Coral Gables commission approves zoning changes, public art funding and traffic-calming buys; debates city manager package

The Coral Gables City Commission on Tuesday approved a slate of zoning, planning and budget actions — including changes to Mediterranean design standards, a new step for conceptual zoning review, comprehensive plan updates, funding for two public-art projects and purchase of additional temporary speed cushions — and adopted a salary-and-benefits package for the city manager after residents and several commissioners debated its timing and process.

Those votes were taken amid a public-safety briefing from the police chief about two separate law-enforcement stops that led to dozens of people being detained and an update from the city’s government-affairs manager on active state-level immigration enforcement legislation now in special session.

The agenda’s land-use items included an amendment to the city’s Mediterranean design standards to replace subjective criteria with clearer, regulatory guidance and to require a conceptual design review in certain cases (zoning code Article 5/Section 5-200 and related sections). Planning Director Jennifer Garcia told the commission the changes are intended to produce “better buildings in the future, better quality, higher quality, and something that reflects what the residents want” by reducing subjectivity in design review. The commission approved the ordinance on the vote recorded at the meeting.

Commissioners also voted to transmit comprehensive-plan text and map amendments required by the state Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). Planning staff said the amendments update the city’s short- and long-term planning horizons to match state law, revise sewer-feasibility language to reflect Miami-Dade County utilities, add recent historic-resource and park acquisitions to maps, and clean up outdated statutory references.

Another zoning change on the agenda created a mandatory conceptual review step by the Planning & Zoning Board for applications that seek land-use or zoning changes, to be held before any Board of Architects conceptual review. Supporters said the new step is intended to give residents and P&Z an early opportunity to weigh in on alternatives such as additional ground-level open space paired with modest increases in building height. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, who led the ordinance effort, described the change as a formalization of a process that already produced several downtown open spaces.

The commission also approved a pair of public-art measures. A $7,500 appropriation from the Art in Public Places reserve will support a sculpture honoring Arva (Arba) Parks McCabe to be installed at the Miami-Dade Public Library main branch; Dade Heritage Trust’s Christine Rupp and Arts & Culture staff presented the proposal. Separately, the commission approved a long-term loan of five Jean Ward steel sculptures from the city’s collection to The Underline for installation in the Rockridge Plaza area of the Coral Gables segment; Underline founder Meg Daly said the location near schools and outdoor classrooms makes the loan a high-visibility civic arts opportunity.

On transportation and neighborhood safety, the commission authorized spending to add temporary speed cushions. Public-works staff described an original plan to buy about 30 speed-cushion locations; lower-than-expected prices let the city purchase extra units earlier. Public-works Director Permian Diaz Polyworks told the commission staff seeks authorization to add 15 more temporary speed cushions and estimated the incremental cost at roughly $90,000, funded from existing traffic-calming reserves. Staff said the cushions are installed temporarily at qualified locations while data are gathered for possible permanent installations.

Public safety: Police Chief Hudak told the commission that two coordinated stops in the city’s south end led to detention of multiple people believed to be part of an illegal smuggling operation; the department is working with federal and state partners. Government-affairs staff also briefed commissioners on a Florida special session addressing immigration and related appropriations; at the time of the briefing the legislature was considering a package that would designate a state migration enforcement lead and include grants for local law enforcement.

City manager package, process questions: The commission swore in Alberto (Alberto/Alberto Enfajous/Parjus) Parjus (transcript spelling varied) as city manager earlier in the meeting. Later the commission voted to approve the salary-and-benefits resolution for the city manager position. The vote on that package drew public comment and an extended exchange among commissioners about hiring process norms and timing ahead of an election. Vice Mayor Anderson said process and public vetting mattered; she voted no on the package. Commissioner Fernandez and others defended the appointment and praised the new manager’s experience. The measure passed by a recorded vote.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: adopted (motion/second recorded; roll call approval)

- Ordinance: Mediterranean design standards (Zoning Code Article 5, Section 5-200 and referenced sections) — outcome: approved (recorded roll-call votes in meeting minutes; majority yes)

- Ordinance: Comprehensive plan text and map amendments (EAR-driven updates, planning horizons, sewer coordination, map additions) — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Ordinance & related resolution: establish Planning & Zoning Board conceptual zoning review (and fee if adopted later) — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Resolution: Salary and benefits package for City Manager Alberto Parjus — outcome: approved (recorded vote: 3 yes, 2 no; Vice Mayor Anderson and Mayor Lago recorded dissent in floor comments)

- Ordinance: Vacation of remaining portion of Kenmar Street (east of Harlano) — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Resolution: transfer/appropriation from Art in Public Places to support Arba Parks McCabe sculpture, $7,500 — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Resolution: long-term loan of five Jean Ward sculptures to The Underline for installation in Rockridge Plaza — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Resolution: formalize notice to Waterway Advisory Board on certain variance or conditional-use requests — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

- Traffic calming: authorize purchase/installation of additional temporary speed cushions (15 units; estimated incremental cost ~$90,000 from traffic-calming funds) — outcome: approved (roll-call yes)

What’s next: Planning staff will return revised code language and the comprehensive-plan submittal to the state pursuant to required review processes. The Underline and the city will negotiate a loan/installation agreement including restoration, repainting and maintenance responsibilities. Public-works staff said they will prioritize additional temporary cushions at qualifying locations and continue data collection for permanent traffic-calming decisions. The police department and the city’s legislative team said they will report back as Tallahassee action on immigration-related legislation and related grant opportunities becomes clearer.

Meeting evidence and notable quotes (verbatim from the public record)

- Planning Director Jennifer Garcia on Mediterranean design changes: “what this particular code change did as well” was to yield designs residents preferred (transcript excerpt).

- Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, on conceptual review: “Let's listen to the residents. Let's see if they want these types of zoning changes done in order to get a benefit for their area.”

- Public-works Director (Permian Diaz Polyworks) on speed cushions: staff estimates “for $90,000. That will not only include the speed cushion itself, but also... overtime” for installation and crews.

- Police Chief Hudak on the enforcement action: officers stopped vehicles and “detained 26 Chinese nationals, a Cuban individual and a Puerto Rican, individual” and the department is coordinating with federal partners.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with implementation details — including revised code text, the loan agreement for the Underline artworks, timelines for City Hall structural testing and repair planning, and follow-up on the state special session — so the commission can track next steps and budget impacts.