Posts Tagged: ‘Jimmy Morales’

$19 million dollar neglect in Miami Beach

September 17, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Jimmy Morales

Jimmy Morales

Miami Beach is out nearly $19 million in parking impact fees because city failed to collect.

The staggering number comes from a report released by the city manager’s office this week which showed a long history of neglectful collection policy. The uncollected money would have gone towards improving the city’s parking facilities.

“Administratively we are fixing the problem,” said City Manager Jimmy Moralez to the city commission on Wednesday. “Currently we are billing, and billing for next year as well.”

Moralez sees the issue as a retroactive one and asked the commission for guidance on how to proceed in recovering past fees due to the city.

For 25 years Miami Beach has had the “fee in lieu of parking” program which allows developers to construct projects without sufficient parking. A one-time fee is accessed per parking space, currently a $35,000 fee, and that money goes into the city coffers to improve parking facilities.

The problem is that for nearly the entire lifetime of the program, the city has been woefully neglectful in properly collecting the fees, or even collecting at all said the report.

The findings also showed:
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SunPost: Strippers and Court Rooms

January 30, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Editor’s note: This story was originally submitted to the Miami SunPost. Link provided when posted.

Jimmy Morales rescinds his revocation of Club Madonna’s business license; Attorney’s for the club claim the city dragged their feet before hearing their side.

On Monday night, Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales lifted his original order to revoke the business license of the city’s only strip club, provided that it followed some stipulations.

For over two weeks Club Madonna remained closed because Morales determined the business presented an “immediate threat” to the public following the shocking allegations that a 13-year-old girl had performed in the establishment.

“To address these matters, Club Madonna has proffered to develop and institute a compliance program that will prevent the aforementioned threat to minors and their families,” said Morales in his order.

Chiefly the strip club will now have to hire a compliance officer whose main function would be to assure all regulations are being followed, as well as keeping track that each performer is diligently identified and work schedule tracked in a log. An affidavit that these logs are being kept are to be delivered weekly by 5 o’clock on Tuesdays.

In addition, the club must agree to in writing that they will turn away any performer who appears to be escorted into the premise. Dancers will also have to attest that they are not being intimidated into performing.

The 13-year-old girl in question told police that she was forced into prostitution, and when she refused, her alleged captors forced her into dancing at the club.
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SunPost: Jimmy Morales Officially Takes Reign in Miami Beach

April 18, 2013 Posted by Frank M

By: Frank Maradiaga

A hanky was on standby, but went unused by the new City Manager.

Miami Beach Commissioners officially instated Jimmy Morales as the city’s top administrator Wednesday.

The approved contract is for two years with an annual salary of $255,000.00; it includes health insurance, a pension plan, and certain reimbursements.

“So many good things are on the horizon, some issues we need to tackle,” said a jubilant Morales.

“While I’ll make some mistakes along the way,” he said, “they’ll all be motivated by one thing: trying to do my best to push this city forward.”

Read more at Miami SunPost

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