HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-April 12, 2021 WSCITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
Workshop
Monday, April 12, 2021
5:30 p.m.
1. WELCOME/OPENING REMARKS:
Mayor Matthew Pigatt called the Workshop to order at 5:30 PM on Monday, April 12, 2021 at
Sherbondy Village, 215 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Pigatt stated that the workshop was scheduled to discuss the
Commission's priorities.
2. ROLL CALL:
The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Alvin E. Burke,
Commissioner Chris Davis, Vice Mayor Veronica J. Williams and Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt.
Commissioner John H. Taylor Jr. arrived at 5:54 p.m. Also in attendance were: City Manager
John E. Pate, Assistant City Manager George Ellis, City Attorney Burnadette Norris -Weeks and
City Clerk Joanna Flores.
3. INVOCATION:
The invocation was delivered by Vice Mayor Williams.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
City Clerk Flores announced the protocol for public participation at City Commission meetings.
Clerk Flores stated that there were no public comments.
Mayor Pigatt opened the floor for public comments from those attending the workshop meeting in
person.
There being no persons to speak, public comments were closed.
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
a) Brainstorm / Capture / Clarify / Individual City Commission Priorities (each
Commission member will be individually asked to describe their top priorities)
Mayor Pigatt began by saying that he is honored that the Commission is meeting for probably one
of the most powerful things they will do as a Commission, to set their priorities. The Mayor
reminded his colleagues that each one of the members of the Commission was elected by the
people as their representatives and voice in government, and that the workshop will be an
opportunity for them to bring their various perspectives together. He pointed out that their last
meeting proved that when the Commission comes together, things move in the City. The Mayor
noted that this will be the first time since he has been on the dais that the Commission lays out its
priorities. He reported that prior to the workshop each Commissioner submitted their priorities,
and they were included in the meeting's agenda packet. The goal for the workshop as stated by
the Mayor, is to start bringing the Commission's priorities together into a document that would be
a message to the City Manager on what the Commission sees as the priorities. He proposed that
each Commissioner present the most important parts of their priorities and if any of the other
members of the Commission have anything they would like to add they should just share those
things. The Mayor also explained that he will take note of responses and support for the priorities
presented by each Commissioner, and encouraged his colleagues to shake their head or wave their
hand to express their support for any Commission priorities that are proposed. He added that after
all of the Commissioners present their priorities, he would like for the Commission to discuss the
things that they don't want to consider as a priority. The Mayor also stated that he will then ask
the Commission to think about the priorities they want to get done this year, and encouraged them
all to go down their list of priorities to begin identifying those. Once those priorities that the
Commission wants to get done this year have been discussed, he proposed that they be ranked and
then moved forward with a resolution. He asked if there were any comments or thoughts on the
process.
Commissioner Burke stated that he thought the Commission was talking about their immediate
priorities that they were looking to jump on right away, and that is why he submitted his priorities
the way he did, though he understood why the book of proposed priorities was presented the way
that it was.
Mayor Pigatt acknowledged that each of the members of the Commission have both short-term
and long-term priorities, and recommended that they all be laid out through the workshop. The
Mayor said that City Manager Pate will kick start the conversation about which priorities will be
able to be accomplished in the short term, by helping to identify those that can get done this year.
Vice Mayor Williams stated that she is not understanding the process that Mayor Pigatt wanted to
use, and asked if he wanted each Commissioner to present their priorities and then have the similar
priorities bucketed together. The Vice Mayor recalled that last year the Commission identified the
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
four major challenges, and wanted to know if the Mayor wanted them to give the priorities a
specific number.
Mayor Pigatt acknowledged that there were a lot of great ideas laid out by the members of the
Commission and encouraged his colleagues to speak about the ones they really care about and then
afterwards, they can work on building consensus around those priorities. The Mayor proposed
that the priorities be presented by the members of the Commission who he considers to be elder
statesmen first, and suggested the following order: Commissioner Davis first, Commissioner
Burke second, Vice Mayor Williams third, Commissioner Taylor fourth and then he would present
last.
Commissioner Davis proposed the following priorities:
• Comprehensive Citywide beautification program.
• Cleaning program with a regular maintenance schedule, including the installation of
garbage cans in public spaces and parks.
• Agreement with Miami -Dade county to regularly maintain the City's waterways.
• Pressure cleaning initiative to keep sidewalks and public areas clean, which can be
subsidized through user fees.
• Programming parks services for seniors and the youth.
