The following actions were taken by the Miami Lakes Town Council at the May 5 regular meeting:
• Lawmakers gave their final approval on an ordinance to amend the town’s budget by reallocating $400,000 from the fund balance to the general fund budget to pay for the attorney fees in the lawsuit Mayor Michael Pizzi filed against the town to get his job back after he was acquitted of public corruption charges last year.
• Councilmembers gave their initial approval for an ordinance to require a request for code enforcement fine reduction be made after the violation for which a civil penalty is corrected, and stipulates the criteria that the hearing officer should consider in acting upon a request, which includes the gravity of the violation, any actions taken by the applicant to correct the violation, any previous or other outstanding violations and timeliness to comply.
According to the proposed ordinance, whether the applicant’s failure to comply with an order is due to an inability to comply based on factors beyond the control of the applicant.
There may be no reduction to the town's direct costs in prosecuting the violation and the property must be in compliance before a request for reduction in the civil penalty is granted.
The proposed ordinance provides guidelines for maximum reductions based on the type of ownership, consistent with the criteria the Council had been utilizing, specifically, no more than a 50 percent reduction for bank-owned properties, no more than 75 percent for properties owned by other entities, and a maximum reduction to one day’s fine plus costs for an owner-occupied residential property.
• The Council approved a change order in the amount of $220,000 to Lukes-Sawgrass Landscape to purchase and install trees in the town.
The new contract is valued at $245,000 and is to be expended from both the general fund budget and capital projects.
• Councilmembers authorized the town manager to execute a license agreement providing for FDOT to harmonize the town’s right of way with the 1-75 sound barrier and other highway improvements.
FDOT District is constructing the I-75/Palmetto Express Lanes project in Miami-Dade County, which extends about 10 miles along the Palmetto Expressway from West Flagler Street to Miami Lakes Drive and about three miles along I-75 from the Palmetto Expressway to Northwest 170 Street. The project started in 2014 and is expected to be finished in 2017.
The Council approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Miami Gardens for a floodplain management services and technical support services.
Miami Gardens has requested assistance with the town’s Building Department for floodplain management. Miami Lakes operates one of the most successful floodplain management programs in the state and is one of the very few in South Florida to obtain a Class 5 rating, which translates into a 25 percent discount in flood insurance for residents. The department is also a leader in technological information in the building services industry.
• Lawmakers approved Councilmember Tony Lama’s suggestion to send a strong message to the county that Miami Lakes supports innovation and free market principles, and the county should pave the way of innovative companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in South Florida without impediments.
• Councilmembers approved Vice Mayor Manny Cid’s proposal to direct the town manager to work with Miami-Dade Fire Chief David Downey on the possibility of adding one or two more medical rescue transport vehicles to serve town residents.
With the new fire station on the west side soon to be open and lawmakers’ participation in the firefighter for a day training program at the MDFR Training Center in Doral, Cid thought it would be a good idea for the additional rescue transport vehicles to help save lives.
• Councilmembers approved Cid’s recommendation to direct the town manager to create a page on the town’s website for nonprofits to outline the resources available (technical assistance and permitting) in a uniform matter to help expand areas of service outside of local governments scope for town residents.