Miami City Commission Meeting – May 28, 2026: Bike Plan, Density Transfer, and Recognitions
Miami City Commission Meeting – May 28, 2026
On May 28, 2026, the Miami City Commission convened at 9:00 AM in a session that opened with recognitions of The Villagers (60th anniversary of historic preservation) and retiring educators. The meeting included public comments, discussion of planning and zoning items, and votes on multiple resolutions. Key actions included adoption of the Bicycle Master Plan, approval of a youth soccer field in Allapattah, debate over a density transfer ordinance (PZ3), and a controversial police leak raised by a commissioner.
Consent Calendar
- RE1: Reimbursement for FIFA-related safety costs (fire/police) – approved.
- RE4: Resilience Florida funding for Brickell Bay Drive Baywalk improvements – approved.
- RE5, RE6, RE8, RE9, RE12, RE13: Approved as part of a block vote. RE6 was amended to reduce noise waiver hours for World Cup events (e.g., ending at midnight/1 AM instead of 2 AM).
- PH1, PH2, PH3: All approved unanimously. PH1 authorizes a youth soccer field at 850 NW 23rd Street in Allapattah; PH3 provides $4 million for affordable housing (though a public comment noted the recipient is a foreign for-profit entity).
- SR1, SR2, SR3: Second-reading ordinances establishing the Department of Human Services, sidewalk cafe rules in Flagler district, and renaming Silver Bluff Dog Park – all passed unanimously.
- FR2 and FR3: First-reading ordinances on public urination penalties and Little Haven Parking Improvement Trust Fund – passed unanimously.
- BC1 and BC2: Board and committee appointments approved, including Anne Marie Sharp to the General Employees Retirement Trust.
- PZ1 and PZ2: Land use and zoning changes for properties at 145/151 NW 60th Street – PZ2 amended to increase non-compliance penalty from $250 to $1,000 per day, with funds designated for District 5 affordable housing.
- PZ4, PZ5, PZ6, PZ7: Approved as part of a block (related to zoning clarifications).
Public Comments & Public Testimony
- Support for RE2 (Bicycle Master Plan): Multiple speakers urged approval, citing safety, traffic reduction, and health benefits. Mel Meinhard (Friends of the Commodore Trail) noted Bike to School Days reduce traffic by 25%. Others (Geraldine Ordonez, Noel Cleeland, Luis Santos) highlighted the need for safe bike lanes to reduce car dependency.
- Support for PH1 (Soccer Field): Residents and youth from Allapattah spoke passionately about the need for safe recreational spaces to keep children away from gangs, drugs, and violence. Over a dozen speakers, including students, mothers, and coaches, described the vacant lot as dangerous and urged the city to activate it.
- Opposition to PZ3 (Density Transfer): Nearly all public speakers opposed the substitute ordinance released the night before. They argued it would allow increased density in historic districts and NCDs, undermining previous protections. Speakers like Henrietta Schwartz, Elvis Cruz, and Jacqueline Coleman called on the commission to reject the substitute and keep NCDs and historic districts excluded. Several also urged joining the lawsuit against the Live Local Act.
- Concerns on PH4 (Scholarship): One speaker criticized Commissioner Rosado for proposing $31,000 to FIU under his own name, calling it inappropriate.
- Other Comments: Katrina Morris supported PH1-4 and RE8. Jacqueline Wells reported unresolved roof leaks in Overtown public housing. Brett Bibo (Miami River Commission) requested extending the river greenway priority list. Christopher Lunding and Elisa Margulies raised process objections to last-minute amendments.
Discussion Items
- Police Leak Investigation (Commissioner Gabella): Commissioner Gabella asserted that a police officer being considered as his sergeant of arms was targeted due to a leaked ongoing investigation. He claimed the officer was being punished because of his association with the commissioner, and demanded a thorough investigation into the source of the leak.
- PH4 Scholarship Fund (Commissioner Rosado): Commissioner Rosado proposed a $31,000 need-based scholarship to FIU named after himself. Several commissioners expressed discomfort: Commissioner King abstained due to her adjunct role at FIU, and others noted the appearance of impropriety. The item passed 3-0 with King and Rosado abstaining.
