Miami Beach City Commission Meeting – September 3, 2025
Miami Beach City Commission Meeting – September 3, 2025
The Miami Beach City Commission convened on September 3, 2025, at 12:26 PM UTC (actual meeting start time) for a hybrid special meeting. The agenda covered a wide range of topics including public safety, transportation, environmental protection, housing, LGBTQ+ rights, and city governance. The meeting included public hearings on multiple ordinances and resolutions, with several items passed, deferred, or referred to committees.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was adopted unanimously, with several items separated for individual discussion (C7A, C7C, C7D, C7M, C7AC, C7AI, C7AJ, C7AE, C7AF, C7M).
- Items separated were later voted on individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rainbow Crosswalk: Many speakers (e.g., Joe Saunders, Miles Davis, Carol Coombs, John Byrne) urged the commission to oppose the state order to remove the Pride crosswalk at 12th & Ocean Drive, citing safety, LGBTQ visibility, and home rule. Some expressed support for Commissioner Fernandez's resolution to exhaust administrative remedies.
- Confetti/Glitter Ban: Sophie Ringel, Jennifer Byington, and others from Clean Miami Beach testified in support of banning plastic confetti and glitter on beaches, showing collected debris and highlighting environmental harm.
- E-Bikes on Beachwalk: Supporters (e.g., Matthew Galtanoff, Jessica Londano, Alia Villanova) argued the pilot program would allow parents to safely transport children to school. Opponents (e.g., Alicia Casanova from Mid Beach Neighborhood Association, Keith Marks) cited safety risks for pedestrians and enforcement challenges.
- Marina Curfew: Several charter boat operators (Kimberly Falconer, Dan Breitenstein, Timothy Sanders) opposed the 7 PM curfew, arguing it harms legitimate businesses and doesn't address bad actors. Residents (e.g., Robert Selsom) supported stricter rules.
- Water Quality: Larry Schaefer and others repeatedly raised concerns about sewage infrastructure failures, human feces in waterways, and lack of priority for clean water.
- LGBTQ Visibility: Speakers also supported naming 12th Street "Pride Street" and raising rainbow flags.
- Other: Comments on Playboy headquarters, Israel boycott, Sister Cities display cases, Playboy, and more.
Discussion Items
- R5B – Police Cost Recovery for Business No-Shows: Ordinance requiring businesses that report crimes but fail to appear in court to pay $250 or full costs. Passed 7-0 with education period.
- R5D – Removal of Board/Committee Members: Established procedure with 6/7 supermajority vote for removal, protecting land-use board independence. Passed 7-0.
- R5L – Temporary Waiver of Paint Color Restrictions: Six-month pilot waiving color permit requirements to encourage property maintenance. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5N – Fire Department Radio Communications: Required in-building signal boosters for buildings over 75 feet, with fees. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5R – Regulation of Personal Delivery Devices (Robots): Set speed (6 mph), idle time, and fees. Amended to allow grace period; passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5S – E-Bike Exception on Beachwalk: Pilot program allowing adults with children (under 10) to ride e-bikes at ≤10 mph, excluding March 2026. Passed 4-3 on first reading after amendment.
- R5P – Marina Commercial Vessel Curfew: Reduced operating hours to 7 PM, with potential exemptions for compliant operators. Passed 7-0 on first reading, return for second reading October 29.
- R5W – Solid Waste Fee Clarifications: Non-substantive cleanup. Passed 7-0.
- R5O – Parking Fee Freeze and Cashless Garages: Suspended CPI increase for residential rates and transitioned to cashless payment. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5M – Artist Vendor Fee Reform: Restricted lottery zone to Miami Beach residents creating original art; non-expressive items (e.g., bead-stringing) limited. Passed 7-0 on second reading.
- R5J – Vendor Restrictions on Land-Use Boards: Prohibited city vendors from serving on land-use boards, with waiver possible by 5/7 vote. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5K – Consent Agenda for Land-Use Boards: Codified consent agenda process. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5E – Disclosure for Bulk Condo Buyouts: Required developers acquiring >20% of units to disclose redevelopment plans. Passed 7-0 on second reading.
- R5U – Anti-Boycott for Grants/Sponsorships: Extended state law to prohibit funding entities that boycott Israel. Amended to include all protected classes. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5V – Lobbyist Ordinance Clarifications: Updated registration, enforcement, and definitions. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R5Q – Ban on Plastic Decorations at Public Spaces: Prohibited glitter, confetti, mylar at marinas, parks, beaches. Passed 7-0 on first reading.
- R7AB – Rainbow Crosswalk Administrative Hearing: Resolution directing city to pursue formal administrative hearing and appeal. Passed 7-0 after emotional debate.
