072798 : Resolution urging the Governor and the Florida Legislature not to eliminate $10.2 million from the State Fiscal Year 2007-08 Budget to establish Medical Schools At Florida International University and the University Of Central Florida during the upcoming special session
Commissioner Martinez sponsored a resolution urging the State Legislature not to eliminate funding for Florida International University’s Medical School.  This item was adopted at the BCC on September 20, 2007. 

072553 : Resolution authorizing the waiver of formal competitive bid procedures pursuant to section 5.03(d) of the home rule charter and section 2-8.1(b) of the code of miami-dade county by a two-thirds vote of the board members present; authorizing the county mayor or his designee to execute a grant agreement with memorial cubano, inc., in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00, for the design and construction of a Cuban Memorial Monument at Tamiami Park for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County, and to exercise any and all other rights conferred therein.
Although this item came forward as a departmental item, it with great pleasure that Commissioner Martinez sponsored the item and helped make it a reality.  This item was proposed for the purpose of making El Memorial Cubano a reality.  Now that this resolution has passed, we are one step closer to celebrating this important memorial for our community’s history.  This item was adopted at the BCC on October 16, 2007. Look for upcoming events regarding El Memorial Cubano in February 2008.

072326 : Resolution directing county manager to complete a feasibility study regarding the county employment of engineers in lieu of the retention of outside engineering consultants [see original item under file no. 072061] (Martinez, Rolle)
It is no secret that Commissioner Martinez believes firmly that outside consultants are too expensive and encourages departments to use the professionals they already employ to handle some of the work that is contracted out.  Using this same reasoning, Commissioner Martinez thought up this resolution in the hopes of saving the County, and by default, taxpayers some money.  If the suggested actions in this resolution are implemented, it would work similarly to the County Attorney’s Office in that it would employ engineers to perform the work required by departments currently hiring consultants for engineering and planning work.  This item was adopted at the BCC in September.

072387 : Resolution urging the Florida Legislature, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to develop and implement a system for providing homeowners discounts on their property insurance if they install carbon monoxide detectors (Martinez, Diaz, Sosa, Sorenson, Souto)
Commissioner Martinez has always been an advocate for encouraging people to use carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.  In fact, he previously sponsored an item to bring the issue forward onto Florida’s Building Code.  Looking for more ways to help, Commissioner Martinez sponsored this item in the hopes that it would encourage more people to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes—since they are only required in new buildings—by granting them breaks in their property insurance.  It is now up to the Florida Legislature to implement this change.  We will keep you posted on the progress of this item. 

041707: Resolution directing the Commission Auditor to create and staff a budget section within the Officeof Commissision 
Commissioner Martinez sponsored a resolution directing the Commission Auditor to create and staff a budget section within the Office of Commission Auditor.