Miami-Dade Safety and Health Committee Meeting - September 9, 2025

The Miami-Dade Safety and Health Committee met on September 9, 2025, at 11:00 AM (Commission Chambers) to discuss the budget as it pertains to safety and health, with a primary focus on Miami-Dade Fire Rescue response times, and to vote on several resolutions. The committee unanimously approved the entire agenda and forwarded all items to the full Board of County Commissioners with favorable recommendations.

Consent Calendar

• Item 2A: Resolution directing the County Mayor to review and compile a list of county boards related to healthcare.
• Item 2B: Resolution directing evaluation of countywide emergency services response times and development of improvement methods.
• Item 2C: Resolution declaring surplus firefighting equipment and authorizing donation to the Korps Brandweer Suriname.
• Item 2D: Resolution declaring surplus firefighting equipment and authorizing donation to Escuela Nacional de Bomberos in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
• Item 3A: Resolution approving an amendment to the professional service agreement with Alleguez Architecture Inc. for Fire Station No. 68 (additional compensation of $121,984.20, total contract $520,830.20).
• Item 3B: Resolution approving a lease agreement for office space at 10 N Krome Avenue and 12 N Krome Avenue, Homestead, Florida, for the Department of Health (initial year cost $174,125.00, at no cost to the county).
• Item 3C: Resolution approving acceptance of a quitclaim deed from the federal government for surplus property at 12350 SW 285 Street, Homestead, Florida, for emergency management response.
• Item 3D: Resolution approving additional expenditure authority up to $300,000.00 for EZ-IO intraosseous infusion systems (total modified contract amount $1,970,000.00).
• Item 6A: Approval of the Clerk's summary of minutes for the March 11, 2025 and May 13, 2025 Safety and Health Committee meetings.

All items were voted on and approved 4-0 as part of the agenda adoption.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public appeared to speak during the reasonable opportunity to be heard.

Discussion Items

Item 1F1: Discussion Item on the Budget as it Pertains to Safety and Health

Chairman Roberto J. Gonzalez led a discussion focused on Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) response times and budget. Key participants included Fire Chief Ray Jadala, Chief of Public Safety James Reyes, and IAFF President (Mr. McAllister).

• Carryover Funds: Chairman Gonzalez questioned the $44 million carryover cited by the Mayor as evidence of no fiscal emergency. Chief Jadala confirmed that all $44 million is encumbered—accounted for but not yet spent due to pending capital projects and recent additions of suppression units. Chief Reyes added that four units added post-proposed budget (beyond the two originally budgeted) consume part of the carryover.
• Five-Year Plan and Service Gaps: Chairman Gonzalez referenced a five-year plan revised October 2024, which identified a need for 24 additional suppression units. Chief Jadala noted that the plan is a living document, with priorities shifting over time (e.g., units planned for future developments like Dream Mall). He stated that six units have been added this fiscal year, but not all are suppression (some are rescues).
• Response Time Concerns: Chairman Gonzalez highlighted that MDFR receives 800-900 calls daily and dispatches about 1,100 units per 24 hours, totaling roughly 300,000 emergencies annually. He argued that response times are increasing and questioned whether a fiscal emergency exists if the five-year plan cannot be funded. President McAllister asserted that response times are worsening and immediate action is needed; he stated that 10 stations have existing space to accommodate additional units as soon as apparatus is delivered (expected within months). He emphasized that building new stations takes 5-10 years, while current units could be added quickly to reduce response times.
• Funding Sources: OMB Director David Clodfilter reported that the fire district operations fund has a contingency reserve of $21.4 million, and a capital reserve of $14 million. Chief Reyes noted that financing capital projects could free up the $14 million in cash. The first change memo already allocated $13.8 million from the general fund back to the fire district for air rescue. Chairman Gonzalez asked Chief Jadala if he requested moving air rescue from the general fund to the fire district; the chief said no and did not know who made that decision.
• Innovative Solutions: Commissioner Eileen Higgins suggested using the zoning and comprehensive development master plan (CDMP) processes to require developers to dedicate land for fire stations, similar to the approach used for water and sewer infrastructure. She asked the fire chiefs to provide maps of underserved areas and requested the county attorneys to explore legal feasibility. Both Chief Reyes and President McAllister expressed strong support for this approach.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted 4-0 to adopt the agenda, thereby forwarding all resolutions (items 2A-3D) to the full Board of County Commissioners with favorable recommendations.
• The committee approved the Clerk's summary of minutes (item 6A) by a 4-0 vote.
• The discussion on item 1F1 was informational only; no formal action was taken. Chairman Gonzalez directed that the fire chiefs and county attorneys follow up on Commissioner Higgins' proposal to explore zoning-based land dedication for fire stations, with an update expected at the next committee meeting.
• The meeting was adjourned.