• Job program to provide incentives for local businesses that hire Opa-locka residents.
• Recovery program with reconciliation of funds.
• Get ahead of hurricane season with proper planning and outreach.
• Quarterly/monthly financial reports.
• Segregating each Commissioner's budget.
• Inclusionary housing initiative in the CRA area to require developers to designate a
percentage of new developments as affordable units.
• Create the City's social service arm by reactivating the newly renovated cultural arts center
and community empowerment team center so that residents can go there to apply for
government assistance and kids can go there for tutoring after school.
• Re -activate Charter Review Committee.
• Re -activating the historic Arabian Nights event on an annual basis together with the Miami -
Dade Department of Cultural Affairs.
• Complete pending capital projects including Cairo Lane, Ingram Park and Historic City
Hall.
• Have the City take a strong stand on qualified immunity and have that reflected in the
renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement with the CBA.
• Summer youth jobs initiative.
• Tackle challenges with infrastructure, housing and millage rate reduction using the roughly
$6 million allocated by the American Rescue Plan.
• Reactivate Police Explorer Program and create more mentorship opportunities for youth.
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
" C r e a t e a h o m e l e s s i n i t i a t i v e .
" H i r e a g r a n t w r i t e r t o b e p e r m a n e n t l y o n s t a f f .
" H i r e a l o b b y i n g f i r m t o m a n a g e t h e C i t y ' s l e g i s l a t i v e a g e n d a , t o a d v o c a t e f o r O p a - l o c k a
f u l l t i m e .
" R e b r a n d a n d m e a s u r e t h e s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y s y s t e m C i t y w i d e , s o t h a t r e s p o n d i n g t o r e s i d e n t s '
c o n c e r n s i s e s t a b l i s h e d a s t h e t o p p r i o r i t y f o r a l l C i t y s t a f f .
" C r e a t e a C i t y w i d e v o l u n t e e r i n g p r o g r a m a n d d a t a b a s e f o r o n g o i n g s u p p o r t o f e v e n t s a n d
p r o j e c t s .
" R e a c t i v a t e C i t y w i d e i n t e r n s h i p p r o g r a m , m a r k e t e d t h r o u g h l o c a l u n i v e r s i t i e s .
" P l a n a v i r t u a l j o b f a i r e v e n t .
" P l a n a n a n n u a l t o y g i v e a w a y .
" R e i n s t a t e C i t y w i d e c r i m e w a t c h i n i t i a t i v e t o e n g a g e r e s i d e n t s .
" P a s s a v a c a n t p r o p e r t y o r d i n a n c e t o r e g i s t e r v a c a n t h o u s e s i n a c e n t r a l i z e d d a t a b a s e t h a t i s
a c c e s s i b l e t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y , t o a d d r e s s t h e p r o b l e m w i t h s q u a t t e r s .
" M a k e a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g p e r m a n e n t b y i n c l u d i n g d e e d - r e s t r i c t e d h o u s i n g .
" E s t a b l i s h s p e c i a l t a x i n g d i s t r i c t s i n i n d u s t r i a l c o r r i d o r s t o h a v e t h e b u s i n e s s e s t h a t a r e
d i r e c t l y i m p a c t e d b y t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e p r o j e c t s , p a y t h e i r f a i r s h a r e .
" C i t y w i d e f i r s t - t i m e h o m e b u y e r i n i t i a t i v e t o p r o v i d e s u b s i d i e s .
" S e n i o r s w i m p r o g r a m .
" D i v e r s i f y r e v e n u e s t r e a m s b y c r e a t i n g u s e r f e e s i n s t e a d o f r a i s i n g t a x e s .
" T a s t e o f O p a - l o c k e v e n t s h o w c a s i n g t h e t o p d i s h e s f r o m l o c a l r e s t a u r a n t s .
" N a m e a n d o f f i c i a l l y a d o p t M a g n o l i a N o r t h C o m m u n i t y P a r k .
" E x p l o r e a n n e x a t i o n o p t i o n s t o r e a c h o v e r 5 0 , 0 0 0 r e s i d e n t s , a c h i e v e e n t i t l e m e n t c i t y s t a t u s
a n d b e a b l e t o r e c e i v e f u n d i n g d i r e c t l y f r o m t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t .
" S e n d C i t y c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t h r o u g h t h e w a t e r b i l l a n d o t h e r o u t r e a c h m e c h a n i s m s t o
e n c o u r a g e r e s i d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n .
