[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6335560,"mediaKeyId","2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6","parentId",2289080,"title","Commission reconsiders Medicare-supplement proposal for long-serving former officials and defers action","audioSeconds",1079,"startMs",4013000,"endMs",5092000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6&start=4013&end=5092","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6/thumbnail_4013000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6335560/Florida/Commission-reconsiders-Medicare-supplement-proposal-for-long-serving-former-officials-and-defers-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335560-7ec14070cb9263f956f33cb7911c02b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777214761&Signature=I-E04k6uUbx-KPU6zjdc72er8PIq32QPNMEJhgrmht-aTHPKKuzoNkgNRxWJsP~ibHc-3QV7evYzMkKlc7xcOkmuXM2pOkyQV5puDKJ~UtLafCL32mWzAnWDwJN7JKtLOZCkCGi545-W~2qcMsyEuWVoFGAFVvajZevKky0h7vlrhf-pIdhL~~LpA2NSraJxYrpBVwTII4bBG0dbFpoj9ZG2B9woyIWikcOwOmgz055Dk1X3Th8jWAd1Ga-KiGWokcNw6CfUvQEboHyEc6DyP~-Y8peyfYwl0~w3KuUv2Py3D26QpnDCT1W7YhNflWHXHjimyEyx0kQVSxmQWFnwfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Miami, FL","date","2025-02-13T01:12:58.157Z","article","The City of West Miami commission on Feb. 12 initially approved a resolution providing medical benefit reimbursement for former elected officials who have served more than three consecutive full terms and reached Medicare eligibility age; the initial roll call recorded a 4-1 vote in favor. Following questions and discussion about applicability and implementation, a motion to reconsider passed 5-0 and the item was deferred to the next commission meeting for additional information.

Why it matters: The resolution would reimburse the cost of a Medicare supplemental insurance plan for eligible former commissioners after departure from the commission. Commissioners and staff questioned whether the proposed language would apply retroactively, who would be eligible, and whether any current or former commissioners already meet the criteria.

Key clarifications in the meeting: The city manager explained the eligibility standard described in the draft resolution would apply to individuals who served three consecutive terms (12 years) and reached Medicare eligibility; he said that the text, as written, could apply to former commissioners who met the service threshold. Commissioners noted that, \"factually speaking,\" no former commissioner currently qualifies, but they asked for clearer language and more information before final adoption. After the reconsideration vote, the commission voted to defer the item to the next meeting so staff can provide the requested clarifications.

Outcome: Initial vote recorded 4-1 in favor; subsequent motion to reconsider passed 5-0; commission then voted to defer the resolution to the next meeting. The item will be placed on the agenda for further consideration with staff-provided clarifications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Commission Meeting 02/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After initially approving a resolution to reimburse Medicare-supplement insurance for former elected officials who served more than three consecutive terms, the commission voted to reconsider and defer the item for further information.","taxTitle","City of West Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",71809,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335564,"Votes at a glance: West Miami commission meeting, Feb. 12, 2025",1392,2020000,3412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6&start=2020&end=3412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6/thumbnail_2020000.jpg","/articles/6335564/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-West-Miami-commission-meeting-Feb-12-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335564-49c1b762c8ac57f80272b2ed050b8c44/orig.mp4?Expires=1777214761&Signature=YJQStDsAb6~cbeVmJN4Fwv80Rg4GV4K8TFjyXltAYBjU6daiJtqPqSY3D3jIq38W7i2jQXzTiHa9gm1Drwdw3Ux0CI1EDD6ZiCwTSeMuwlVleBfI1aHcjfA-nV8OC3iObUBgpS0bM8-qea2iLrEctYVR7pEVpWCFBfFk-sWzQvRS~V8uC66J0zr8yFmS-iV6mescdRjPVQT1IeiMuIVmXAxVomngUcXY-7tdYMBaVY8PPLRtiM699ASxwyjzsIe5IgUz49UVK16aP6iS71nSV4RwklUwzj9BvyuX46uXfm8J1ZxCAMC-vAvq1lLI8MKOhQrSvltc0FygvLTgyVoqsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Miami commission took action on several ordinances and resolutions at its Feb. 12 meeting. Below are the items the commission voted on and their outcomes as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Item 11A (parking on swales on SW 16th Street and SW 16th Terrace): Second reading and public hearing. Passed by roll call 5-0. The ordinance adds the listed blocks to the city's permit-only parking rules for residents and guests displaying parking identification permits.

