Doral council approves series of administrative, event and personnel resolutions; staff to return with studies and edits

The Doral City Council on Jan. 15 approved a set of administrative and event-related resolutions and directed staff to return with additional details on several items.

Key council actions (listed with outcomes and next steps):

- Revert chief-of-staff title to legislative analyst and set salary guidelines: The council approved a resolution to revert the position formerly titled chief of staff back to legislative analyst and to establish guidelines for salary range and adjustments. The motion passed unanimously. Staff will implement the title and salary guidance as directed.

- Council member public-records request policy: The council approved an amendment to the city’s public‑records rules to clarify that requests from council members should be handled comparably to requests from members of the public, citing Section 2-376 of the municipal code. The resolution passed unanimously.

- City mayor- and council‑initiated events policy and lifting of moratorium: Council adopted a policy governing mayor- and councilmember‑initiated events, including the sponsor’s requested edits to prohibit events that “benefit a private organization” and to restrict use of the city logo for events organized and paid for by a council member with personal funds. The action also lifted the moratorium the council had placed in December; the motion passed unanimously.

- Approval to explore one day-per-week remote work for eligible staff: The council directed the city manager to explore offering staff the option to work remotely one day a week, while noting that hiring, supervision and workplace decisions remain with the city manager. The resolution is exploratory and nonbinding; the city manager said she will review department needs and report back.

- Tree-management consultant / arborist study: The council approved hiring a qualified consultant (rather than a part‑time employee) to provide arborist services, to reconduct a broader feasibility study on tree permitting and regulation, and to report back with recommended next steps. The manager said staff will solicit a consultant and present an update in March.

- Downtown Doral Arts Festival special-event permit (Nov. 15–16, 2025): The council approved a special-event permit allowing use of the city logo and marketing support for a proposed Downtown Doral Arts Festival to be held on Paseo Boulevard and adjacent streets, with proposed hours 10 a.m.–6 p.m. The Planning and Zoning presentation listed estimated police services fees of $10,245.96 and a “grand total” in the item as presented; the mayor said she would not support fee waivers at this time. The motion passed unanimously; the applicant later asked council staff to consider fee assistance.

- Miami Soccer Kids Skill Challenge special-event permit (April 26–27, 2025): The council approved a special-event permit for a youth soccer skills competition at Doral Central Park, April 26–27, 2025, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Planning and Zoning presented event fees including police services of $13,696.92, parks rental fees of $7,768.13 plus a $5,000 refundable deposit, and nominal planning processing fees. The applicant estimated attendance at about 1,500. The motion passed unanimously.

- Human-trafficking awareness signage (6C): The council approved the resolution adopting the city’s human-trafficking awareness sign design pursuant to Ordinance No. 2024‑30, but the item was pulled earlier in the meeting so staff can revise the flyer per council feedback. Council members asked staff to make resource phone numbers more prominent, consider using the city seal and including state Department of Health logos where legally appropriate, and to return with a revised design.

Several of the approved items direct staff to return with more detailed recommendations, feasibility studies, or redrafted materials. Vote outcomes were unanimous for the listed items where roll-call votes were taken; a quorum was present and Councilwoman Digna Cabral was recorded absent for the meeting.