work and engagement of all the
parties involved in making that happen, and looks forward to more information.
21. OFFICIAL BOARD APPOINTMENTS:
There were none.
22. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by
Commissioner Burke, seconded by Commissioner Taylor to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Attest:
Joa na Flores, CMC
City Clerk
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Regular Commission Meeting Minutes — February 10, 2021