Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting – December 2, 2025

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 9:30 AM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting covered numerous consent items, public hearings, second readings, and discussion items. Key topics included amendments to airport concession agreements, capital program contract increases, a directive to finalize Bristol negotiations, and a motion to address flooding from a pump station. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mercy Perez (14900 SW 74 Terrace, Miami) spoke in support of Item 14A2, regarding the recall petition process. She expressed frustration that the lack of a designated department for recalls was not made known until residents began petitions, and she supported the item as a taxpayer right.
• Isel Rodriguez (9880 Candle Drive) also supported Item 14A2, arguing that the government should clearly inform citizens about processes and that making recalls impossible amounts to negligence.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved unanimously without discussion:

• 2B1, 2B2, 2B3: Acceptance of Aviation Capital Program Reports and a feasibility report on job order contracting.
• 3A1–3A9: Various commissioner consent items, including street co-designations (Elliott's Way, Drs. Dazelle and George Simpson Way), district fund allocations, and budget adjustments.
• 8A3: Contract with Winmar Construction for MIA New Building 3053 ($18,349,699.70).
• 8C1: Amendment to the architect contract for Miami-Dade County Auditorium renovations.
• 8H2, 8L1–8L4, 8M1, 8N1, 8O1–8O4 (substitute), 8P1–8P3, 9A1, 10A1, 11A1–11A3, 11A5, 11A7–11A13, 11A15, 11A16, 14A1–14A3: Dozens of resolutions covering property acceptances, historic preservation tax exemptions, brownfield designation, solid waste program, Title VI program, water/sewer contract changes, security guard services contracts, lease approvals, environmental covenants, homeless trust administration, mitigation bank feasibility, job vacancy reports, pet registration portal, neighborhood planning, public housing directives, inspector general agreement, aquarium lease, flood relief funding, food additive resolution, sewer overflow funding, Bird Key conservation, land-use regulation, and roadway resilience funding.
• 5A: Resolution naming the new Sumatran tiger habitat at Zoo Miami as the "Cecil and Ana Milton Family Foundation Stripes of Sumatra."
• 5B: Ordinance creating the Legacy Palm Drive Community Development District.
• 5C: Resolution approving the plat of Delmas North Apartments.
• 5D: Ordinance clarifying standards for certified recovery residences and reasonable accommodations.
• 7A: Ordinance revising Children's Trust governing board membership and term limits.
• 7B: Ordinance amending the Metromover subzone of the Rapid Transit Zone to add private properties.
• 7C: Ordinance creating the Trail Connector Sub-District in Downtown Kendall Urban Center.

Discussion Items

• Item 2B3 (Job Order Contracting Feasibility Report): Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez expressed support but stressed the need for robust metrics to evaluate pilot program costs.
• Items 8A1 and 8A2 (Airport Concession Lease Amendments): Commissioners debated the process behind these amendments for Duty-Free Americas Miami and Global Concessions Inc., with Senator Rene Garcia and others questioning why errors occurred and seeking accountability. Deputy Director Basel Benz explained that the standard form agreement was used for efficiency, anticipating the later amendments with vendor agreement. Commissioner Keon Hardeman noted the board had created a messy process. The items passed with discussion.
• Items 8A4 and 8A5 (Capital Program Contract Increases): Senator Garcia pulled these items, seeking justification for increases of $15.6 million (Hill International) and $18.5 million (Turner & Townsend Heery). Staff explained the increases were due to accelerated capital projects. The items passed.
• Item 8H1 (Park Property Deed Acceptance): Senator Garcia expressed frustration over the Mayor's office failing to respond to his November 7 memo requesting detailed analysis of the Countywide Infrastructure Investment Program (CIIP) for parks. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava committed to providing a written response by the next meeting.
• Item 9A2 (Baynanza Funding): Commissioner Bermudez supported the $490,000 disbursement from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund but noted that District 12 was not included and requested countywide inclusion.
• Bristol Negotiations (No formal agenda item): Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins moved to direct the administration to bring an update on negotiations with Bristol (related to American Airlines property at MIA) to the December 16 meeting, with a deadline of December 4 for the Chair to receive materials. Commissioner Oliver Gilbert cautioned against prejudicing negotiations, but the motion passed after noting that over a year of talks had occurred and American Airlines’ 200+ employees were at risk.

Key Outcomes

• All public hearings (Items 5A-5D) and second readings (Items 7A-7C) adopted unanimously (12-0 or 13-0).
• Items 8A1 and 8A2 adopted (vote not recorded but passed after discussion).
• Items 8A4, 8A5, 8H1, 9A2 adopted unanimously.
• Motion on Bristol negotiations: Approved to direct the administration to provide the item to the Chair by December 4, 2025, for the December 16 meeting, with the expectation of a resolution by December 31, 2025.
• Pump Station Flooding Motion: Commissioner Keon Hardeman moved to direct the Water & Sewer Department to investigate and remediate flooding at 781 NW 55th Street within two weeks, authorizing necessary expenditures. The motion passed.
• Legislative Hold Extensions: All commissioners except Commissioner Hardeman extended their holds indefinitely; Commissioner Hardeman extended his for 90 days.
• Orange Bowl Funding: Commissioner Gilbert’s motion to distribute $500,000 in countywide non-departmental funds passed: $300,000 to Orange Blossom Football Classic LLC, $100,000 to Alabama State University Foundation, and $100,000 to FYFL United Inc.