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Committee approves ordinance expanding ID and background checks for Miami‑Dade Water and Sewer access
Summary
The Appropriations Committee passed an ordinance amending Miami‑Dade County Code sections to change identification card issuance, add definitions and authorize fingerprint submissions for background checks of employees, contractors and vendors who need access to restricted areas of the Water and Sewer Department.
The Miami‑Dade County Appropriations Committee passed an ordinance amending county code provisions that govern security at the Miami‑Dade Water and Sewer Department. The ordinance would add definitions, change the identification‑card issuance process and authorize the department’s security division to obtain fingerprints for submission to federal and local law enforcement agencies for background checks.
The ordinance, filed as public hearing item 1G1, was introduced and opened for public comment; no members of the public spoke. The committee then heard from department leadership and approved the ordinance by roll call vote.
Jay Fink, identified in the meeting as the director, said the revised approach will remove an older requirement to reissue identification cards annually and replace it with a more modern, zone‑specific system. “In the previous ordinance, there was a requirement to issue brand new cards every year. This will remove that. In essence, what it will do, it will allow a little bit of revamping, better recognition of technology, and, at a minimum, look to save $30,000 a year in costs of redoing all of those ID cards,” Fink said.
Fink told commissioners that the new carding approach will be more specific to access zones and will reduce administrative burden while improving security through updated technology. He said the original ordinance was completed in 2002 and needs updating to reflect modern systems.
Roll call votes recorded at the committee meeting indicate the ordinance received affirmative votes from Commissioners who answered during roll call: Commissioner Gonzales, Milian Orbis, Commissioner Steinberg and Chairwoman Regalado (motion passed). The committee chair said the motion passed and the item will proceed to the full board for final action.
Ending
The ordinance changes will take effect after the full board acts and any effective date specified in the final ordinance. Department staff told the committee the amendment should produce both security and administrative efficiencies and modest annual cost savings for the department.
