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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Virginia Key Advisory Board Meeting — August 25, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 25, 2026

BodyMiami, Florida

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, August 25, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:39:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:12

Good evening.

1:14

Any person who receives compensation, remuneration, or expenses for conducting lobbying activities is required to register as a lobbyist with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities before city staff, boards, committees, or the city commission.

1:26

A copy of the applicable ordinance is available at the Office of the City Clerk, Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, through three one three three.

1:34

Thank you, Chair.

1:36

Thank you very much.

1:38

Rafa will do the Pledge of Allegiance for discussion.

2:09

Rafa, do you have to do a formal roll call, or it's just obvious that there's only four four people here tonight?

2:22

Okay.

2:23

Um just to note that Christopher Norwood, who was appointed by the mayor, he's here.

2:27

He's just I think he stepped out for a second, but he's gonna be sitting right here.

2:31

Oh great, thank you.

2:33

And how many people do we need for quorum?

2:41

Eight people would be needed for quorum.

2:44

Okay.

2:45

So we're we're only we only have five.

2:49

Assuming with Chris Norwood, we have five.

2:55

So yes, with Christopher Noah, it's five.

2:58

Okay.

3:21

The roll call for for it to be on the record.

3:24

Okay.

3:24

Peter Ehrlich.

3:26

Here.

3:26

Nicholas Lopez Jenkins.

3:29

Luis Casamayor, Steven Leiner, Gary Milano.

3:36

Christopher Norwood.

3:38

Monty Trainer.

3:41

Daniel Lopez.

3:44

Alejandro Martinez Esteve.

3:48

And if we could just have everybody speak on the mics just so everybody can hear.

3:52

Thank you.

3:58

Any requests for absence waiver?

4:00

No, I had to receive any.

4:03

So we're going to move on to the discussion items.

4:05

Um taking them slightly out of order, if you don't mind from the city attorney would like an update on the city commission agenda item that a resolution that we provided last year about a changing the quorum.

4:22

Yes, so the resolution passed.

4:24

Um now the resolution essentially provides that the city manager will come back and bring an ordinance, which would require two readings at City Commission.

4:33

So the next step is for the city manager to bring an ordinance consistent with what you guys have um passed, which was attached to the ex to the resolution, and then that would require two readings.

4:53

No, the resolution that was passed by commission essentially provides that the manager will bring back an item.

5:00

So that wasn't completed at that time.

5:02

So when will that item be back in front of commissioners?

5:04

I don't have that information.

5:05

It would be the manager who brings the item.

5:07

Can you can you follow up with the manager so it can be heard in the next two or at best three meetings?

5:15

I can have I can have um I can reach out to Rafael.

5:20

Rafaela.

5:22

Because we've been waiting um I don't know, 12 or 18 months for this one item to go through the city commission.

5:31

It's a shame there's still a delay.

5:33

Parks parks will follow up.

5:35

We'll follow up.

5:36

Will you?

5:36

Yep.

5:37

Thank you very much.

5:38

Appreciate that.

5:40

Any questions from any board members on that?

5:43

Everybody familiar with that item, how that item works.

5:48

We have a for those in that are in the audience.

5:51

We submitted an item resolution last year to change our quorum requirements.

5:56

It's very hard to get eight people almost from any board to show up for meetings like this.

6:03

We often get six, sometimes seven, five tonight, and our our item would change the quorum requirements to only require three, three people to show up to conduct business.

6:14

Luckily, we often have five, six or seven, but the new legislation would let us go forward with three.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Engagement███████████████████19%

Marine Infrastructure███████████████████19%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Parks and Recreation████████████████16%

Historic Preservation███████████11%

Public Safety██████████10%

Environmental Protection███████7%

Permitting Process Improvement█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Virginia Key Advisory Board Meeting — August 25, 2026

The board met to discuss several items affecting Virginia Key, including the Miami Marine Stadium basin mooring field, the Miami Seaquarium site, and the Rickenbacker Marina. A quorum was not present (only 5 of 8 members attended), so no formal votes were taken. The board heard substantial public testimony opposing the mooring field and continued most items to the October 27 meeting for further discussion and presentations.

