Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee Meeting - November 13, 2025
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Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee Meeting - November 13, 2025
The Miami-Dade Port and Resiliency Committee met on November 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Commission Chambers. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Micky Steinberg, with Vice Chairman Keon Hardemon and members Juan Carlos Bermudez, Danielle Cohen Higgins, and Oliver G. Gilbert III present. The committee reviewed and forwarded several resolutions to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC), including new programs, utility contracts, and a major cruise terminal agreement. A total of 11 items were on the agenda, with three items pulled for discussion: items 2A, 3D, and 3F. One item, 3H, was added to the agenda late and will be placed on the next meeting's agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda items not pulled were approved unanimously (3-0) without discussion, including: item 2B (resolution for neighborhood planning in District 8), item 3A (up to $490,000 from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund for Baynanza 2026-2030), item 3B (acceptance of 19 environmentally endangered lands covenants), item 3C (establishment of the Department of Solid Waste Management DSWM Cares Program), item 3E (property exchange in Sweetwater, Florida), item 3G (Master Joint Participation Agreement between Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami for utility work), and item 6A (approval of the Clerk's Summary of Minutes from September 10, 2025).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2B: Ephraimunez of 16062 Southwest 287th Street, Homestead, Florida, speaking on behalf of the "concerned citizens of South Dade," expressed full support for the resolution directing neighborhood planning exercises and the possible development of a community-specific thematic zoning district in District 8. The speaker noted they had been working with the commissioner on the item.
Discussion Items
- Item 2A: Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez, prime sponsor, presented a resolution amending Resolution No. R-1051-21 to direct the County Mayor or designee to evaluate the feasibility of using Miami-Dade County parks as land for a county-owned mitigation bank and to include findings in the required final report. The resolution also requires the final report to be placed on the BCC agenda within 60 days. The item was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
- Items 3D and 3F: Both items involved change orders that significantly increased contract amounts for water and sewer projects. Commissioner Bermudez and Chair Steinberg expressed concerns about cost overruns and the frequency of change orders, with Bermudez emphasizing the need for better mapping and utility coordination to avoid surprises. The administration explained that additional work was identified during construction; for 3D, the change allowed 180 additional properties to be connected to the sewer system cost-effectively, while for 3F, a redundant water line could be rehabilitated at lower cost with the existing contractor.
- Item 3H: A resolution approving the third amendment to the third amended and restated cruise terminal agreement with NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., with an estimated positive fiscal impact of $851,092,213. The item was added to the agenda late and, due to time constraints, was not voted on; Chair Steinberg committed to placing it on the next committee agenda.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the consent calendar (including item 2B) unanimously (3-0).
- Forwarded items 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, and 3F to the full BCC with favorable recommendations (3-0).
- Item 3H was not voted on; it will be placed on the next Port and Resiliency Committee agenda.
- Clerk's minutes from September 10, 2025, approved (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
Vice Chairman Hardeman. Chairwoman Steinberg. Three members present. We have a quarrel. Excellent. Thank you so much. Let's start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by our vice chair of the committee, uh Cohen Higgins. Thank you. Um reasonable opportunity to be heard is now open. I don't have any cards. Anybody in the audience wish to speak on any item at this time? Seeing nobody approach, reasonable opportunity to be heard is now closed. Um I guess to the attorneys. Do we have any additions? Changes before we set the agenda. Yes, madam chair. We have one addition to your agenda. It's item 3H, which is a resolution approving the third amendment to the third amended and restated cruise terminal agreement. Would you like me to read the whole title or yes? So the third amendment to the third amended and restated cruise terminal agreement and second amendment to the terminal transfer writer with NCL Bahamas L T D collectively of the amendment with an estimated positive fiscal impact to the county of 851,92,213, and authorizing the county mayor, county mayor's resignee to execute the amendment and exercise all rights contained therein, including approvals, denials, and termination and extension rights, and take any other acts necessary to give effect to the amendment, including approving any other instruments and amendments. And uh Madam Chair, uh Commissioner Steinberg has been listed as the prime sponsor of item three H. And with that, I motion to set the agenda as an order. So move, Madam Chair. Thank you. Do you have a second? Oh wait, do we yes? Set the agenda. Thank you. Commissioner Bermudez, you second the setting. Yep. Agenda, yes, not a problem. But I had one item that I wanted to well, we'll take that in a second. Okay, that's fine. So show that done. With that, anybody have any items they wish to bifurcate? Commissioner I I have three F, so I don't know if you had it. I think the lawyers had it, but I I'm gonna bifurcate it for a comment. Okay, three F show is bifurcated, Commissioner. Madam Chair, I don't have anything to bifurcate. I would just like if you are agreeable to be listed as a co-sponsor on two of your items, items 3A and 3H. Sure. Thank you. All right, um, so show that as a co-sponsor, and I will buy for Kate. You're bificating 3F. I will also buy for Kate 3G. And do I have a has everybody had an opportunity to review the rest of the agenda? Okay. Anyone have a motion to approve the remainder of the agenda minus the pulled items. Madam Chair, uh point of personal privilege if that's okay. Um it's my understanding that there are a number of residents that are here to speak on item.
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