The Miami-Dade Housing Committee met on September 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM in Commission Chambers. The committee considered several resolutions related to affordable housing, public housing redevelopment, and attainable housing. After a brief invocation and pledge, the agenda was set, and most items were passed on the consent calendar, except for Resolution 2A, which was discussed in detail and approved as amended. The committee forwarded all items to the full Board of County Commissioners for final action.
Item 2A (Resolution 251729) - Miami-Dade Attainable Housing Corporation: Commissioner Eileen Higgins, prime sponsor, presented a resolution to create a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity called the Miami-Dade Attainable Housing Corporation, Inc., along with affiliated subsidiaries, to manage and redevelop certain county-owned housing properties. The item arose from the imminent bankruptcy of the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation, which owned 16 buildings (dozens of units) that would have become luxury housing. The county had contributed financing but was in second position. By creating this entity, the Board of County Commissioners would serve as its board, avoiding the need to create multiple independent boards for each building. Commissioner Higgins noted that this approach complies with state and local ethics, and received ethical clearance from the state ethics commission and county ethics board. The entity would allow the county to apply for tax credits and other HUD programs, such as RAD, for smaller, hard-to-develop properties.
Discussion on Scope and Safeguards: Commissioner McGhee questioned whether the item should be limited to the Miami Beach properties to which it was initially tied. Commissioner Higgins argued for a broader scope, noting that many districts have “ugly babies” (small or challenging sites) that private developers ignore, and the entity would allow the county to develop them. A friendly amendment was proposed by Commissioner Regalado, requiring that any addition of properties to the entity must be sponsored by the district commissioner. Commissioner Higgins accepted the amendment. Commissioner Gonzalez expressed hesitancy and requested a meeting with Director Terrence before voting, but ultimately did not object further.
FRS (Florida Retirement System) Concerns: Commissioner McGhee raised concerns about county employees serving on the entity’s board potentially affecting their retirement benefits under FRS. The county attorney acknowledged the issue and stated that the shared services agreement (not yet before the board) would address FRS implications, and that necessary amendments would be discussed before the item reaches the full board.
And I'm gonna start with a short prayer, and our Vice Chair Kiony McGee would lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Well head your heads, please. Dear Lord, unite our hearts and reveal to us your great purpose. Help us in all our endeavors and grant us strength, wisdom, courage, love, and compassion to serve. As Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King stated, as an individual has not leaved until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity. And it is you, dear Lord, who told us, be your brothers and your sisters keeper. As we carry out our fiduciary responsibilities, dear Lord, bless us with courage, empathy, patience, love to do right by and for all the residents of Miami Dade County. We ask this in your name, as we all say. Amen. Madame Attorney. So is it is it the right time to open uh visitable opportunity for the public to be heard? I don't have any cards. And I don't see, yes, madam. And I don't see anyone approaching. We don't have any cards, right? All right. So now uh I'd like to close reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. Madame Attorney, do we have any changes for today's agenda? Uh at this time, it would be appropriate to set the agenda. The items to be considered at today's meeting are the items listed on your official printed agenda. Other than the changes listed in your changes memo, there are no other changes. A motion to set the agenda with those changes is in order. All right. Okay, all in favor to set the agenda say. Aye. Any nay? All right, the agenda is set. Uh we don't have any public items. Do any of uh does any of our my colleagues have uh one wish to bifurcate any of the items? Madam Chair, I just want to bifurcate 2A and 4i to vote no for now. 2e and 4i. 2A 2A and 4i. Okay for now. Okay, 4i. Okay. Um so madam chair, on on 2A, the item is extremely complicated. So if I could take the opportunity to explain it at this committee because it's taken the department, Terrence, and myself. I think we've been working on this guys, wouldn't you say, for five years? Commissioner, could we give you a two? I would love to talk about that. Of course, and uh, we'll give you a chance to uh to speak. Uh yeah, I was gonna bifurcate two A and four I also A, okay. Madam Chair, there's no four I on your agenda. I'm not sure. Um for I was four I was passed out, madam chair. Uh sir. I'm looking at a memorandum. Oh, four I is for your information.