" E x a m i n e t h e i m p a c t o f f l o o d z o n e d e s i g n a t i o n s o n r e s i d e n t s a b i l i t y t o o b t a i n a n d m a i n t a i n
p r o p e r i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e o n t h e i r p r o p e r t y .
" C r e a t e a b u s i n e s s c h a m b e r o f c o m m e r c e t o e n g a g e b u s i n e s s o w n e r s a n d r e s i d e n t s .
C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s i n d i c a t e d s u p p o r t f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i o r i t i e s f r o m h i s f e l l o w m e m b e r s o f t h e
C o m m i s s i o n :
" C o m m i s s i o n e r B u r k e ' s p r o p o s a l t o u p d a t e t h e e m p l o y e e p a y p l a n .
C o m m i s s i o n e r B u r k e d e c l a r e d t h a t h i s n u m b e r o n e p r i o r i t y h a s a l r e a d y b e e n f u l f i l l e d w i t h t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p r o f e s s i o n a l P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t , g e t t i n g t h e o f f i c e r s o u t o f t h e o l d C r o w n
V i c t o r i a s a n d c o n t i n u i n g t o b r i n g t h e d e p a r t m e n t i n t o t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y .
C o m m i s s i o n e r B u r k e p r o p o s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i o r i t i e s :
" C o m p l e t e t h e C a i r o L a n e p r o j e c t .
4
C o m m i s s i o n P r i o r i t i e s W o r k s h o p M e e t i n g M i n u t e s A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 2 1
" R e - o p e n i n g o f I n g r a m P a r k .
" C o m p l e t e H i s t o r i c C i t y H a l l .
" U p d a t e e m p l o y e e p a y p l a n .
" B e a u t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e C i t y i n c l u d i n g a C i t y w i d e c l e a n u p s c h e d u l e a n d i n c r e a s i n g m a n p o w e r
i n t h e P u b l i c W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t .
" T r a f f i c e n f o r c e m e n t .
V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s p r o p o s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i o r i t i e s :
" D e s i g n a m a r k e t i n g p l a n t o p r o m o t e C i t y i n i t i a t i v e s a s w e l l a s h i g h l i g h t r e s i d e n t s ,
d e p a r t m e n t s a n d e m p l o y e e s , i n o r d e r t o e n g a g e a n d e m p o w e r a l l o f t h e C i t i z e n s a s w e l l a s
r e v i t a l i z e a n d r e j u v e n a t e O p a - l o c k a .
o R e - e n g a g e t h e r e s i d e n t s o f O p a - l o c k a t o b e c i v i c a l l y m i n d e d b y c o n n e c t i n g t h e
C o m m i s s i o n a n d C i t y g o v e r n m e n t w i t h t h e c i t i z e n s , a n d e m p o w e r t h e m t o w o r k o n
p o l i t i c a l a n d n o n - p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n , t o m a k e c h a n g e s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .
o E n g a g e c i t i z e n s t o b e p a r t o f t h e C i t y ' s e v e n t s .
" D e v e l o p t h e C i t y ' s h u m a n r e s o u r c e s .
o H i r e a n d r e t r a i n t o e n s u r e t h e C i t y h a s e f f e c t i v e e m p l o y e e s t h a t w o r k f o r t h e b e s t
i n t e r e s t o f t h e C i t y i n e v e r y d e p a r t m e n t .
o C r e a t e a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n p l a n t h a t g o v e r n s e f f e c t i v e n e s s a n d a c c o u n t a b i l i t y .
o E s t a b l i s h c l e a r t a r g e t s f o r t h o s e t h a t a r e b e i n g e v a l u a t e d , i n c l u d i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i t y
f o r t r a i n i n g s o t h e y c a n b e s u c c e s s f u l .
o C o m p l e t e a n e e d s a s s e s s m e n t o f e v e r y d e p a r t m e n t t o d e t e r m i n e e m p l o y e e e f f i c a c y
a n d d e t e r m i n e i f t a r g e t e d i n t e r v e n t i o n o r r e s t r u c t u r i n g i s n e e d e d .
o C r e a t e a s y s t e m o f b o n u s p a y m e n t s t o p r o v i d e i n c e n t i v e s f o r e m p l o y e e s w h o a r e
a c t u a l l y e f f i c i e n t a n d e f f e c t i v e , e n c o u r a g i n g t h e s t a f f t o b e c o m e m o d e l e m p l o y e e s
t h a t a r e h i g h l i g h t e d .
