Miami-Dade Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee Meeting – July 14, 2026

The committee convened at 10:30 AM (EDT) on July 14, 2026, in Commission Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on an overnight anchoring ordinance, discussion of budget presentations from five county departments, and consideration of several resolutions. The committee voted 3-1 to forward the anchoring ordinance to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with a favorable recommendation, scheduled for the October BCC meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1A–1F (Routine Matters): Invocation, roll call, pledge, reasonable opportunity to be heard, special presentations, and discussion items were approved by acclamation.
• Item 2A (Resolution – Vertical Farming): A resolution directing the county mayor to consider recommendations for high-intensity, closed agricultural production systems (e.g., vertical farming) was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 2B (Resolution – Sargassum Hot Spots): A resolution directing the county mayor to coordinate with FDEP to modify a beach-cleaning permit to allow additional sargassum hot spots was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 3A (Resolution – Cultural Affairs Grants): Funding of 22 grants totaling $139,366 from the Department of Cultural Affairs Community Grants Program (FY 2025-2026, fourth quarter) was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 3B (Resolution – Visual and Media Artists Grants): Approval of 19 grant agreements totaling $285,000 for the South Florida Cultural Consortium’s Visual and Media Artists Grant Program was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 3C (Resolution – Environmentally Endangered Lands): Acceptance of an assignment of option to purchase approximately 10 acres within the South Dade Wetlands Project for $3,500,000 (Building Better Communities Bond funds) was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 3D (Resolution – Trail Glades Range Agreement): Ratification of an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for use of Trail Glades Range facilities (estimated payment $216,320) was forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation (3-0).
• Item 6A (Clerk’s Summary of Minutes): The minutes for the May 12, 2026, and June 9, 2026, committee meetings were approved (3-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Reasonable Opportunity to Be Heard (Non-Anchor Item): No public speakers came forward.

Public Hearing on Item 1G1 (Overnight Anchoring Ordinance): The hearing was opened for the substitute ordinance. Several speakers testified:

• Danielle Chandler (10-year boater): Opposed the ordinance, stating she lost her dock and had no lawful options to remain in the county if the rule passes. She argued the ordinance lacks a path to compliance and effectively bans anchoring.
• Captain Bert Corpella (Atlantis Marine Towing and Salvage, second-generation mariner): Supported addressing derelict vessels but opposed the blanket anchoring prohibition. Noted 57 new boats moved from other municipalities to Coconut Grove, endangering local businesses. Emphasized lack of dock space and mooring field capacity.
• Zachary Ronka (resident of Dinner Key Marina): Opposed, citing declining yacht prices and a 10-year waiting list for dockage. Argued the regulation would push boaters away to cheaper jurisdictions.
• Michael Maynard (liveaboard): Opposed, questioned the arbitrary 30-day limit and praised the mutual aid network among boaters. Highlighted that derelict boats are often removed by the city while responsible liveaboards are punished.
• David Furrer (nonprofit engineless tour operator): Opposed, noting his business removes trash from the bay and has a negative carbon footprint. Stated he has no alternative dockage (20-year waitlist) and the law would destroy his livelihood.
• Kolby Uva (born-and-raised Miamian, liveaboard): Opposed, requested grandfathering for local vessels and businesses. Stated that liveaboards maintain their boats and environment better than the surrounding area.
• Rachel Streitfeld (Mayor of North Bay Village): Supported the ordinance. Argued it is about a limited exception to state preemption to regulate overnight anchoring beyond 30 days in a six-month period. Noted that North Bay Village, Miami Beach, and Miami have passed similar ordinances but need county help to enforce against “squatter vessels” that do not pay taxes and trespass.
• Seth Salver (Mayor of Bal Harbour): Supported the county adopting a uniform ordinance to avoid a patchwork. Also thanked the committee for supporting the sargassum hot spot resolution, noting sargassum impacts tourism and hotel cancellations.
• Justin (liveaboard near Dinner Key): Opposed, stating the ordinance would force him to move miles away, making it impossible to commute by dinghy (speed half a mile per hour). Urged the committee to protect the “American dream” of living on the water.