- Bicycle Master Plan (RE2): Director Santana of Public Works presented the plan, which includes 10 priority projects to be completed within 5 years. The plan incorporates over 300 public comments and aligns with Vision Zero goals. Commissioner Pardo and Commissioner Rosado co-sponsored; it passed with an amendment from a May 26 substitution memo adding Exhibit A.
Key Outcomes
- PZ3 (Density Transfer): Passed as originally written (not the substitution). The approved version excludes Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs) and historic districts from the transfer of density program, and includes a 500-foot buffer from T3 (single-family residential) zones. This overrode the last-minute substitute language that would have reversed those protections.
- Votes on Major Items:
- RE2 (Bike Plan) – approved as amended.
- PH1 (Soccer Field) – approved unanimously.
- PH4 (Scholarship) – approved 3-0 (King and Rosado abstained).
- PZ1, PZ2 – approved with amendment to penalty.
- All consent items approved.
- Deferrals: RE3 deferred to July 9; RE10, RE11, RE7 deferred to June 11; FR4 withdrawn.
- Next Steps: A shade meeting was requested by Commissioner Gabella regarding the police matter, to be scheduled for the second meeting in June. Public works was directed to follow up on the Overtown housing complaint raised by Jacqueline Wells.
Meeting Transcript
Reporting, verify the sidewalk is within City of Miami limits by checking the city's website. To report, note the nearest house or street address and call 311. A photo of the damage will also help ensure quick recognition. For more information on the city's repair plan, call public works. Let's team up to fix Miami sidewalks. The City of Miami has some great news we want to share with our local businesses. If your business has been a part of Miami for over 10 years, the Office of Zoning wants to give you the recognition you deserve. We are launching a new initiative where qualifying businesses will get an official certificate of recognition from the city. It's a celebration of your dedication, your longstanding service, and the positive impact you've had on our neighborhoods and economy. Here's a quick guide to getting yours. Head over to the website link. Click on the print button. Welcome to the City of Miami Commission meeting for May 28th, 2026. Thank you all for your advocacy. We are going to get our meeting started. I am joined today with my colleagues, Commissioner Ralph Rosado, Commissioner Escalona, Commissioner Pardo, and I understand that Commissioner Gabella is walking into the building now. We are also here with our mayor, Eileen Higgins. We are going to start with recognition. Today we are recognizing the 60th anniversary of the villagers. If you are here for that, please come forward. Thank you, Madam Chair. So I'm very pleased today to be joined here by the mayor and my colleagues to recognize the wonderful work done by the villagers for the last 60 years. This is the original historic preservation organization in Miami Dade County. And there you go. And over the years they have helped to preserve or designate or restore almost a hundred different buildings and landmarks through our community. They first started by uh trying to preserve and restore Douglas Entrance, which, although not located in the city of Miami, is right across from District 4. So it's something that I see every morning on my way to City Hall. And I'm just absolutely thrilled at the work that you all have done, the hundreds of volunteers, the tens of thousands of hours that you all have put in in the city of Miami. You've helped to restore and preserve Viscaya and the Miami Women's Club and a number of places that are really essential to the history and the architecture of Miami. So thank you all for your tremendous efforts. I know uh at least one of my colleagues, perhaps several, would like to say some remarks. First of all, of course, I want to thank you because uh even every day there's more and more pressure about retaining the character of our neighborhoods and the identity of our neighborhoods, and your work makes that possible. Your work brings it to life and keeps it with us and helps future generations appreciate where we come from. So thank you again, really from the heart. Your work is very valuable, and please keep doing it. And as one of the commissioners that has historic districts in my district, it is so important that we continue to preserve the beauty of what was and while we are moving forward with development. It's good to see what was because in Miami we have so few historic spaces. We're such a new city, and we don't have what you would see like in San Francisco or New York, and I love that we are starting to cultivate that history and that we could look upon structures and say, ah, that was a hundred years in the making. So thank you for all of the work that you do. Uh, may I make a statement? Is that fine? Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Gina Gilford, and I am president of the villagers. As mentioned, we are the oldest historic organization in Miami, started in 1966 to save the Douglas entrance. Talking about history and beautiful spaces, I feel like the city of Miami City Hall is one of the most gorgeous spaces. Happy to be here. And I hope it is preserved in some way. The villagers organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Miami Date's historic sites since 1966. We are proud to be celebrating 60 years as champions of historic preservation. Our group annually awards grants to historic sites and projects to further our cause.
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