Miami-Dade County Commission Meeting - March 19, 2024
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Miami-Dade County Commission Meeting - March 19, 2024
The meeting began at 9:30 AM with special presentations and a citizen's presentation on the Status of Women report. The board then proceeded through consent items, public hearings, and discussion items. Key votes included passing the agricultural zoning ordinance (7B) with amendments, approving a new detainee communication contract (8P1), and directing termination of the ATMS contract (11A2). Several special taxing districts and plat approvals were also adopted.
Special Presentations
- Commissioner Hardemon honored Women's History Month with presentations to community leaders.
- The Vilomah Awards were presented to two families: Santonio and Monica Carter, and Andres and Melissa Fernandez, for turning personal tragedy into community service.
Citizen's Presentation
- Dr. Maria Ilcheva from FIU presented the 2023 Status of Women report, highlighting wage gaps, health disparities, and rising violence against women. Commissioners discussed the data and called for action on child care, education, and health outcomes.
Consent Calendar
- All items on the consent calendar were approved by voice vote, including routine resolutions, budget reports, mayoral appointments, and departmental consent items. Notable: Appointment of interim Solid Waste Management director, approval of the FY2022-23 end-of-year budget adjustments, and numerous district discretionary fund allocations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Several speakers opposed the termination of the ATMS contract (11A2), arguing that the current vendor (Yunex Traffic) was making progress and that termination would be a waste of taxpayer money. Engineers from HBC Engineering, a local subcontractor, spoke about their successful work on the project.
- Marion Brown spoke in support of the beach renaming (5B) but raised questions about community impact.
- Brian Paz Fernandez spoke on agricultural issues but was redirected to the correct agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Item 7B - Agricultural Zoning Amendment: After extensive debate, the board adopted an ordinance to allow agritourism structures on agriculturally zoned land, limited to 5% of the parcel or 2.5 acres, within the newly defined Miami Redland Agritourism District. The amendment passed 10-2, with Commissioners Cohen Higgins and Regalado voting no.
- Item 8P1 - Detainee Electronic Communication Contract: The board approved a contract with Securus Technologies for a tablet-based communication system, including free phone calls, video visits, and educational content. Amendments were added: a reporting requirement on recidivism and GED completion, and a clause allowing future assignment to the sheriff's office. Passed 10-2.
- Item 11A2 - ATMS Contract Termination: The board adopted a resolution directing the mayor to terminate the contract with Yunex Traffic for cause and to negotiate with Horsepower Electric, the second-ranked bidder, for a completion contract. Amendments added a timeline for termination (10 days after adoption) and a requirement for the contract to include benchmarks and fiscal impact analysis. Passed 10-2.
- Item 11A3 - Golden Passport Program: The board approved a resolution for the mayor to create a plan allowing seniors to use a driver's license or ID to board transit fare-free, or an alternative accessible enrollment method. Passed 13-0.
- Item 11A5 - Resolution Urging Restoration of Internet Access in Cuba: This resolution was approved unanimously.
- MDEET Loan Program: Commissioner Hardeman moved to allocate $2 million from MDEET reserves to expand a home repair loan program. Motion passed after some discussion.
- Piano Slam Funding: Chairman Gilbert requested $5,000 per commissioner for Piano Slam program; all agreed.
Key Outcomes
- 7B: Adopted with amendments (10-2). Creates Miami Redland Agritourism District with 5%/2.5-acre cap on structures.
- 8P1: Adopted (10-2). Contract with Securus Technologies for detainee tablets, with reporting and assignment amendments.
- 11A2: Adopted (10-2). Directs termination of Yunex Traffic contract and negotiation with Horsepower Electric.
- 11A3: Adopted (13-0). Plan to simplify Golden Passport enrollment.
- 11A5: Adopted (unanimous). Urges Biden administration to restore internet in Cuba.
- MDEET: Motion approved to reallocate $2 million from reserves for home repair loans.
- Piano Slam: Each commissioner pledged $2,000 (later raised to $5,000) from district funds.
- All public hearing items (5A-K) approved, including street co-designation, beach renaming, and special taxing districts.
Meeting Transcript
It's first day of spring, man. Such astylish man. Trying to keep up with you, my man. Oliver Gilbert. You know, we got a lot of a lot of very honorable uh women today here for women's month. So I uh guys, please keep it down. We are in women's month, so and I have a beautiful and very respected woman right next to me, Chief Edwards. Uh Commissioner Hardeman, I think has some very special presentations for for today. So without further ado, Commissioner. Roll that beautiful bing footage. Lena Mae Hickson Carlier has been a Brownsville resident for over 64 years. Miss Carmel served over 30 years in health care in the Brownsville and Liberty City areas. After graduating from nursing school in Winston Selman, North Carolina, Miss Carmel joined other black nurses at Christian Hospital, the first black-owned hospital facility in Miami. When the hospital relocated to the Brownsville community in 1959, she was able to walk to work. Miss Carla then became one of the lead nurses for Miami's first black pediatrician, Dr. Danielle Simpson, whose office was located in Liberty City. She cared for children for 30 years, among other civic duties. Connecting residents of the community to health care services, as well as members of the migrant community. She is a proud member of the women's committee of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. And as a member of the Amigos, Di Roberto Romente Park. Catherine Myself, along with her husband Dan, is the founder of the Fountainhead Residency, which offers artists a place to live and work in Miami. Their mutual passion for art has led Catherine to collect, host, and support over 300 artists from around the world. And currently has one of Florida's most important contemporary art collections. She has successfully managed and operated Lubin's Discount Beauty Supply and General Merchandise. Together with her husband, Esther has elevated and provided services to the Little Haiti community for over four decades. When you say community health care, it is synonymous with Annie Needsman. Annie served as president and CEO of the Jesse Trice Community Health Center for over 19 years. She was a deputy secretary of health, a chief public health nurse of the Florida Department of Health, serving as executive administrator of Miami Day County Health Department. She is a decorated health care professional and a loyal civic leader with over four decades of experience. But uh but I also like to give a special shout out to my staff for helping create that wonderful video. Can you give them a round of applause? They really stepped it up. And what I like to do is I thought I was gonna give each one of them out, but Missy took care of that for me. It's okay. It's good. And so what I like to do instead is maybe just offer them just a few words if they'd like to say something to the crowd uh in honor of what they've been able to accomplish in their time here in Miami Dade County. So I'll start over here. Well, I want to thank you so very much. It is such an honor and a pleasure to be here, and it I to see you speak um as I had the pleasure of seeing the other week about how you speak about the arts and how you speak about your family and the importance of your role in leading this community. It it moved me to my core, so thank you. It's an honor to be here with you. And I just want to um I want people to be inspired by the arts. I want you to see the power of art to change our lives, to change how we view one another, how we move through this world, and um I do that through bringing artists in from around the world, and to show you and open up the studios of artists throughout Miami Dade County. So hopefully you'll come and take advantage of all the free events that we have at Fountainhead Arts. Good morning. Thank you so much for having me here. We really appreciate you at Burning Medical Centers. Um we remember you from uh being there with us, and I'm just grateful to be here. Thank you. Good morning all thank you, Commissioner Harman, and to the chairman and other commissioners.
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