The Village of Biscayne Park Commission met Nov. 10, 2026. Commissioners appointed Art Gonzalez as mayor and Howard Goldman as vice mayor, approved several resolutions including a landscaping contract and a BEA amendment for drainage work, heard reports on a new village website and increased code enforcement, and authorized removal of a hazardous tree at the historic log cabin.

Discussion Points

•Amendment Three introduces fiscal constraints and the village should prioritize shovel-ready projects.
•An arbitrator found a village termination excessive in a separate case and ordered rehiring and repayment of approx. $1,700; no back pay awarded.
•Arborist found hollow trunk, bacterial fungus, and structural failure risk.
•CJSTC issued discipline that included a 90-day certificate suspension, ethics training and one-year probation.
•Commissioners asked about watch-order accessibility and calendar prominence.
•Commissioners discussed avoiding nesting season and preventing tree-related hazards.
•Commissioners emphasized need for the mayor to engage Tallahassee and federal contacts to secure grant/revenue support after Amendment Three.
•Increased enforcement will include citations for tree maintenance and trash violations.
•Outreach efforts (door knocks) were insufficient to address early trash and bulk items.
•Some commissioners highlighted management and temperamental qualities of Gonzalez.
•Suggested top asks: stormwater, road repairs, playground replacement; plan outreach to legislators and lobbyist.
•Vendor previewed site layout, analytics-driven buttons and notification options.

Decisions

•Commissioners to prepare three top legislative requests and coordinate with staff and lobbyist.
•Commission ratified removal and approved funds/expenditure for removal.
•No formal commission action required; staff to comply with arbitration and CJSTC requirements.
•Resolution 2026-73 approved; vice mayor to follow alphabetical rotation per code.
•Shift from outreach to mandatory citation issuance for specified violations.
•Target January go-live; final presentation before launch.

Directions

•Invite lobbyist and finance director to December meeting for briefing.
•Plan a public town hall in January (post-holidays) to present impacts and gather community input.
•Proceed with removal and coordinate timing to avoid nesting concerns.
•Staff to implement training, record updates in ATMS and process rehiring/repayment.
•Staff to increase monitoring and issue citations when violations are observed.
•Staff to organize individualized Zoom sessions with elected officials and consultants for feedback.

Nov

Special Commission Meeting

Special commission meeting of the Village of Biscayne Park on Nov. 10, 2026 to accept unofficial election results and swear in three newly elected commissioners.

Discussion Points

•Amsler thanked staff, vendors and partners and encouraged continued participation with the Miami-Dade County League of Cities and state contacts.
•John read the full text of Resolution 2026-78, including certification contingency and term commencement under Village Charter §5.01.

Decisions

•Resolution 2026-78 approved unanimously, subject to county certification.

Nov

Miami Springs City Council Regular Meeting - November 9th, 2026

City council meeting of Miami Springs covering awards, a scout-led centennial time capsule set for Dec. 5, an ordinance on feeding/feral poultry (first reading), two naming resolutions, discussion of Amendment 3 budget impacts, and routine reports; meeting called to order at 7:01 and adjourned at 8:03.

Discussion Points

•Amendment 3 likely reduces future taxable growth and may force reductions in services or personnel.
•Burial scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.; request to close Circle and place concrete slab.
•Clarifies sanctuary scope to exclude certain domesticated birds in public spaces.
•Corrected resolution endpoints to use the Miami Springs sign (Hunting Lodge) rather than Deer Run.
•Estimated impacts cited: roughly $2.1M in year one and $4.1M in year two under certain state estimates.
•Framed as heritage tourism and potential grant support.
•Officer Capote recognized for community policing and 25 years of service.
•Prohibits public knowing feeding of unowned/feral fowl; enforcement requires evidence and special-master review.
•Project raised nearly $16,000 through fundraising and donations.
•Scouts to donate leftover funds to historical society.