Public Comments & Testimony

Miami Marine Stadium Basin Mooring Field: Multiple speakers opposed the proposal. Leah Kennard (frequent basin user) stated that the city’s plan had expanded from 75 mooring buoys to 195 anchors without public input, would conflict with the Virginia Key Master Plan, and would harm recreational paddling and rowing. She urged the city to discontinue the current permitting process and engage the public. Andrea Souza (paddler and event organizer) argued the mooring field is unnecessary because enforcement has already removed derelict vessels, and that 195 boats would block the basin for water sports and the renovated Marine Stadium events. Roger Bernstein (30-year rower) described the proposal as “a solution in search of a problem that no longer exists,” noting that recent state laws (300-foot anchoring exclusion zone and 45-day anchoring limitation) make the 195-anchor plan obsolete. He stated the basin is now free of derelict boats and that enforcement has worked. Leonard Levy (lifelong resident) emphasized the ecological damage to seagrass and marine life from boat shading. Balaj Vandor (paddler) stressed that the basin is the only calm-water area for competitive rowing and paddling teams in Miami. Cesar Herrera (head coach, Miami Rowing Club) clarified that while 195 anchors alone might not interfere with rowing, 195 moored yachts would make operations impossible. Julia (Friends of Biscayne Bay) summarized that the community is opposed for recreational, business, and ecological reasons.
Miami Seaquarium Site: Valeria (Friends of Biscayne Bay, with a master’s in marine chemistry) urged a holistic review of cumulative impacts from all Virginia Key projects (mooring field, marina, stadium restoration) and called for meaningful public participation and environmental safeguards.

Discussion Items

Quorum Requirement Change: The city attorney reported that a resolution passed last year to reduce the quorum from 8 to 5 members, but the city manager has not yet brought back the required ordinance for two readings at City Commission. Board members expressed frustration over the delay (12‑18 months) and requested follow‑up to have the item heard within the next two meetings.
Miami Marine Stadium Basin Mooring Field: The administration requested to defer a formal update to October. Chair Peter Ehrlich noted the board has discussed the item for years. Acting Parks Director Daniel Lopez explained the mooring field would create rules and fees for anchoring and address derelict boats. Director Alejandro Martinez Esteve (Dream Department) said he would incorporate public concerns into an October presentation. Board members questioned why enforcement alone is insufficient, and expressed concern that 195 mooring balls would conflict with the Marine Stadium restoration and recreational uses. The item was continued to October 27.
Miami Seaquarium Site: No city administration representative was present (site is county-owned). Chair explained the board added the item because any development on the 32‑acre site will affect Virginia Key. The board hopes to hear from Terra Group principal David Martin at the October meeting. Gary Milano emphasized that the board can issue recommendations to the city commission regardless of ownership.
Rickenbacker Marina: Chair noted the item involves a November ballot referendum and pending litigation, so limited discussion occurred. Gary Milano reported seeing permit drawings for expansion of marina piers and requested that a city representative present details at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

No votes taken due to lack of quorum (5 of 8 members present).
Mooring field item continued to October 27 meeting for a formal presentation from city staff.
Seaquarium site discussion deferred to October 27 with requested appearance by David Martin (Terra Group).
Rickenbacker Marina item to be placed on the October 27 agenda with a city representative to discuss expansion permits and the referendum.
Quorum change follow-up: Staff (Rafael) will contact the city manager to expedite the ordinance.
Board requested city staff to provide documentation on the Rickenbacker Marina ballot language and mooring field permits for review.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Any person who receives compensation, remuneration, or expenses for conducting lobbying activities is required to register as a lobbyist with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities before city staff, boards, committees, or the city commission. A copy of the applicable ordinance is available at the Office of the City Clerk, Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, through three one three three. Thank you, Chair. Thank you very much. Rafa will do the Pledge of Allegiance for discussion. Rafa, do you have to do a formal roll call, or it's just obvious that there's only four four people here tonight? Okay. Um just to note that Christopher Norwood, who was appointed by the mayor, he's here. He's just I think he stepped out for a second, but he's gonna be sitting right here. Oh great, thank you. And how many people do we need for quorum? Eight people would be needed for quorum. Okay. So we're we're only we only have five. Assuming with Chris Norwood, we have five. So yes, with Christopher Noah, it's five. Okay. The roll call for for it to be on the record. Okay. Peter Ehrlich. Here. Nicholas Lopez Jenkins. Luis Casamayor, Steven Leiner, Gary Milano. Christopher Norwood. Monty Trainer. Daniel Lopez. Alejandro Martinez Esteve. And if we could just have everybody speak on the mics just so everybody can hear. Thank you. Any requests for absence waiver? No, I had to receive any. So we're going to move on to the discussion items. Um taking them slightly out of order, if you don't mind from the city attorney would like an update on the city commission agenda item that a resolution that we provided last year about a changing the quorum. Yes, so the resolution passed. Um now the resolution essentially provides that the city manager will come back and bring an ordinance, which would require two readings at City Commission. So the next step is for the city manager to bring an ordinance consistent with what you guys have um passed, which was attached to the ex to the resolution, and then that would require two readings. No, the resolution that was passed by commission essentially provides that the manager will bring back an item. So that wasn't completed at that time. So when will that item be back in front of commissioners? I don't have that information. It would be the manager who brings the item. Can you can you follow up with the manager so it can be heard in the next two or at best three meetings? I can have I can have um I can reach out to Rafael. Rafaela. Because we've been waiting um I don't know, 12 or 18 months for this one item to go through the city commission. It's a shame there's still a delay. Parks parks will follow up. We'll follow up. Will you?

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