Miami Springs defers paint-color measure as it decides UTD mural’s fate

The Miami Springs City Council deferred a proposed ordinance on Monday that would make it unlawful to paint homes colors that are “too dark, deep, or bright.”

“Color affects us mentally and physically in ways that remain surprisingly consistent across borders and social groups,” Councilwoman Jacky Bravo wrote in a March 14 memo recommending a “color palette ordiance [sic].”

The following colors that would “negatively impact city appearance and depreciate value,” according to Bravo, include red, orange, “certain shades” of blue and green, pink, and colors that are too dark, deep or bright.

“It appears to be a universal language, in example like the sun, yellow is friendly and stimulating; like nature, green is calm and secure; like fire, red is arousing and aggressive,” said Bravo, who is also a local real estate broker, according to her city bio.

Bravo’s proposed color measure seems to have aroused locals.

“As a government, there should be some tolerance for homeowners. We’re not living in a gated homeowner’s association,” Steven Cejas, of Miami Springs, told city officials at the meeting via a Zoom connection. “An encumbrance on top of an owner to go to the city to get permission to paint to your house a certain color… ordinances should be passed for public safety.”

Others sent emails and called officials opposing Bravo’s color restrictions plans.

“I’ve gotten a sleuth of emails this week, and calls, being very concerned about the color palettes,” said Miami Springs Mayor Maria Mitchell. “I haven’t had one where they have said they are in favor of that.”

A public records request by the Herald seeking copies of emailed complaints is under review by the city clerk’s office.

“No one to say that someone will draw a mural on their house, and we don’t have an ordinance,” Bravo said. “If somebody decides to put a pictorial or a person on their house, what am I to do? One thing will lead to the other.”

After a lengthy discussion among council members, Bravo asked that her proposed palette ordinance be “deferred” to the architectural review board. Instead, it was referred to the Miami Springs Historical Preservation Board.

Last fall, Bravo unsuccessfully proposed another unpopular ordinance whereby those feeding ducks would face possible police-issued citations and fines. City leaders instead created an awareness campaign.

“I just want to create some sort of tool [ordinance] where we can see where things get out of proportion when we don’t have an ordinance in place, and now dealing with the UTD matter,” Bravo said.

Bravo was referring to a vibrant mural, unveiled last year at 5553 NW 36th St., in the United Teachers of Dade headquarters parking lot, that drew her ire, according to a Herald report. The mural includes a child of color reading a book and a Gay Pride rainbow.

“If you do not see the word mural on an ordinance this does not mean it’s allowed, means you should make an inquiry with the Building & Zoning department first and present your mural,” Bravo said in an email to the Herald on Aug. 31. “Seems like they took a blind eye on this one, and unfortunately has caused an issue to be dealt with.”

Last November, the city of Miami Springs addressed the issue by dismissing three code violation charges against UTD for improper size of wall sign, improper placement and/or width of wall sign, and improper construction of sign. After a 4-1 vote, the Miami Springs Code Compliance Board passed a motion seeking UTD to come into compliance with section 93-51 [the color palette code] within 90 days.

Last week, the Miami Springs Board of Adjustments ruled on the remaining code violation pending against UTD for failure to comply with applicable color palette and referred to by Miami Springs officials as “case #21-01221, 5553 NW 36th Street, code 93-51, color palette compliance, 150-030, sign regulations (G)(3)(a)(b)(c).” The adjustments board voted 3 - 2 against UTD for failure to comply with the city’s color palette scheme.

However, the Miami Springs City Council voted 5-0 at last Monday’s meeting to hold a public hearing on UTD’s remaining code violation.

“That will allow all of us to consider it,” said Miami Springs Mayor Maria Mitchell.

UTD president Karla Mats-Hernandez, a Miami Springs resident, attended the council meeting with a cadre of union members, but she did not speak.

City leaders have been advised by Jose Arango, an attorney with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, the law firm acting as Miami Springs’ city attorney, not to comment further until the hearing takes place.

The mayor and city council will serve as the Miami Springs Board of Adjustment’s appeal board, and render a final decision on UTD’s remaining code violation, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, at 201 Westward Dr. The meeting will be broadcast live at https://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/meetings.

Those who cannot attend in person may email their comments, which will become part of the meeting’s official record, to cityclerk@miamisprings-fl.gov.

Theo Karsantsalis can be reached at karantsalis@bellsouth.net.

This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 9:00 AM.