Miami-Dade Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee Meeting – March 10, 2026
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Miami-Dade Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee Meeting – March 10, 2026\n\nThe Miami-Dade County Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee met on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 10:30 AM in Commission Chambers. The meeting was chaired by Sen. René García and included Commissioners Marleine Bastien, Kionne L. McGhee, Raquel A. Regalado, and Vice Chairwoman Micky Steinberg. The committee addressed two public hearing ordinances, a resolution to expand free Wi‑Fi in county parks, and several departmental items. All public hearing items were approved unanimously (4‑0) and forwarded to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC).\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- Renita Holmes (Executive Founder of Waival Women in Public Housing, Education, and Finance and Development) spoke on the need for resiliency, conservation, and green building in inner‑city communities, particularly in public housing. She highlighted the lack of shade trees, heat in buildings, and violence against women in the industry, urging the committee to extend environmental protections to women and children in underserved areas.\n- Master Harry Warren (owner of foot and fifth taekwondo business) stated he had been discriminated against by Miami‑Dade County Parks and was banned from parks for life without a legitimate reason. He alleged that park officials placed him under another organization’s OCA/ORI number to receive funding. Chairman García offered to schedule a meeting with Mr. Warren to review the evidence.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Item 1G1 – Repeal of Local Business Tax Receipt Display Requirement\n Prime Sponsor: Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez. The ordinance deletes code sections requiring businesses to conspicuously display their local business tax receipt, while maintaining the obligation to pay the tax. Commissioner Bermudez explained the move reduces red tape and builds on the Tax Collector’s modernization efforts. Commissioner Regalado expressed concern that the local business tax itself is under threat in the state legislature and suggested the committee begin studying alternative inspection vehicles. After discussion, the committee voted unanimously (4‑0) to approve the ordinance as presented and separately voted to have Commissioner Regalado shepherd a committee‑sponsored bill to explore standalone inspection methods.\n\n- Item 1G2 – Sea Turtle Nesting Protection Guidelines\n Prime Sponsor: Vice Chairwoman Micky Steinberg. The ordinance creates Section 24‑48.27 of the County Code to provide guidelines for protecting sea turtle nesting. The committee approved the item unanimously (4‑0) and forwarded it to the BCC.\n\n- Item 2A – Free Wi‑Fi Access in County Parks\n Prime Sponsor: Sen. René García. The resolution directs the County Mayor to expand free Wi‑Fi in all Miami‑Dade parks, using existing infrastructure and partnerships, and to report back within 90 days. Commissioner Regalado requested that the report include a list of the 88 parks already offering Wi‑Fi, usage data, implementation timelines, and consideration of partnerships (e.g., with Hotwire). Vice Chairwoman Steinberg supported the amendment, which was adopted. The item then passed by voice vote and was forwarded to the BCC. Co‑sponsors added: Commissioners Regalado, Steinberg, and Bastien.\n\n- Item 3A – Tourist Development Council Grants\n Resolution approving 36 grants totaling $461,350 from the FY 2025‑2026 second quarter tourism fund. Forwarded to BCC with favorable recommendation.\n\n- Item 3B – Environmentally Endangered Lands Acquisition List Modification\n Resolution approving a modified acquisition list under Section 24‑50.7. Forwarded to BCC.\n\n- Item 3C – Acceptance of Conservation Parcel (Deferral Requested)\n Resolution authorizing acceptance of a 1.07‑acre parcel along Harriet Tubman Highway for conservation. A deferral was requested, but the committee still forwarded it to BCC with a favorable recommendation.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Item 1G1 passed 4‑0 and was forwarded to the BCC. The committee also voted unanimously to have Commissioner Regalado lead the drafting of a committee‑sponsored bill to explore alternative inspection mechanisms for businesses, separate from the local business tax.\n- Item 1G2 passed 4‑0 and was forwarded to the BCC.\n- Item 2A was amended (by voice vote) to require a detailed report from the administration, then passed and forwarded to the BCC.\n- All remaining agenda items (3A, 3B, 3C) were moved to the March 17, 2026 BCC meeting with favorable recommendations (each 4‑0).\n- Chairman García noted the urgency of opposing state bills (SB 208 / HB 399) that would weaken Urban Development Boundary protections and called on residents to contact their legislators.}}
Meeting Transcript
Commissioner Steimer, can you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance in the United States of America. Attendance and announce the presence of a quorum. Good morning. Commissioner Bastian. Commissioner McGee. Commissioner Regalado. Vice Chairman Steinberg. Guys, you guys look the same. Chairman Garcia. Present. For members present, you have a quorum. All right, thank you. Members, we do have uh two public hearing items uh that we're gonna have to take separately. Uh, before we do that, Madam Attorney, can you please walk us through the agenda? Certainly. Now would be an appropriate time to extend a reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard on all non-public hearing items, Mr. Chairman. All right, we we're opening up public hearing. Are there any members of the audience of the public that would want to testify? How are you? Please state your name and address for the record. Um my name, addresses for the clerks only due to status. Perfect. Uh my name is Madam Renita Holmes. I'm the executive founder of Waival Women in Public Housing, Education, and Finance and Development, as well as our homes opportunities for United Restoration, Business and Property Services, women led and driven, um, as well as um toxic tour. As BBC and Miami Dade County, Florida's and the United States 100 resilient women, uh, woman, I'm proud to say that uh I've got a challenge. When you think about the inner city community, most people don't think about the resiliency of women who are out there, but Cleo has. I'm also a graduate of empowered resilient women. It's a lot of work trying to explain the people who don't think about conservation, who don't think about the animals, who don't tell the children, and right now in portions of Miami Dade County, particularly in public housing, women are fighting. We in the industry, which I appreciate the disaster exhibition, are really struggling to get out there. It's mostly male driven. But nobody really knows about resiliency in the inner city community, thus toxic tour. I think education is important. I think any women head of households participate at that level. I think giving us that much attention. I don't hear much education, see much information about green building. But here's one thing, and I'll close. If we look at, say Liberty Square, if you walk along there, tourists, and you want to build a corridors, our corridors in the city, we have no shade. The sun beats down on you all day long. And no, and the heat in these buildings is gone. We have no trees. But the last of all, protecting women who are working in the industry from violence. Miami Dade has seen on some of the facilities. Please check with the mayor's office. Many incidents of women. That's why I keep a camera with me. We want to work too. The economic opportunity is there for us to build resilient cities and parks for our children. Please take care of those dues before we take care of them.
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