- Item 11B (fence regulations): Second reading and public hearing. Passed 5-0 with an amendment permitting wood fences on side property lines parallel to streets; planning staff directed to study additional material options.

- Item 11C (\"gold cards\" on city streets): First reading passed 5-0. Second reading and public hearing scheduled for March 2025 at 6 p.m., per the agenda announcement.

- Item 11D (dog regulations): First reading passed 5-0. (Transcript records first-reading passage; second-reading schedule specified on the agenda.)

- Item 11E (cost recovery for professional review services): First reading passed 5-0. The ordinance would require applicants to pay consultants' full review costs when professional review is required under the land-development regulations; second reading scheduled per agenda.

- Item 11F (background checks for city park employees and volunteers): First reading passed 5-0. The ordinance requires criminal background checks for persons working or volunteering on city park property and identifies categories of prohibited individuals in the ordinance language.

- Item 11G (feasibility study for job-order contracting): Resolution directing the manager to report within 120 days on the feasibility of job order contracting; passed by voice vote. The study is to be conducted by staff and compared to other municipalities before any external spending.

- Item 11H (establishing a West Miami crime watch unit): Resolution passed; the police chief and administration will lead and implement the community-based crime-prevention effort.

- Item 11J (naming a portion of SW 13th Street \"Candida 'Candy' Blanca Way\"): Resolution passed; commissioners spoke at length about Blanca's longtime volunteer work and civic contributions.

Process notes: Most final votes were unanimous (5-0) and were recorded by roll call or voice vote as noted above. Several items were first readings and will return to the commission for a second reading and public hearing on the dates announced from the dais.","Summaries and outcomes for ordinances and resolutions considered at the Feb. 12 West Miami commission meeting, including final actions and scheduling for second readings and public hearings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335569,"West Miami allows wooden side-yard fences but keeps front-yard ban",338,2191000,2529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6&start=2191&end=2529","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6/thumbnail_2191000.jpg","/articles/6335569/Florida/West-Miami-allows-wooden-side-yard-fences-but-keeps-front-yard-ban","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335569-d1d8aafa3571c5de3b5c634c28196ef7/orig.mp4?Expires=1777214761&Signature=BEdQr~zgoOT9Q1J71TaAcuwuY9iA2dY4K6KIwUQcvqC~B7GNILux6XyL0cTq92eRm89TEgonfvmdhL2PbyTHP203IPil7dNOjfrsat80l0vIJNuPgI3pyTgz9UXfJufbsbGxe~IMH8EBssxCzu3kb-sfaDflDPpyyRUZw3KLrg0PVhAzzlOvq0do9SeGyAooeTIRr0iJEbgDnepP~bBCPOZJM3ETZmvup2ws6XE21BEB1ak379ur9Q9mG73ndcUtrW~kjFu6T6gBH~LebTvyY3Petgyrj3mexD8U95F5SFLiysTZfD1vKZbezupVwUNYTfuo7jpu2f3IWG3-eJac0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Miami Commission on Feb. 12 adopted an amendment to the city's fence regulations to permit wooden fences on side property lines that run parallel to a street, while preserving the ban on wood and chain-link fences in front yards. The ordinance amendment passed 5-0 during the meeting's second reading and public hearing.

Why it matters: The change is aimed at balancing neighborhood aesthetics with residents' affordability concerns. Commissioners debated maintenance and visual standards for front-facing fencing and sought a compromise for corner and side-yard properties.

What the commission approved: The amendment revises ordinance 20-22-02 to allow properly designed and approved structural fence materials on side yards that face a street, explicitly permitting wood in those side-yard locations. The city manager explained the original 2022 ordinance had effectively limited permitted front- and street-facing side-yard fencing to masonry walls or decorative iron pickets; the revised language allows other approved materials for side yards but keeps the front-yard prohibition against wood and chain link.

