Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 9:30 AM in Commission Chambers for a regularly scheduled meeting. The agenda included a proclamation for the Greater Miami Service Corps' 35th anniversary, a mayoral appointment, numerous consent items, public hearings on special taxing districts and zoning matters, and a major discussion on selecting a developer for a new waste-to-energy facility. The meeting featured extensive public comment and debate on several high-profile items.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 13-0: Proclamation for Greater Miami Service Corps 35th anniversary.
• Approved 13-0: Mayoral appointment of George Olazabal as Director of Communications, Information and Technology.
• Accepted 13-0: Reports on military reservist pay, Seaport grants, summer youth internship, and mobility/impact fee collections.
• Adopted 13-0 (consent items): Multiple street co-designations (Richard Herron Way, Teresa "Terri" Callava Way, Sonia Castro Way, Carnival Place), CBO discretionary reserve allocations for districts, surplus property conveyance to FDOT, and numerous resolutions including amendments to Crandon Park Master Plan (pickleball, Calusa Park lighting hours), approval of new animal shelter site (5H), and establishment/expansion of several special taxing districts (Eureka Townhouses, Century Estates North, Acacia Groves, Palm Glades CDD, Silver Palms West CDD).
• Adopted 13-0: Waiver of plat (D-25213) and Class I permit for boatlift at 4575 Sabal Palm Road.
• Approved 12-0: Second amended operating agreement for Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens.
• Adopted 13-0: Ratification of water/sewer Consent Decree-related agreements and award of engineering services, and approval of consent orders for water treatment plant violations.
• Adopted 13-0: Non-competitive purchase of conducted energy weapons for Corrections.
• Adopted 13-0: Second amendment to interlocal agreement for SE Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stanley Young (Freedom Prison and Jail Ministry) expressed 100% support for CBO discretionary allocations (items 3A3-3A13).
• Multiple speakers (Stanley Young, Noel Cleland, Will Larkins, Logan Hoskins, Joseph Roca, Ashley Gutierrez Rodriguez, Baroni Yanes, Marcelo Balladares, Maria Claudia Schubert Fontes, Sebastian Caysello, and others) opposed item 6A1 (waste-to-energy facility), citing costs, pollution, health concerns, and urging adoption of zero-waste alternatives. They argued that the incinerator would be expensive, pollute air/water, and that recycling, composting, and plastic bans are better options.
• Eric Skill raised a procedural concern about item 11A6, stating that a last-night amendment was not publicly noticed.
• Yolanda Berkowitz spoke in support of item 5H (new animal shelter), urging operational planning and budgeting to ensure life-saving outcomes from day one.
• Jose Gonzalez (Miami-Dade employee) thanked the board for support of item 5H on behalf of the shelter.

Discussion Items

• 4A (CITT Reform Ordinance): Proposed amendment to the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust to revise membership, appointment process, and powers; adopted on first reading 12-1 (Commissioner Regalado voted no).
• 5K (Slum/Blight Area Designation for NW 7th Ave Corridor CRA Expansion): Resolution declaring three unincorporated areas as slum or blighted, urging the CRA to amend its redevelopment plan. Passed 10-2 after debate. Mayor Levine Cava expressed concern about fiscal impact, noting potential $2.378 million county TIF loss through 2034 and cumulative $701 million impact from all pending CRA actions. She announced a forthcoming moratorium on new/expanded CRAs. Commissioners Hardemon and Vice Chair McGhee defended CRAs as poverty-fighting tools.
• 5H (New Animal Shelter Construction): Resolution approving construction at 29500 Harriet Tubman Highway. Passed unanimously. Commissioner Bermudez and others added as co-sponsors.
• 5I (Crandon Park Master Plan Amendments): Approved unanimously after discussion on fiscal impact. Commissioner Regalado confirmed extended hours and pickleball would generate revenue, reducing general fund need.
• 5J (Sonia Castro Way Street Co-designation): Unanimously approved, with all commissioners co-sponsoring.
• 6A1 (Waste-to-Energy Facility Developer Selection): Major item. Two consortiums—FPL/Canadivia and FCC/MasTec/Babcock & Wilcox—presented proposals. Extensive debate on cost, site selection, financing, and risk. Chairman Rodriguez moved to direct the administration to negotiate a joint developer agreement and bring back a report by January 21, 2026. Motion passed, also lifting the cone of silence. Commissioners expressed need for more detailed financial data; a workshop/industry day was planned for January before the BCC meeting.
• 8N4 (On-Demand Transit Contract Amendment): Approved 10-2 (Commissioners Orbis and Regalado opposed) after concerns about equity and fare changes.
• 11A1 (Septic-to-Sewer Conversion for Biscayne Shores): Adopted 13-0.
• 11A2 (SMART Plan Rapid Transit Corridors Funding Study): Adopted 13-0 with an amendment to include a signalization update.
• 11A5 (Printed Copies of Adopted Budget): Amended to require printed copies within 60 days for commissioners/public; adopted.
• 11A6 (Commercial Vehicle Storage in Western Miami-Dade): Bifurcated. Part (CDMP application for additional storage) adopted 13-0. The remainder (including a one-year enforcement stay) was deferred to the January BCC meeting.
• 11A7 (Crosswalk Extension for Constitutional Officers): Adopted 11-2 after debate. The administration opposed, citing costs and potential loss of employees. Supporters argued it protects employee benefits and is a one-year extension.
• 14A5 (Inspector General Qualifications and Term): Adopted on first reading 12-1.
• 14A6 (Miami International Airport Lease Restructuring with Aero Miami III): Adopted 13-0.
• 14A8 (Amendment to Ludlam Trail Pedestrian Bridge Easement): Adopted 13-0.

Key Outcomes

• Waste-to-Energy Motion Passed: The board approved a motion directing the county mayor to negotiate with a joint consortium of FPL and FCC and return with a status report/agreement by the January 21, 2026 BCC meeting. The cone of silence was lifted. A workshop will be held before that meeting.
• CRA Expansion Approved: Item 5K (slum/blight designation for NW 7th Ave Corridor) passed 10-2, but the mayor signaled a future moratorium on new/expanded CRAs due to budget impact.
• Animal Shelter Approved: Construction of new shelter at 29500 Harriet Tubman Highway was approved unanimously.
• Crandon Park Pickleball and Extended Hours Approved: Amendments to the master plan passed unanimously.
• Truck Parking Item Bifurcated: Part (CDMP for western Miami-Dade) adopted; enforcement stay deferred.
• Crosswalk Extension Passed: One-year extension for employee transitions between county and constitutional offices passed 11-2.
• Inspector General Ordinance Advanced: First reading passed 12-1, with public hearing scheduled for February 2026.
• Appointments: Commissioner Lopez appointed to downtown development authority and Miami Beach CRA; Anthony O'Connor reappointed to industrial development authority.