- R7AE – Short-Term Rental Local Control: Made regulation a state legislative priority. Passed 7-0.
- R7S – Mandatory Anti-Semitism Sensitivity Training: Passed 7-0, incorporated into existing training.
- R7C/R7D – Budget Amendments: Approved 7-0.
- R7F – Red Light Camera Report: Accepted 7-0.
- C7A – Lincoln Road Project Change Order: Approved 7-0.
- C7M – 41st Street Traffic Pilot Extension: Extended 3 months; passed 7-0.
- C7AC – Cultural Grant Salary Caps: Referred to Finance Committee.
- C7AE – Short-Term Rental as Legislative Priority: Approved 7-0.
- C7AF – South Shore Community Center Programming: Approved 7-0.
- C7AI – Bandshell Valet Parking Pilot: Referred to Neighborhoods Committee for discussion.
- C7AJ – 17th Street Garage Mural Contest: Referred to Neighborhoods Committee.
- R7AA – Task Force on Bike Gangs: Approved with referral to Public Safety Committee.
- R7X – Canine Drug Detection Unit: Approved 7-0.
- R7P – Anti-Camping Enforcement Task Force: Approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: R5B, R5D, R5L, R5N, R5R, R5S (first reading), R5P (first reading), R5W, R5O, R5M (second reading), R5J, R5K, R5E (second reading), R5U, R5V, R5Q, R7AB, R7AE, R7S, R7C, R7D, R7F, C7A, C7M, C7AF, C7X, R7P.
- Deferred/Referred: R5G/R5H (school incentives) to September 17; C7AC to FERC; C7AI and C7AJ to Neighborhoods; R5V to September 17.
- Votes: Most items passed 7-0; R5S passed 4-3 (Mayor Minor, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, Commissioner Bott voted no on first reading).
- Next Steps: Second readings scheduled for September 17 and October 29. City manager submitted request for administrative hearing on rainbow crosswalk.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of Miami Beach Commission Chambers. We're glad to have you with us today. If you require ADA assistance or accommodations, please notify the city clerk or any staff member, and we will be happy to assist you. We'd now like to introduce our City of Miami Beach elected officials and leadership. Mayor Steven Miner. City Commissioners, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Laura Dominguez, Alex J. Fernandez. Tanya K. Bott, David Suarez. Joseph Magazine, City Manager Eric Carpenter. City Attorney, Ricardo J. Dopico. As a courtesy to everyone present, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices at this time. Lobbyist disclosure reminder. If you are a lobbyist appearing before the city commission or any city board, you must have registered with the city clerk prior to participating. If you have not yet registered, please do so immediately. As soon as the host grants you permission to speak, a dialogue box will pop up on your screen with two options. Select the unmute button to begin speaking. After you finish speaking, mute your microphone and click on the lower hand icon. We kindly ask everyone to conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner. Thank you for your cooperation. This is the one. Please take your seats. The meeting is about to begin. Remember to speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded for public record. Please stand by. We are going on air in five, four, three, two, one. Sounds like it's good morning. And welcome to our commission meeting of September 3rd. We're going to get started. I'm going to ask our city clerk, Rafael Granado to give us any uh instructions. Morning, everyone. During this hybrid special commission meeting, the city commission is physically present in the City Commission chambers on Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Conventional Center Drive, third floor. The public is divided to attend the meeting virtually. However, members of the public who wish to attend the meeting or provide public comments in person may appear at the commission chamber to participate or provide comments virtually during the commission meeting. The public may join the meeting by visiting the Zoom app on their smart device or on the web at Zoom.us or by telephone at three oh five two two four nineteen sixty-eight. Again, the local number is three oh five two two four nineteen sixty-eight or toll-free eight eight eight four seven five four four nine nine. The webinar ID is eight one three nine two eight five seven six seventy-one pound. Again, the webinar ID is eight one three nine two eight five seven six seventy-one pound. Members of the public wanting to speak virtually on an item during the meeting must click the raise hand icon of using the Zoom app or press star nine on the telephone to raise their hand. Please note that the Zoom link webinar ID and telephone numbers provided for this commission meeting are static and remain unchanged from meeting to meeting. Thank you so much. Thank you, Ralph. I'm going to ask uh we're going to start with our invocation as we always do, and ask Pastor Kip Nelson from St. John's on the Lake to lead us with words of wisdom and motivation. Good morning, Mayor and members of the council. My name is Reverend Kip Nelson, and it is a ple a privilege and an honor to stand here with you all today. And I greet you this morning not only as a religious leader of this community, but also as a resident of this beloved city. And I stand before you all this morning with a heavy and broken heart due to the ongoing violence, prejudice, and division plaguing our country and world. So much of what we are witnessing across our country and across the world.
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