During the debate, Vice Mayor Natalie Miliano Orbis said she would \"leave the wood material as an option\" for side yards because requiring more expensive materials can burden homeowners. The city manager clarified repair and replacement rules, saying that if a fence is \"less than 50%\" damaged the owner can repair rather than replace it, and that major replacements may trigger the new standards.

The commission also directed planning and zoning staff to study additional material options and aesthetic alternatives for future code updates. The ordinance passed by roll call 5-0; the manager instructed staff to report back to planning and zoning on feasible alternatives.","The commission amended land-use rules to permit wood fences on side property lines parallel to streets, while retaining prohibitions on wooden and chain-link front-yard fencing. The measure passed 5-0 with instructions for planning staff to study additional options.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335574,"West Miami ratifies police contract, raises starting pay to $60,000",145,1023000,1168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6&start=1023&end=1168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2289080-bc1cf010149b83f763ef07e7d77896a6/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","/articles/6335574/Florida/West-Miami-ratifies-police-contract-raises-starting-pay-to-60000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335574-5a685c3e676782b033b6931e5146285b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777214761&Signature=J3ZODPTGwzpdwF3212K8rh5R4pKTUBwnhwTf8qV8q6dG9odtT0Ha-l5xTjr5MSyj4RVC1-8MjdB5-54tlNJRFtYV10zQ9ZJHhuRo4mtu6ZQwoStUFDQLPjznHD4A6Fw8bPDE3YA3KtqgwD4DTdFYWwRgy90owy-XDX13~FpoKW5oZa2fdvJcHic223Xk7z0I7x9hle655IwT-NE-8Ypp6pNEcaJpDg-D6D8xra4t0vExJ0jenea~5uF9~LK6jG4D3rc1blStwjioBM7AgMZwBy2srj1BEi5yNZ068AJ5O1AxS2v3wqQuILcBsgqXTbmlW5HhkhlKOoE6toiz-t0-BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Miami Commission on Feb. 12 voted 5-0 to ratify a resolution approving a contract between the City of West Miami and the South Florida Police Benevolent Association covering Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2028.

The contract, sponsored by the administration and presented at the Feb. 12 meeting, raised the police department's starting salary and adjusted several pay and leave provisions intended to aid recruitment and retention. City officials discussed funding the increases for three fiscal years and said the city manager is authorized to execute the agreement.

Why it matters: Commissioners and union leaders said the package is aimed at reducing turnover and improving public safety by keeping officers in West Miami rather than losing them to neighboring jurisdictions. The city manager told the commission that the city's starting pay had been \"48,000,\" and said, \"we were paying them so low\" before the change; he added the city had been a \"revolving door\" for officers. PBA President Stedman Saul thanked the commission and said, \"I just wanna say thank you ... for putting public safety front and center.\" (Both quotes are from the Feb. 12 meeting.)

Key contract provisions discussed at the meeting: the manager reported the city will raise starting pay from $48,000 to $60,000; reduce the sick-leave payout cap from 480 to 400 hours; adopt structured step increases tied to length of service; reduce some merit-based step increases in years two and three to 4%; add differential pay for night and hazardous work; and increase off-duty rates for officers and the city. The manager described those changes as \"substantial strides\" toward parity with neighboring agencies.

The PBA president, Stedman Saul, addressed commissioners and residents at the meeting and thanked the city for what he called a commitment to public safety. Commissioners praised the speed of negotiations and the near-unanimous support from officers during bargaining.

The resolution passed by roll call 5-0. The manager and PBA representatives said a formal signing ceremony will be scheduled at a later date.","The City of West Miami Commission unanimously approved a three-year contract with the South Florida Police Benevolent Association that raises the department's starting salary from $48,000 to $60,000 and makes other pay-and-benefit changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission reconsiders Medicare-supplement proposal for long-serving former officials and defers action

Votes at a glance: West Miami commission meeting, Feb. 12, 2025

West Miami allows wooden side-yard fences but keeps front-yard ban

West Miami ratifies police contract, raises starting pay to $60,000