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Miramar approves $130,000-funded legal work to oppose Miami‑Dade ‘waste‑to‑energy’ proposal near Miramar border
Summary
The Miramar City Commission approved paying outside counsel to continue its multi-year opposition to a proposed Miami‑Dade County waste‑to‑energy campus at the West Airport site, using $130,000 contributed by Pembroke Pines and Southwest Ranches.
The Miramar City Commission on June 4 authorized additional legal and environmental services to continue opposing a proposed Miami‑Dade County waste‑to‑energy facility adjacent to Miramar's border, accepting $100,000 from the City of Pembroke Pines and $30,000 from the Town of Southwest Ranches to fund the work.
Deputy City Manager Kelvin Baker told the commission the city has engaged the Goldstein Environmental Law Firm to provide legal and technical advice, secure subject‑matter experts and lobbyists, and prepare reports and rebuttals as Miami‑Dade evaluates potential sites. Baker said funding from the two neighboring jurisdictions was deposited in a ledger titled “Incinerator Campaign.” He explained the city is using a procurement exemption for professional services under the city code and that commission approval is required for expenditures above $75,000.
The issue has been before Miramar since Miami‑Dade’s incinerator in Doral was taken offline by a 2023 fire and the county began considering replacement sites. Mayor Wayne Messam warned of the scale the county has proposed: “Miami Dade County is the largest garbage producer in this state, by far. And they are proposing to burn 4,000 tons — not per year, not per quarter, not per month, not per week, but per day,” he said, urging continued vigilance.
Commissioners asked staff for clarity on the restrictions attached to outside contributions. Baker said Southwest Ranches specified that its $30,000 be used for the advocacy process and “not be used to engage in any lawsuit efforts”; staff confirmed the funds are restricted to the opposition campaign. Commissioners also asked staff to quantify internal staff time spent on the effort; staff agreed to provide rough estimates.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution authorizing the additional legal and environmental services and use of the contributed funds. The vote was recorded as yes by Commissioner Maxwell Chambers, Commissioner Avril Cherizard, Vice Mayor Yvette Colburn, Commissioner Eddie Edwards and Mayor Wayne Messam.
The commission has previously adopted several resolutions opposing the West Airport location and continues to seek regional partners and additional financial support as both Miami‑Dade and Broward County consider large burn facilities near Miramar.