Decisions

•Award presented; no policy action recorded.
•Council agreed to schedule a workshop; no formal layoffs approved at this meeting.
•Council expressed support; no formal permitting action recorded in this meeting.
•Ordinance approved on first reading.
•Resolution approved.

Directions

•Staff to coordinate with scout and public works on slab placement and locates.
•Staff to prepare a workshop and materials, consider inviting state reps.
•Staff to prepare signage and grant-follow up as appropriate.
•Staff to publish notice and schedule public comment for second reading.
•Staff to review service levels, overtime/event spending, and staffing options.

Nov

Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee - November 10, 2026

Recreation, Tourism and Resiliency Committee deferred action on a proposed 99-year lease for the former Miami Seaquarium site after a developer presentation, detailed amendments and extensive public comment pressing for more time and stronger environmental protections.

Discussion Points

•Commissioner Steinberg asked whether the parks pilot to move away from gas blowers would be honored.
•Developer committed to public access, environmental monitoring and minimum investment figures.
•Environmental groups asked for enforceable, measurable obligations rather than aspirational 'objectives.'
•Parks Director Christina White said the pilot is complete and the cost to scale would be 'well over a million dollars.'
•Public commenters highlighted late lease posting and insufficiency of the public-review period.
•Public commenters urged deferral, independent appraisals, and restoration of four-week public review.
•Speakers requested deferral, independent appraisals and restored public-notice procedures.
•Sponsor described year-long negotiations and community meetings that reshaped the lease's term sheet.
•Staff clarified lease negotiates business terms and that permitting/CDMP will determine final entitlements such as slip counts.
•Staff noted the lease negotiates business terms; permitting and CDMP remain separate processes.

Decisions

•Item 3D adopted by committee.
•Motion to defer item 3F passed; the lease will not be approved at this meeting.
•No decision; committee deferred the item.
•No lease action taken; public concerns will need to be addressed in subsequent committee work.

Directions

•Commissioners requested independent validation of economic projections and confirmation of enforceable monitoring and mitigation measures.
•Committee deferred the item for more review.
•Contracting will be competitively bid with potential specifications reflecting pilot results.
•Item will be scheduled for the next practicable committee or full BCC meeting for further review.
•Staff to meet with Commissioner Steinberg to review the pilot report.
•Staff to request additional time from debtors in possession and the bankruptcy court.

Nov

Housing Committee - November 10, 2026

Housing Committee held a public hearing and unanimously passed an ordinance to require resident notice for administrative approvals of workforce housing (Item 1G1) and a resolution approving the Section 8 administrative plan (Item 1G2); limited public comment urged continued forums for feedback.

Discussion Points

•Administration requested waiving items 1G2 and 3B to Nov. 17 BCC meeting.
•Agenda was set by motion; 1G1 and 1G2 were read and passed unanimously.
•Audit found no policy violations in headline attribution, speaker mapping, or factual claims beyond those attributed to public commenters.
•County Attorney noted supplemental fiscal impact and social equity statement for the item.
•Members asked to be added as co-sponsors, citing similar neighborhood concerns.
•Public commenter said the plan affects 'well over forty thousand families' and thanked organizations that submitted comments.
•Sponsor said 1G1 is a brief code change to require resident notification for administrative approvals of workforce housing.

Decisions

•1G1 and 1G2 approved by committee; items 1G2 and 3B requested to be waived to Nov. 17 BCC meeting.
•1G1 passed unanimously by the committee
•1G2 passed unanimously

Directions

•Administration requested waiver to Nov. 17 BCC meeting for listed items.

Nov

Aviation and Seaport Committee - November 9, 2026

A Miami-Dade County Aviation and Seaport Committee meeting addressed non‑competitive renewals for airport financial and timekeeping systems, ratified late change orders for the IBIS parking garage, advanced several items to the Nov. 17 county commission meeting and adjourned; no public speakers signed up.

