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03-21-80SpMtg MARCH 21, 1980 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was held in the Council Chambers at 4:00 P.M., Friday, March 21, 1980, with Mayor Leon M. Weekes, presiding and City Manager J. Eldon Mariott, City Attorney Roger Saberson, and Council members Malcolm T. Bird, Charlotte G. Durante, James H. Scheifley, and Willard V. Young, present. ~layor Weekes announced that this meeting has been called for the specific purpose of discussing and taking affirmative action with regard to the Haitian Refugee Center which is operating on S.W. 10th Street in Delray Beach. (1) The City Manager reported that at the Council workshop meeting last Monday, he informed Council that 100-200 Haitians were living at the house on 10th Street and that they were in one or two other locations in the City in lesser numbers. He also informed Coun- cil, at that time, that he realizes that the Haitians are probably in violation of some City ordinances and that he had intructed the person- nel to do nothing further with regard to attempting to enforce any laws until such time as they receive further word from him. The numbers kept increasing; some left and others would come in. Council asked him to attempt to contact the Immigration Authorities to get a handle on what the outlook would be for the future. His office contacted the Immigra- tion Authorities in West Palm Beach and they were referred to Miami. They were told by the Miami office yesterday by the Assistant Director of the Immigration Office in Miami that it was his understanding that additional Haitians would not be sent to Delray Beach at this time and that-he had instructed the people in the Immigration Service to not bring additional Haitians to Delray. As far as the situation today is concerned, the numbers have decreased considerably. He'had the 10th Street address checked this afternoon about 2:20 and there were then 35-40 Haitians at the house. During the time the City was there, a bus took about 15 or so away leaving about 25 at the 10th Street location. This morning at 10:30, he had an appointment with County Commissioner Norman Gregory at his office at the South County Courthouse regarding an entirely unrelated matter. When he arrived at his office, Mr. Gregory was in conference with an Assistant County Administrator with regard to the Haitian situation and he was in on some conversation with both the Assistant County Administrator and Commissioner Gregory with regard to this. It is his understanding, from that conversation and from a very recent conversation with Miriam Frederick, who is heading up the Haitian effort here, that efforts are being made to secure a location on Hagan Ranch Road outside the City limits and west of Delray Beach to use for a similar purpose in the future. Mayor Weekes asked Ms. Frederick when she anticipates that the balance of the Haitians presently being processed on 10th Street will be dispersed. Ms. Frederick replied that there are about 15 there right now; their families are coming to get some of them; they've got a handful that have got nowhere to go. She would like to let the ones that have no place to go stay there until she can get them work in other areas, but that's only a handful of people. Mrs. Durante stated that all the comments so far have been about a specific location. There are other locations which they haven't mentioned and she would like for them to address the whole Haitian situation. It was this weekend that the problem was brought to focus; this is not the first weekend that Haitians have been brought into Delray in large numbers. Mr. Bird asked what the capacity is at the Hagan Ranch Road site. The City Manager replied that the capacity is great; about 512' units. Mr. Bird added that Hagan Ranch Road site makes a far better solution if they can get the cooperation of the necessary people to put that place in shape. In response to Mrs. Durante, Mayor Weekes stated that he doesn't think that they've had a situation of that magnitude anywhere in the City except 10th Street; that's what brought it into focus. He recognizes that it has occurred in other places in varying degrees but he doesn't think it has been as visible as this was. He suggested sending a telegram followed by a letter or a certified letter to the head of the Bureau of Immigration in Miami advising them that no more refugees may be sent to Delray Beach until such time as proper facili- ties can be provided to accommodate them. Mrs. Durante stated that she has a report from the Depart- ment of Immigration and Naturalization Services. The Deputy District Director, Mr. Gullage, met with her this afternoon about 2:00 P.M. In addition, she received a telephone call from Dan Mica today about 3:00 P.M. Mr. Gullage regrets that he couldn't be at the meeting today and he apologized to Delray for the situation they created over the weekend; they did not properly check Delray and the facility. They will not send any more refugees to Delray Beach until such time as he hears back from Delray Beach that we are ready and willing to accommodate some more. This Council could follow that up with an official letter stating that it would like to see them respect their promise to us that they would not release refugees to Delray Beach and they would carefully check out the acceptance of families directly from them. Mr. Gullage did agree that, as much as possible, they would pass the information on to