Hialeah council backs state financial audit, approves multiple zoning changes and appointments

The City of Hialeah City Council voted to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' Executive Order 2544 and invited the governor's Office of Government Efficiency (O.G.E.) team to audit the city's finances, approved two mayoral appointments to municipal pension/benefit boards, and passed a package of zoning, variance and administrative items during a meeting that began at 5:33 p.m. and adjourned at approximately 6:10 p.m.

The council's resolution said the city would “fully cooperate” with the governor's office and authorized the mayor or his designee to coordinate with state auditors. Council members said the goal is to be transparent and to identify any operational improvements, while noting that municipal services and budgets differ from state or federal operations. The resolution was moved and seconded on the floor and carried by the council members present.

Why it matters: a state audit could identify operational efficiencies and make recommendations that affect city budgeting, service delivery and accountability. The resolution also signals political and administrative willingness to host state-level review of municipal finances.

In other actions the council:

- Approved the mayor's appointment of Javier Coyaso as the mayor's representative to the Board of Trustees of the Employee's Retirement System for a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026. The appointment passed after a motion, second and roll-call vote.

- Approved the mayor's appointment of Hufredo Perez to the Defined Contribution Plan Committee as the mayoral appointee; the measure passed on a recorded vote.

- Passed multiple zoning matters on first and second reading and several final decisions originating from the planning and zoning board. Among those: a second-reading rezoning and variance package allowing division of a lot and duplex construction at 560 E. Seventh Ave.; a right-of-way closure/vacation of half of a Twelfth-foot alley contingent on relocation agreements with utilities and public-works entities; a parking-space variance at 920 W. 84th Street (23 spaces where 27 are required); and a first-reading rezoning from C-2 to C-3 to permit a proposed Murphy gas station and convenience store at 2000 and 2090 Palm Ave. The council scheduled second-reading/public-hearing dates where required.

- Approved final decisions from the planning and zoning board legalizing certain existing additions: a reduced rear setback at 681 E. 12th Place and an interior north-side setback at 217 NE 9th Ave. In each case the council approved the planning board's recommended conditions and noted outstanding code-enforcement steps that property owners must complete.

- A consent agenda passed in full except for one pulled item; the council president noted that multiple street-name change items on the consent agenda had been approved.

Administrative and procedural items: the council acknowledged a scrivener's error and an amendment to an ordinance tied to a small-scale comprehensive land-use plan change, and the mayor called a special meeting for Nov. 18, 2025, pursuant to the city charter because the regular November meetings were canceled for holidays.

Public comment: a single registered speaker, Daniel Angel Cornejo, addressed the council during public comment to recount a recent personal name-change process; his remarks were personal in nature and did not request council action.

Votes at a glance (selected items):

- Resolution: city support for Governor's Executive Order 2544 (state financial audit) — outcome: approved. Recorded vote: Council Member Junco: yes; Miss Garcia Rovis: yes; Miss de la Vega: yes; Council Member Rodriguez: yes; Council Member Zogby: yes. (Motion carried.)

- Appointment: Javier Coyaso to Employee's Retirement System Board of Trustees (mayor's representative) — outcome: approved. Recorded vote listed the council members present voting in favor (motion carried).

- Appointment: Hufredo Perez to Defined Contribution Plan Committee — outcome: approved. Recorded vote listed the council members present voting in favor (motion carried).

- Ordinance (second reading): rezoning and variance at 560 E. Seventh Ave. (R-1 to R-2; substandard lots; duplexes; multiple setback and coverage variances) — outcome: approved on second reading.

- Ordinance (second reading): closure/vacation of north half of the Twelfth-foot alley (approx. 237 sq ft), contingent on relocation agreements with City Public Works and utility providers — outcome: approved on second reading.

- Ordinance (second reading): parking variance at 920 W. 84th St. (allow 23 spaces where 27 are required) — outcome: approved on second reading.

- Ordinance (first reading): rezoning from C-2 to C-3 at 2000 / 2090 Palm Ave. (proposed redevelopment for a six-pump gas station and 2,200 sq. ft. convenience building) — outcome: first reading approved; second reading scheduled for 04/08/2025. Applicant attorney Jerry Proctor presented the request and said staff supported the rezoning without reservations.

- Final decisions approving Planning & Zoning Board decisions #202502 and #2025003 (legalizing reduced setbacks at 681 E. 12th Place and 217 NE 9th Ave., respectively) — both approved with the conditions recommended by staff and the planning board.

What the council did not decide: none of the measures approved required additional policy referrals at this meeting; several items (rezonings, variances) will return for further hearings or permit review where required.

Meeting context and next steps: the council's support for a state-conducted financial review is intended to be cooperative; the mayor or designee was authorized to work with the governor's office. Zoning approvals will move to required second readings or permit-review steps; property owners subject to planning-board conditions were reminded to obtain required building permits and to resolve open code-enforcement matters where noted.

Ending: The meeting closed after the final agenda items; the council set its next regular meeting for Tuesday, April 8, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m.