Miami-Dade Recreation and Tourism Committee Meeting - November 10, 2025

The Miami-Dade Recreation and Tourism Committee met on November 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM (agenda time) under Chairman Sen. Rene Garcia. The meeting included an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for a fallen deputy. The committee reviewed several items, including an ordinance updating the Children's Trust board, a resolution for an online pet registration portal, and a lease for a Haulover Marina restaurant. A major discussion focused on park budget reductions and the impact on capital projects, particularly Amelia Earhart Park.

Consent Calendar

• Item 2B: Resolution directing the County Mayor to evaluate an online portal for dog owners to submit status updates and pay pet registration fees. Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 3A: Acceptance of a warranty deed for Tract A of Golden Park Subdivision (Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces). Forwarded to BCC (4-0).
• Item 3B: Acceptance of a warranty deed for Tract C of Bailes Commons Second Addition Subdivision. Forwarded to BCC (4-0).
• Item 3D: Historic preservation ad valorem tax exemption for 112 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables. Forwarded to BCC (4-0).
• Item 3E: Historic preservation tax exemption for 1206 Cordova Street, Coral Gables. Forwarded to BCC (4-0).
• Item 3F: Historic preservation tax exemption for 3701 Durango Street, Coral Gables. Forwarded to BCC (4-0).
• Item 3G: Lease agreement for Haulover Marina-front restaurant (20-year initial term, two 10-year options, projected revenue ~$53,000,000). Forwarded to BCC (4-0). Commissioner Micky Steinberg noted it was a long time coming.
• Item 6A: Approval of the Clerk's summary of minutes for the October 14, 2025 meeting. Approved (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

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

Discussion Items

Item 2A – Ordinance Relating to the Children's Trust

• Prime Sponsor Sen. Rene Garcia presented an ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Article CIII of the Miami-Dade County Code to revise governing board membership and term limits per Florida Statute 125.901. The item had been deferred from October 14, 2025.
• Commissioner Micky Steinberg proposed an amendment adding an aspirational requirement that appointing entities consider appointing Miami-Dade County residents for positions appointed by title (e.g., state attorney, FIU). The amendment was adopted without objection.
• Commissioner Marleine Bastien expressed concern about losing community representation on the board. She noted she was a founding coordinator of the Children's Trust and emphasized the importance of community input, especially during a time of crisis. She asked if a mechanism could be created to receive feedback from community organizations. The Children's Trust representative Amanda Gorski explained the board has 33 members, including five at-large seats representing the community. Chairman Garcia suggested that if Commissioner Bastien's concerns were not addressed, she could bring back a proposal. The item was passed as amended by a roll call vote of 4-0.

Item 1F1 – Park Update: Impact of Budget Reductions on Parks and Update on Amelia Earhart Park

• Chairman Garcia initiated a discussion, noting he had met with park personnel and the Mayor's office. He stated that during budget hearings, he was under the impression parks would be held harmless, but subsequent information indicated cuts. He requested specific data on staff reductions, operational impacts, and capital project status.
• Budget Director Mr. Coley explained that the state's House Bill 7031 reduced the county's non-ad valorem tax revenue by $26.2 million, and overall the county lost $64.9 million in non-ad valorem revenue. This reduced the Countywide Infrastructure Improvement Plan (CIIP) for parks, which totals over $369 million. For the 2025-2026 budget, $73 million was removed from the parks program due to these cuts.
• Parks Director Christina White reported that 49 full-time positions were eliminated from the department (now 1,571 FTEs). The cuts were surgical: mostly administrative staff, communications team, some recreation center management, and three security guards. She noted that 46 of the 49 employees were placed in other county positions. Lifeguards at pools were not eliminated except at specialized facilities during off-peak hours.
• Commissioner Bastien noted that in District 2, over 30 funded projects were defunded, leaving only six funded. She expressed frustration that the state budget impacts were known before county budget hearings, yet the information was not provided to commissioners. She called for a meeting with the Mayor.
• Chairman Garcia stated he had sent a memo requesting detailed historical data on the SIP (CIIP) program for the last five years, current year funding, and future projections, with a deadline of November 21, 2025. He emphasized the importance of parks, referencing their role during COVID-19, and vowed to fight for fair funding for Amelia Earhart Park and all district parks.
• The committee also recognized a positive development: Amelia Earhart Park will host the Ripley's Believe It or Not Christmas Park starting that Thursday and running for three weeks.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2A (Children's Trust ordinance) passed as amended by a 4-0 roll call vote. The amendment adds an aspirational residency requirement for position-based appointees. The item will be forwarded to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC).
• Item 2B (pet registration portal) forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 3G (Haulover lease) forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 3C (Zoo operating agreement) deferred to no date certain by a 4-0 vote.
• All consent items (3A, 3B, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6A) were approved unanimously.
• For the park discussion, Chairman Garcia directed the administration to provide a detailed report on SIP funding and project status by November 21, 2025. A meeting with the Mayor was requested to discuss budget cuts and their impact on parks.