Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers. The meeting included special presentations, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, public hearings, and extended debate on key issues such as the future of the county’s waste-to-energy facility and allocation of school zone speed enforcement funds. The meeting adjourned after several hours.

Special Presentations

• Director Stephanie Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department was recognized for her 32+ years of service and her role as the first Black woman to lead the department. A proclamation declared December 3, 2024, as Director Stephanie V. Daniels Day. She expressed gratitude and highlighted her commitment to community service.
• David Cardenas, Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, was honored for 35 years of service. Commissioners praised his ability to “cut through red tape” and his leadership during COVID-19 food distribution. December 3, 2024, was proclaimed David Cardenas Day.
• Pedro Garcia, Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, received a proclamation recognizing his decades of advocacy for seniors (“los viejitos”) and collaborative service. December 3, 2024, was proclaimed Pedro H. Garcia Day.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tatiana Silva (Miami-Dade Beacon Council) expressed support for Project Apollo, noting a $150 million investment, creation of 27 direct high-paying jobs averaging $80,000 annually, and nearly $6 million in tax revenue over the next decade. She thanked Commissioner Bermudez and the administration for driving economic development.
• Victoria McCaffrey (Goldstein Environmental Law Firm) appeared on behalf of Ludlam Trail Phase II LLC regarding a brownfield designation (item 5C) and offered to answer questions.
• Trulie Burton (Builders Association of South Florida) supported item 5F, which conforms county code with state law requiring issuance of 75% of building permits at tentative plat stage, calling it a step toward housing affordability.
• Brenda Betancourt raised a concern about streetlights being out for months near NW 7th Street and 27th Avenue. The Mayor’s office committed to looking into the issue.
• Isel Rodriguez criticized the difficulty for citizens to voice concerns and called for more accessible data and clarity from county departments.

Consent Calendar

• Routine approvals and unanimous actions included:
  • Adoption of three Aviation Capital Program Reports (August, September, October 2024) – all passed 10-0.
  • Federal and State Funding Report – passed 10-0.
  • Park Foundation Annual Reports for 2022 and 2023 – passed 10-0.
  • Leave donations for Hurricane Milton relief – passed 10-0.
  • Sunset review of Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Committee – accepted.
• Commissioner consent items: several resolutions approving discretionary reserve allocations for districts (e.g., District 2, 4, 13, etc.) – all passed.
• Resolution approving the City of Hialeah’s co-designation of Palm Avenue as “President Donald J. Trump Avenue” – adopted 9-1 (Commissioner Bastien voted no).
• Resolution approving City of Miami Gardens’ co-designation of NW 19th Avenue as “Sigma Gamma Rho Way” – passed.
• Resolution retroactively approving grant application for disabled veterans adaptive sports – passed.
• Resolution approving confidential Project Apollo for targeted jobs incentives (up to $3,633,902) – passed.
• Various departmental consent items (aviation contracts, corrections education, fire rescue grants, parks consent order, regulatory and economic resources for Biscayne Bay debris removal, electric vehicle charging stations, etc.) – all passed.

