Miami-Dade Government Efficiency & Transparency Ad Hoc Committee Meeting – July 10, 2025

The Government Efficiency & Transparency Ad Hoc Committee met on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Commission Chambers. Chair Juan Carlos Bermudez presided, with Vice Chair Natalie Milian Orbis and Commissioners Danielle Cohen Higgins and Raquel Regalado present. The meeting began with an invocation led by Vice Chair Milian Orbis, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of recognition for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s urban search and rescue teams deployed to Texas flood response. The committee received efficiency-focused presentations from three departments: Community Action & Human Services (CAHS), Information Technology (ITD), and Transportation & Public Works (DTPW). Several items were deferred, and one resolution was forwarded to the full County Commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rafael Gomez was called to speak during the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard, but was not present; no other member of the public came forward, so the public comment period was closed.

Discussion Items

• Item 1A-1E: Set agenda; deferred Items 1G1 (Water & Sewer one-time lifetime credit ordinance) and 2A (Wise305 public feedback webpage resolution) to no date certain. Added Item 3A to the agenda.
• Item 1E1 – CAHS Presentation: Director Sonia Grice described CAHS as a nationally accredited agency with 665 staff (over 90% providing direct services). She reported serving over 13,500 children through summer meals, operating 4 domestic violence shelters, and providing eviction diversion, utility assistance, and job readiness programs. She noted significant federal/state budget uncertainties and a reduction in grant funding. Highlights: a 50% reduction in client intake time via a new QR code referral process, and ongoing use of “Caseworthy” for a no-wrong-door intake approach. Commissioner Cohen Higgins thanked the director and emphasized the department’s human element, while Chair Bermudez asked about long-term tracking of Head Start outcomes.
• Item 1E1 – ITD Presentation: Assistant Director George Olazabal presented ITD’s role as the county’s technology backbone. He highlighted contract renegotiations yielding $4.5 million in savings/cost avoidance over five years, a new AI-powered voice response system for WASD, and a trusted data platform with over 1,000 dashboards. ITD services include municipalities Cutler Bay and South Miami, and the school board. Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked about the AI contact center’s impact on staffing; Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales stated ITD’s budget is less than 1% general fund, so it was not subject to the 10% reduction directive, but that streamlining and system retirements have occurred. Commissioner Milian Orbis raised concerns about the department’s growth over five years, website accessibility for residents (noting steps to find meeting videos), and the importance of meaningful KPIs. The committee also discussed returning equipment from remote work and potential cell phone/desk phone redundancies.
• Item 1E1 – DTPW Presentation: Director Stacey Miller reported that DTPW is the county’s largest department with 4,200+ employees and a $2 billion+ budget, operating the 10th largest transit system in the U.S. She cited a 5.7% ridership increase (11% in Metrorail) from 2023-2024, 10 pothole crew members, 6 sidewalk repair staff, and $2 billion in unfunded needs for road resurfacing, bridges, and sidewalks. She noted a pending 35-person stormwater utility merger from the solid waste department (fully funded) and warned of a $200 million+ transit deficit by FY27 due to reduced state funding (People’s Transportation Plan surtax loss of ~$27 million) and increased post-COVID costs. Commissioner Cohen Higgins expressed concern about prioritizing basic road/sidewalk maintenance and asked about cross-department coordination to avoid trenching newly resurfaced roads. Commissioner Milian Orbis asked about aligning DTPW’s planning cycle with partner agencies like CITT; the director confirmed they are working to realign the five-year plan approval to November (closer to budget approval). Chair Bermudez stressed the need to balance transit investments with road/traffic needs, especially in western districts.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1G1 (Water & Sewer one-time lifetime credit ordinance): Deferred to no date certain (vote 3-0).
• Item 2A (Wise305 public feedback webpage/email): Deferred to no date certain (vote 3-0).
• Item 3A (Homelessness grant funding resolution): Forwarded to the full County Commission with a favorable recommendation (vote 4-0). The resolution authorizes acceptance of $1,214,123.76 annually from the State of Florida for FY25-28, plus $853,081 in special appropriation for FY25-26, with local option food and beverage tax as match. The committee waived the requirement for full County Commission approval on the consent calendar.
• The committee received the three departmental presentations for informational purposes, with no formal actions taken beyond noting the presentations.
• Chair Bermudez directed the county attorney to explore codifying a requirement for aligning the capital planning/budget cycles of DTPW and CITT to prevent delays.