Miami-Dade Appropriations Committee Meeting - December 10, 2025
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Miami-Dade Appropriations Committee Meeting - December 10, 2025
The Miami-Dade Appropriations Committee met on December 10, 2025, to consider several items including a mental health center, community redevelopment agency budgets, transit services, and fleet vehicle procurement. After public comments and extensive debate, the committee forwarded most items to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with recommendations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Louis Gaza (representing Freebee) spoke on item 3G, recommending removal of the Aventura and North Miami Beach MetroConnect zones due to duplication with Freebee services, claiming potential savings of $2.06 million over the contract extension.
- Carl Bay highlighted the need for training in the marine, maritime, and boat building industry, noting a shortage of trained workers.
Discussion Items
- Item 3A – Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery: A presentation by Kathy Burgos (licensed clinical social worker) and Judge Steve Leifman described a 75-bed facility to divert severely mentally ill individuals from the criminal justice system. Multiple speakers expressed support, including former Commissioner Sally Heyman, Public Defender Carlos Martinez, representatives from the Downtown Development Authority, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, CareerSource South Florida, NAMI Miami-Dade, and others. Extensive debate focused on financial sustainability: Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins questioned the lack of projected savings in the item and asked how the county would cover a projected $10 million general fund deficit in year three. Chairwoman Raquel Regalado offered to amend the item to earmark jail savings for the facility and to seek written funding pledges from the City of Miami and Miami Beach. Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez supported the concept but wanted self-sustaining finances. Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis requested a plan for the remaining 125 beds and oversight by the mental health advisory board. The item was forwarded without recommendation.
- Item 1G1 – Five-Year Implementation Plan (People's Transportation Plan): Public hearing opened with no speakers; approved unanimously.
- Item 3B – NW 7th Avenue Corridor CRA Budget ($8,471,833): Commissioner Orbis voted no; passed 3–1.
- Item 3C – Midtown CRA Budget ($15,776,289): Commissioner Orbis voted no; passed 3–1.
- Item 3G – MetroConnect On-Demand Transit Services Extension: Presentation by Stacy from Transportation and Public Works outlined a two-year contract extension with a new $3.75 fare, service reductions, and discontinuation of three zones (Civic Center, Kendall North, Waterford Business District). Commissioner Gonzalez expressed concerns about cuts to underserved areas and the fare hike but voted yes. Passed unanimously.
- Item 3J – Fleet Vehicle Procurement Delegation ($94,288,980): The item was added late due to canceled transportation committees. Commissioner Gonzalez requested bifurcation for MDSO and fire vehicles but withdrew after discussion; the item was moved to the January 2026 BCC meeting to allow time for briefings. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3A: Forwarded to BCC without recommendation (4–0). Chairwoman Regalado will obtain written pledges from Miami and Miami Beach and work with staff on financial projections.
- Item 1G1: Approved (4–0).
- Items 3B and 3C: Approved (3–1 each).
- Item 3G: Approved (4–0) for BCC consideration.
- Item 3J: Approved to go to BCC at the January 2026 meeting (unanimous).
- Item 3H (Roadway Improvements to NW 107 Avenue): Moved to BCC on December 16, 2025.
The committee also set the agenda by consent for items not pulled, including 3D, 3E, and 3F.
Meeting Transcript
I know we're we have our commissioners here, so it's a matter of them coming down. So if you give us a minute and start settling in, thank you. From Commissioner Steinberg, but my understanding is that Commissioner Orbis is here, and so is Commissioner Cohen Higgins. So we're just waiting for them to come on down so that we can start. I apologize for everyone that we started a little bit late. It's been a bit of a crazy day. Um, just as some housekeeping, um, I know that there's a lot of people here for uh 3A, including our former county commissioner, Sally Heyman is here. Um, right after we set the agenda, we're actually gonna start with 3A. Uh and I see that our public defender is here too. Hello, Carlos, thank you for joining us. Uh, we're gonna provide a little presentation, and then um uh Judge Lifeman is out of town, but he is gonna be joining us through a Zoom link. So we'll we'll kind of dispense of that item first. Good morning, Commissioner Gonzalez. Thank you for joining us. All right, Madam Clerk, if you can call the roll. Good morning. The clerk of the board received notice that Commissioner Steinberg, as it was mentioned, will be absent from today's meeting. Um Commissioner Gonzalez. Commissioner Minn Orbit. Vice Chair Woman Goen Heings. Chair Woman Regalado. Present. Three members present. Do we have a quorum? Thank you. All right, everyone. If we could please stand for a moment of silence for one second. Um then we'll do the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance. One is a question. Thank you. Um, Madam Clerk, if the record could refrack that uh Vice Chairman Cohen Higgins is here. All right, everyone. Um I mentioned that just um for some housekeeping, we are going to be dispensing of three A first because we have a lot of people here, and Judge Lifeman isn't a join us um over Zoom. Uh but with that, um, Mr. Attorney, we're gonna open the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. Um except three A. So all the cards that I have are for 3A. If you're here for anything other than 3A, uh, if you could please come up so that you can speak on those items. And then when we take up 3A, we'll take up the speakers. All right. Yes. Come on down, sir. Good morning. Louis Gaza to uh 150 Alhambra Circle, 33134. Here on behalf of Freebie. Freebee looks forward to participating in the forthcoming Metro Connect RFP process. Free B currently operates microtransit services in 24 of the 34 cities that make up Miami Dade County and across seven other counties, including Broward, Monroe, Palm Beach, Seminole, Pinellas, Manatee, and Orange. Freebies fleet includes over 350 vehicles statewide, with more than 120 deployed here in Miami Dade County. Freebie is the largest and most trusted transit microtransit partner in Florida.
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