October 2017 Minutes
Committee on the Homeless
Wednesday, October 27, 2017
4:00 pm
Welcome & Introductions
•The Committee:
•Lori Bakkum
•Honorable Matti Bower
•Calvin Kohli
•Christina Labuzetta
•Valerie Navarrete, Chair
•Marcella Paz-Cohen
•Debra Schwartz
•Dona Zemo
Current Committee Vacancies:
* Mayor Philip Levine
•Staff:
•Nancy Grant
•Alba Tarre
•Maria Ruiz
•Ofc. Y. Llamoca
•Aida Ramirez
•Roberto Morales
•Daniela Tamayo
Guests:
•Jeff Hearne
•Cilia-Maria Ruiz-Paz
•Debra Albo-Steiger
The meeting was called to order at 4:06 pm. Introductions were made.
Attendance
ATTENDANCE REPORT FOR
Committee on the Homeless
LAST
NAME
FIRST
NAME Jan.Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul August Sep Oct Nov Dec
Harris 1 Gail P P
Schwartz Debra P P P A P P P P P
Kohli Calvin P A P P3 P P P P P
LaBuzetta Christina A P P P P P P P P
Navarrete Valerie P P P P P P P P P
Zemo Donna P P P P A P P P P
Bakkum Lori P P P P P P P P P
Paz-
Cohen Marcella n/a P P P P P P P P
Bower5 Matilda P
n/a= Pending
5 - Honorable Mayor Bower appointed in August
Additional Notes:
JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER 2017
NO LONGER A MEMBER OF COMMITTEE
1 - Gail Harris has termed out
2 - Marcella Paz-Cohen appointed for February
3 - Attendance record amended by City Clerk
4 - Committee in recess in August & Hurricane Irma deferral in September
Approval of Meeting Summary
► Old Business
► Review of prior meeting summary
► Meet a Homeless Monthly – Chair
► Guest Speaker - Chair
1.Motion made by Honorable Bower and seconded by Ms. Bakkum to accept prior meeting summary.
Approved by acclimation.
2.Ms. Navarrette advised the Committee that safety should be a priority as the Committee seeks to meet and
understand the homeless and their needs.
3.Ms. Debra Albo-Steiger, of Miami-Dade County Public School’s Project UP-START discussed the services
available to homeless students.
New Business
► New Business
► Discussion regarding homeless population and beach area– Ms. Paz
Cohen
Ms. Paz Cohen shared a story of her encounter with a homeless family from Atlanta and also discussed
concerns regarding the use of public showers for unintended uses.
Police Report
Officer Llamoca provided the Police report on behalf of Captain Robinson.
Police Report
Homeless Services Report
Ms. Ruiz reviewed homeless data sets.
Good & Welfare
Mr. Jeff Hearne of Legal Services of Greater Miami discussed the agency’s focus on retaining affordable housing
and its Homeless Legal Project.
Adjournment
Our next meeting:
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
4:00 pm
City Manager’s Small Conference Room
Miami Beach City Hall
The Committee, through acclimation, asked that the meeting date be changed to November 15 th to not
conflict with Thanksgiving.
The meeting adjourned at 5:18pm