[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6175614,"mediaKeyId","5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a","parentId",5353108,"title","West Miami approves parks-management software, adopts gym fees with staff/board discount","audioSeconds",1384,"startMs",6322000,"endMs",7706000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a&start=6322&end=7706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a/thumbnail_6322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6175614/Florida/West-Miami-approves-parks-management-software-adopts-gym-fees-with-staffboard-discount","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6175614-a1d61ca7ff603d21bc59d98152012a92/orig.mp4?Expires=1777290392&Signature=ofxBfYAYlCV1Jb6k3MWh5OLUkpQy0NlOsdzFNbuvPDv1nN1su2lC31AFsWBy752R0SUaGUswFOdbTpu9gU2aXsifjIdg5InjqHocVVqxI5h~MqTo6dg3N1SHb4SJQJBaT6sikuRXTL-Sh-8P-mpqXWembFFz5R9si8AxpxQwzTGsz29dAp3JRGIi2Fori-NInVd0Yhu7~JgqN8jIvnQBKQRvFMmNLqmQ899g5t498-MyDFrgJrRD5I1utt3K476D2mmvNRK6G8sZbNI~5mYhKIVApLCUI0AQjZ8QTn~X7vTh2RVCi298yEAIu-iZmcivE2fs1iC-Jc2fjfLTsEJpGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Miami, FL","date","2025-07-10T17:05:03.45Z","article","The City Commission approved a contract to purchase parks and recreation management software and also adopted a fee structure for memberships at the new multi-generational recreation center, including a 50% discount for city employees and volunteer board members.

City Manager said the Amelia Technologies (vendor name in packet) software will allow residents to view availability, register for classes and reserve facilities online, improving on the city's current phone-based system: “This is software technology that will allow the residents to do this online,” he told the commission. Staff said the parks-and-rec board reviewed vendor demonstrations and recommended the selected option as the most cost-effective that met operational needs.

Parks Director John Michael Lopez presented background work and comparative research across peer cities; commissioners praised the parks staff and IT team for vetting three options. Vice Mayor Ivan Chavez Jr. and other commissioners noted the software is needed to manage the new multi-generational recreation center and high demand for court and facility reservations.

On gym fees, the commission approved the proposed fee schedule and agreed to a manager amendment to extend a 50% resident-rate discount to city staff (resident rate only) and to volunteers who serve on city boards. Commissioners said the discount rewards civic service and helps staff health and wellness.

The resolutions passed without recorded opposition. Staff will execute the software contract, begin implementation and publish the membership pricing and registration process online; city officials said rollout will be timed with elements of the new recreation center opening.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Commission Meeting 07/09/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved a parks and recreation management software contract to support the new multi-generational recreation center and online reservations. They also approved a gym membership fee structure and added a 50% discount for city staff and volunteer board members.","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},6175620,"West Miami adopts tree-trust option allowing pay-in-lieu for required landscape when planting not feasible",175,7436000,7611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a&start=7436&end=7611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a/thumbnail_7436000.jpg","/articles/6175620/Florida/West-Miami-adopts-tree-trust-option-allowing-pay-in-lieu-for-required-landscape-when-planting-not-feasible","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6175620-259a99feef31e9bb8812ea0b892035a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777290392&Signature=cf1hqi632yQxI8ttTXXPFncIMhya694WSYWxlVJhb6ggbFQi1Cg8psid8BOTbVTddDYmbhcO79rWcqVTsOWMz7ZkU1XqpRF9RAnC8X~eFo77cRoq4ODJ3P6mecsrG9wNSR5ajpCnnWv0D1MmalXRRCM4BdoIQwRA5i6TeOiA6PhFvYSwRaUxhHpyqNixe6wHDgvjpCaaL-NMWkjnuZeSiXwAYIDmOpHz-sD~WX66TqYmaWadNOILC2BrGC4APjbNxhY1W33~RWXNzuhJHkksQPCz9ty9pqRSjxYNEUOuZUWtBkwY9Ax~rwIxqEaP~Ccouof4-MXR7iuqiFW7lcjx~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Commission of West Miami approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing a City Tree Trust Fund and permitting an optional pay-in-lieu when required on-site landscape cannot be installed.

