Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee Meeting – May 14, 2025
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Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee Meeting – May 14, 2025
The Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee met on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM in Commission Chambers. Chairwoman Micky Steinberg was absent; Vice Chairman Keon Hardemon presided. Commissioners Juan Carlos Bermudez, Danielle Cohen Higgins, and Oliver G. Gilbert III were present (three members constituted a quorum). The meeting opened with an invocation by Commissioner Cohen Higgins and the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was short, focusing on a public hearing for an environmental ordinance, a resolution on adaptive fishing piers, and routine approvals.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the reasonable opportunity for public comment, nor during the public hearing.
Discussion Items
- Item 2A: Adaptive Fishing Piers Resolution (Prime Sponsor: Sen. Rene Garcia) – Commissioner Cohen Higgins moved to adopt the same amendment previously approved at the Parks and Recreation Committee on May 12, 2025. The amendment (originally offered by Chairwoman Steinberg) broadens the resolution to allow for other adaptive devices (e.g., ramps, lifts) in addition to fishing piers and floating docks, to accommodate individuals using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. It also excludes parks where such features are already in operation or planned and are ADA-compliant. The motion carried unanimously (3–0).
Public Hearing
- Item 1G1: Ordinance Relating to Environmental Protection (Prime Sponsor: Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez) – This ordinance amends Sections 24-42.7 and 24-48.3 of the Miami-Dade County Code. It authorizes administrative approval of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems that do not meet certain minimum setback distances under specific circumstances, and allows administrative approval of boat slips in areas with a certain NOAA mean low water datum via Class I permits. Commissioner Bermudez explained that the changes streamline processes without reducing environmental protections, noting that cases often involve individual property owners. The ordinance had passed first reading on April 1, 2025. After the public hearing (no speakers), Commissioner Bermudez moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Hardemon. A roll call vote was taken due to it being an ordinance: Commissioners Bermudez (yes), Cohen Higgins (yes), and Hardemon (yes). The ordinance was forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation (3–0).
Key Outcomes
- Item 3A (Resolution 250670): Appointed Kimberly Hosang and Paul Wiggins to the Agricultural Practices Advisory Board. Recommended favorably (3–0).
- Item 6A (Report 250408): Approved the Clerk’s Summary of Minutes for the January 15, 2025 and February 12, 2025 Port and Resiliency Committee meetings (3–0).
- Item 2A: Amended and adopted as described.
- Item 1G1: Public hearing held; ordinance approved and forwarded to the full commission.
- The meeting adjourned after all business was completed.
Meeting Transcript
Commissioner Bermudez. Present. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Good afternoon, present. Commissioner Gilbert. Vice Chairman Hardeman. Three members present. We have a quorum. I'd like to welcome everyone to the Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Miami Day Port and Resiliency Committee. We have a whopping two persons in the gallery. I think one of them works for us. But we're still appreciative of everyone's presence here. At this time, we'll start with uh a pledge of allegiance. Uh second, but a invocation by our dear commissioner to my right. Everyone rise, please. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Please bow your heads. Dear Lord, we ask that you give us the strength, guidance, and wisdom to make decisions on behalf of the amazing almost three million residents of our great Miami Dade County. It is in your name that we pray. Amen. Okay, we have a very short agenda. So we're going to move through it expeditiously. But start with opening the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. Is there anyone from the public like to be heard on any of the items on the agenda today? The floor is now open. Seeing no persons come to speak, the floor is closed. Um are there any items that need to be amended, addressed, deferred, withdrawn. Well, we do have one public hearing item. If I can read that in in terms of uh amendments, there was a committee amendment to one of the items to can you read that amendment on the record for us so we have it. Spencer at the recreation and tourism committee held on May 12th, 2025. Commissioner Steinberg made the following amendment that was adopted by the committee on behalf of Commissioner Steinberg, Commissioner Cohen Higgins moves to amend item two A in the same manner. The amendment would allow for other adapted devices beside fishing piers and floating docks to accommodate individuals who utilize wheelchairs and other mobility aids. In addition, the amendment would exclude parks where fishing peers or other devices are either currently in operation or in the planning stage and are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. So I take that as a motion from Commissioner Cohen Higgins. You're recognized. Very briefly, thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to clarify because 2A was amended by me on behalf of Commissioner Steinberg in her absence. 28 is sponsored by our colleague Senator Renee Garcia, who's not present here, but I want to just clarify that the amendment was adopted in a previous committee as is, and it was adopted by Senator Garcia at that committee. And if I can have clarification on that, that would be helpful to me. Correct, Commissioner. This is the same amendment that was heard at the Parks and Recreation Committee and adopted by that committee where uh Senator Garcia was present. Thank you for that clarification. Nothing further, Mr. Chair. And so I just want to clarify that in this motion in this in this uh this motion and this adoption, we are uh setting the agenda and also adopting the balance of the agenda, notwithstanding the public hearing item. That's correct. Understood? All right.
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