Miami-Dade County Safety and Health Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
Miami-Dade County Safety and Health Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
The Safety and Health Committee of the Miami-Dade County Commission met on September 8, 2026, at 12:30 PM, chaired by Chairman Roberto J. Gonzalez. Commissioners Marleine Bastien, Keon Hardemon, and Vicki L. Lopez were present; Vice Chairman Garcia was absent. The committee considered a consent calendar of routine resolutions and a special presentation, and unanimously approved all items, forwarding them to the full Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
Consent Calendar
- 2A (Resolution 261396): Declared certain firefighting equipment surplus and authorized donation to Korps Brandweer Suriname, waiving standard disposition procedures. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3A (Resolution 261471): Authorized retroactive acceptance and expenditure of up to $3,405,936 from the U.S. DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant for the Whole Blood Initiative through Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, plus up to $851,484 in Fire District funds for match. Commissioner Lopez co-sponsored. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3B (Resolution 261457): Authorized retroactive acceptance and expenditure of up to $7,736,674 from the U.S. Department of War’s Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) for construction of Fire Station 77 near Homestead Air Reserve Base, plus up to $5,018,217 in Fire District match. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3C (Resolution 261389): Approved a five-year lease (with one five-year renewal option) with Suited for Success, Inc. for county property at 1600 NW 3 Ave., Room 111, Miami, at a cumulative fiscal impact of $149,342.02. Chairman Gonzalez, Commissioner Lopez, and Commissioner Bastien co-sponsored. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3D (Resolution 261388): Authorized additional expenditure authority of $1,201,600 for Janitorial Supplies Pool (EVN0000040), raising the total modified cumulative pool to $24,402,100. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3E (Resolution 261447): Authorized establishment of a $15,000,000, five-year prequalification pool for Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (Group 4). Forwarded 4-0.
- 3F (Resolution 261449): Waived competitive bidding (by two-thirds vote) and authorized additional three years and $1,200,000 for Electronic Patient Care Reporting Software contract (BW-10321), raising total to $2,299,167. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3G (Resolution 261450): Awarded three contracts for Structural Firefighting PPE: Municipal Equipment Company, LLC ($11,424,996), Ten-8 Fire & Safety, LLC ($11,824,946), and Viking Life-Saving Equipment, Inc. ($10,725,058), total combined $33,975,000 for five years. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3H (Resolution 261461): Authorized additional $1,170,000 for Fire Alarms & Fire Detection Equipment contract (EVN0000649), raising total to $6,168,610. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3I (Resolution 261462): Authorized additional $4,849,000 for Public Safety & Emergency Equipment & Services contract (4400008468), raising total to $50,541,748. Forwarded 4-0.
- 3J (Resolution 261487): Authorized retroactive acceptance of $800,000 from Florida DEP Volkswagen Settlement funds to replace two Class 8 emergency response vehicles for MDFR. Forwarded 4-0.
- 6A (Report 261407): Approved the Clerk’s summary of minutes for the July 13, 2026 Safety and Health Committee meeting. Approved 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the reasonable opportunity to be heard. Chairman Gonzalez closed the public comment period after calling twice.
Discussion Items
- Special Presentation (Item 1E1): Chairman Gonzalez recognized Lorenzo Shadeed, a 12-year-old (turning 13) student at Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer (MAS), who won third place statewide in the Florida League of Cities/Florida League of Mayors “If I Were Elected Mayor” essay contest. Lorenzo read his essay, which addressed traffic, flooding, and the high cost of living. Mayor Brown of Weston (President of the Florida League of Mayors) presented him with a $250 gift card, a joint resolution, and a county proclamation. Commissioners praised his insight and leadership. The committee also honored his birthday.
- Agenda Setting: Chairman Gonzalez opened the meeting and called for a motion to set the agenda, which was approved. Commissioners added co-sponsors: Commissioner Lopez joined Item 3A; Chairman Gonzalez, Commissioner Lopez, and Commissioner Bastien joined Item 3C. No items were pulled for separate discussion. The committee then voted unanimously (4-0) to move the entire agenda as presented.
Key Outcomes
- All 12 agenda items (including the special presentation and minutes approval) were approved by the committee unanimously (4-0) and forwarded to the full Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation. The committee adjourned without further business.
Meeting Transcript
With the Pledge of Allegiance and with the invocation, if Commissioner Hardman can please lead us in the invocation. And then we have a small short presentation in the well. I see hands over the chest. And colleagues, if you would just join me at the well uh real quick to recognize a very special young man. All right. All right, so good morning. So today we want to recognize a very, very, very special young man, uh Lorenzo Shadid. Lorenzo Shadid is a student in District 11's Moss School. And Lorenzo actually has won third place statewide with a brilliant essay that he wrote, brilliant, on what he would do if he were mayor. What guys, it's after our jobs. He should read it. He should. I think he should. He should. Do you uh do do we have a copy of the essay? I do. If he remembers about it. She has a copy of the essence of it. Lorenzo, do you mind? Do you mind reading it for us? Lorenzo, I think. Let's do it. Okay. Oh wow, Lorenzo, this is gonna be good. Yes. People are gonna listen. Very carefully. Oh wow. Thank you, Mayor. Lorenzo will get rid of this. There you go. Oh, here. Let's do it up here. Yes. Mike check. Let's do it. Thank you, Lorenzo. Thank you. So the essay I wrote began with if I was elected mayor of Miami Dade, I would focus on addressing the problems that affect people every day of their lives, specifically in traffic, flooding, and the increasingly high cost of living. These issues make life more difficult for students, families, and workers across our county. One major problem in Miami Dade is the traffic. Long drives, waste time, harm the air and our environment. As mayor, I would improve public transportation and redesign dangerous intersections in your schools. I would use local data to decide where buses, bike lanes, and traffic changes are needed most, rather than implementing one plan for every area. Another problem is flooding, especially after the heavy rain. Neighborhoods get damaged and families worry during the hurricane season. To fix this, I would improve in drainage systems and make neighborhoods stronger so families stay safe before storms hit. The cost of living is currently very high and is pushing families out of the county. Many people who work full-time and have a nine to five job still struggle to afford housing. To address this, I would invest in affordable housing and if and enforce strict renter protections to prevent families from being priced out of their own neighborhoods.
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