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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Airport Committee Meeting - October 16, 2025

BCC Committee Meetings — Thursday, October 16, 2025

BodyMiami Dade County, Florida

SessionBCC Committee Meetings

DateThursday, October 16, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 12:52

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

1:22

Notification that Commissioner Hardeman will not be at today's meeting.

1:27

Commissioner Gilbert.

1:30

Commissioner Milian Orbis.

1:32

Vice Chairman Gonzalez.

1:35

Chairwoman Cohen Higgins.

1:37

Good morning, President.

1:38

Please join us in a moment of prayer by Commissioner Gonzalez, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Milian Orbis.

1:47

Dear Lord, thank you for this day that you've given us.

1:49

Thank you for all the blessings that we have in our life.

1:52

Lord, please let your will be done and everything we do shine your light on this county, and please bless everyone here today.

2:00

Allow us to have your will be done and your voice be heard.

2:02

In your holy name we pray, amen.

2:36

Yes, madam chair.

2:37

Uh yes, your your agenda has one addition.

2:40

It's the addition of item two A.

2:43

Otherwise, a motion to set the agenda.

2:45

Well, a reasonable opportunity to be heard would should be extended, and then a motion to set the agenda.

2:50

At this time, we'll open the reasonable opportunity to be heard.

2:52

We have no public hearing items.

2:54

Now is your opportunity to address the body.

4:42

Excuse me.

4:42

Aerospace's largest aircraft maintenance facility in the US.

4:46

Sky Harbor, a publicly traded aviation operator that developed over 200,000 square feet of private hangar space.

4:55

Skybridge, now constructing approximately 200,000 square feet of hangar space.

5:01

AA also assigned some of its non-aviation land for several transformative projects, including the Concourse Club, South Florida's premier automotive country club, Bridge Industrial, which built over 400,000 square feet of logistics space.

5:16

In total, AA, its subtenants and assignees have developed over 220 acres, invested more than 200 million dollars and created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the local community.

5:30

Thank you, Aaron.

5:32

Thank you.

5:37

My turn.

5:44

What item are you speaking on?

5:46

Your name and your address.

5:48

I'm sorry, my name is Carlos Gomez.

5:50

My address is 372 South Drive, Miami Springs, Florida.

5:54

33166.

5:58

So I agree, AA acquisition has changed the airport drastically.

6:07

But the reality is that AA acquisition has been coming to Miami Dade County to secure leasing contracts and turns around and sells each one for millions of dollars.

6:22

His business is selling leases, not developing.

6:26

All these numbers that you're hearing that he is developing, that is not true.

6:32

Other people that he sells the leases are the ones developing.

6:36

He in the meantime is collecting millions of dollars on each piece of property.

6:41

Just start Googling all the companies that he's associated with, and you're gonna come to realize that his business, very, very successful, is flipping property that you're giving to him for pennies on the dollar.

6:55

But yet he's making millions.

6:58

Small operators at Opalaka Airport are gone.

7:03

Every single one.

7:13

Okay.

7:14

I have filed a Part 13 against MDAD and the FBOs.

7:20

Okay.

7:21

And that, if you're not familiar with uh part 13, is that's an FAA filing for regulations and policies on the airport.

7:31

I will be filing a Part 16 on this particular case as well.

7:36

That's my right to do so.

7:38

But I urge bunker aviation, AA acquisition, to show us how they comply with airport assurances, which is mandatory between the federal government and Miami Dade County.

7:56

Thank you.

7:57

Thank you.

7:58

Thank you.

7:58

Any additional speakers now as your opportunity please approach seeing none reasonable opportunity is now closed.

8:06

The attorney indicated that we have one addition to this morning's agenda, item 2A to our attorney.

8:12

Any other additions, changes or edits to this morning's agenda.

8:16

No, madam chair.

8:17

I'll entertain a moment uh motion to set our agenda.

8:20

So moved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Aviation And Seaport█████████████████████████████████████████████66%

Procedural██████████████████27%

Emergency Management█████7%

Summary of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Airport Committee Meeting - October 16, 2025

The Miami-Dade Airport Committee met on October 16, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Commission Chambers. Chairwoman Danielle Cohen Higgins presided, with Vice Chairman Roberto J. Gonzalez and Commissioners Oliver G. Gilbert III and Natalie Milian Orbis present; Commissioner Keon Hardemon was absent. The meeting included public testimony, approval of several resolutions, and a discussion on the impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown on Miami International Airport (MIA).

Public Comments & Testimony

Aaron (affiliation not stated) spoke in support of developments at Opa-Locka Executive Airport by AA Acquisition (later clarified as a lessee-operator). He highlighted that AA, its subtenants, and assignees have developed over 220 acres, invested more than $200 million, and created hundreds of jobs, including projects such as Sky Harbor (200,000 sq ft hangar space), Skybridge (200,000 sq ft under construction), the Concourse Club (automotive country club), and Bridge Industrial (400,000 sq ft logistics space). He described AA as developing the largest aircraft maintenance facility in the U.S.
Carlos Gomez (address: 372 South Drive, Miami Springs) opposed the activities of AA Acquisition, alleging that the company secures leasing contracts from Miami-Dade County and then resells each lease for millions of dollars, effectively flipping property rather than developing it. He claimed small operators at Opa-Locka Airport have been eliminated. Mr. Gomez stated he filed an FAA Part 13 complaint against the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) and fixed-base operators (FBOs) and intends to file a Part 16 complaint regarding this matter. He urged Bunker Aviation and AA Acquisition to demonstrate compliance with federal airport assurances.