Discussion Points

•3F was not allowed to be walked on due to insufficient review time.
•Administration requested several items be advanced to the Nov. 17 BCC meeting.
•Chairwoman/Council sponsor noted the 60‑day ratification deadline was missed and expressed concern.
•Commissioner Gonzalez asked whether the $3.2M replacement estimate included implementation, migration and long‑term maintenance; director replied yes.
•Commissioners asked whether alternatives were evaluated and whether the upgrade preserves interoperability and future competition.
•Director explained why additional scope was added for design‑criteria professionals and that the project finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
•Director said biometric upgrade will reduce occurrences of employees clocking in for others and improve efficiency.
•Director said market research showed broad industry use and cost savings; four vendors evaluated could not meet aeronautical billing requirement.

Decisions

•Committee approved advancement requests and adjourned.
•Committee approved item 3A and its supplement by voice vote.
•Committee approved item 3B by voice vote.
•Committee ratified the change orders for the IBIS parking garage.

Directions

•Department provided retraining and the item was ratified; committee expects better adherence to 60‑day requirement.
•Item 3C was also advanced before adjournment.
•MDAD to explore interoperable systems and report back on long‑term payroll automation plans.
•MDAD will continue exploring alternative vendors and issue a solicitation in January 2027.

Nov

Safety and Health Committee - November 9, 2026

Miami-Dade County Safety and Health Committee honored a 14-year-old, Santiago, with a commendation after he assisted at an October 22 car crash, then discussed a request from Miami‑Dade Fire Rescue for an additional $2.9 million to address corrosion repairs on a six-year-old helicopter fleet; the committee approved the agenda item by voice vote and adjourned.

Discussion Points

•Clerk announced absences and quorum; public comment slot opened and closed with no speakers.
•Corrosion attributed to humidity and saltwater intrusion in coastal climate; helicopters about six years old.
•Members moved to set the agenda excluding item 3B for separate discussion.
•Staff estimated ~$3 million already spent and requested additional $2.9 million to carry through the contract.
•The committee recognized a local youth for lifesaving actions at an Oct. 22 crash.

Decisions

•Agenda set excluding item 3B (approved by voice vote)
•Motion to move item 3B approved by voice vote

Nov

Special City Commission

South Miami City Commission held a special meeting Nov. 4, 2026 to address succession for the departing city manager and to discuss a potential assignment to acquire the dry-cleaner lot adjacent to Lot B for parking development.

Discussion Points

•Bilingual and free programming to improve access
•Commissioner interviews and candidate profile development
•Concerns about fiscal constraints linked to state-level amendment and revenue projections
•Contract terms: $3.5M purchase price; deposits of $50k and $250k; $300k next payment due Nov. 18
•Desire to preserve continuity while evaluating external candidates with P3 experience
•Environmental due diligence in progress (clearance for use/operation only; construction not covered); extension through Jan. 2027
•Estimated search firm cost ($25k–$35k) and procurement delegation
•Festival dates (April 23–24) and scope
•Financing and carry concerns given other capital needs (City Hall) and possible seller financing or joint-venture alternatives
•Options: interim appointment + search; direct internal appointment; external search for permanent manager
•Procurement timeline (two weeks to contract, 30-day minimum posting)

Decisions

•Motion to appoint deputy as interim passed
•Motion to make deputy permanent failed
•Motion to retain search firm approved
•No purchase/assignment executed; direction to staff for further analysis

Directions

•Ask firm to provide initial candidate lists by January meeting
•Delegate to city manager to retain an executive search firm and consult individually with commissioners on candidate profile
•Delegate to city manager to select a firm within procurement thresholds; return to commission if cost exceeds threshold
•Direct CFO and relevant staff to model garage revenue, ROI and debt service scenarios
•Interim city manager to assume duties pending recruitment
•Request environmental liability analysis, including whether contamination plume migration affects adjacent city property
•Return to commission with report and potential Nov. 17 agenda item

Nov

Design Review Board

The City of South Miami Design Review Board met to consider three development applications: a late-stage amendment to the Somi Walk multiunit project seeking to increase bedroom count; two single-family new-construction applications with conditions focused on tree protection, setbacks and pool perimeter; the board approved all three items with conditions and accepted meeting minutes.