other agencies that pick up large numbers of Haitians that the City of Delray Beach has got a large population and a problem accommodating those that they ha~e and to try and restrain and restrict releasing the Haitians to any families within the City of Delray. Mr. Scheifley stated that several Haitian refugees have appeared at one of the condominiums applying for work and the management of the condominium was favorably impressed and would like to hire some of them, but apparently they have no social security number, only a card with a serial number on it. The question being asked of him is who will they'get for references for these people and what will they do about social security. Ms. Frederick replied that she has heard favorable comments from a majority of the employers that have hired Haitian people. As far as social security goes, they've been using their Immigration papers to obtain social security. Right now, work permits are not given because if you grant work permits openly, then you'll have all the Mexicans over here asking for them. The Immigration Authority is aware that the Haitians are here and you can't turn 30,000 people loose in a state and tell them not to work. It's a temporary situation until there is a law passed stating whether they are going to be deported or whether they're going to receive political assistance. Mrs. Durante stated that Mr. Gullage said that they are not granting carte blanche work permits. They would have to bring in a letter stating the need for them to work; for example, that they have a wife and children and that they have to pay rent. They would have to take that letter with their 1-94 card to the Immigration Office and they will review it on a case by case basis and issue a work permit; with that work permit, they can get a social security number and go to work. The person who employs the Haitian can do it for them if they so choose. Ms. Frederick stated that she could do it for them Mr. Young stated that if these people are going to be hired, he is concerned about how many Haitians are going to take jobs from the regular residents of Delray Beach. Ms. Frederick stated that they are not trying to keep the Haitians in Delray Beach; what they are trying to do is to work with other communities and counties. She sent 30 people to Belle Glade this week for jobs. There are a lot of jobs that Americans won't work at and the Haitians will. Mayor Weekes welcomed County Commissioner Norman Gregory to the meeting and related to him the discussion that he had missed. Mr. Gregory stated that he just got off of a conference call with Congressman Mica in Washington and they are presently exploring every possibility to alleviate the situation and not to encourage the aliens to come into the United States with the aspiration of receiving any degree of immediate relief. Congressman Mica advised him that he together with some of the best minds in Washington have explored the possibility of all the aid and the other machinery that is available - 2 - 3/21/80 through the due process; however, because of a Court Order which is being appealed by INS in the Fourth District Court of Appeals, it has been determined that they are allowed to come into the country. However, until a determination of their status has been made through due process, there isn't much that they can do to release the machinery such as the various funding and aid that would normally go to a refugee program. He added that these people are coming in and 65-85% of them have some sort of a pestilent disease; 12 have been admitted to the Tuberculosis Center and there is a high degree of syphilis and gonorrhea amongst these people; they have no control over these individuals once they are pro- cessed. To establish a center, in his opinion, to encourage these people to come to the United States would be doing them a disservice because you are talking about 8 million people. It could bankrupt the State of Florida, if not the United States, to attempt to relocate 8 million people here throughout the United States. Congressman Mica indicated that he is, perhaps, working on a program which would allow for aid to the Haitians by establishing some sort of a sanctuary for these people in the Bahamas and the islands of Haiti itself. He is here today to assure people that they have been working on this thing from the very top levels of government, from the White House on down, to try to resolve this problem. They realize that it is not a local problem; it is, in fact, an international problem. Mrs. Durante added that she expressed very strong!y~to Dan Mica and he agrees that they do need to do something to address the Haitian population that they have here. Now, because of their status, once they are processed and released by Immigration, that's it; there is no follow-up by Immigration. They do need to try and recognize those private agencies that will follow up so that those people can go in and get regular medical check-ups. Congressman Mica told her that there are some mechanisms set up whereby people can make contributions or lend some assistance to the Haitian people in Haiti to further develop their country and help them to want to stay there. They did a survey-and asked the questions: how many people are in Haiti - 6 million; how many of them want to leave their country and come to the United States - 5½ million. That shows that something is wrong there. Mr. Gregory added that he agrees that they do have to at least take care