Directors/Alternates Present
Paul Lewin/Brickell Bay Club
Gloria Konsler/One Tequesta Point
Veena Panjabi, Janice Jones/The Palace
T. Sinclair (Tory) Jacobs/Brickell 25
Mac Seligman/Brickell Townhouse
Melvin F. Frankel, Esq./Bristol Tower
Yvonne Oppenheim/25 Bay Tower
Bruce Cotten/2000 Brickell
Linda E. Baker, Joe Bier/Brickell Place I
Nilda Rodriguez Pedrosa/The Imperial
Antonio Soto/The Metropolitan
Ali Mahallati/Brickell East
Ronald Smith, Esq./Villa Regina

Natalie Brown/ BHA Communications Director

Associate Members Present
Stephen Owens/Swire Properties
Gloria Konsler/Brickell Area Association

City of Miami Present
Assistant Chief Noel Rojas, Officer Jeffery Giordano/Miami Police Dept., Coral Way NET
Carlos Gimenez/City Manager
Dena Bianchino, Robert Nachlinger/Assistant City Managers
Deputy Chief Maurice Kemp/ Department of Fire-Rescue
Albert Dominguez/Assistant Director, Public Works Department
Jason Walker/Commissioner Johnny Winton's Staff

Also Present
Al Soto/Continental Companies
Mike Glogower/The Palace
Iso Merdian/1550 Brickell
Miguel Southwell/Assistant Director, Miami-Dade Aviation Department

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m.
Mel Frankel moved and Jan Jones seconded that the reading of the Sept. meeting minutes be waived and the minutes be accepted as published. Passed unanimously.

President's Report
BPAC Steering Committee voted to support Manny Diaz for mayor in upcoming election. This was as a result of an analysis of all the candidates and the choice that the Steering Committee feels will best represent the Brickell community and residents in the City of Miami. Commissioner Joe Sanchez and Commissioner Arthur Teele Jr. were both endorsed for their commission races. BHA doesn't endorse candidates but takes stands on issues of importance.

Police Report ­ Jeff Giordano
Congratulations to Chief Rojas who was promoted from Major to Assistant Chief for administration division. Lt. Mirabile is a Major now in charge of budgets.

Crime Report ­ 99 SE 5th Street, 1000 S. Miami Ave., Brickell & 5th Street ­ strong armed robberies that occurred in evening/early morning hours. 80% of burglaries happening in daytime hours.

Miami International Airport Report
Miguel Southwell substituting for Angela Gittens discussed security and airplane noise abatement at MIA. Article written up for Fall Election issue of BHA News.

Brickell Medians ­ Albert Dominguez
Asst. Director City of Miami Public Works, Albert Dominguez, gave an update on the Brickell median irrigation and landscaping contract currently underway. Says the works will be done before the holidays. Article written up for the BHA News.

Elections Nov. 6th and 13th - Ballot Initiatives
(All items summarized, with BHA's stands in Fall Election issue of BHA News.)
City Manager Carlos Gimenez discussed the proposed Watson Island development ballot item and why the City feels it will have a beneficial impact for Miami.

Mel Frankel moved and Jan Jones seconded that BHA also pass the resolution adopted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in support of the passage of this ballot item. The motion passed unanimously.

Ballot Question #2 regarding Property Tax Exemptions.
Allow the City to use property tax abatement as economic development tool and provide incentives for businesses to create jobs in the City. The tax abatements will last for limited time5 to 10 years. The hope is that the tax abatement will spur other development. North of the river needs the help. This is meant for economic development in certain areas.
Mel Frankel suggested that we pass on taking a stand on this question. All concurred.

Homeland Defense/Neighborhood Improvement Bond Referendum
The City Manager explained: $255 million in bonds proposed for the ballot Nov. 13. Operating millage runs city day to day. Debt service millage pays capital improvements. The total millage for the city is at its lowest point in the last 50 years. We haven't issued debt for capital improvements in several years. We have capacity without increasing the millage.

We looked at infrastructure money we have earmarked for certain projects in the coming years. $214.1 already dedicated. The new bond program puts money into areas that we don't have existing, like Parks. General Obligation Bond can only be used for infrastructure improvements and capital improvements and not for operating. Moodys at investment grade. S&P not yet at investment grade. The city has never defaulted on a bond. We're going in with new issues and refinancing the existing bonds we have. We have promised to keep the millage rate at 1.218.

Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that we adopt a resolution approving and recommending the Bond Referendum. The motion passed unanimously.

Charter Changes
Bob Natchlinger explained the four proposed Charter changes on the Nov. 6th ballot. (A comprehensive review is contained in the BHA News, distributed Nov. 1 and 2.)

Question #1 Civilian Review Panel
Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that BHA is opposed to the police review board as presently constituted. It passed unanimously.

Question #2 Charter Clean up.
Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that the BHA pass a motion in support of this question. The motion passed unanimously.

Charter Question 3 City Real Property.
Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that charter change #3 be recommended conditional that the extension be given only if the capital improvement is done. The motion passed unanimously.

Question #4 - $5,000 annual salary increased to 60% of mayor. Amount to go up to meet CPI, not more than 5 percent annually.
Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that the BHA supports this change. It passed unanimously.

Other Business
School Board ­ selection of Interim Superintendent. Mel Frankel moved and Ron Smith seconded that Merrett Steirheim's candidacy for the position be endorsed by the BHA. It passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Next meeting Wed, Nov. 14th. A week earlier than usual due to Thanksgiving.