" C r e a t e a g l o b a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e p l a n .
o L o o k a t t e c h n o l o g i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t o b u i l d a
v i a b l e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e e c o n o m i c p l a n t h a t i s n o t j u s t l o o k i n g a t r o a d s .
o R e d u c e f l o o d i n g i n r e s i d e n t i a l a n d c o m m e r c i a l a r e a s .
o F i x d e t e r i o r a t e d r o a d s a n d h i g h w a y s .
o B u i l d a n d f i x s i d e w a l k s .
o C o l l e c t t h e f i n e s a n d b i l l s t h a t a r e o w e d t o s p e c i f i c d e p a r t m e n t s .
" P l a n P a r k s & R e c r e a t i o n P r o g r a m s .
o D e v e l o p c r a d l e t o g r a v e i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t t a r g e t t h e y o u t h a n d s e n i o r s .
" B e a u t i f y t h e C i t y .
o A d d r e s s t h e n e e d f o r m o r e e m p l o y e e s t o h e l p c l e a n t h e C i t y .
o D e v e l o p b e a u t i f i c a t i o n p r o j e c t s t h a t i n c l u d e t h e c i t i z e n s .
o C r e a t e a n d m a i n t a i n a n a c c o u n t a b i l i t y m e t h o d f o r t h o s e t h a t b r e a k e s t a b l i s h e d r u l e s
l i k e i l l e g a l d u m p i n g l a w s .
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C o m m i s s i o n P r i o r i t i e s W o r k s h o p M e e t i n g M i n u t e s A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 2 1
Commissioner Taylor proposed the following priorities:
• Develop park facilities and their programming to their full potential.
Commissioner Taylor indicated support for the following priorities from his fellow members of
the Commission:
• Commissioner Davis' proposal for the creation of a special taxing district to fund
infrastructure projects.
• Commissioner Davis' proposal for the annexation of additional territory to surpass 50,000
residents so that Opa-locka is granted entitlement city status and direct federal funding.
• Commissioner Davis', Burke's and Vice Mayor Williams' proposal to invest in
infrastructure.
• Commissioner Burke's proposal to update the employee pay plan.
• Vice Mayor Williams' proposal to improve marketing to empower citizens.
Mayor Pigatt proposed the following priorities:
• Opa-locka's four major challenges.
• Complete the operational audit.
• Institute an annual ethics training for all employees.
• Determine which events are popular and which are not, to be clear about the fiscal
investments that are being made.
• Complete an annual review of the occupational licenses for the businesses in the City.
• Put in place an electronic filing system.
• Ensure the Police Department is held accountable, and be clear about what the community
wants as part of the City's negotiation with the police union.
• Increase community policing initiatives by having officers on bikes and foot patrols.
• Align code enforcement with the Commission's beautification efforts throughout the City.
• Design a results oriented government plan.
• Review the City's employment contracts.
• Plan a monthly or quarterly community cleanup event.
Mayor Pigatt indicated support for the following priorities from his fellow members of the
Commission:
• Commissioner Davis' proposal for monthly/quarterly financial reports.
• Vice Mayor Williams' proposal to have all employees evaluated, trained and held
accountable through a progressive discipline plan.
• Commissioner Burke's proposal to update the employee pay plan.
• The full Commission's proposal to optimize all of the Parks & Recreation Department's
facilities.
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' p r o p o s a l t o c r e a t e a v o l u n t e e r d a t a b a s e .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' & B u r k e ' s p r o p o s a l t o h a v e a r e g u l a r s c h e d u l e f o r m a i n t e n a n c e .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' & B u r k e ' s p r o p o s a l t o c o m p l e t e t h e r e n o v a t i o n o f H i s t o r i c C i t y H a l l .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' & V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s ' p r o p o s a l t o r e p a i r a n d m a i n t a i n s i d e w a l k s .
" V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s ' p r o p o s a l t o d e v i s e m e t r i c s a n d m i l e s t o n e s a s p e r f o r m a n c e i n d i c a t o r s
f o r e a c h o f t h e C i t y ' s d e p a r t m e n t s , a l o n g w i t h a d i s c i p l i n a r y p o l i c y .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' p r o p o s a l t o p a s s a v a c a n t p r o p e r t y o r d i n a n c e .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' p r o p o s a l t o c r e a t e a s p e c i a l t a x i n g d i s t r i c t t o f u n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e
p r o j e c t s .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' & V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s ' p r o p o s a l f o r y o u t h e n g a g e m e n t .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' p r o p o s a l t o p l a n a T a s t e o f O p a - l o c k a e v e n t .
