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Record of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting - October 16, 2024

Board of County Commissioners — Wednesday, October 16, 2024
BodyMiami Dade County, Florida
SessionBoard of County Commissioners
DateWednesday, October 16, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
29:20

Our program.

29:21

This is where we come to recognize wonderful organizations, uh, extraordinary people, things that are happening in the community.

29:27

This is the time that we set aside before we even get into business.

29:30

We'd like to acknowledge the people and and the organizations that are doing extraordinary things here in Miami Day County.

29:36

So we have two presentations this morning.

29:38

The first presentation is going to be for three one by the mayor.

29:42

The second one is going to be by the vice chair and the Celia Cruise Quarter.

29:48

I sell your cruise quarter.

29:50

And so I am really here just for the entertainment.

29:53

Otherwise, Mayor, you're recognized.

30:00

Any bosses out there?

30:02

Right?

30:03

I'm a boss.

30:04

He's a boss.

30:05

Uh, I'm a happy boss, so I'm happy uh to be celebrating.

30:09

Uh, thank you so much.

30:10

And I shh hey, you all who are standing right there and talking.

30:15

Hey, Anthony, Anthony, those people you're talking to and laughing, JC.

30:19

If we could actually just stop talking because we're actually in the presentations now.

30:28

Commissioners, please join us up front here for this very important presentation.

30:34

All right.

30:35

Okay.

30:36

All right.

30:36

So in addition to this being boss's day, this is 311 anniversary day.

30:45

So uh 20 years.

30:48

Is that what I've heard?

30:49

20 years, and a little history.

30:52

It was started as a hotline for Team Metro.

30:55

And we have a young lady here who was with the program from the initi initiation.

31:00

Wow, 20 years.

31:04

So it was established here by the county as a non-emergency line for the public, and it has become a lifeline for so many.

31:13

If you have not visited the 311 call center, you are really missing out.

31:18

It is a hive of happy bustling activity, providing information.

31:25

Oh, yeah.

31:26

Wait a minute.

31:27

Yeah, yeah.

31:27

It's good for the goose.

31:30

What's good for the goose is good for the guys.

31:32

Right, right.

31:34

So thousands, thousands of our residents rely on 311 services.

31:39

And 311 is not a status quo operation.

31:43

It is constantly improving, modernizing, and the latest.

31:49

Uh maybe Insign could just say a brief word about the new system that is coming in to better track when people call.

31:56

But the bottom line is that 311 is there for every county need.

32:01

People can call for bulky waste pickup, they can call for stray pets, they can call uh to know what to do in a storm, how to find their bus route.

32:11

You name it.

32:12

311 is there to help the public.

32:15

And it has been really a joy as mayor to get to know the operation better under the leadership of Insign Uh Kim Ensign.

32:26

Kim.

32:27

Yes, Inson, Kim, who is directed the office for since uh nine years.

32:34

Nine years in CEN has led this office.

32:37

And um we're recruiting.

32:39

And I just had the chance to see a new class of of operators getting trained, and they are super excited because they know they are the ambassadors to the public for county government, building trust and confidence that we are here to help.

32:53

So uh with that, um just an example.

32:57

Hurricane Milton, we extended the hours because we knew people needed maybe they were living in a mobile home park and they wanted to pick up from our transit system all coordinated, so we extended the hours at 311.

33:11

There was even a Bravo shift, and people had to sleep in commissioners.

33:16

There was a 311 Bravo shift during the Milton emergency, and they slept overnight at the center to be able to take the calls from the public.

33:27

That's how dedicated these people are.

33:29

So it's really very exciting to recognize 311 Day, 20 years in the making, and now I'm going to pass the mic to somebody.

