Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting – July 2, 2024

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners met on July 2, 2024, at 9:30 AM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting featured a special presentation honoring retiring Chief of Policy and Budgetary Affairs Jennifer Moon for her 30 years of service, followed by the adoption of a consent agenda, first readings of several ordinances, and public hearings. Key actions included the unanimous approval of hospital mandatory payment expansions, a $265 million capital asset bond (passed 9-3), and numerous procurement pool extensions. Several commissioners raised concerns about the equitable distribution of grant funds across districts.

Consent Calendar

• Routine approvals and unanimous actions included ratifications of grant agreements, approval of street lighting districts, plat approvals, and many routine procurement contracts. Notable unanimous approvals: Resolution ratifying FTA grant for transit-oriented development ($405,000); Resolution approving co-designation of Bishop Willie L. Scott Way in Homestead; and multiple discretionary fund allocations for district projects.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Juan Fernandez-Barkin, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller: Expressed support for standardizing county checks (Item 11A13) but noted legal concerns about statutory references and requested sufficient review time. He urged that any changes comply with constitutional duties of the clerk, board, and county.
• Francisco Petrina, City of Miami representative: Requested a continuance or denial of Item 4A (Rapid Transit Zone expansion within city limits) because the City and County are engaged in a conflict resolution process under Florida Statutes Chapter 164 and there is a pending lawsuit. He argued the city has authority to set higher zoning standards.
• Renita Holmes: Asked for clarification on the difference between “reasonable opportunity to be heard” and a public hearing; expressed gratitude for accommodations.
• Paulette Darrell: Was not allowed to speak because her topic (housing for Black residents) was not on the agenda.
• Gino Santorio, President/CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center: Spoke during public hearing on Item 5A, thanking the board for the hospital mandatory payment program which has allowed hospitals to access federal dollars. Noted that at Mount Sinai, one in four ER patients are uninsured and 17% of net revenue goes to charity care. Urged support for expansion of the program.

Discussion Items

• Item 4A – Rapid Transit Zone Expansion (Civic Center area): An ordinance to expand the Smart Corridor Subzone. The City of Miami requested denial due to ongoing conflict resolution. The board adopted it on first reading 12-0, with a public hearing scheduled for September 11, 2024.
• Item 5A – Hospital Mandatory Payments: Senator Garcia and multiple co-sponsors moved to expand the existing direct payment program to include a Low Income Pool supplemental program, a cancer hospital program, and graduate medical education payments. Commissioner Steinberg and others added as co-sponsors. Passed unanimously 12-0.
• Item 5B – Capital Asset Acquisition Bonds ($265 million): The ordinance authorizing bonds for capital projects. Vice Chairman Rodriguez moved; passed 9-3 (Senator Garcia, Commissioner Bermudez, and Commissioner Steinberg voted no).
• Items 5E, 5F, 5G – Non-ad valorem assessment rolls: Commissioner Cohen Higgins pulled these items, questioning the extension of pre-qualification pools (see below).
  • 5E (22 street lighting districts) passed 11-1. 5F (13 security guard districts) and 5G (10 multipurpose maintenance districts) each passed 10-2.
• Item 7D – Solicitation of Business on Private Residential Property: An amendment was adopted to change the start time of the prohibition from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m. (end time remains 8 a.m.). Passed unanimously on second reading.
• Items 8P2, 8P3, 8P5, 8P6, 8P12, 8P14, 8P15 – Procurement Pool Extensions: Commissioner Cohen Higgins pulled these items, expressing concern that memos lacked metrics to justify extensions. She noted the total value of pool extensions on the agenda exceeded $321 million and that $4 billion is tied up in pools. Chief Procurement Officer Namada explained due diligence: departments are surveyed, vendor outreach is continuous, and pools are always open to new vendors. Commissioner Regalado supported pools as speeding up county work, but McGee noted that 10-year extensions can limit opportunity for newer businesses. The items were moved by Cohen Higgins and passed with Commissioner Steinberg voting no on 8P8, 8P13, and 8P23.
• Item 8C2 – Cultural Affairs Grants: Senator Garcia pulled to ask why District 13 had no recipients in the quarterly grant round. The Deputy Director stated a competitive process and that outreach workshops were held. Garcia called it “traditionally unfair” and demanded a new system. Commissioner Hardeman noted that equity is an ongoing issue across all departments. Commissioner Bastien and McGee offered to work on a sunshine meeting to improve the process. The item passed.
• Item 9A1 – Senior Homeowners Assistance Repair Program: Commissioner Gonzalez expressed concern that only one home in District 11 qualified. Director Grice said there is a 1,215-person waitlist and outreach was not needed for this one-time funding. Passed.
• Item 11A13 – County Check Policy: Chairman Gilbert moved an amendment to ensure that any adjustments to check form/style require chairperson approval and that the county mayor must work with each new chair. The amendment was adopted, and the resolution passed. Clerk Fernandez-Barkin had raised legal concerns; the county attorney stated the item is compliant with state statute requiring chairperson signature and clerk attestation.
• Item 11A14 – Legal Advice Policy (not discussed in transcript but listed on agenda; appears to have been adopted as part of consent).

Key Outcomes

• Honored: Jennifer Moon received a proclamation and standing ovation for 30 years of service. Multiple commissioners praised her institutional knowledge and leadership.
• Approved: First readings of 6 ordinances (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F) all passed 12-0. Public hearings on 12 items with varying votes: 5A, 5C, 5D, 5D1, 5H, 5I, 5J, 5K, 5L passed 12-0; 5B passed 9-3; 5E passed 11-1; 5F and 5G passed 10-2; 5M passed 11-1.
• Second readings: Items 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D (as amended), 7E, 7F passed unanimously.
• Procurement contracts: 8A1, 8P4, 8P21, 8P22 passed unanimously. Several pool extensions passed with Commissioner Steinberg dissenting on three.
• Motions from the floor:
  • Commissioner McGee’s motion to amend a contract (Hometown Center) to allow a container park with housing was approved as part of agenda setting.
  • Vice Chairman Rodriguez’s motion to amend District 10 office lease (increase tenant improvements by $30,200) passed.
  • Chairman Gilbert’s motion on check policy adopted.
  • Commissioner Cabrera’s motion to add Goodwill Industries to payroll deduction list passed.
  • Senator Garcia’s motion to retroactively approve Netflix’s use of a fire rescue helicopter (May 16-17, 2024) passed.
  • Commissioner Cabrera appointed Alyssa Rowlands to the Living Wage Commission; Chairman Gilbert appointed Roxana Garai and Jessica Cabrera to advisory boards.