Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting – February 21, 2024

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners met on February 21, 2024, at 9:30 AM local time (14:30 UTC) to consider a variety of legislative and administrative items. The meeting included public hearings on permit and plat approvals, second reading of two ordinances related to the Rapid Transit System Development Zone, a mayoral appointment, and several resolutions passed via consent and pull lists. One member of the public spoke during the reasonable opportunity to be heard.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sharon Frazier Stevens (Miami, Florida) expressed concerns about homelessness and lack of shelter options in the Liberty City area. She described a personal observation of an elderly woman seeking shelter from the City of Miami Police without success and called for emergency housing in District 5 and District 3.

Discussion Items

• Mayoral Interim Appointment (Item 2B3): Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reappointed Melanie McLean as Interim Director of the Human Resources Department. McLean has served since August 2023, has over 20 years of executive HR experience, and holds an MBA from FIU. The appointment was accepted by the board for a maximum six-month term.
• Pull List Items:
  • Item 2B1 (Report on funding sources for a sewer pump station on Bislot Property in Biscayne Shores): Pulled by Commissioner Steinberg to note errors in the memo, which were corrected. The item was then approved.
  • Item 11A3 (Resolution directing the Mayor to meet with Homestead-Miami Speedway and the City of Homestead regarding a rodeo, farmer's market, and farm show): Commissioner Cohen Higgins pulled the item, noting that the Homestead Rodeo Association (75-year operator) was not included in the directive and expressing concerns about moving a public event to a private entity. The item was deferred to no date certain by a vote of 10-0.
• Public Hearings (Items 5A-5E): Heard en bloc and approved 10-0. These included:
  • 5A: Class I permit for bridge replacement in Ademar Canal.
  • 5B: Waiver of plat for JPLS Investment LLC.
  • 5C: Plat of Century Pointe by Century Homebuilders Group, LLC.
  • 5D: Plat of Century Oasis by Century Oasis, LLC.
  • 5E: Plat of West Lake Shopping Center.
• Second Reading Ordinances (Items 7A and 7B): Approved 10-0. 7A (amended per supplemental information) allows additional signage in the Rapid Transit Corridor bicycle and pedestrian area. 7B expands the Metromover Subzone of the Rapid Transit Zone to include certain private property and road right-of-way.
• Consent Agenda: The agenda was set with deferred items (14A2 deferred to no date certain) and approved by a single vote. Items 14A1 (funding for Orange Bowl and legacy projects at Rolling Oaks Park and Kendall Club) and 14A3 (interlocal agreement with City of Miami Gardens for Building Better Communities Bond funds) were approved 10-0 without being pulled.

Key Outcomes

• The board approved the agenda with modifications, including deferrals and pull list additions (item 11A3 pulled).
• All five public hearing items (5A-5E) were adopted unanimously (10-0).
• Second reading ordinances 7A (as amended) and 7B were adopted (10-0).
• Item 11A3 (Homestead rodeo/farmer's market discussion) was deferred to no date certain (10-0).
• Melanie McLean's reappointment as Interim Human Resources Director was accepted.
• Commissioner Higgins' board appointment (Jacqueline Pena to the Commission for Women) was approved.
• Several consent and departmental items were approved en bloc, including collective bargaining agreements, mutual aid agreements, and budget resolutions.