City Manager explained amendments requested after the first hearing, saying staff had “capped the period of pay of the payments at 20 years” and adjusted the per-acre prorated payment schedule. Under the amendment, payments for projects smaller than one acre use a specified per-percentage rate and higher fractions apply to parcels over one acre (the ordinance text as amended sets the figures cited by staff).

The ordinance creates a deposit account — the Tree Trust Fund — to collect in-lieu payments and directs those funds to tree-planting projects in city rights-of-way. The ordinance establishes payment schedules, enforcement mechanisms, and an expiration framework for credits and payments. Commissioners debated the amendments and confirmed the measure applies in the commercial zoning district context where landscape requirements sometimes cannot be met because of site constraints.

Commissioner Ceballos moved the amendment; the motion as amended passed on a 5-0 roll call (Ceballos, Buenas, Suarez, Vice Mayor Ivan Chavez Jr., and Mayor Eric Diaz Padron voted yes). City staff said funds collected will be used for tree planting in public rights-of-way and that the 20-year cap makes pay schedules predictable for developers while ensuring the city funds urban canopy improvements.

The ordinance becomes effective as provided in the code following the second-reading adoption.","Commissioners adopted amendments and passed a second reading adding an optional pay-in-lieu to a new City Tree Trust Fund; the ordinance caps payment schedules at 20 years and sets per-acre prorated rates for commercial parcels. The vote was unanimous.",{"_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},6175624,"CITT presents half-penny transportation plan, highlights $450,000 West Miami grant and Freebie ridership growth",253,1999000,2252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a&start=1999&end=2252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a/thumbnail_1999000.jpg","/articles/6175624/Florida/CITT-presents-half-penny-transportation-plan-highlights-450000-West-Miami-grant-and-Freebie-ridership-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6175624-4e37ea8d6acfc056430419c35da7f9e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1777290392&Signature=jxn7TAmnHlBSR6EgwCY606RKTIudS3Jlni0NYnjBfuyT9i2WMiOn7Xrxx5XjB~nhoKwrkLK42BXEZBWp5YBP8hza6MoJgss1vJZwpZhsbh2XMT2XZm8KNSaxgPyp1jPIYP4I4LnGX2o-EH68VKRtn2PfXudQgw~mKuog8UNU~PiRtApo1PI2r1DWckbQA6Bv1zNANM8f1KeF4Hwi7WADnOedJJl0E~NpzZG5SeUUvqmnNVgCI1ld2OSm63na71KuiYe6okB90SiPk~3NLT76H5f09wAl3PKgJB9Tz1gR~CJh6Nrt~qiIio7pAQapDevrEeCHb7sDuHiGppJm5GXSew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Javier Bettencourt, executive director of the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), and municipal program manager Mariana Price reviewed how the county's half-penny transportation surtax funds are collected and distributed and what West Miami has used its allocation for.

Bettencourt told commissioners, “A half a penny doesn't sound like a lot, but let me tell you, it adds up. Okay? To the tune of nearly $400,000,000 a year.” He explained CITT's role as the watchdog created by the People's Transportation Plan referendum and said two-thirds of surtax revenue historically goes to Miami-Dade Transit while 20% is guaranteed to cities, distributed pro rata.

Mariana Price, municipal program manager, described the city-specific municipal program. “City of West Miami. You received $450,000 last year,” she said, adding that West Miami routinely exceeds the municipal minimum transit requirement and has strong utilization of its local Freebie on-demand service: “The ridership increased actually 81% year over year with the freebie program.”