" V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s ' p r o p o s a l t o h i g h l i g h t t h e c o m m u n i t y .
" C o m m i s s i o n e r D a v i s ' p r o p o s a l f o r t h e a n n e x a t i o n o f a d d i t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y t o s u r p a s s 5 0 , 0 0 0
r e s i d e n t s s o t h a t O p a - l o c k a i s g r a n t e d e n t i t l e m e n t c i t y s t a t u s a n d d i r e c t f e d e r a l f u n d i n g .
b ) P r i o r i t y R a n k i n g ( g i v e n t h e s e t o f l i s t e d C o m m i s s i o n m e m b e r p r i o r i t y a r e a s ,
i d e n t i f y a r e a s o f a g r e e m e n t a n d d i f f e r e n c e a n d r a n k o r d e r t h o s e w i t h t h e
s t r o n g e s t c o n s e n s u s )
M a y o r P i g a t t p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e p r i o r i t i e s t h a t h a v e t h e f u l l s u p p o r t o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e
C o m m i s s i o n b e l i s t e d , a n d t h e n a s k e d M a n a g e m e n t t o w e i g h i n o n w h a t c a n b e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h i s
y e a r .
C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s p r i o r i t i e s a r e b e i n g s e t i n t h e m i d d l e o f a
b u d g e t y e a r a n d t h u s s o m e o f t h e g o a l s m a y r e q u i r e b u d g e t a m e n d m e n t s . M r . P a t e u r g e d t h e
C o m m i s s i o n t o c o n s i d e r e x t e n d i n g t h e i r g o a l s i n t o t h e n e x t b u d g e t y e a r , a n d d e f i n e w h i c h p r i o r i t i e s
t h e y h o p e t o a t t a i n b e t w e e n n o w a n d S e p t e m b e r . H e a d d e d t h a t h i s v i s i o n i s t o n a r r o w d o w n t h e
p r i o r i t i e s a t t h i s m e e t i n g , t h e n h a v e o n e m o r e w o r k s h o p t o l o o k a t b u d g e t a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a n d
h a v e a r e s o l u t i o n o n t h e b o o k s w i t h i n t h e n e x t m o n t h a n d a h a l f , g i v i n g s t a f f t i m e t o d o t h e i r
h o m e w o r k a n d M r . A n a t h a n t i m e t o l o o k a t t h e b u d g e t .
T h e M a y o r i d e n t i f i e d t h e f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s i n t o w h i c h e a c h o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n m e m b e r s '
p r i o r i t i e s c a n b e c l a s s i f i e d : B e a u t i f i c a t i o n , P a r k s & R e c , I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , H . R . a n d M a r k e t i n g . T h e
p r i o r i t i e s t h a t h e f o u n d c o n s e n s u s o n i n c l u d e d :
" C i t y B e a u t i f i c a t i o n
o P r i o r i t y : C r e a t e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e b e a u t i f i c a t i o n p l a n .
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e s t a t e d t h a t t h e C a p i t a l I m p r o v e m e n t a n d P u b l i c W o r k s
D e p a r t m e n t a r e w o r k i n g o n a t t a i n a b l e g o a l s f o r t h e b e a u t i f i c a t i o n p l a n f o r
t h e y e a r .
7
C o m m i s s i o n P r i o r i t i e s W o r k s h o p M e e t i n g M i n u t e s A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 2 1
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n a s s u r e d t h e C o m m i s s i o n t h a t t h e
c o m p r e h e n s i v e b e a u t i f i c a t i o n p l a n w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e f i r s t
C o m m i s s i o n m e e t i n g i n J u n e .
o C i t y w i d e d e e p c l e a n i n g .