of the individuals that are here from a humanitarian standpoint. They have also called upon the Governor to see if they could set aside one of the national guard armories, as a point of pro- cessing, just to address those people that are here at this particular time and not to encourage others to leave their country and to come to the United States; merely ~o see to it that they have proper health facilities, that there is a control of these health problems, that they do have sanitary care and room and board. They have not, at this time, received an acknowledgement from the Governor but they will probably have that by Monday or Tuesday. Mrs. Durante stated that she would like to see the community organizations work on measures of finding and locating the Haitians that are here and assist in the establishment of some place of aid where they will come so that they can be found. Immigration admits that they don't get all of those people who dock and come to Delray Beach; so they are in Delray and they've never had a health screening. Mayor Weekes stated that he thinks that they've done about all they can do now; they can't resolve the national problem. It is being worked on. He thanked Ms. Frederick for recognizing the situ- ation, as it exists, as being a severe problem and added that if anymore busloads of Haitians are unloaded there or at any other location where there is not adequate facilities and which is not within the proper zoning district, in his opinion, it would constitute a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of this City and as Mayor of this City, he would act immediately in that direction. Mr. Bird moved that the Mayor send a letter formally out- lining the agreement, as discussed by Mrs. Durante stipulating our Posi- tion as a municipality, our limitations and also outlining the steps that we feel would be necessary to take in such a case as if they were to ignore us and send more, seconded by Mr. Young. Said motion passed unanimously. - 3 - 3/21/80 Before roll call the following discussion was had: Ms. Lillian Mayhew stated that she has had a great deal to do with Immigra- tion and it's quite discouraging to see that what's going on with this Haitian problem breaks every United States Immigration law they have. She asked why are they helping these people and continuing to take these people in? These people are taking away jobs from other people. Why can't they send these people back. Mrs. Durante replied that they cannot be sent back because of the injunction that is in Court now; the decisions must be made at the Court level. Ms. Marion Thomas stated that she lives on S.W. 10th Street and she would like to know if there is a sign ordinance in that area. Mayor Weekes replied that it is an illegal sign and it will have to come' down. Ms. Thomas added that the people that have sold the home are displeased and sorry they did sell her the home because of the amount of people living there. She further asked whether the place will be closed once these fifteen people leave. Ms. Frederick replied that the place will remain open but it won't be for refugees. Mayor Weekes stated that it will have to comply with the ordinances of the City of Delray Beach and it is in a single family zoning district. He intends to enforce the ordinances of this City. Mr. Sam Curtis stated that he has lived on 10th Street for 35 years and he has seen their homes change so much. It's really a shame with what's happening to Delray. It's so distressing to see this going on everywhere; it seems like they can't wait to rape the land and ruin our little town. He asked where these people have moved out to and added that if you don't let the people in Haiti know that they're not going to be accepted in the United States, they'll keep wanting to come over.here. He's tired of hearing about what's going to happen to the Haitians; he wants to know what's going to happen to the citizens of Delray Beach. Mayor Weekes replied that this is a national issue over which he has no control whatsoever. He understands these frustrations but he, as the Mayor of Delray Beach, can't control the national policy as it relates to these refugees. He can only deal with that which he is legally able to deal with. He encourages people to call and write to their Congressman. Ms. Mary Zeval stated that she lives on Southridge Road, about three blocks from where the house is. She asked who is picking up the tab for all the spe~din$ for these people. Mayor Weekes replied that he doesn't know who is but the City is not; it's all private dona- tions. Ms. Frederick stated that they should be proud of the citi- zens of this City because for the past week, volunteer help has poured in; these people have been helped by volunteers who care about people. At this point the roll was called to the motion. Mayor Weekes deClared the meeting adjourned at 4:45 P.M. MAYOR The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach and that the information provided herein is the minutes of the meeting of said City Council of March, 21, 1980, which minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Council on ~~  City Clerk NOTE TO READER: If the minutes that you have received are not completed as indicated above, then this means that these are not the official minutes of City Council. They will become the official minutes only after they have been reviewed and approved which may involve some amendments, additions, or deletions to the minutes as set forth above.