The Coral Gables City Commission had been in session nearly seven hours on June 10 before a late revelation shifted the tone—and raised expectations. It came from Assistant Finance Director Paula Rodriguez, prompted by a question from Mayor Vince Lago. The news: Coral Gables has $30 million in a dedicated enterprise fund that can be used only to improve its building permitting operations.

The fund—accumulated from years of permit and inspection fees—is legally restricted to services related to the city’s Building Division. But within that boundary lies a wide horizon: more staff, better training, modern technology, capital improvements. It could be transformative.

“This is what I do for a living. I depend on permitting,” said Lago, who works professionally in development. “There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to deliver something spectacular.”

Rodriguez’s confirmation that $30 million is available to be deployed appears to have catalyzed a new urgency. And the mayor wasn’t subtle about the scale of his ambition.

“I want to deliver world-class, exceptional permitting services,” Lago said. “Let’s hire who we need to hire, let’s educate our amazing staff in zoning, in the permitting department, in code enforcement. Whatever we need to do—give them the tools.”

He emphasized the goal repeatedly: Coral Gables should become “the envy of every city in Miami-Dade County.”

Laying down a marker

To ensure the initiative moves quickly, Lago gave a public directive. He instructed Deputy City Manager Joe Gomez, through City Manager Peter Iglesias, to present a plan next month.

“This commission needs to finally deliver on something exceptional,” Lago said. “I want people sitting around with nothing to do because of how fast we are.”

City Manager Iglesias said some planning is already underway. But the mayor’s comments raised the bar—transforming an internal review into a citywide priority, just as Coral Gables prepares its summer budget.

From soliloquy to marching orders

Lago’s remarks grew increasingly impassioned as he continued. He spoke not only as an elected official but as a professional who has wrestled with the system himself.

“I’m going to be selfish,” he said. “I want to be able to pull a permit efficiently. I want someone to call me and say, ‘You’re already approved.’ That’s the kind of customer service we should be offering.”

He laughed at the irony of the situation: a long-criticized department now sitting atop an eight-figure fund. “It’s almost comical,” he said. “We have the money. Let’s get this thing done.”

And then he repeated the call for speed: “Have a plan ready by July.”

Commission approves $3.1m land purchase after reversal

A proposed land purchase near Salvador Park sparked heated debate and shifting alliances at the June 10 Coral Gables City Commission meeting, ultimately passing by a 4–1 vote—but only after a reversal by Commissioner Ariel Fernandez and an exchange of verbal barbs between Mayor Vince Lago and a longtime resident critic.

The parcel in question, located adjacent to the heavily used Salvador Park, could be developed to include more parking and possibly a long-desired dog park. While the measure had previously passed on first reading, it hit turbulence during second reading when Commissioner Melissa Castro withdrew her support, citing concerns about the price and process.

The city agreed to pay $3.1 million for the land. But when final appraisals came in significantly below that number, Castro objected. “There needs to be transparency in how we approach these transactions,” she said. “We didn’t even have the appraisals in hand when we approved it last time.”

Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and Commissioner Richard Lara defended the purchase, noting the property’s unique location and limited availability. “We’re talking about a one-time opportunity to expand recreational space and address serious parking needs,” Lago said. “A slight premium is justified.”

Initially, Fernandez joined Castro in opposing the purchase, stating he had not been informed about the appraisals either and suggesting the city attempt to renegotiate the price. Without his vote, the commission fell short of the required four-fifths supermajority needed for purchases over $1 million.

But several hours later, following a broader discussion on parking issues in the area, Fernandez reconsidered. “You’ve all made very valid arguments,” he said. “We have an opportunity to fix it… let’s do it.”

His change of heart revived the ordinance and shifted the vote to 4–1 in favor.

Heated words before the vote

Before the matter could be reconsidered, however, a tense moment unfolded between Mayor Lago and resident Maria Cruz, a frequent critic who had previously spoken during public comment. With the vote being revisited, Cruz asked to speak again. Lago repeatedly asked her to sit down, unsure whether a second round of public input was permitted.

City Attorney Cristina Suarez acknowledged the ambiguity and recommended allowing Cruz to speak “out of an abundance of caution.” Cruz used her time to argue that new information—namely, the discussion about parking—justified further scrutiny. Lago disagreed, insisting that the ordinance itself had not changed and that parking was not included in the language of the proposal.

Mayor gains authority to appoint lobbying delegates

Earlier in the meeting, the commission also approved—on second reading—an ordinance affirming that the mayor has the authority to designate which commissioners attend state and federal lobbying delegations.

The measure passed 3–2, with Castro and Fernandez again dissenting. Castro argued that the ordinance marked a shift from past practice.

“We are changing what we have been doing in the past,” she said. “Just by clarifying doesn’t mean we are following the same procedures that we have been following.”

Lago pushed back, framing her objections as unnecessarily political. “There is no need to politicize every single issue,” he said.

No appetite for workplace relationship rules

In other business, a resolution brought forward by Commissioner Castro—seeking to direct the city’s Human Resources Director to explore personnel policies addressing workplace relationships—died without a vote. After discussion, it became clear the majority of the commission did not see a need for additional rules on the topic.

Calendar adjustments ahead of budget season

The commission also approved changes to its summer meeting schedule. The July 8 regular meeting was rescheduled to Tuesday, July 1, and the city’s July 9 budget workshop will now take place on Wednesday, July 2.