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e s t a t e d t h a t p r o p o s a l s a r e b e i n g r e v i e w e d t o b r i n g i n a
t h i r d - p a r t y v e n d o r t o a s s i s t w i t h t r e e t r i m m i n g , g u t t e r c l e a n i n g a n d t h e f u l l
g a m u t t o g e t t h e C i t y b a c k i n t o p r e s e n t a b l e s h a p e a n d t h e n h a v e a p r o g r a m
t o m a i n t a i n t h e C i t y .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t h i s d e p a r t m e n t n e e d s t o
r e v i e w t h e b u d g e t t o s e e i f t h e y h a v e t h e f i n a n c i a l w h e r e w i t h a l t o s u p p o r t
t h e C i t y w i d e d e e p c l e a n i n g . M r . A u s t i n a l s o e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e e x p e c t s
p r e s s u r e c l e a n i n g o f t h e c u r b s a l o n g t h e m e d i a n s , t o b e d o n e w i t h i n a m o n t h
a n d t h e n t h e C i t y ' s f a c i l i t i e s w i l l b e p r e s s u r e c l e a n e d a s w e l l .
o H i r e m o r e s t a f f f o r t h e P u b l i c W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t .
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e r e p o r t e d t h a t P u b l i c W o r k s e m p l o y e e s a r e c o m i n g i n o n
t h e w e e k e n d s a n d a r e w o r k i n g e x t r a a s m u c h a s t h e y p o s s i b l y c a n , b u t a r e
b u r n t o u t a n d t h u s b e e f i n g u p o f t h e w o r k f o r c e i s b e i n g l o o k e d a t w i t h t e m p
t o h i r e a r r a n g e m e n t s . M r . P a t e a s s u r e d t h e C o m m i s s i o n t h a t h e w i l l w o r k
w i t h t h e H u m a n R e s o u r c e s D e p a r t m e n t t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t t h e d i f f i c u l t y i s
i n h i r i n g c a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e P u b l i c W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t , p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t a
p a r t o f t h e p r o b l e m i s t h e p a y p l a n w h i c h h e s a i d i s n o t g o i n g t o b e a b l e t o
b e u p d a t e d t h i s y e a r .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t h i s d e p a r t m e n t ' s g o a l i s t o
f i l l t h e g a p c r e a t e d b y t h e i r d i m i n i s h e d m a n p o w e r b y r e t a i n i n g a t h i r d - p a r t y
o r g a n i z a t i o n t o a s s i s t w i t h t h e d e e p c l e a n i n g o f t h e C i t y ' s s i d e w a l k s a n d t r e e
t r i m m i n g s . M r . A u s t i n r e p o r t e d t h a t h i s d e p a r t m e n t h a d c a n d i d a t e s t h a t
w a n t e d t o b e h i r e d a n d w e r e i n t e r v i e w e d , b u t d i d n ' t p a s s t h e t e s t .
o E s t a b l i s h p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s l i k e t h e G r e a t e r S e r v i c e
M i a m i C o r p s , C a r e e r S o u r c e a n d t h e p r i s o n s t o g e t m o r e p e o p l e o n t h e s t r e e t
h e l p i n g t o c l e a n t h e C i t y .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n c o n f i r m e d t h a t p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h
o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t c a n h e l p w i t h l i t t e r c o l l e c t i o n , a r e b e i n g w o r k e d o n .
o I n t r o d u c e a n d a w a r d s y s t e m f o r r e s i d e n t s w h o i d e n t i f y i l l e g a l d u m p i n g .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t t h e p l a n f o r t h e C i t y w i d e
d e e p c l e a n i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h V i c e M a y o r W i l l i a m s ' i n i t i a t i v e a g a i n s t i l l e g a l
d u m p i n g , i s a p l a n f o r s u c c e s s .
o E v a l u a t e t h e r u l e s t h a t g o v e r n t h e C o d e E n f o r c e m e n t D e p a r t m e n t .
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e a s s e r t e d t h a t h e c o u l d n o t c o m m i t h i s s t a f f t o c o m p l e t i n g
a f u l l e v a l u a t i o n o f C o d e E n f o r c e m e n t r u l e s t h i s y e a r a n d w o u l d r e c o m m e n d
t h a t i t b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e n e x t b u d g e t c y c l e .
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C o m m i s s i o n P r i o r i t i e s W o r k s h o p M e e t i n g M i n u t e s A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 2 1
in Public Works Director Airia Austin acknowledged Mayor Pigatt's point
that the majority of Opa-locka consists of private property, and thus code
compliance will be used to help maintain the City once the deep clean is
complete.
o Install garbage cans across the City
• Public Works Director Airia Austin stated that the majority of the garbage
cans across Opa-locka will be installed as part of the bus bench initiative.
• Parks & Recreation
o Create events for the Commission.
o Officially add Magnolia Park to the parks system.
• City Manager Pate stated that because he believes Opa-locka owns the
property on which Magnolia Park sits and the City currently maintains the
park, all he has to do is determine what is legislatively required for the
Commission to recognize it as an official City park. Mr. Pate offered
assurances that it can be done within this budget cycle.
o Establish programs and activities for seniors and the youth after school.
