Committee approves annexation resolution for parts of Florida City, sends to full board

The Miami-Dade Appropriations Committee on Thursday held a public hearing and voted unanimously to forward an annexation request from the City of Florida City to county attorneys for drafting of the implementing ordinance and interlocal agreement.

Commissioner Kionne McGee presented the item, identified in committee papers as item 1G1. McGee said the annexation concerns territory in his district. Committee members noted that a survey circulated to residents in the affected area returned 31 responses — 17 opposed and 14 in favor — out of 88 registered voters in the residential area, a turnout the committee described as low.

Henry Iler, city planner for Florida City, told the committee the city had not received letters or significant outreach protesting the annexation at city hall and that staff had scheduled meetings for property owners. He confirmed the low survey response and said the city anticipates some property owners will face higher millage rates after annexation; the city will meet individually with owners who request meetings.

The agenda item is a public-hearing resolution under Miami-Dade County Code Section 20-7B directing the county attorney to prepare the ordinance and interlocal agreement to effectuate the annexation or to deny or defer it following the public hearing. After a short public comment period with no additional speakers, the committee voted in favor and instructed county attorneys to prepare the implementing documents and bring the matter to the full Board of County Commissioners.

Next steps: county attorneys will draft the ordinance and interlocal agreement and the item will be scheduled for BCC consideration.