Laserfiche WebLink
Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting September 20,2012 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida <br /> Mayor Edelcup said if everyone came before them with the same argument that they can use <br /> the public parking spaces then we may as well throw our Ordinances out. Rabbi Kaller said <br /> that the price that you are bringing with the Steigers who are building an office building and <br /> who had purchased the parking that they were missing from the City,you are talking about an <br /> office building facility that will be filled five days a week. He added that you are talking <br /> about a full profit developer in the City. and we are the citizens, the taxpayers, and residents <br /> of this City, and many people, not just because they are Orthodox,but because they live here <br /> within walking distance, will walk to this facility. He really does not think it is fair to treat a <br /> community organization based in this City which is basically the taxpayers of this City the <br /> same as a commercial developer. He added he has met Mr. Trump and Mr. Dezer. <br /> Mayor Edelcup asked if the members of his organization are paying dues, and Rabbi Kaller <br /> said no,they donate. Mayor Edelcup said then they fund the operation,and Rabbi Kaller said <br /> absolutely. Mayor Edelcup said then are you saying that anyone in the City can use those <br /> facilities without any donations and make it available to everybody? Rabbi Kaller said <br /> absolutely, they have people who are not part of their organization that have utilized it when <br /> they had somebody pass away,and we let them use it free of charge. Mayor Edelcup said that <br /> you still have not answered the parking requirements that are there in our Ordinance, and he <br /> understands the Rabbi's argument with Mr. Steiger and his office building, and the fact that <br /> they paid$11,000 per space. He believes there has been some discussions for something less <br /> than $11,000, and in fact he offered a ridiculously low $1,000. He finds it very difficult to <br /> believe that there is not a number that you feel morally responsible to pay,and not putting the <br /> burden on other taxpayers to provide the parking that will come to your organization. There <br /> will be a requirement for a parking need and you are asking all of the taxpayers in the City to <br /> waive their right to at least get a fair share from you for your parking in that facility. He <br /> admires the fact that we are going to have a beautiful place of worship there and that you have <br /> done a tremendous job in the City. This City has always been fiscally sound in its approach to <br /> all of its development and we have never shirked from making sure that everybody pays their <br /> fair share. All he is asking the Rabbi to consider is to at least pay a fair share for that parking, <br /> and a fair share may not be the $11,000 that we got from Arie Steiger but it is a number. <br /> Commissioner Aelion said one of the seven criteria of the City Code for allowing variances <br /> are stipulated in the presented documents, and in number 5 with what the Mayor is saying is <br /> that the granting of the variance requested conveys the same treatment to the individual owner <br /> as to the owner of other lands, buildings or structures in the same zoning district. His <br /> question is has the congregation come up with a number to the Commission that would be <br /> comfortable for the congregation, is there a dollar number? Mr. Kasdin said before he <br /> answers that question, it is important to note that there is no other building like this, this is a <br /> unique single purpose building, it physically cannot be used for commercial uses, and so <br /> because of its uniqueness it qualifies under that particular criteria. Commissioner Aelion said <br /> he is correct and indeed he did voice the issue with the congregation that they definitely do not <br /> have enough spaces for that. With that said, there is a reduction from the required spaces <br /> already and he asked the Rabbi if he can come up with a number that would be comfortable <br /> for the congregation. Rabbi Kaller said that he represents taxpayers,they are members of the <br /> City and members of this congregation, and so some of the members of their Board of <br /> Directors are here. Yesterday when he talked to them and explained the situation some of <br /> 10 <br />