Discussion Items

Item 1F1 – Budget Presentations for FY 2026-27: Five departments presented their proposed budgets, operations, and challenges:

• Department of Cultural Affairs (Director Ashley Thomas): Outlined a $72 million budget, 122 employees, reliance on CDBG and TDT funds (less than 22% general fund). Achieved $1.3 million in grants, restored six of 14 lost positions, and implemented efficiencies (shared services, 3% attrition). Key issues include impacts from SB 1134 (DEI law), property tax rising costs, and grant funding uncertainty. Future priorities include strategic planning and capacity-building for nonprofits.
• Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) (Director Lauren Pride): Presented the new independent department’s role in science-based policy, compliance, and outreach. Noted over $13 million over five years from a renegotiated petroleum cleanup delegation. Challenges include Bay stress, workforce retention (staff earn 2-3x less than private sector), and aging lab infrastructure. Priority initiatives: Reasonable Assurance Plan for Biscayne Bay, urban forestry, and expanding the smart cover program.
• Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Director Annette Jose): Reported 534 dogs and over 100 cats in care, 95% save rate (11th consecutive year), 29,000 spay/neuter surgeries, and 7,000 adoptions. Key issues: overpopulation crisis (attributed to reduced spay/neuter during COVID-19) and pet retention. Future plans include expanding veterinary access, fostering, and moving to a lifetime pet tag system to reduce costs.
• Miami-Dade Public Library System (Director Lydia Lopez): Serves 2.5 million residents through 50 (soon 51) locations. In FY 2024-25: 4.3 million in-person visits, 1.5 million cardholders, 70,000 new registrations. Accomplishments: 77 NACo awards, mobile device lending (1,000 hotspots, 2,000 Chromebooks), talking books program. Challenges: keeping pace with technology, modernizing facilities, and need for new locations. Future outlook includes opening two new branches in late 2026.
• Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (Director Christina White): Manages 309 parks, 40,000 acres, 17 miles of beaches, six marinas, five golf courses, Zoo Miami. Customer satisfaction 89% (national benchmark 77%). Accomplishments: Zoo Miami re-accreditation, ADA transition plan. Challenges: aging infrastructure, vacancies, extreme heat, lack of asset tracking system. Future priorities: property tax reform monitoring, revenue growth through sponsorships and partnerships, and developing guidelines for advertising and naming rights per Article 7.

Item 1G1 (Ordinance – Overnight Anchoring Regulations): Extensive discussion followed the public hearing. Key points:

• Commissioner Regalado (District 7, representing Coconut Grove) strongly opposed, arguing the ordinance is a de facto prohibition on liveaboards, displaces residents with no alternative dockage (20+ year waitlists), and does not address derelict vessels or sewage dumping (already illegal). She requested her district be carved out and suggested a fee-based permit system to fund marine patrol instead of a ban.
• Commissioner Bastien expressed concern about potential homelessness and lack of data on affected individuals. She asked for a plan to assist liveaboards before enforcement.
• Commissioner McGhee questioned the necessity of county action when municipalities already have the authority, and noted that the city of Miami does not enforce its own similar ordinance. He stressed the need for evidence before using the county’s full weight against residents living aboard boats.
• Commissioner Lopez (sponsor) explained the ordinance aligns with state law (HB 481) and existing city ordinances in Miami and Miami Beach, aiming to create countywide uniformity. She acknowledged the need to gather data on the number of liveaboards who never move their vessels and pledged to work with DERM and the administration to provide that information.
• DERM Director Pride and Chief Hudwalker (Administration) noted that a fee-based alternative could be explored, but no immediate proposal existed. John Rickasack (DERM) clarified that while illegal dumping is enforceable, it is difficult to catch at night.
• Mayor Streitfeld and Commissioner Suarez (City of Miami Beach) presented evidence of environmental damage (seagrass scraping, sewage, sunken vessels) and public safety risks from unchecked anchoring.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1G1 (Anchoring Ordinance): The committee voted 3-1 (Bastien, McGhee, Steinberg in favor; Regalado against) to forward the substitute ordinance to the BCC with a favorable recommendation. However, the committee requested that the item be placed on the BCC agenda for the second meeting in October 2026 (October 20) to allow time for the administration to provide data on the number of affected liveaboards, potential impacts on homelessness, and explore alternative regulatory approaches (e.g., fee-based permits). The original item (260878) was withdrawn.
• Budget Presentations: No formal votes were taken; the presentations were received as information. Commissioner comments included requests for expanded marine patrol funding, asset tracking for parks, and exploring residential rate discounts for Zoo Miami.
• Items 2A, 2B, 3A-3D, 6A: All forwarded to the BCC with favorable recommendations or approved unanimously.
• Future Workshops: Commissioner Regalado requested a workshop on septic tank issues and DERM marine patrol alternatives. Commissioner Bastien asked for a meeting with DERM on outreach programs.