Miami-Dade Government Efficiency & Transparency Ad Hoc Committee Meeting – March 12, 2026
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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.
Meeting Transcript
Because I didn't because I didn't want to keep the least anyway, you know, because I didn't know because I didn't know because anyway, we're gonna probably gonna go ahead, we don't have any items. Uh Madam County Attorney or Mr. County Attorney. Shouldn't I don't want to get the I've got the county attorney thing right finally. Uh and today we'll we do not have any items, I believe. Is that correct? Or there are no items as a special presentation or discussion item. If there's no quorum, you could still just you could proceed as a sunshine meeting and but there's no reason you know, there's right. You don't have to do all the reasonable opportunity of the other actions. Okay, we are there are people here, so we're gonna start with the and the and we'll give Commissioner Gilbert time to get here, but uh we will and I know Commissioner Orbis had a a family uh event, so uh uh she didn't I explained to her that whether she made it or not, we were gonna have a meeting she can review. So let's start with the special presentation, Commissioner Regalado. Edmond up. Thank you, Commissioner Regalado. And we're gonna thank you. Thank you. Well, okay. You look a lot like him. Uh chapter president of the Miami Dade County and Secretary for the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society. Um it's a proclamation from the commission, and I'll read it so my Van and White gives it over to, you know. But uh this proclamation obviously is signed uh by the chairman. It's for all of us. And uh it's signed by the mayor, whereas Miami Dade County's pride town are professionals steadfast in their commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents. And by the way, there's been a lot of disputes in the courts about so thank God we have uh surveyors, right? George Washington was a surveyor for those who don't know. But uh professional land surveyors play a critical role in the development, construction, and maintenance of communities by providing precise measurements and mapping that established property boundaries and support infrastructure projects, and the work of land surveyors attribute to the protection of property rights, the responsible planning of land development, and the safe construction of roads, utilities, and public facilities, and modern land surveyors utilize advanced technology historical research and scientific methods to ensure the accurate documentation and measurement of land, helping guide the continued growth of our municipalities and the county. And National Surveyors Week is celebrated annually to recognize the vital work performed by land surveyors and to raise awareness of the profession's role in shaping our communities while highlighting their essential contributions to the orderly development and prosperity to the residents of Miami Dade County. So it is resolved by Mayor Daniela Lavincava, who is our mayor and Chairman Anthony Rodriguez and us as the members of the county commission to declare this National Surveyors Week, and thank you for everything you do. There you go. We're both lawyers, so don't hold it against us. Thank you very much. Um on behalf of the Miami Dave Florida Survey and Mapping Society chapter and my and Miami Dave. Um I just want to say thank you for Commissioner Bermudas for sponsoring the proclamation. Thank you, uh Ms. Regalado, Commissioner Regalau, and the County Commission for approving this, and the mayor. Uh we're extremely grateful for this. And we are we really appreciate working with the county on everything you've done for us. Now, picture you've got to make a couple of things. You go in the middle. A little bit so that you know the people in the back there. No, it's a little bit of these. Um, thank you very much. Okay, we're gonna do one more roll call just to be safe, and then we'll start the sunshine meeting. How's that? Well, we'll do the pledge of allegiance also in the invocation, but go ahead and we'll do a one more roll call to be safe in case the Oliver is in the house and he'd like to join us. Mr. Clerk, could you go ahead? Sure thing. Um Commissioner Gilbert, Commissioner Regalado. Hi. Chairman Bermudez.
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