Miami-Dade Government Efficiency & Transparency Ad Hoc Committee Meeting – March 12, 2026

Despite lacking a quorum, the committee convened as a sunshine meeting to discuss Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) regulations and to recognize National Surveyor's Week. The meeting featured extensive public testimony and commissioner deliberation on the burdens the current FOG ordinance places on businesses, with a focus on possible relief measures.

Special Presentation

• National Surveyor's Week (March 15–21, 2026): Chairman Bermudez sponsored a proclamation recognizing the contributions of land surveyors. The proclamation was presented and read by Commissioner Regalado, and accepted by a representative of the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Alford (Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association): Expressed appreciation for the commission's attention to FOG issues. Highlighted that even minor changes (e.g., adding liquor, changing DBA) trigger a full re-review of certificates of use, GDO permits, and FOG compliance, causing weeks of delays.
• Carlos Gazetua (Sergio's Restaurants): Proposed several solutions: (1) create a county website showing grease trap compliance per property for transparency; (2) eliminate redundant permit reviews (full approval of grease interceptor should satisfy GDO final review); (3) allow variances for existing operational grease traps with regular pump-outs; (4) adopt new technology (plasma/aeration) that reduces cleaning frequency; (5) require a technical reviewer before penalties; (6) avoid triggering FOG requirements for changes like ownership restructuring, trust changes, or name changes that do not alter actual use.
• Thomas Conway (Landlord/Business Owner): Argued that the FOG issue is purely an engineering matter (load vs. capacity) and that Durham's involvement in land-use matters (e.g., unity of title) is unnecessary and causes delays. Called for focusing on the engineering calculation alone.
• Felix Bendersky (FFB Hospitality Brokerage): Suggested: (1) consolidating multiple review offices into one; (2) issuing temporary use permits (TUP) for temporary certificates of occupancy once a grease trap is installed, to save months of rent; (3) increasing GDO permit fees (from ~$75 to $100–$160) to fund more inspectors; (4) reducing wastewater dumping fees to lower grease trap cleaning costs.
• Andrew Platt (Resident of Miami-Dade): Called for a tiered system (low, medium, high grease producers) rather than one-size-fits-all. Proposed allowing above-ground grease traps for low producers (citing airport practices). Also suggested increasing permit fees to hire more reviewers/inspectors.
• Abe Ng (Sushi Maki/Canton Restaurants): Shared a story of having to replace a grease trap that was repaired and certified by an engineer, causing tens of thousands in unnecessary costs. Asked that existing operational traps be accepted if an engineer certifies they are holding.
• Howard Raphael (Tropical Smoothie Cafe owner): Stressed the need for a clear, simplified roadmap for FOG compliance. He flew from Raleigh, NC to attend, noting that the process is delaying his new location in Cutler Bay.
• Maria Prado (Simon Property Group – Miami International Mall): Requested that malls with communal grease systems be allowed to act as the single point of contact for compliance, rather than each tenant being individually cited. Noted that kiosks selling hot dogs or empanadas (pre-cooked) are being required to install $50,000–$60,000 grease traps, which is prohibitive.
• Smoothie Squad Owner (small smoothie bar inside UFC Gym Kendall): Asked for a reasonable solution for low-grease businesses like theirs, which only blend fruit and ice. They are currently on a six-month extension and fear the financial burden of a full grease trap.

Discussion Items

• Commissioner Regalado led the discussion, addressing several points raised by speakers:
  • Information/Disclosure: Supported a rider (already in existence since 2023) for sale/lease transactions to disclose FOG generator status. Suggested amending the rider to include more details (age, permit number, status). Also proposed housing information on the property appraiser's website.
  • Above-Ground Grease Traps: Confirmed that the county code already allows above-ground systems on a case-by-case basis, but noted that the current ordinance is too prescriptive (based on space, not use). Advocated for amending rules to be driven by use rather than size, so low-grease producers can use smaller systems.
  • Malls as Operators: Supported the idea of allowing malls with communal systems to be the responsible operator, requiring only IT system tweaks rather than code changes.
  • Grease Reuse: Expressed interest in turning grease into a commodity (e.g., biodiesel) as a separate initiative not triggering the consent decree.
• Commissioner Bermudez echoed the need for technology, flexibility, and a focus on small businesses. He emphasized that the consent decree does not preclude changes—Roy Coley later confirmed that the consent order anticipates periodic review and allows amendments with EPA approval.
• Roy Coley (WASD Director): Stated that Mayor Levine Cava has directed him to oversee a review of the consent order and FOG code to identify improvements. He noted that the county is building a $50 million FOG treatment train at the South Dade plant. He confirmed that changes to the FOG rules are not considered material under the consent order, and the county can submit proposed changes to the EPA. He also mentioned a potential FOG challenge with the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority to find new technologies.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken (meeting lacked quorum).
• Directives: The committee committed to working with staff to develop immediate, short-term, and long-term fixes. Specific action items include:
  • Amending the existing FOG disclosure rider to include more detailed information.
  • Exploring legislation to allow above-ground grease traps based on use rather than space.
  • Improving IT systems to allow malls to act as operators for tenant compliance.
  • Investigating grease reuse as a separate commodity initiative.
• Next Steps: Roy Coley will lead an administrative review of the consent order and code, with recommendations to be brought back to the committee. A report is expected within 60 days. The committee will also work with the county attorney to draft legislative amendments.