Members of the Doral City Council recently decided to postpone a vote concerning the way they consider matters brought before them.
Doral residents asked the council to put in extra layers of public comments before voting on zoning measures that affect the entire community. The vote was postponed because two council members were absent, and city manager Edward Rojas said the matter was so important that it needed to be heard and decided by the entire council.
Residents have become concerned about zoning changes they perceive as exacerbating problems with density, traffic, and Doral schools. They have requested that the council allow them to have more input into the decisions, by instituting a two-step workshop process. They would like the first meeting to include city planners, the developers, and any interested residents, but not have city council members present. At the second workshop, everyone would be present, including the city council. The final vote on any zoning issue would come at a later meeting.
The ordinance was created by Doral resident Claudia Mariaca, who said she felt the average person did not realize how future votes can affect the quality of life in the city, and wanted them to have that information. The council will vote on the proposed measure allowing resident input on May 11.
City officials might work with a postcard printing company to create a card to mail out as a reminder of the upcoming meeting.
