Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting – November 4, 2025
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Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting – November 4, 2025
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, beginning at 9:30 AM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of items including special recognitions, consent items, public hearings, ordinances on first and second reading, and numerous departmental and commissioner-sponsored resolutions. Key highlights included the termination of a federal consent decree for the corrections department, adoption of a peafowl mitigation policy for District 12 and District 7, approval of a land exchange for the Harry Cain public housing site, and discussions on the sale of the historic county courthouse.
Special Presentations
- Recognition of Miami-Dade Corrections Department: The Board recognized the department for distinguished service and the termination of the consent decree agreement after over 13 years of federal oversight. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called it the greatest achievement of her administration. The day was proclaimed "We Did It Day." (Item 1D1)
- Miami-Dade Farmers Month and South Dade Future Farmers of America: The Board recognized November as Farmers Month and proclaimed November 4, 2025, as South Dade Future Farmers of America Day. Agriculture is the second-largest economic driver in the county after tourism. (Item 1D2)
Consent Calendar
- All items on the consent calendar were approved by a single vote, including:
- Approvals of allocations from various district discretionary reserves (Items 3A1–3A8)
- Grant application to EPA for air pollution control program (Item 3B1)
- Several resolutions regarding community development districts, property sales, and board appointments
Public Comments & Testimony
- Harry Warren attempted to speak on a non-agenda item (his taekwondo program) but was ruled out of order by the Chair.
- Brett Brummond (Goldstein Environmental Law Firm) requested a deferral of item 5D (Miami Country Day School brownfield designation) to December 2, 2025, to align with a pending zoning hearing. The deferral was granted unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Item 7A – Peafowl Mitigation Policy for District 12: The Board adopted an ordinance allowing the county to opt out of peafowl regulations in unincorporated areas. Commissioner Raquel Regalado then successfully moved to approve a similar policy for District 7, funded from District 7 funds. Both policies are identical.
- Item 7B – Billboard Regulations: The Board adopted amendments revising definitions and poster board replacement rules for non-conforming billboards. Passed 11-1 after a committee amendment requiring property owner consent.
- Item 11A1 – Mapton Holdings Exchange Agreement: The Board approved an amendment to accept $6,546,424 in lieu of construction of county facilities, with funds directed to affordable housing development and a satellite office for the District 3 commissioner.
- Item 11A3 – Report on Inactive Boards: The Board directed the mayor to report which county boards have not met in one year, including fiscal analysis and staff expenditure authority, within 45 days. The report will consider sunsetting boards.
- Item 11A11 – South Dade Transitway Use by First Responders: The Board rescinded prior resolution R-445-14 and established new policy governing use of the transitway by law enforcement and fire rescue vehicles for emergency and response time purposes. Passed 11-1.
- Item 14A2 – Hurricane Melissa Relief: The Board authorized county employees to donate accrued leave time to the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund for hurricane relief in Jamaica, with donations designated to Global Empowerment Mission and Food for the Poor, Inc. Passed 11-0.
- Item 14A4 – Food Assistance During Federal Shutdown: Commissioner Oliver Gilbert moved to allocate up to $1,000,000 for food assistance during the SNAP benefit disruption. Amended to require the mayor to report funding source and return remaining funds once SNAP is restored. Passed 12-0.
- Sale of Historic Courthouse: After extensive debate, the Board voted to cease negotiations with the sole bidder and proceed with a public auction. The item will come back to the Board for approval. Key conditions include a minimum purchase price based on market research, historic preservation covenants, and outreach to local entities.
Key Outcomes
- Corrections Proclamation: Unanimous adoption of proclamation recognizing consent decree termination.
- Farmers Month Proclamation: Unanimous adoption.
- First Reading Ordinances (Items 4A–4D): All adopted unanimously on first reading.
- Public Hearing Items (Items 5A–5G, 14A1): All adopted except 5D deferred to December 2, 2025. Items 5A–5C, 5E–5G, and 14A1 passed unanimously.
- Second Reading Ordinances (Items 7A, 7B): Both adopted; 7A passed 12-0, 7B passed 11-1.
- Consent Agenda Items: All passed as part of single motion.
- Commissioner Resolutions: Items 11A1 (amended), 11A2 (adopted), 11A3 (amended to 1-year report), 11A4 (adopted), 11A9 (sympathy resolution for Sen. René Garcia's father), 11A10 (workforce solution funding), 11A11 (transitway), 11A12 (RISE program) – all passed with varying votes.
- Items Subject to 4-Day Rule: 14A1 (land conveyance for affordable housing) adopted; 14A2 (employee leave donation) adopted; 14A3 (STEM grant for Bunche West Park) adopted; 14A4 (food assistance) adopted as amended.
- Miscellaneous: Commissioner Eileen Higgins announced this was her last meeting. She made final allocations and passed leadership of several items to colleagues.
Meeting Transcript
I know we're starting a little later than we thought. But I think the bed sheets caught my colleagues today. They wrapped up my colleagues and not letting them out of bed. Or there's just accidents out there, unfortunately, which is what I'm really told. All right, guys, thank you for being here. Wow, we have a lot of. So who is who is guarding our jails today? Seriously. Who is guarding the prisoners? All right. We are going to start with a recognition proclamation for Miami Dade Corrections Department for Distinguished Service and termination of the consent decree. I think it is the first time in over 13 years that we're not over federal oversight. So that's a big deal. Congratulations, actually. That's a big deal. This achievement uh not only reflects years of reform in jail conditions, but also medical and mental health care and suicide prevention. And it's the result of strong collaboration between MDCR and Jackson Health Systems, Corrections Health Services as well. Is Jackson in the house as well or not? All right. We'll have Jackson in the house. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you to everyone, the administration, my colleagues, Jackson, Corrections Department, our chief, our director, everyone that had a hand in uh in making this happen, and those that perhaps are not even here today, uh, but had a hand in in making sure that this uh federal consent decree was was lifted. Um if the chief and uh director could could join us up here, uh and Madam Mayor, I'll let you uh say some words and then present the official proclamation, and then I think Director Green might have something as well, right? Madam Mayor. Wow. I am overflowing with joy and gratitude for your being here to be acknowledged for the incredible work that you do each and every day, taking care of people who are in our custody and who need you not only to be strong, but to be compassionate. And truly, we've turned the corner because culture has changed in our corrections department, because we know we have a responsibility to take care of each other, keep each other safe, which we have done, you have done, and to make sure that our inmates as well are safe. The challenges that we faced. And when I came to understand them, I dedicated myself fully. Who just held their heads high and just never gave up, never never gave up. We forged new relationships of collaboration, which had not been so collaborative before with Jackson, and Dr. Susan Payton is here representing Jackson, and she has really been instrumental in this journey. But it's the men and the women who were here today who made it possible. Your commitment, your dedication, and you had always been committed and dedicated, but your spirits were low. Am I right? And it starts with you. We have to show you how much we value you. How we depend upon you, and we believe in you, and truly, truly, that's what we have today in our Miami Dade Corrections Department. It wasn't easy. And there were a lot of bumps in the road. Our lawyers, and I'm gonna say to Jerry and to Gerald who are here representing them, we had the finest legal counsel. We had a great partnership, as I said with Jackson. And by the way, it's not just physical care, it was emotional care. Because as was mentioned by the chair, you know, a lot of this is self-harm. A lot of what you have to deal with is self-harm, and how to be sure to protect people from themselves. That was a journey as well. But everything from the cleanliness to the repairs to the facilities, uh, which we're building a new one. All right, we're building a new one. Yeah, that's an applause line.
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