Committee requests lists of grant subrecipients and pollution-prevention projects; water department says funds will target septic-to-sewer work

A Miami-Dade County Port Resiliency Committee member asked the administration for a list of local nonprofit subrecipients that receive grants administered through the Miami Foundation (agenda item 3A) and for a list of pollution-prevention or in-kind penalty projects that would be implemented in lieu of penalty fees (agenda item 3C).

An administration staff member said the committee would be provided a report of subrecipients; staff also noted a related report had been provided in December but that they could provide it again. The committee member said the request was to ensure transparency because the grants use county dollars.

Amanda Kinnick, interim director of the Water and Sewer Department, told the committee the department’s intention is to use the in-kind funds to support septic-to-sewer projects and to leverage those funds for matching money. Kinnick said, "The department's intention is to do in kind, and pivot these, fund funding funds to, septic to sewer projects. Okay. And leverage them for, matching money." The commissioner who asked the questions said receiving a list would be sufficient for her to vote in favor.

The committee approved item 3A by motion and voice vote (pass by acclamation) after the request for the subrecipient list was made. Item 3C was discussed and then passed as part of moving the balance of the agenda; the committee approved the balance of the agenda by voice vote.

No dollar amounts, specific project names, or timelines for the septic-to-sewer projects were provided in the portion of the transcript reviewed; staff committed to providing the lists the committee requested.

The committee proceeded to other agenda items after these clarifications and votes.