Coral Gables manager Peter Iglesias beats ouster attempt by commissioner

Coral Gables manager Peter Iglesias beats ouster attempt by commissioner
  • Sumo

Coral Gables City Manager Peter Iglesias will live to see another day at City Hall.

Iglesias survived an attempt to fire him driven by newly-elected Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, who said at Tuesday’s commission meeting that Iglesias was too secretive and rude to residents and was leading the city in the wrong direction.

“The residents have been clear. They want a new direction in the city and the only way we can do that is to have a new manager at the helm,” Fernandez said.

He was also pissed that the manager had talked down to and disrespected him at his first briefing.

“I got barked back at on the issues I was bringing up,” he said about his two-and-a-half hour meeting with Iglesias before the commission meeting. “We are the ones who answer back to the residents and who are responsible for the management of this city.”

Said Commissioner Rhonda Anderson: “The manager follows our direction. The city manager, though we might have disagreements, is an honest man. This is not an Alice in Wonderland movie where you take off the head of the individual that you need to run this city.”

Fernandez snapped back: “We need a leader who is willing to listen to the residents and the commission. We are not here to represent the city manager. The residents want to be a priority and they want a city manager who makes them a priority. And they don’t have that in Peter Iglesias.”

Several speakers agreed with Fernandez. Others agreed with Mayor Vince Lago, who was the manager’s lead attorney on the dais and counted off the many things Iglesias has done. In between, he took jabs at the two new commissioners, pretending to be pleased because it was wonderful to have them there so that all the city’s problems could be solved.

“I’m excited about having new leadership here to say we’re going to find new revenue streams,” he said in several different ways at different times throughout the meeting.

The manager’s defenders included former Assistant City Manager Ed Santamaria.

“It’s no secret that the manager and I have parted on a number of managerial issues, which is why I’m no longer with the city,” said Santamaria, a resident who worked in the Gables for five years.

“This city is very well run. From everything I’ve seen, having lived here and worked here, it’s very well run,” Santamaria said. “Mr. Iglesias is always looking out for the best interest of the city. Mr. Iglesias makes decisions based on a lot of information that not everybody has.

Read related: New Coral Gables commissioner wants to fire city manager Peter Iglesias

Other supporters said it was crazy to fire someone in the middle of important city projects, someone who had not done anything illegal. Political consultant Freddy Balsera defended the manager. Even former Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli and former Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers went to the commission meeting to praise Iglesias. But mostly they talked about what a good engineer he was in public works.

Critics said Iglesias was disingenuous and rude to residents and allowed key city assets to fall into disrepair. The police union president said the department suffered from low morale and an exodus of officers due to the management’s treatment of their negotiations. They’re at an impasse in negotiations (more on that later).

Attorney David Winker, who represents the parents in the fight against the WaWa gas station that was approved in secret — and that a judge scrapped — across from Carver Elementary and a group of residents against the Gables Park Residences proposal, said he’s had his office in the Gables since 2003 and never “came close” to suing the city before.

“That all changed recently,” Winker told commissioners. “The attitude of the city towards its residents have been a hostile, ‘if you don’t like it, move,’ attitude. I represented the Carver parents who were accused of being racist.

“The city manager sets the tone for the city. And the tone that is set by Pete Iglesias is contempt for the residents,” Winker said. “Residents should not be forced to bring a lawsuit to get a city to follow its own laws. Residents should not have to hire lobbyists.”

Read related: Packed house at Coral Gables town hall shows residents’ new hope for City Hall

Activist Maria Cruz said Iglesias had lied to her about plans to improve Miller Drive just to get her off his back about something else.

“One of my big issues with Pete Iglesias is that you ever get a straight answer,” Cruz said in one of three times she spoke. “The bottom line is there was no plan.”

She said it was “interesting to see people who never come here,” go to City Hall to defend the manager, and that she was “still looking for the long list of people who said that when Ariel was elected, they were going to quit.

“Elections have consequences,” Cruz said.

She and others were critical of the way Iglesias handled several city issues, including the development of the public safety building. He couldn’t tell her how much the city had spent on the design of the unpopular “mobility hub” or why the city had only gotten one design. He floated the idea of increasing height on another city property. He hasn’t been able to move the ball forward on Burger Bob’s. He let the Country Club and other historic properties go into disrepair.

“How accessible he is… depends on who you are,” she said.

“This city needs a new direction. We are asking for it. I know people who spent big money to support other candidates who lost,” Cruz continued. “I am hoping that the ones who will run in two years understand what the people want.”

Read related: New Coral Gables Commissioners Ariel Fernandez, Melissa Castro are sworn in

Sue Kawalerski, president of the Gables Neighbors United umbrella group of homeowner associations, thanked Castro and Fernandez for having the courage to run against the establishment.

“Some of the establishment is here in the audience. They won’t go away. You’re going to hear from them this morning,” Kawalerski said. “But I’m here to represent the residents and the residents say no more of the old ways.

“The will of the people said we do not want that thing called the mobility hub as it was designed and at that scale,” Kawalerski said. “This is his legacy on the way out the door. Well, maybe the way out the door is coming sooner than expected.”

Only it didn’t.