33:38

No, we're we're just gonna bring them up.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Community Redevelopment Agency████████████████████20%
Public Engagement███████7%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Cultural Celebration██████6%
International Relations██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Public Works███3%
Public Transportation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting - October 16, 2024

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 9:30 AM in Commission Chambers. The meeting included special presentations, consent items, first readings of ordinances, public hearings, and departmental resolutions. Key actions included approvals of major contracts, a debate over a sister city agreement with La Romana, Dominican Republic, and final approval of a $75 million grant to support the Miami Beach convention center hotel, among other items. All votes were recorded with 11 members present (Commissioner Steinberg absent).

Special Presentations

  • 311 Contact Center's 20th Anniversary: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava presented a proclamation recognizing October 16, 2024, as "311 Contact Center's 20th Anniversary Day." The center has served as a non-emergency lifeline for residents, handling calls for bulky waste, stray pets, storm information, and more. Director Kim Ensign highlighted recent upgrades and staff dedication during Hurricane Milton.
  • Celia Cruz Quarter: Vice Chairman Anthony Rodriguez and others celebrated the U.S. Mint's issuance of a quarter featuring Celia Cruz, the first Afro-Latina on U.S. currency. Speakers included former manager Omer Pardillo and Nelson Albareda, who shared stories of Cruz's legacy and her role in Cuban-American culture.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was approved unanimously (11-0) with several items pulled for separate discussion. Items included district discretionary fund allocations (3A1–3A7), emergency contracts (3B1 substitute), and various administrative resolutions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Master Harry Warren (resident, Opa-locka) attempted to address a personal grievance regarding a park ban, but was ruled out of order as his topic was not on the agenda. Staff from the chair's office offered to meet with him afterward.
  • Francisco Badrena (City of Miami representative) requested a continuance or denial of agenda item 4K (rapid transit zone amendments), citing an ongoing conflict resolution process under Florida Statute Chapter 164 and a pending lawsuit between the city and county.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4D – Overnight Camping Penalties (Ordinance): Prime Sponsor Kionne L. McGhee. The ordinance revises penalties for overnight camping on county property. Commissioner Gonzalez bifurcated to vote no. Passed 8-2 (Commissioners Gonzalez and Rodriguez opposed).
  • Item 4I – Procurement Thresholds (Ordinance): Prime Sponsor Eileen Higgins. Increases the county mayor's delegated authority for competitive contracts. Commissioner Gonzalez requested a report back in 90 days as a friendly amendment (not adopted on first reading). Passed 9-1 (Commissioner Regalado opposed).
  • Item 11A2 – Sister City Agreement with La Romana, Dominican Republic: Prime Co-Sponsors Kevin Marino Cabrera and Anthony Rodriguez. After a lengthy debate led by Commissioner Marleine Bastien detailing human rights abuses and mass deportations of Haitians and Dominican-born Haitians by the Dominican Republic, the item was deferred indefinitely by a unanimous vote. A separate motion was passed to explore a cure period for affordable housing application errors.
  • Item 11A7 – Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel Grant (Sixth Amendment to Interlocal Agreement): Prime Sponsor Eileen Higgins. The board approved a $75 million grant from the Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency to fill a funding gap for an 800-room headquarter hotel adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center. The agreement includes a nine-month construction start deadline and termination of the RDA by 2036 instead of 2044. An amendment was added requiring receipt of an executed easement for a pedestrian bridge before the grant is signed. Passed unanimously (10-0).
  • Item 8N2 – South Corridor Transitway Change Order: Prime Sponsor Eileen Higgins. Change Order No. 2 with OHLA USA, Inc. extends the contract by 250 days and increases the amount by $17 million (to $17M total). Passed 10-1 (Commissioner McGhee opposed).
  • Item 8N3 – Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) Contract: Prime Co-Sponsors Juan Carlos Bermudez and Kevin Marino Cabrera. Award of a bid waiver contract to Horsepower Electric, Inc. for $199.9 million over ten years. Passed 10-1 (Commissioner McGhee opposed).
  • Item 14A3 – Hurricane Milton Employee Leave Donation: Prime Sponsor Kevin Marino Cabrera. Amended to designate the American National Red Cross as the recipient organization for donated leave time. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 14A4 – Transfer of County-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing: Prime Sponsor Keon Hardemon. Directed the transfer of 15 parcels from the Corrections Department to Public Housing and Community Development for future affordable housing development. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 15B1 – Public Hearing Dates: Approved as amended after procedural motions.
  • Matheson Park West Motion: Commissioner Regalado moved that all future contracts and master plans for Matheson Park West be brought to the board for approval. Passed unanimously.
  • Harry Kane Tower Demolition Motion: Commissioner Higgins moved to expedite HUD approval and permit for demolition of Harry Kane Tower, subject to compliance with Resolution R-696-24. Passed unanimously.
  • Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery Funds: Commissioner Hardeman moved to allocate remaining DTPW funds (up to $91,214) as a grant for capital improvements at the cemetery. Passed unanimously.
  • 30 by 30 Vision Council Appointments: Chairman Gilbert moved to appoint listed individuals to the council. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferred: Item 11A2 (sister city agreement with La Romana) - deferred indefinitely.
  • Withdrawn: Original item 8A1 (land purchase near Miami Executive Airport) replaced with substitute passed unanimously.
  • Adopted (unanimous or near-unanimous): Most consent items, ordinances for first reading (except 4D and 4I which had dissenting votes), public hearings (5A through 5K, with 5K amended), departmental resolutions, and procedural motions.
  • Notable Votes:
    • 4D (overnight camping) passed 8-2.
    • 4I (procurement thresholds) passed 9-1.
    • 8N2 (transitway change order) passed 10-1.
    • 8N3 (ATMS contract) passed 10-1.
  • Next Steps: Several items set for public hearings and second readings on November 6, 2024, including ordinances on ethics training (5A), parental leave (4L), and water utility security (14A5). The county will also engage with Florida Housing Finance Corp to explore a cure period for application errors.

