Miami-Dade Transportation Committee Meeting - November 12, 2025
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Miami-Dade Transportation Committee Meeting - November 12, 2025
On November 12, 2025, the Miami-Dade Transportation Committee convened at 9:00 AM with three members present (Commissioner Bastien, Senator Garcia, Vice Chairwoman Regalado), establishing a quorum. The committee addressed three agenda items, including two public hearings on zoning and transit zone expansion, and a resolution on the Title VI program. All items were forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with favorable recommendations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1G1 (Rapid Transit Zone Expansion): Melissa Fernandez Ciders, speaking on behalf of the City of Miami, requested denial or continuance of the ordinance. She argued that the expansion would transfer regulatory authority from the city to the county, contrary to the county charter, and noted a pending lawsuit challenging the county's authority. The litigation is in discovery; the county's motion to dismiss was denied in August 2025. No mediation has occurred since July 2024.
- Item 1G2 (Trail Connector Sub-district): Jeff Burkow spoke in support of the ordinance, stating it would allow development of remnant FEC parcels along SW 70th Avenue while requiring a multi-use path connecting the Ludlum Trail and The Underline, consistent with comprehensive plan policies.
Discussion Items
- Item 1G1 – Ordinance Relating to Rapid Transit System-Development Zone: The committee discussed the status of litigation with the City of Miami. Commissioner Regalado noted that Commissioner Oliver Gilbert and the City of Miami Mayor had been designated to handle settlement, but no subsequent meetings or mediations had occurred since July 2024. The committee voted to forward the item to BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
- Item 1G2 – Ordinance Relating to Zoning in Unincorporated Area (Downtown Kendall Urban Center Trail Connector Sub-district): Vice Chairwoman Regalado, the prime sponsor, explained the sub-district applies to narrow, irregular parcels along the west side of SW 70th Avenue. The project aims to activate the area behind Dadeland, provide housing, and create a trail connector. The committee voted to forward the item to BCC (3-0).
- Item 1G3 – Resolution Approving Updated 2025 Title VI Program: No public speakers were present. The committee voted to forward the resolution to BCC (3-0).
Key Outcomes
- All three items (1G1, 1G2, 1G3) were approved unanimously (3-0) and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with favorable recommendations.
- The committee chair requested that all items be moved to the next BCC meeting, with no objections.
Meeting Transcript
All right, Madam Clerk, if we could um call the roll. Good morning. The clerk's office received notification that Commissioner Bermuda will be absent from today's meeting. Commissioner Bastian. Senator Garcia. Vice Chairman. Vice Chairwoman Regalado. Present. Three members present, we have a quorum. Wonderful. Thank you very much. And we'll have uh the senator lead us in in prayer and in the Pledge of Allegiance. Dear heavy caller, thank you for uh allowing us to be joined here together with our colleagues and friends. Uh please keep uh the family uh the following officer who will be uh joining today in having family calls and uh I think we do people's work today here before members of the county and um pre-soeps someone's name. Amen. Thank you, everyone. All right, madam attorney. There are two changes to your printed agenda that include um the additions of supplements for one G1 and 1G2. Okay. Is anyone interested in pulling any items? Well, we just have two items, so we'll just go through it. Let's just go through it. I have speakers. Um I have two cards. I have one for one G1 and one for one G2. Let's start. Yeah. Uh a motion to set the agenda would be in order. Yes, a motion to set the agenda. Second, all those in favor say aye. Okay. The first item on your agenda is item one G1, ordinance relating to the rapid transit system development zone, amending section 33c2 of the code of Miami Day County, Florida, amending the metro mover subzone of the rapid transit zone to add certain private properties, providing severability inclusion in the code, and an effective date. This is a public hearing item. All right, so we'll open public hearing. We have one speaker here for one G1. Uh Melissa Fernandez Ciders. Good morning, honorable members of the county commission. Melissa Fernandez Steers, on behalf of the city of Miami with addresses at 444 Southwest 2nd Avenue. I respectfully request a denial or continuance of agenda item 1G1, which proposes to expand the rapid transit zone. The city has a pending lawsuit challenging the county's authority over actions related to the RTZ. This item seeks to extend the Metro Mover Subzone to include private properties located at 170 Southwest 12th Terrace, 186 Southeast 12th Terrace, and 237 Southwest 13th Street, all within the city's municipal boundaries, effectively transferring regulatory authority from the city to the county. Such an expansion would usurp the city's jurisdiction over critical regulatory functions, including but not limited to planning, permitting inspections, and compliance with state building and fire codes, contrary to section 6.02 of the county charter, which preserves municipalities' rights to set higher standards for their communities. Given the ongoing legal challenge and the public safety concern this creates, the city respectfully requests that this item be continued or denied. Thank you very much. Thank you. Seeing none, um do we know where what's the status of the litigation? I mean, because it's been lingering forever. Uh the litigation is currently in discovery. The um the county's motion to dismiss uh was denied uh in August. Uh we're currently moving forward with the litigation.
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