City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting - February 5, 2026
City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting - February 5, 2026
The Miami Beach City Commission met on February 5, 2026, in a session lasting from the morning into the evening. The agenda included a lengthy Sütnik Hour (public comment), a police chief testimony regarding a controversial welfare check, a major discussion on spring break operational plans, a proposed rezoning of Washington Avenue, and numerous other items. The commission approved several ordinances on first and second reading, referred several items to committees, and made appointments to boards and committees.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda as amended (7-0), including items separated by commissioners.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Morning Sütnik Hour: Multiple residents spoke on various topics. Brendan Jordan (artist, 30-year resident) criticized the city's artist vendor program and alleged bullying. Raquel Pacheco (resident) described a police visit to her home after a Facebook comment, calling it a First Amendment violation. Monica Tracy (resident) requested a bird bath at Belle Isle Park. Paul Thomas (patient advocate) supported ADAP funding. Miles Davis (SAVE) supported rainbow crosswalk installation at Loomis Park. Helena Gomez (artist) opposed residency restrictions on artists. Sam Feldman (resident, Holocaust survivor family) labeled the police visit as fascism. Joe Zevellone (property owner) expressed support for the mayor and police. Steve Bubba Cohen defended the police action.
- Afternoon Open Forum: Several speakers, including Glenn Hall (Black Affairs Advisory Committee) and Francisca Medina (MDPL volunteer), spoke on Black History Month and MDPL's lease.
- Public Hearings: On various items, including R5J (hate crime ordinance), R5H (delivery robots), R5B/C (Washington Avenue rezoning), and others. Johan Moore (Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association) opposed the rezoning, while David Rydenberg (business owner) supported it. Daniel Serraldo (former MDPL director) criticized the rezoning process.
Discussion Items
- Spring Break Operational Plan (R7V): City Manager Eric Carpenter presented a plan to modify 2025 restrictions. Commissioners discussed making sidewalk cafes open by default, removing barricades on Ocean/Collins/Washington, keeping garages open with flexible rates, later LPR starts, and more beach access points. The item was amended and approved 7-0.
- MDPL Lease (R9AC): Discussion on extending the management agreement. Inspector General Joseph Sanorito advised waiting for a pending report. Commissioner Magazine proposed a three-month extension to September 2026; later amended to December 2026. Approved 7-0.
- Washington Avenue Rezoning (R5B, R5C): Commissioner Suarez presented a plan to incentivize non-transient residential development with height/FAR increases. Commissioner Fernandez proposed a streamlined process instead of as-of-right. After extensive debate, the items were referred to the Land Use Committee.
- Delivery Robots (R5H): Ordinance regulating personal delivery devices, including speed limits (8 mph on sidewalks, 10 mph in crosswalks) and advertising ban. Approved 7-0.
- Live Entertainment Pilot (R5D): Pilot program allowing indoor entertainment in certain commercial corridors without conditional use permits. Approved 7-0.
- Hate Crime Ordinance (R5J): Minimum 30-day jail sentence for crimes motivated by hate. Approved 7-0.
- Pre-K Scholarship (R7X): Additional funding of $111,000 to cover waitlisted students. Approved 7-0.
- Rainbow Crosswalk (R7O): Approval to install salvaged rainbow pavers at Loomis Park. Approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Spring Break Plan (R7V): Approved 7-0 with amendments granting flexibility on beach closures, parking, barricades, and LPR timing.
- MDPL Lease (R9AC): Extended to December 31, 2026, pending Inspector General report.
- Washington Avenue Rezoning (R5B, R5C): Referred to Land Use Committee.
- Delivery Robots (R5H): Approved 7-0 on second reading.
- Live Entertainment Pilot (R5D): Approved 7-0 on second reading.
- Hate Crime Ordinance (R5J): Approved 7-0 on second reading.
- Pre-K Scholarship (R7X): Approved 7-0.
- Rainbow Crosswalk (R7O): Approved 7-0.
- Boards and Committees: Appointments made, including controversial ones to Human Rights Committee (withdrawn) and North Beach CRA.
- Other Items: Martina settlement (R7Y) approved with amendment for resident preference; waste collection for 9-16 units (R5S) approved on first reading; several referrals made to committees.
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. Mayor Steven Miner. 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. Presentation reminder. If you submitted a presentation within the 24 hours prior to the start of today's meeting, please check the computer located at the podium to ensure your file is properly loaded. When the floor opens for public comment, please step up to the podium, speak clearly into the microphone, and begin by stating your name and address for the record. How to participate in public meetings via Zoom. As soon as the host grants you permission to speak, a dialog 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. Once unmuted, you may begin speaking. After you finish sharing your comments, be sure to press star nine to lower your hand and star six to mute yourself. 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. Good morning, and welcome to the commission meeting of February fifth, twenty twenty six. I'll turn to our city clerk, Raphael Granado to give us any pertinent instructions. Members of the public are invited to attend either in person or virtually. If you're joining us virtually, here's how do you you can participate.us on your browser. You can also phone in at three oh five two two four nineteen sixty-eight. That's three oh five two four nineteen sixty-eight. Or toll-free, eight eight, eight, four seven five, four, four nine nine. Again, 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, webinar ID is eight one three nine two eight five seven six seventy-one pound. If you would like to speak virtually on an item during the meeting, please click the raise hand icon in the zoom app or press star nine on your phone. The zoom link, webinar ID, and phone numbers stay the same for every commission meeting. All obvious must register with the city with the office of the city clerk located on the first floor of City Hall. You do not need to register if you're an expert witness giving only tech technical or specialized testimony. A representative of a neighborhood association or nonprofit speaking without pay, or a private citizen speaking on your own behalf without compensation. However, if you're an expert witness or a nonprofit or a neighborhood representative, you do need to submit a written disclosure form to the office of the city clerk before speaking with a commission or city staff. Forms are available on the office of the city clerk. If a lobbyist gives or agrees to give a thousand dollars or more to a neighborhood association or a representative regarding a city matter, that's that must be disclosed in writing to the clerk. If you plan to speak, you need to please sign up either on the sign-up sheets that are available or the QR codes that are on the on the podium. Mayor, we have one announcement regarding the beachfront management plan ad hoc advisory committee. The City of Miami Beach announces an upcoming public meeting of the Beachfront Management Plan and Ad hoc advisory committee. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive in the City Manager's Conference Room, or on the fourth floor. On the fourth floor, members of the public are welcome to attend in person or log in via Zoom at the webinar ID is 845-009-276-24. Again, 845-009-27624. The public can also call 305-224-1968 or toll-free 888-475-4499. Again, the webinar ID is 845-009-27624. The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide input on the city's updated beachfront management plan. The plan outlines property uses, management activities, concession operations, special event permits, requirements, dune management strategies, and other key initiatives to ensure the sustainable management of our beachfront.
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