The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on February 18, 2026, for a lengthy session dominated by a debate over the future of the Urban Development Boundary (UDB), the development of a new Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility, and a proposed naming rights sponsorship for a park along The Underline. Commissioners received a critical update on pending state legislation, approved several ordinances on first reading, and processed numerous routine consent items.
The board approved a slate of routine items, including district discretionary fund allocations and numerous departmental resolutions. Key approved contracts and agreements included:
Mayoral Veto of Kelly Tractor Application: The board considered a mayoral veto of a Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) text amendment for a Kelly Tractor Company development. Mayor Levine Cava argued the project improperly sought to expand the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) via a text amendment rather than a full application, threatening wetlands, the aquifer, and established growth policies. Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez moved to reconsider the item, stating the applicant would work with staff to address the concerns raised in the veto.
This sparked extensive debate. Commissioner Gilbert criticized what he saw as the administration's inconsistency, noting the county had itself proposed building a waste-to-energy facility outside the UDB. Commissioner Regalado highlighted the complexities of the wetlands covenant tied to the land. Commissioner Cohen Higgins questioned the administration's claim that they didn't recommend the text amendment process, as the applicant's attorney stated they were instructed to use it. The board voted to reconsider the vetoed item and defer it to the March 19 CDMP meeting to allow for negotiations. The board also directed the administration to ask the state for a 180-day timeline extension.
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility: Chairman Rodriguez presented a motion directing the administration to formally begin negotiations on an interim agreement with the consortium of Florida Power & Light (FPL) and FCC Environmental Services.
Amendments: Commissioner Regalado requested parameters for the negotiations, specifically ensuring that the county would not be responsible for the consortium's due diligence costs if the deal fell through. Commissioner Rodriguez accepted an amendment codifying this protection. He also added a policy that the county will not pay any ongoing, perpetual royalty or tipping fees for the acquisition of any interest in privately owned land for the facility site.
Board Expectations: Commissioners expressed a strong desire for the consortium to return in April with a 'menu of options' showing hard capital and lifecycle costs for different configurations—including the core waste-to-energy plant and a la carte ancillary facilities for waste diversion. The motion passed as amended.
The Underline (Chewy Bark Park Naming Rights): Commissioner Regalado brought forward a resolution to name a portion of the Underline linear park 'Chewy Bark Park' for a three-year period in exchange for a $500,000 sponsorship from the pet supply company.
Commissioner Gilbert and others raised significant concerns about equity. They argued the county had invested heavily in the Underline's infrastructure, while sponsorship proceeds were being used to benefit the park and the City of Coral Gables, rather than being widely shared to address disparities in underserved districts that lack similar amenities. Commissioner Regalado defended the sponsorship as a crucial step for the Underline to achieve self-sufficiency and offered to lead a countywide vision plan to replicate the model. The item was deferred to the next board meeting to allow for the submission of the full sponsorship agreement with Chewy and more detailed project documentation.
2026 State Legislative Session Update: Commissioner Vicki Lopez provided a comprehensive update on the current session, warning of severe potential impacts on the county.
Property Tax Reform: Several bills are advancing, including a phase-out of property taxes, which would devastate county revenue. Sovereign Immunity: Bills raising damage caps could cost the county $32-37 million annually. Local Business Tax: Repeal of the local business tax represents a $14 million recurring hit. DEI Bill (SB 1134): A broadly defined ban on funding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives could threaten funding for community advocacy boards, CBOs (e.g., Hispanic Chamber, Girl Scouts), and health programs. Transportation: The Senate budget lacks funding for Tri-Rail and the Northeast Corridor.
Commissioners and the Mayor emphasized the need to aggressively communicate the dire service cuts these bills would necessitate.
Quiet in the chamber so we can start our meeting. And clerk, please uh go ahead and call roll. Good morning to all. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Bermudez. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Gonzalez. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Commissioner Miliano. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Steinberg. Vice Chairman McGee. Chairman Rodriguez. Present. We have 12 members present. We have a quorum. All right. Everyone, please stand for the invocation today given by Pastor Rich Romero of the Generation Generation Church at the invitation of Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by our Vice Chairman. Well, good morning, everybody. We are honored to be in this chamber in this room together. I want to honor Commissioner Gonzalez for the opportunity. And I'm just going to go ahead and lead us in prayer. I wanted to declare this verse as we pray, which is Micah chapter six, verse eight. It says, Oh people, the Lord has told you to do what is good, to require you to do justice, what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. That's what we're believing for this morning. So would you bow your heads with me? Heavenly Father, we just thank you, Jesus, for this day you've given us a new day, Lord, to put our hands on the plow on that which you've called us, Lord, to. And I just thank you, God, for every uh commissioner, every city official, Lord, for the opportunity to serve. And I thank you for the districts that we represent, the counties that we represent, God. Would you grant favor this morning over that project, over all of the things that we're leading, the initiatives, God that we are stewarding? I thank you for every family represented. And Father, just for the city of Miami, we pray that it looks like heaven. So Father, would you lead us? Would you grant a strategy and supernatural favor to do that very thing you've called us to do? Lord, may we learn to walk humbly before you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Thank you. We understand. We understand. It's the intent. All right. Mr. Chairman. All right. No, stop, stop, stop. Can I just give a point of information? The first day of Lent.