City Commission Meeting Commission - City of Miami Beach

Afteraction September 8, 2005 City of Miami BeachCommissioner Smith requested a report before the second reading on the amount of money if theCommission exercised the waiver for those who met the waiver eligibility. Gus Lopez to handle.Commissioner Garcia thanked Raul Aguila and Gus Lopez.Commissioner Cruz would like to have the penalties in the ordinance before second reading. GusLopez to handle.Commissioner Gross supports the ordinance wholeheartedly and it is very timely since the gay andlesbian community feel the City is not as friendly as it used to be. He understands the reaction tohiring new people to the payroll, since this budget has about 100 people added to the payroll.Commissioner Smith stated in the enforcement issue, the City needs to look for creative ways toenforce the ordinance; perhaps another government agency, or the law school clinic of the City ofMiami as opposed to hiring a full-time employee. This needs to be explored between first andsecond reading. Gus Lopez to handle.Commissioner Steinberg asked if the False Claims Ordinance, which was passed about a year ago,can be changed, so that if someone is asking the City for payment based on a contract that they aresupposed to pay a living wage or give domestic benefits or other things, and they are not doing it,that that would trigger the False Claims Ordinance. Legal Department to handle.Raul Aguila, First City Attorney, stated that he would look at the False Claims Ordinance betweenfirst and second reading.Heddy Peña, Executive Director of SAVE Dade, thanked Mayor Dermer and the City Commissioners,especially Commissioner Garcia who sponsored this ordinance, and Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager,for his support and asked to change the 5% in section G(d)(iii) to 10%.Motion made by Commissioner Garcia to approve it with the 10%; seconded by Vice-Mayor Bower.Discussion continued.Commissioner Steinberg stated to leave it at 5% and then give the City Commission the ability todecide.Commissioner Smith also stated to leave it at 5%.Commissioner Garcia withdrew his motion and moved it with the 5%.26Prepared by the City Clerk’s OfficeM:\$CMB\CITYCLER\AFTERACT\2005\Afteractions\090805\aa090805.doc