The presentation covered countywide initiatives — including smart signal upgrades (an “advanced traffic management system”), bus rapid transit corridors and fleet replacements — and highlighted first-last-mile investments such as bicycle and pedestrian projects and micro-mobility. Bettencourt and Price encouraged cities to coordinate local services with county transit and described programs to monitor service quality, including an ambassador app and regular audits.

Commissioners asked about bicycle-pedestrian safety efforts and funding; Vice Chair representatives and the manager signaled ongoing coordination with the county's TPO and the CITT to pursue funding for local traffic-mitigation and bike-ped projects.

Bettencourt and Price said CITT is keeping overhead low (less than 1% of surtax collections) and that the organization offers a 40-year pro forma and detailed online transparency tools for cities and residents.","The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust briefed West Miami commissioners on the county's half-penny surtax program, municipal distributions and projects; staff said West Miami received about $450,000 last year and that the city's Freebie on-demand transit program saw an 81% year-over-year ridership increase.",{"_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},6175629,"West Miami audit issues: unmodified opinion, adjusting entries and long-running interfund balances",428,3216000,3644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a&start=3216&end=3644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a/thumbnail_3216000.jpg","/articles/6175629/Florida/West-Miami-audit-issues-unmodified-opinion-adjusting-entries-and-long-running-interfund-balances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6175629-52ff8ed0f7e41a9b07d5672fbca1d2cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1777290392&Signature=JKMKh2kGRPV87E3JBO-UzOBpVPkmCCJ6yeG5KV-abwydGkd5sQ3vgZBFZOe3W1HG~gu-iWnQbw3ZGEybZ8zzvTBMULwZQKY123XbSXn6KGrTPqRSXxmaRiBJI-AiotJ-juKjY~BGMev~~jnbhTOmNKaSRscpreKX1BxKJaEaq0-tL9LqhFjEWGoFjSZ9NOYkiHpZ9C9GO3Hxza4KLLq2TkHX~6-j99XF3neyKXXkT8KSour4~zuLpWVNq8dWnWdlYo8WCdfk981zAdlvYpsDOJEMBAH-N7Gqn4lYsUKYZZk1xfhpuqVOWd5aGMeAevCa5kXjWw5WrJuFmpawX7Yt9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The independent audit of the City of West Miami's fiscal 2024 financial statements returned an unmodified opinion, but auditors reported material adjusting journal entries tied to the city's recent accounting system implementation and a technical finding that a budget amendment was not posted after year end.

Jerry Linantes of GMRT, the engagement partner on the audit, told the commission, “the report has an unmodified opinion, that indicates that the statements are presented fairly in all material respects.” He said staff and auditors encountered challenges related to the city's new accounting system that required a number of adjustments; those adjustments are the basis for a finding requiring remediation.

Linantes also described a technical compliance finding: expenditures exceeded budgeted totals in places and a formal budget amendment was not filed within the 60-day period following fiscal year end as required by local rules. He said staff have discussed the adjustments and the finding with the audit team and are working to clear the item for next year.

On the city's internal balances, auditors and staff discussed interfund liabilities. Linantes summarized: “the net amount is about 3,000,000, but the amount that's owed to other funds is about 9,000,000.” City staff said the larger figure represents cumulative transfers and supplements from the general fund to enterprise accounts over many years, largely to cover water and sewer shortfalls; managers said the pattern has been addressed in the current year and is expected to decline as the water enterprise becomes self-supporting.

Auditors reported no single-audit compliance findings for the major federal program tested (ARPA) and two state projects examined. The audit presentation included discussion of capital investments the city has made, and management said capital spending is expected to produce future operating benefits.