• Parks & Recreation Department Director Delven Patterson reported that his
department is bringing back youth football to Sherbondy Park in addition to
after school programs, camps, and intramural sports. Mr. Patterson also
shared that the City's seniors have been served by community groups who
offer them programming like healthy eating and exercise classes as well as
providing swim lessons through the aquatics division. He assured the
Commission that his department is looking to have maximum usage of the
parks from sun up to sun down for residents from young to old.
o List national standards.
• Parks & Recreation Department Director Delven Patterson reported that
since he and Assistant Parks Director Joy Hawthorne began in their
positions, Opa-locka became recognized through the Florida Recreation &
Parks Association, bringing national standards as they look to move the
parks into the 21st century.
o Develop a plan for park maintenance, including hiring additional staff.
• Parks & Recreation Department Director Delven Patterson stated that his
department is developing the maintenance plan for part-time and full-time
staff to follow, providing a daily report of the inside and outside of the
City's facilities, including the basketball courts, pools and restrooms. Mr.
Patterson also reported that his department will be working with the work
order system in the Public Works Department to fix any maintenance
problems that may arise.
o Fully activate all of the parks, including Ingram Park.
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e s t a t e d t h a t o u t d o o r a c t i v i t i e s h a v e r e o p e n e d a t t h e p a r k s ,
b u t a d a t e t o b r i n g b a c k i n d o o r a c t i v i t i e s w i l l n o t b e p r o j e c t e d u n t i l t h e
v a c c i n a t i o n r a t e a g a i n s t C O V I D - 1 9 g o e s u p a n d t h e i n f e c t i o n r a t e g o e s
d o w n .
" P a r k s & R e c r e a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t D i r e c t o r D e l v e n P a t t e r s o n r e m i n d e d t h e
C o m m i s s i o n t h a t t h e C i t y i s s t i l l u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e C D C r e g a r d i n g
t h e o p e n i n g a n d a c t i v a t i o n o f f a c i l i t i e s . M r . P a t t e r s o n p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e
H e l e n M i l l e r C e n t e r h a s b e e n a c t i v a t e d a s a v a c c i n a t i o n s i t e a n d t h e C i t y i s
l o o k i n g t o h o s t s u m m e r c a m p a n d a c t i v a t e a f i t n e s s t r a i l t h e r e . H e a l s o
r e p o r t e d t h a t a f i s h i n g p r o g r a m a n d e v e n t w i l l b e o f f e r e d o n t h e l a k e a t
I n g r a m P a r k .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e s t r o o m a n d l i g h t s a t
I n g r a m P a r k c a n b e b r o u g h t o n l i n e , b u t t h e t e n n i s a n d b a s k e t b a l l c o u r t s n e e d
a d d i t i o n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n b e c a u s e t h e g r o u n d i s f a i l i n g a n d n e e d s t o h a v e t h e
s e c u r i t y o f t h e e a r t h e v a l u a t e d , w h i c h i s n o t l i k e l y t o b e d o n e w i t h i n t h e n e x t
y e a r . M r . A u s t i n a s s u r e d t h e C o m m i s s i o n t h a t a d e t a i l e d p l a n w i t h
m i l e s t o n e s f o r w h e n p r o j e c t s l i k e I n g r a m P a r k w i l l b e c o m p l e t e d , w i l l b e
p r o v i d e d a t t h e n e x t w o r k s h o p o n i n f r a s t r u c t u r e .
o C r e a t e a c i t i z e n e n g a g e m e n t a n d m a r k e t i n g p l a n f o r u p c o m i n g p a r k a c t i v i t i e s .
" I n f r a s t r u c t u r e
o D e v e l o p a s t o r m w a t e r m a s t e r p l a n i n c l u d i n g g u t t e r c l e a n i n g .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n c o n f i r m e d t h a t a d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t
s t o r m w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t a n d g u t t e r c l e a n i n g w i l l b e a p a r t o f t h e
i n f r a s t r u c t u r e w o r k s h o p , b u t t h e e x t e n s i v e d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e s t o r m w a t e r
m a s t e r p l a n w i l l b e b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e C o m m i s s i o n i n M a y b y t h e
c o n s u l t a n t t h a t i s c o m p l e t i n g t h e s t u d y .
o F i x t h e C i t y ' s s t r e e t s .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t t h e n u m b e r o f m i l e s o f
s t r e e t s a n d r o a d w a y s t h a t w i l l g e t r e - d o n e w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d a s p a r t o f t h e
i n f r a s t r u c t u r e w o r k s h o p b e c a u s e i t i s p a r t o f p h a s e 5 o f h i s d e p a r t m e n t ' s
m i l l i n g a n d r e s u r f a c i n g p r o j e c t s .
o E s t a b l i s h a t i m e l i n e a n d m i l e s t o n e s f o r c a p i t a l i m p r o v e m e n t p r o j e c t s , i n c l u d i n g
C a i r o L a n e .