Discussion Items

Government Shutdown Impact on MIA: Chairwoman Cohen Higgins asked Airport Director Thrash about any disruptions at MIA due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Director Thrash reported that as of that morning, MIA was not experiencing any impacts—FAA air traffic control staff were fully staffed, and TSA and CBP attendance was higher than pre-shutdown levels. However, he noted that federal employees had just received a partial paycheck and may stop showing up in the coming weeks if pay ceases. He warned that sick-outs at other airports (e.g., JFK, DFW) could cause cascading delays. The committee thanked federal workers for their service and directed the director to keep them informed of any changes.

Key Outcomes

Agenda Setting: The committee approved the agenda by voice vote, with the addition of item 2A (resolution regarding direct flights to Tokyo, Asuncion, Riyadh, and Singapore) as noted by the clerk.
Consent Approval: All substantive items on the agenda were approved unanimously (3-0) and forwarded to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with a favorable recommendation. These included:
- Item 2A (Resolution 252061): Direct feasibility study and efforts for direct passenger/cargo flights from MIA to Tokyo, Asuncion, Riyadh, and Singapore; direction to negotiate sister city agreements.
- Item 3A (Resolution 251872): Development lease with Bunker Aviation Partners, LLC for 324,000 sq ft at Opa-Locka Airport (35-year term, $15 million minimum investment, $15.5 million estimated rent/revenue).
- Item 3A Supplement (Resolution 251999): Supplemental information from the Commission Auditor (added to the agenda).
- Item 3B (Resolution 251782): Delegation of authority to update agreements with FAA provisions.
- Item 3C (Resolution 251859): Additional $253,500 for Flight Explorer software support (total $695,175).
- Item 3D (Resolution 251868): Ratification of emergency janitorial contract with N&K Enterprises ($32,205,099 over 5 years).
- Item 3E (Resolution 251887): Vacation of right-of-way at Opa-Locka Airport.
- Item 6A (Report 251907): Approval of minutes from the July 9, 2025 Airport Committee meeting.
- Items 7A and 7B (Reports 251607 and 251684): Receipt of Aviation Capital Program reports for August and September 2025.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by voice vote.

Meeting Transcript

Notification that Commissioner Hardeman will not be at today's meeting. Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Milian Orbis. Vice Chairman Gonzalez. Chairwoman Cohen Higgins. Good morning, President. Please join us in a moment of prayer by Commissioner Gonzalez, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Milian Orbis. Dear Lord, thank you for this day that you've given us. Thank you for all the blessings that we have in our life. Lord, please let your will be done and everything we do shine your light on this county, and please bless everyone here today. Allow us to have your will be done and your voice be heard. In your holy name we pray, amen. Yes, madam chair. Uh yes, your your agenda has one addition. It's the addition of item two A. Otherwise, a motion to set the agenda. Well, a reasonable opportunity to be heard would should be extended, and then a motion to set the agenda. At this time, we'll open the reasonable opportunity to be heard. We have no public hearing items. Now is your opportunity to address the body. Excuse me. Aerospace's largest aircraft maintenance facility in the US. Sky Harbor, a publicly traded aviation operator that developed over 200,000 square feet of private hangar space. Skybridge, now constructing approximately 200,000 square feet of hangar space. AA also assigned some of its non-aviation land for several transformative projects, including the Concourse Club, South Florida's premier automotive country club, Bridge Industrial, which built over 400,000 square feet of logistics space. In total, AA, its subtenants and assignees have developed over 220 acres, invested more than 200 million dollars and created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the local community. Thank you, Aaron. Thank you. My turn. What item are you speaking on? Your name and your address. I'm sorry, my name is Carlos Gomez. My address is 372 South Drive, Miami Springs, Florida. 33166. So I agree, AA acquisition has changed the airport drastically. But the reality is that AA acquisition has been coming to Miami Dade County to secure leasing contracts and turns around and sells each one for millions of dollars. His business is selling leases, not developing. All these numbers that you're hearing that he is developing, that is not true. Other people that he sells the leases are the ones developing. He in the meantime is collecting millions of dollars on each piece of property. Just start Googling all the companies that he's associated with, and you're gonna come to realize that his business, very, very successful, is flipping property that you're giving to him for pennies on the dollar. But yet he's making millions. Small operators at Opalaka Airport are gone. Every single one. Okay. I have filed a Part 13 against MDAD and the FBOs. Okay. And that, if you're not familiar with uh part 13, is that's an FAA filing for regulations and policies on the airport. I will be filing a Part 16 on this particular case as well. That's my right to do so.

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