The commission heard the audit report during its July 9 meeting and thanked finance staff for closing the audit; Jerry Linantes and the audit team remained available to work on corrective items with staff in the coming months.","The city's fiscal year 2024 financial statement audit returned an unmodified opinion; auditors reported material adjusting journal entries tied to a new accounting system implementation and noted a roughly $3 million net interfund liability (about $9 million owed across funds). Auditors also flagged a required budget amendment that was not made.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6175635,"West Miami to cut water consumption fee 6% after audit, meter fixes",140,6725000,6865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a&start=6725&end=6865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353108-19c3127ceaecb55c685852d8091a440a/thumbnail_6725000.jpg","/articles/6175635/Florida/West-Miami-to-cut-water-consumption-fee-6-after-audit-meter-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6175635-e566b59413f0e9b92b47ef3fc16503fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1777290392&Signature=VgtSiDJ7mZdA~zAPif61UwBhHaCbK~aFdki~w5uAIB64cdelJ-SSHisBe7ggLgsPmV18keeO~SUAg244kwz-Fd70JhuNUO5Q93ZVqQiSSqsXVpGThloaoJbERbZohxus7J7bDDMNP2fRY18~me4GVfSDJkbKKCmJZ-qMtFfbXz8ayHaZgyCcq06X1HzZrdr794i2kgGsYifTdkp02APayRqHRSh5OoL4GgIJU5wJncA0PJT7gyvC4K85qXcl1p3qOaJRx5lU~T~EMU-290YYx7TaIgtRjUOcv58VIbvKTOtnaORrKz8oK7tjHWyixGmqHeJbTUSNaHX2DvgNt-0Utg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of West Miami commissioners voted 5-0 Wednesday to reduce the water consumption portion of residents’ utility bills by 6% beginning Oct. 1, 2025, following an administrative review that officials said found prior underbilling tied to meter-reading and billing practices.

City Manager said the underbilling problem stemmed from how meters were read and billing rates were applied: “The issues were underestimated amounts that were being used, because we were not being able to read our water meters correctly,” he said during his manager’s report. The commission approved the rate cut at the meeting after staff said three billing cycles under the new automated meters gave them enough confidence to lower the rate while keeping the water and sewer enterprise fund solvent.

City officials emphasized the measure follows work to replace analog meters with automated meters and to correct billing practices. Finance Director Cody McCall told commissioners the old system “was consistently underbilled from the consumption and what was actually being being billed.” He and the manager said correcting that pattern allowed staff to both reduce the stated consumption rate and plan for ongoing enterprise fund stability.

At the same meeting the commission also approved purchasing an additional 100 automated water meters to complete the city’s conversion and to hold spares for equipment failures. The manager said the meters will be paid from the enterprise fund and that the purchases will allow the city to stop estimating usage and to read meters automatically.

Commission discussion included requests for a public explanation to residents. Commissioner Blanes suggested a town-hall-style briefing so long-time customers who saw dramatic bill changes would understand the billing corrections and the steps the city took to address them.

The resolution lowering the consumption fee passed unanimously (Commissioners Gustavo Ceballos, Luciano Suarez, Juan Blanes, Vice Mayor Ivan Chavez Jr. and Mayor Eric Diaz Padron voted yes). Staff said the change does not create a projected operating deficit for the water enterprise for FY2026 based on current forecasts and the corrected billing base.

City staff said they will continue outreach explaining the meter upgrades, the reasons some customers previously saw large bill increases, and the October effective date for the lower consumption charge.","City commissioners voted unanimously to lower the water consumption portion of utility bills by 6% effective Oct. 1, 2025, after city staff said prior underbilling tied to meter reading and rate-application errors produced multi-year enterprise shortfalls. Council approved purchases of additional automated meters to finish system modernization.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Miami approves parks-management software, adopts gym fees with staff/board discount

West Miami adopts tree-trust option allowing pay-in-lieu for required landscape when planting not feasible

CITT presents half-penny transportation plan, highlights $450,000 West Miami grant and Freebie ridership growth

West Miami audit issues: unmodified opinion, adjusting entries and long-running interfund balances

West Miami to cut water consumption fee 6% after audit, meter fixes