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North Miami reviews capital improvement highlights; water-plant planning, Enchanted Forest recertification and resurfacing projects face timeline questions
Summary
Public works reviewed CIP highlights including a 40-year recertification at Enchanted Forest, Cagney Park work, Penny Sugarman tennis resurfacing and ongoing water-plant scenario planning; council pressed staff for schedules, permitting updates and clarity on budgets and encumbrances.
Public Works Director Gary Fiddler reviewed signature capital improvement program projects and said the city currently has about 30 active projects totaling roughly $36 million.
Fiddler outlined a four-phase approach — planning/design, detailed design, procurement and construction — and highlighted several projects: Enchanted Forest 40-year recertification (in procurement), Penny Sugarman Tennis Center resurfacing (scheduled to complete in June), Cagney Park north and the Northeast Third Court drainage project (pending county permits). He said the city is updating the CIP web page for regular project status.
Council members pressed for specifics and schedules. Councilwoman Mary Estimer Irvin asked for a completion date for Cagney Park North; Fiddler said site work was under way and estimated completion in May 2026. On the Third Court drainage project Fiddler said the city was awaiting Miami-Dade County permits and expected permitting within about 30 days before bidding construction.
On the Winston water plant, council members said they had received varying technical scenarios in earlier presentations and asked for scenario costing for smaller capacities than the 20 million gallon-per-day scheme that had been previously discussed. The manager said preliminary reviews of 12 MGD and 15 MGD scenarios exist but staff is refining numbers to be accurate before presenting them to council; councilmembers asked for a facilitated workshop so the governing body can review alternatives together and coordinate federal funding needs.
The Enchanted Forest 40-year recertification drew particular attention from council; council members asked procurement to expedite filings and to include roof repairs and pavilion renovations where the inspection indicates failure. Fiddler said the project was in procurement and that some funds from prior years rolled forward to address pump-room and electrical issues before addressing aesthetics.
Councilors also used the CIP discussion to raise procurement and change-order practices. When a change order of $51,000 at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center resurfacing appeared on the consent items, several council members called for tighter pre-bid scopes and larger bid contingencies to reduce frequent change orders; procurement staff said a contingency (about $24,800) existed in the original award but did not cover the newly identified additional work that became evident once contractors began work.
No new appropriations were approved at the meeting. Council requested written updates on permitting for the Third Court drainage project, a schedule for Cagney Park Phase 1, clarity on Enchanted Forest deliverables and a briefing on options for the Winston water plant scenarios.
