West Miami Mayor Cesar Carasa was criticized at Wednesday's city commission meeting for recently presenting a key to the city to the consul general of Ecuador.

Carasa met with officials of the new Ecuadorean consular office at Northwest First Street and 42nd Avenue last month.

Commissioners and residents in the audience blasted the mayor for not consulting first with the commission, as Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, has declared that he wants to carry out a socialist revolution in his country and break free-trade agreements with the United States.

``I don't understand why the mayor would do that. I'm bewildered,'' Commissioner Juan Blanes said. ``What business does he have to associate himself and our city with representatives of a government that has shown disdain and disgust to our country?''

Carasa said he was simply trying to create new relationships and welcome the new consulate to the vicinity.

``Politics aside, I issued them a key of the city as a token of friendship,'' Carasa said. ``They are trying to promote new businesses. I would've done the same for any other country opening a consulate in the area.''

Resident Leon Rozio asked the commission to draft a resolution requesting the key be returned. Blanes and Commissioners Luciano Suarez and Eduardo Muhiña supported the proposal. A resolution is scheduled to go before the commission at the next meeting on Nov. 18.

Also at the meeting:

• The commission approved constructing a traffic calmer at Southwest 15th Street and 64th Avenue, using funding from the city's share of the federal economic stimulus package. The calmer had previously been approved for Southwest 14th Street. Two other traffic calmers will be constructed on Southwest 18th and 22nd streets along 64th Avenue.

• The commission authorized closing out a contract with Globetech for $44,923.58 for the completion of citywide drainage improvement projects.

• The commission voted 3-2 to increase the special use permit application fees for planned developments of residential and commercial properties. The fee for a residential application will go from $500 to $1,200. The fee for all other applications, including duplex, apartment and commercial, will go from $1,200 to $2,000.

• The commission settled a lien with Miami Management Group for $142,740 for a property at 5824 SW Ninth St.

• The commission authorized the city manager to apply for a $3,384 grant under the Federal Drug Control and System Improvement Program.

• Police Capt. Nelson Andreu received authorization from the commission to enroll the city in the NIXLE program, which enables the police department to communicate important neighborhood-level information to residents via text message and e-mail. The program is free. Residents can sign up at www.nixle.com.

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