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Candidate Ricardo Mendez outlines fiscal-first agenda, vows to prioritize NMB Water upgrades
Summary
At a Jan. 7, 2026 North Miami Beach workshop, city manager candidate Ricardo Mendez emphasized his 30 years of municipal management experience and said he would prioritize fixing a $5.5 million structural operating deficit, updating actuarial assumptions and modernizing NMB Water’s infrastructure while avoiding conflicts of interest and committing to full-time service.
Ricardo Mendez, a candidate for city manager, told the North Miami Beach commission on Jan. 7, 2026, that his first priorities would be to identify drivers of a multi‑million dollar operating shortfall and to protect the city’s water infrastructure from deferred maintenance and regulatory risk.
Mendez, who described himself as a registered professional civil engineer and a professional city manager with about 30 years of public‑sector experience, gave a brief career overview and cited work in Miami‑Dade County, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach and as chief operating officer for Harrisburg during a financial recovery period. "I believe in transparency 100%," Mendez said during his opening remarks.
Why it matters: Commissioners pressed Mendez on a structural operating deficit they said is roughly $5.5 million and on falling reserves; the commission is seeking a candidate who can both stabilize finances and oversee NMB Water — a regional utility that serves more customers outside city limits than inside. Commissioners also raised concerns about availability, conflict of interest from private practice and the need for quick, visible results before the November election.
Mendez told commissioners he would begin by "earning your trust and confidence" and by conducting an immediate audit‑level review: meeting with auditors, requesting updated actuarial information and identifying the deficit drivers, including pension contributions, interfund transfers and staffing patterns. "Let's identify it," he said, describing the first 90 days as an assessment of strengths, vulnerabilities and compliance risks.
On utility policy, Mendez said NMB Water requires fact‑finding and prioritized capital work to avoid enforcement actions by state or federal regulators. "There are projects in modernization of the aging infrastructure," he said, and "we must be proactive and exercise foresight" to avoid a consent decree or other regulatory penalties.
Commissioners asked whether Mendez would continue his private forensic engineering practice if hired. He said he would not take on new projects and would devote "100% of my time" to the city, adding that he would comply with subpoenas or other legal obligations tied to existing work. On residency and availability — raised as a concern because of the city’s frequent evening events and an upcoming election — Mendez said he would relocate if required to fulfill the job’s demands: "If it requires that I move here, I am open to do that."
Mendez also described his approach to operational complaints such as sanitation and permitting: visit frontline operations, ride sanitation routes with crews to identify practical fixes and optimize routes and equipment, and work with stakeholders to pass targeted ordinances where needed.
The session was a workshop; commissioners did not take a vote. Staff confirmed the full interview video will be posted online by Friday. The commission will review candidate materials and continue the appointment process at a later public meeting.
Sources: Remarks and answers by Ricardo Mendez and questions from members of the North Miami Beach commission during a Jan. 7, 2026 workshop interview; staff comments about video posting.