Fernandez moved to fire the manager and Castro seconded. She said she heard from residents how frustrated they were with the city administration, even before she asked about it. “People are not satisfied,” she said at the meeting.

The vote lost 3-2. A vote of confidence was approved 4-1 but only after Mayor Lago gave Castro a very bad definition of what a vote of confidence meant. She told Ladra later that she would not have voted in favor if she knew it meant confidence in his performance. Castro felt misguided by the mayor.

But she’s definitely getting a crash course in petty politics and will not trust the mayor at his word again, she said.

“You live, you learn” Castro told Political Cortadito.

Fernandez said he would give Iglesias a chance.

“The city manager stated he is going to work with us. I will be holding him accountable,” Fernandez told Ladra after the meeting. “It’s time for us to work together for the benefit of the residents.”

He did get one victory on another matter: The commission will have a sunshine meeting on Monday to discuss the fate of the proposed $63 million “mobility hub” — which was just and correctly called a parking garage at Tuesday’s meeting. On the table: Scale and design.

“That’s a huge win for our community,” Fernandez said.

If you want to see more stories like this out of Coral Gables, please consider giving a donation to Political Cortadito. Thank you for your support!

12 Responses to "Coral Gables manager Peter Iglesias beats ouster attempt by commissioner"

  1. To Mr. Santamaria:

    You don’t feel the strong winds of political change, because your mind is in a cave. Get out and you will feel much better.

  2. This week’s Puppet Award goes to Commissioner Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Kirk Menendez in Coral Gables, FL.

    The majority of the residents in Coral Gables were against a Mobility Hub, costing over $150 million. The Mobility Hub was the legacy of City Manager, Peter Iglesias.

    Mayor Vince Lago supported Iglesias and his Mobility Hub. Mayor Lago pulled the strings on Commissioners Anderson and Menendez to also support his Mobility Hub. With their support, the Mobility Hub was forced upon the residents.

    So, congratulations to puppets Anderson and Menendez. They are free to display this award on their desks at City Hall.

  3. OMG—I noticed Lago’s weird “vote of confidence” definition. Perhaps he should pen his own dictionary “the Mayor’s Dictionary of bs definitions”.

  4. Do consider yourself to be a strong person?

    Do you want clean government?

    Do you support recalling Commissioner Menendez?

    If the answer to any of the above is “NO”, then be prepared for Commissioner Menendez to continue to spit in your face for the next two years.

  5. The residents were weak. Not one of the most vocal critics of Lago ran for office against him. As a result, Lago was re-elected without opposition.
    The residents paid a price for their weakness. With Lago in office, the residents could not gain control of their City. Lago controlled because he had the support of Anderson and Menendez .
    Undaunted, the residents then united and became strong. The residents elected Ariel. In a later run-off, Melissa won on Ariel’s coat-tails.
    However, Ariel and Melissa are out-numbered. Lago still controlled the City, with the support of Anderson and Menendez. Iglesias also kept his full power.
    Was the election of Ariel and Melissa for nothing?
    No. Redemption exists. The residents must again unite and becomes strong. One way to gain control of the City is to recall Lago, Anderson, and Menendez . Start with the most vulnerable, Menendez. Start the recall petition to get him out. Continue to make the City, the City Beautiful.

  6. Oh, Ed. You tried to defend him when you worked for him and now still defend him when he let you go. Don’t you know that the reason people want him gone is because for too long he has let people like you tell residents what they want. The Commission can fire Iglesias simply because they no longer like him – per Florida law – and it will happen. Tick tock

  7. Mr. Santamaria

    The residents of the Gables have spoken. You and other members of the establishment don’t want to recognize that. No matter how many people voted or not, the results stand and whether you think a neighbor association speaks for all residents is besides the point. They mobilized and participated in the election process. The results of these elections are a direct result of the Mayor’s toxicity. The Manager survived by ONE vote. He is one vote from being fired. The next election cycle is just around the corner. There will be more changes coming. The choice of Vice Mayor is one nail in the coffin and the inability to take a stand and make a decision, on anything, is another nail. Change will come.

  8. Ladra,

    Please allow me to clarify my comments that you quoted, so that they are not misinterpreted. Because of the nature of the position, a City Manager has a real time 360-degree view of the City that they manage. On any issue, the decisions made, and the directions charted are based on numerous interactions of different types with staff, elected officials, and stakeholders. It is impossible for any resident to have this type of access. That said, if any resident questions a Manager’s decisions, or the transparency of the process, Florida Statutes provide a mechanism for residents to access public records for review.

    I stand by comments that the City of Coral Gables is well managed, and I am relieved that the Manager remains at the helm. The newly elected Commissioners are now on the learning curve. Having worked with numerous newly elected leaders, I can say that the learning curve is steep. It is also lengthy. There is much to learn on issues, process and policy – all concurrently. Realistically, it might take a year to fully get up to speed. In the meantime, they must govern. They will have to make difficult decisions. There will be residents that will be unhappy. That is the other challenge; once a vote is cast, electeds must effectively communicate their justifications to the public. This will mitigate resident discontent, but there will always be some unhappiness.

    To those reading this that are Coral Gables residents, do not believe everything you hear from people proclaiming that they speak for the residents. Take an active role, get fully informed on the issues and question the administration constructively.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.