Discussion Items

• Item 8O1: Amendment to professional services agreement with HDR Engineering for wastewater design services (adding three years, no new funds). Passed after questions about slow expenditure. Commissioner Bermudez expressed concern but supported.
• Item 8O2: Amendment to Stantec Consulting contract for upgrades to Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant – increased by $3,000,000 (from $8.8M to $11.8M). Passed 10-1. Commissioner Gilbert noted this essentially bypassed competitive bidding; administration argued it was needed for speed and expertise.
• Item 11A9: Feasibility study for a new airport capable of cargo, passenger, and general aviation – passed 10-1 (Commissioner Higgins voted no, citing funding concerns).
• Item 11A11: Resolution to select a site for a new waste-to-energy facility. This item was deferred twice before. Extensive debate occurred. Mayor Levine Cava recommended a deferral to explore landfilling as an alternative, noting environmental groups had suggested that. Commissioners Gilbert, Higgins, Bermudez, Regalado, Gonzalez, and Hardeman expressed views. Gilbert emphasized that deferral should not shift costs to marginalized communities or ratepayers. Higgins presented cost analysis: moving the facility from Doral could increase costs to Miami by $36–$90 million and to Homestead by $16–$40 million over 20 years. Bermudez called for a holistic discussion of the entire waste system, including recycling, composting, and regional options. Chairman Rodriguez committed to scheduling a committee of the whole meeting in January 2025. Motion to defer to the second meeting in February 2025 passed (11-1), with waiver of rules (two-thirds vote). Commissioner Gilbert voted no.
• Item 11A13: Resolution establishing board policy for distribution of school zone speed enforcement penalty funds proportionally among districts based on UMSA population and square miles, to be used for public safety initiatives. Passed 10-1 (Commissioner Higgins voted no, advocating that funds be used for countywide services rather than divided into 13 “miniature governments”).
• Item 11A15: Resolution directing a report on utilizing the Invitation to Negotiate process. Amended to give the Mayor 90 days instead of 60. Passed unanimously.
• Item 11A16: Resolution directing the county to manage bidding of all contracts entirely through INFORMS. Amended to cover all contracts (not just goods and services) and to provide a report in 90 days. Passed unanimously.
• Item 11A1: Resolution for amended and restated county deed for affordable housing project by 7001, LLC – passed.
• Item 11A2: Resolution establishing a missing middle housing policy – passed.
  • Item 11A3: Appointment of Angela Reyes to NW 7th Avenue Corridor CRA – passed.
• Item 11A7: Resolution joining Miami Gardens to urge co-designation of NW 47th Avenue as “Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Boulevard” – passed.
• Item 11A10: Resolution requiring additional written notification to district commissioners before county-owned property actions – passed.
• Item 11A12: Land exchange agreement between county and Miami-Dade College – passed.
• Item 11A14: Resolution to establish a pool for outsourcing sidewalk repair – passed 10-0.
• Item 11A17: Resolution to examine alternative modes of transportation (including passenger rail) for the East-West SMART corridor – passed.
• Item 11A18: Resolution to develop a plan to combat copper wire theft and repair street lights – passed.
• Item 11A19: Resolution to expedite roadway improvements on NW 107th Avenue – passed.

Public Hearings

• Item 5A: Tax-exempt indebtedness of up to $27 million for Lehrman Community Day School – adopted 11-0.
• Item 5B and 5B1: Creation of Alexan Ludlam Multipurpose Maintenance and Street Lighting Special Taxing District – adopted 11-0.
• Item 5C: Brownfield designation for Ludlam Trail Phase II properties – first public hearing held. Forwarded to second public hearing on January 22, 2025, during the board’s regular meeting (11-0).
• Item 5D: Plat approval for 3Mind Subdivision – adopted 11-0.
• Item 5E: Waiver of plat for JN Commonwealth, Inc. – adopted 11-0.
• Item 5F: Ordinance revising subdivision standards for building permits after tentative plat approval – adopted 11-0.
• Items 7A and 7B: Second reading ordinances – relating to short-form permits for seawalls and bulkheads (7A) and revising the Elder Affairs Advisory Board (7B) – both adopted 11-0.

Key Outcomes

• Deferral of waste-to-energy facility site selection to February 2025, with a committee of the whole meeting in January 2025 to discuss the entire solid waste system. (Vote: 11-1)
• Approval of school zone speed enforcement fund distribution policy (10-1), with funds to be divided among districts for public safety.
• Approval of $3,000,000 increase to Stantec contract for wastewater treatment plant design (10-1).
• Approval of feasibility study for a new airport (10-1).
• Multiple amendments to procurement-related resolutions (items 11A15, 11A16) extending reporting timelines and expanding scope.
• Appointments: Timothy Forbes to CVAB and Shamika Gilliar to CBAP.
• Motions: Authorization for county attorney to enter into legal services agreements with constitutional officers; cancellation of December 19, 2024, CDMP/Zoning meeting; approval of $11,121,572 in grant renewals for community-based organizations (bifurcated for recusals); appointment of Commissioner Gilbert to the 30 by 30 Vision Council; allocation of $25,000 for District 8 community events and $5,000 for Chair’s special events.