Miami-Dade Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee Meeting - March 11, 2026

The Miami-Dade Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee met on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 10:30 AM in Commission Chambers. Chairwoman Vicki L. Lopez presided. The meeting addressed multiple resolutions, including deferrals of several high-profile items related to a new mental health center and a homeless navigation center, amid extensive discussion of homelessness, mental health, and public safety communication systems.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aaron Hendrick (3800 NE 1st Ave, Miami) spoke in support of item 3G on behalf of Consolidated Parking Equipment, a locally headquartered small business that was awarded the PortMiami parking contract in 2022. He noted the original procurement was competitively bid and scalable to other departments, and urged the committee to support the item.
• Fred Gayart (13621 DeRim Bay Drive, Coral Gables), representing L3 Harris, expressed strong concern about item 3H, stating that L3 Harris has been unable to sell a single radio to Miami-Dade since 2022. He argued the per-radio cost ($8,700) is "totally ridiculous" and that the county risks becoming "hostage" to Motorola, urging competitive procurement.

Discussion Items

• Item 1F1 – State Bills Discussion: Deferred at the start of the meeting; Chairwoman Lopez stated she would provide a legislative update at the next meeting.
• Item 2A – Investment Policy Amendment: Deferred to no date certain at request of Senator Garcia, pending legislative action.
• Item 2B – Film Permitting Agreements: Approved 5-0, forwarding to BCC.
• Item 3A / 3A Substitute / 3A Substitute Supplement – Mental Health Center: Extensively discussed and ultimately deferred to no date certain. Commissioners raised concerns about the contract term (two-year versus three-year) and numerical discrepancies in the substitute amendments. Senator Garcia noted the numbers submitted were not adding up. Judge Steve Leifman (Finance Chair of the Homeless Trust) explained the center is designed to divert individuals from jail using a criminal hold, providing an opportunity to break the cycle of repeated arrests. He cited data: over the last five years, 7,898 arrests of approximately 1,000 chronically homeless individuals with mental illness, costing $117 million. The center is fully built and will cost the county nothing for three years.
• Item 3B – Emergency Housing & Services for Homeless: Deferred to no date certain after extensive debate. Executive Director Vicky Millette (Miami-Dade Homeless Trust) described the 80-bed low-barrier "navigation center" as a response to a new state law prohibiting overnight camping, noting a confidential list of over 500 complaints and that the shelter is at capacity daily. Commissioners pressed for a tangible plan to address encampments in their districts. Commissioner Cohen Higgins (District 8) stated: "We cannot allow the status quo to simply stay the same." Chairwoman Lopez committed to convening all stakeholders to get 80 "Lindas" off the streets of downtown Miami. Commissioner Gonzalez suggested reallocating the $10.5 million from 3B to fund the mental health center, but the county attorney clarified food-and-beverage-tax dollars can only be used for persons experiencing homelessness. The item was deferred to allow a workshop on funding options.
• Item 3E – New Civil and Probate Courthouse Project: Amended to correct a statement about contractor compliance with small business measures (from non-compliant to compliant). Approved as amended.
• Item 3G – Parking Access and Revenue Management Solution: Approved. Commissioner Cohen Higgins noted public testimony claimed the contract was competitively bid, but the item is titled non-competitive. Procurement Director Namida explained the original RFP was competitive; this expansion to new locations and departments is presented as a non-competitive addition.
• Item 3H – Motorola Public Safety Radios: Approved after lengthy debate. Senator Garcia requested clarification that the $121 million is expenditure authority, not a contract increase, and inquired about interoperability and cost per radio. Chief Carla Denise (MDFR) confirmed the Motorola system is already in place and interoperable with other agencies. Director Green (Corrections) stated the life cycle of radios is seven years, but corrections has been using 17-year-old Harris radios. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis questioned cost per radio ($7,800 vs $6,400) and whether all departments need the same high-end radio. Commissioner Gonzalez emphasized the need for standardized technology for public safety interoperability, noting many municipalities use Motorola. Commissioner Cohen Higgins requested a price comparison similar to other municipalities before final BCC hearing.

Key Outcomes

• 2B – Film Permitting Agreements: Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 3B – Emergency Housing (Better Way): Deferred to no date certain.
• 3C – Right at Home Planning Grant: Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 3D – Omni CRA Tax Increment Bonds: Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC (with a notice issue noted).
• 3E – Courthouse Contingency Replenishment: Approved as amended 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 3F – Communication Lifecycle Contract (Tangoe): Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 3G – Parking Access Contract Expansion: Approved, forwarded to BCC.
• 3H – Motorola Radio Contract Expansion: Approved (majority vote), forwarded to BCC.
• 3I – Urban Search and Rescue Pay: Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 3J & 3K – Miami Freedom Park Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure: Approved 5-0, forwarded to BCC.
• 1F1 (State Bills): Deferred.
• 2A (Investment Policy): Deferred to no date certain.
• 3A / 3A Substitute / 3A Substitute Supplement (Mental Health Center): Deferred to no date certain.

Next Steps: The committee will hold a workshop to coordinate funding for the mental health center and the navigation center, with a focus on encampment remediation. Commissioner Cohen Higgins is to meet with Motorola to compare pricing. Chairwoman Lopez and Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis are to convene meetings with law enforcement and the Homeless Trust to address Lindas and Alfredos. Senator Garcia will work with the county attorney's office to correct numerical discrepancies in the substitute amendments for item 3A.