Miami-Dade County Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee Meeting - September 9, 2026
Miami-Dade County Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee Meeting - September 9, 2026
The Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee met on September 9, 2026, with Vice Chairwoman Steinberg presiding. Commissioners Bastian, McGee, and Regalado were present, forming a quorum. Commissioner Garcia was absent. After a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, the committee set the agenda with several add-ons and a deferral request. The meeting included a public hearing on a proposed ordinance and discussion of several items.
Agenda Setting
- The agenda was set with six add-ons and supplements. Item 1G1 and its supplement were deferred to the October 14 committee meeting at the sponsor's request.
Public Comments
- No members of the public spoke during the reasonable opportunity to be heard. Two individuals (Aaron Cover and Amanda Prieto) had signed up to speak on deferred item 1G1; they were informed they would have a full opportunity at the October meeting.
Discussion Items
- Item 1G1 (Deferred): Commissioner Regalado expressed concerns about the proposed process, suggesting it could limit transparency and create a "slippery slope." The sponsor responded by noting that a variance through the Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB) might be a better approach and emphasized the need for public records on water quality. The committee agreed to hold a sunshine meeting to further discuss options before the October hearing.
- Item 1G2: Ordinance Creating the Miami-Dade County Voter Safety and Bay Education Advisory Board: The committee held a public hearing. James Merley, designee of the Mayor on the Miami River Commission, spoke in support, asking that the board include a representative from the Miami River. Commissioner Regalado questioned the cost, lack of financial participation from other municipalities, and the absence of a sunset provision. He suggested exploring a fee structure tied to boater permits. Commissioner Bastian supported the item and requested to be listed as a co-sponsor. The committee voted unanimously to approve.
- Item 2B (Sponsorship by Commissioner Regalado): Commissioner Regalado recommended amending the item to also include Miami-Dade County Public Schools and to prioritize in-kind partnerships before spending Animal Services funds. The maker’s representative stated they believed existing resources could cover the proposal.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1G3: An ordinance on another matter was moved and passed unanimously without discussion.
- Balance of the Agenda: The remaining items (including items 3A and 3C sponsored by Commissioner Regalado) were moved and passed by acclamation.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1G1: Deferred to the October 14, 2026 committee meeting; a sunshine meeting will be scheduled beforehand.
- Items 1G2 and 1G3: Both ordinances passed unanimously.
- Remaining Items: Approved as a block.
- Co-sponsorships: Commissioner Bastian added as co-sponsor on 1G2; Commissioner Regalado took sponsorship of 3A and 3C.
Meeting Transcript
Simon Garcia will be absent from today's meeting. Commissioner Bastian. Commissioner McGee. Commissioner Ragalado. Vice Chairwoman Steinberg. Three members present. We have a quorum. Excellent. Thank you so much. All right. Welcome to our recreation, tourism and resiliency committee. Before we begin, I'm going to have a moment of silence and reflection. We've had some terrible tragedies recently, and we want to make sure that we give it its due respect. And then we will have our guest member, Commissioner Bermuda's give uh lead us in the pledge after the five. Thank you. All right. Um we're gonna start with reasonable opportunity to be heard. That will be on any item that is not a public hearing item. So at this time, let me see. These are four. I have cards for our public hearing items, but if anybody has something that they would like to come up and say, um, this is your opportunity. All right, seeing no one approaching. Reasonable opportunity to be heard is now closed. Um I guess I will ask the attorneys. Do we have any additions, edits, anything you'd like to tell us before we set the agenda? Yes. The items to be considered today are those on the printed final agenda with the following changes. There are six add-ons, one G1 supplement, one G2 supplement, one G2 supplement number two, three C, three D and three E. There has also been a request from the sponsor of item one G1 and its supplement to defer the item to the October 14th committee meeting. With these changes, a motion to set the agenda is in order. Do I have a motion to set the agenda? All right, moved by Commissioner Bastian to move okay to set the agenda. Seconded by second it, Commissioner Regalado. So with the setting of the agenda, anybody who came to speak on public hearing item one G1, the um maker of the ordinance has requested a deferral, and as we just set the agenda, it will be now deferred until October. Yes, yeah, as a point of order. Um, since the since the makers here, can we give like a few comments? Because if you're gonna be working on it, I have a lot. I have a lot. So I mean I get it. We don't want to we don't want to have the public hearing because then we won't be able to have the public hearing, but I would love to speak on one G1 if possible. It has been deferred, but if I'll entertain just a quick if you want to give him some guidance, um, just if he's working on some amendments or anything, or to just put on the record, you can just quickly go through that. The we'll have public hearing in October when the item will be heard. Okay, perfect. I will do that. Um so um Commissioner, I I understand where you're coming from. I get I get the frustration. Um but at the same time, I think it's uh it's a horrible idea to create a process that lives on a director's desk. I mean, you you are one of the people that complains the most about not having access to information. Um so I think that this would create something very similar. It also concerns me that there is no requirement to have a an agreement with county government on these things.
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