Meeting Transcript

Our program. This is where we come to recognize wonderful organizations, uh, extraordinary people, things that are happening in the community. This is the time that we set aside before we even get into business. We'd like to acknowledge the people and and the organizations that are doing extraordinary things here in Miami Day County. So we have two presentations this morning. The first presentation is going to be for three one by the mayor. The second one is going to be by the vice chair and the Celia Cruise Quarter. I sell your cruise quarter. And so I am really here just for the entertainment. Otherwise, Mayor, you're recognized. Any bosses out there? Right? I'm a boss. He's a boss. Uh, I'm a happy boss, so I'm happy uh to be celebrating. Uh, thank you so much. And I shh hey, you all who are standing right there and talking. Hey, Anthony, Anthony, those people you're talking to and laughing, JC. If we could actually just stop talking because we're actually in the presentations now. Commissioners, please join us up front here for this very important presentation. All right. Okay. All right. So in addition to this being boss's day, this is 311 anniversary day. So uh 20 years. Is that what I've heard? 20 years, and a little history. It was started as a hotline for Team Metro. And we have a young lady here who was with the program from the initi initiation. Wow, 20 years. So it was established here by the county as a non-emergency line for the public, and it has become a lifeline for so many. If you have not visited the 311 call center, you are really missing out. It is a hive of happy bustling activity, providing information. Oh, yeah. Wait a minute. Yeah, yeah. It's good for the goose. What's good for the goose is good for the guys. Right, right. So thousands, thousands of our residents rely on 311 services. And 311 is not a status quo operation. It is constantly improving, modernizing, and the latest. Uh maybe Insign could just say a brief word about the new system that is coming in to better track when people call. But the bottom line is that 311 is there for every county need. People can call for bulky waste pickup, they can call for stray pets, they can call uh to know what to do in a storm, how to find their bus route. You name it. 311 is there to help the public. And it has been really a joy as mayor to get to know the operation better under the leadership of Insign Uh Kim Ensign. Kim. Yes, Inson, Kim, who is directed the office for since uh nine years.

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