" P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r A i r i a A u s t i n s t a t e d t h a t h i s d e p a r t m e n t w i l l p r o v i d e
t i m e l i n e s a n d m i l e s t o n e s o n p r o j e c t s t h a t w e r e s t a r t e d i n 2 0 2 0 a n d t h o s e t h a t
a r e s c h e d u l e d t o b e g i n i n F Y 2 1 a t t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e w o r k s h o p .
o D e t e r m i n e t h e s t e p s t o c r e a t e a s p e c i a l t a x i n g d i s t r i c t t o f u n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e p r o j e c t s .
" C i t y M a n a g e r P a t e s t a t e d t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n n e e d s t o b e p a s s e d a n d a s t u d y
n e e d s t o b e d o n e i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e a s p e c i a l t a x i n g d i s t r i c t , a n d h e c o n f i r m e d
t h a t i t c a n g e t d o n e w i t h i n a y e a r a n d a h a l f .
1 0
C o m m i s s i o n P r i o r i t i e s W o r k s h o p M e e t i n g M i n u t e s A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 2 1
o Ensure that all of the successes with infrastructure are constantly promoted and
brought to the attention of the community.
IN Public Works Director Airia Austin stated that one of the aspects of
infrastructure that is not in the public eye that his department has done a
tremendous job in addressing, is the City's sanitary sewer system which has
been relined and had its gravity infrastructure repaired. Mr. Austin reported
that the work that has been done on the sanitary sewer system was made
possible because of the City's capital and public works initiatives.
• Human Resources
o Create a system for evaluating City staff.
o Determine measures of accountability and discipline for City staff.
• City Manager Pate advised that the Commission not set a goal to direct his
office to specifically deal with accountability and discipline, considering
that the City already has an accountability and discipline program. Mr. Pate
asserted that he wanted to be placed on the record expressing his opinion it
would be unreasonable, but that the Commission can set that as a priority if
it wants to.
• Human Resources Department Director Kierra Ward stated that her
department currently has a progressive disciplinary policy for City staff that
was implemented over a year ago through the Manager's Office, as an
administrative policy.
• City Attorney Burnadette Norris -Weeks stated that City Manager Pate is
correct in recommending that the Commission should not direct him to
enforce anything against any particular employee, but she asserted that is
not what she was hearing from the Commission. Attorney Norris -Weeks
assured the Commission that it is reasonable for them to set it as a priority,
having a policy in place for the Manager to regularly evaluate City
employees. Additionally, she informed the Commission that such a priority
could be added as an accountability factor on an evaluation form for the
Manager.
o Set goals for achievement for City staff.
o Establish bonuses to incentivize City staff.
o Improve recruitment practices.
o Institute professional training program, including annual ethics training for all City
staff.
• City Manager Pate stated that the City's department directors were
mandated to complete ethics training this year.
c) Next Steps
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021
Mayor Pigatt tabled the continued discussion on the Commission priorities classified under human
resources and marketing, as well as the discussion on the union contract, after City Attorney
Norris -Weeks advised that the union discussion could be had in a shade meeting.
City Manager Pate stated that he will address the Commission's priorities on beautification, Parks
& Rec and infrastructure within two weeks.
Mayor Pigatt offered respect to his colleagues on the Commission, acknowledging that this is a
very powerful time for them to clearly lay out their priorities so that staff and all those watching
understand where the City is at in its progress. The Mayor thanked everyone for taking the time
to sit with the Commission, as they went through the process of setting their priorities and
expressed appreciation for the work that was done.
7. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by
Commissioner Taylor, seconded by Commissioner Davis to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
.sor?
Matthew A. Pigatt
Mayor
ATTEST:
J i . Flores, CMC
Cif Clerk
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Commission Priorities Workshop Meeting Minutes — April 12, 2021