HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 15, 2004 INDEX
SPECL4L CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December IS, 2004
1 Called to Order/Roll Call of Members...................................... Page 1
2. Invocation....................................................................... Page 1
3. Pledge of Allegiance........................................................... Page 1
4. Resolutions
4A) Res. 2004-126-177 Appointing a Lobbyist to represent the City
Before the Executive and Legislative branches of the State Government
....................................................................................
age -
5. Adjournment..................................................................... Page 3
CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 2004
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
The City Council of the City of Miami Gardens, met in Special Session on Wednesday,
December 15,2004,beginning at 7:12 p.m.,in the City Council Chambers, 1515 NW 167`x'Street,
Miami Gardens, Florida.
The following members of the City Council were present: Mayor Shirley Gibson, Vice
Mayor Aaron Campbell, Jr., and Council members Barbara Watson, Audrey J. King, Melvin L.
Bratton and Oscar Braynon, H. Councilwoman Sharon Pritchett was not present.
Also in attendance were: City Manager Dr. Danny O. Crew, City Attorney Sonja K.
Knighton and City Clerk Ronetta Taylor.
2. INVOCATION:
Reverend Jimmy King delivered the Invocation.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
4. RESOLUTIONS)
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-126-177
4A) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GARDENS,FLORIDA,APPOINTING A LOBBYIST TO REPRESENT THE
CITY BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF
REPRESENTATIONS;PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (SPONSORED
BY THE CITY MANAGER)
1
2 It was moved by Councilman Braynon,seconded by Councilman Bratton to approve this item.
3
4 Councilwoman Watson asked whether it was possible to explore the possibility of appointing
5 two lobbyists to represent the City in Tallahassee.
6
7 Manager Crew shared that the RFQ does provide for the appointment of two lobbyists.
8
9 Attorney Knighton indicated that in order to provide for two lobbyists,the resolution would
10 have to be amended because at present,the price is set at$60,000.00.
11
12 Manager Crew shared that no dollar amount was placed in the RFQ,it was up to the lobbyists to
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December 15, 2004
I present a dollar amount. Three of the four firms did put in the amount of$60,000.00.
2
3 Councilman Bratton asked whether the price would be doubled,if the Council elected to have
4 two lobbyist firms represent the City in Tallahassee.
5
6 Manager Crew indicated that this would be up to the providers, as to how much they would
7 charge for their joint efforts.
8
9 Attorney Knighton indicated that if this is the desire of the City Council,the City Manager can
10 be authorized to negotiate with the selected parties.
11
12 Vice Mayor Campbell related that during the presentations, each firm had something
13 outstanding to present to the Council,which lead him to the possibility of having two funis represent
14 the City. With this in mind, he opined that the Council has three options to consider tonight: 1) to
15 make a decision on one lobbyist; 2) make a decision on two lobbyists and have the City Manager
16 increase the amount allocated in the budget to accommodate those two firms;or 3)retain two fines,but
17 give the City Manager an opportunity to go back and negotiate with the two firms to see if their
18 proposed dollar amount would change by having the City's legislative priorities divided between them.
19
20 Councilman Braynon said the question for him is, how much is the City going to pay the
-:1 lobbyists, if two fines are selected, because they represent a majority of the other municipalities in
'2 Miami-Dade County. He said that if other municipalities were paying a larger amount,it would stand
23 to reason that their issues would take priority. He opined that if the Council was going to appoint two
24 firms,he would look at coming close to the$60,000.00 for each firm. He conveyed the thinking that it
25 would be doing a disservice to the City to lower the proposed dollar amount.
26
27 Mayor Gibson conveyed that this is one of those hard decisions that this Council will have to
28 make. She opined that the Council should make a decision on one of these fines.
29
30 At the conclusion of this discussion, it was moved by Vice Mayor Campbell, seconded by
31 Councilwoman Watson to appoint Becker and Poliakoff,P.A.
32
33 There being no further discussion, this motion passed and carried by a 6-0 vote.
34
35 Councilman Bratton: Yes
36 Councilman Braynon: Yes
37 Vice Mayor Campbell: Yes
38 Councilwoman King: Yes
39 Councilwoman Pritchett: Not present
40 Councilwoman Watson: Yes
41 Mayor Gibson: Yes
42
3 There being no further discussion on this item as a whole,the motion to approve this item
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December 15, 2004
I passed and carried by a 6-0 vote.
2
3 Councilman Bratton: Yes
4 Councilman Braynon: Yes
5 Vice Mayor Campbell: Yes
6 Councilwoman King: Yes
7 Councilwoman Pritchett: Not present
8 Councilwoman Watson: Yes
9 Mayor Gibson: Yes
10
11 5. ADJOURNMENT:
12 There being no further business to come before this Body, and upon being duly moved by
13 Councilman Braynon and seconded by Vice Mayor Campbell, the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
14
15
16
17 Shirley Gibson,Mayor
18 Attest:
19
20
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22 Ronetta Taylor, CMC, City Clerk
23
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December 15, 2004