Discussion Points

•All three items were approved with conditions; no public commenters were present for these items.
•Applicant said arborist excavated roots and approved preservation measures.
•Applicant said most trees on site will be preserved and only one will be relocated.
•Board members raised no material objections and accepted staff conditions.
•Board praised the design but required corrections at permitting.
•Board pressed applicant on landscape detail, native species, and tree retention counts.
•Staff noted pool setback, perimeter walk and driveway sight triangle issues.
•Staff requested updated traffic study and DRC review of parking lifts and safety.
•Staff said the bedroom increase is internal and does not change exterior design.
•Staff will require a tree removal permit and a recorded restrictive covenant prior to permitting.

Decisions

•Board approved PB-2026-020 on staff recommendation; item to proceed to commission with staff comments.
•DRB-2026-017 approved with conditions; staff to verify required documents at permitting.
•DRB-2026-023 approved with conditions; staff verification required at permitting.
•Minutes approved; next meeting Nov. 17 at 8:30 a.m.

Directions

•Applicant to provide revised landscape and arborist documentation; staff to check sod/open-space percentages and correct tree chart errors if needed.
•Applicant to submit corrected setback/pool detail, driveway sight triangles and sustainability supporting documents prior to permitting.
•Applicant to update traffic study before commission review; staff to verify parking-lift permittability and safety at DRC/permitting.
•Staff to verify required corrections and documentation at permitting.

Nov

October 20, 2026 Commission Meeting

City of South Miami commission meeting on Oct. 20, 2026: commissioners deferred three Byrd Road land‑use items, approved a modified Med Square development agreement with neighborhood design conditions, authorized a red‑light camera contract (4‑1), adopted several equipment purchases and stormwater billing ordinance, and heard public concerns about overdevelopment and trees.

Discussion Points

•Chief described replacement of vendor and objectives to gather evidence for potential legislative changes; state law currently limits enforceability of some pilot features.
•City attorney: indefinite deferral requires re‑advertising; no statutory time limit though staff expects ~3 months before return.
•Clarified allocation of responsibilities between office and townhouse components if components sell to separate owners.
•Clerk read items and staff answered why an equipment item was not on consent.
•Commissioner asked about advertising and meeting schedules tied to consent item 2.
•Commissioner asked effect on timing/ownership if parcel components sold.
•Commissioners sought assurances about timing (TCO vs final CO) and interim treatment of undeveloped lots.
•Counsel requested a waiver due to outside representation of vendor; waiver approved.
•Finance team recognized for award wins; Gapera praised for grant management and attending EPA meetings while recovering.
•Speakers asked for stronger enforcement of preservation and interim standards for cleared lots.
•Speakers emphasized the scale of nearby construction ("over 3,000 units") and risk to mature trees and local landmarks.

Decisions

•Adopted development agreement amendment with the three modifications; townhome permit requirement before final CO remains in force.
•Consent agenda adopted unanimously; equipment purchases authorized.
•Contract approved 4‑1; waiver adopted.
•Items 7, 8 and 9 deferred indefinitely (4‑0 with one recusal).
•No immediate policy action taken; commissioners requested follow‑up engagement.
•Recognition given; no policy decisions made.

Directions

•Applicant to incorporate agreed modifications into the restated development agreement; staff to draft interim treatment standard (sod/grass) language.
•Commissioners invited residents to meet with staff and to inform ongoing tree‑canopy ordinance discussions.
•Counsel to proceed under approved waiver.
•Procurement to proceed with purchase orders; finance to implement fee schedule change.
•Staff to obtain deployment timing and to gather a couple months of data for potential legislative briefing before session.
•Staff to re‑notice if/when applicant re‑files; Planning to coordinate re‑advertising.

Oct

City of Miami Springs Activate Southeast Springs NW 36th Street Town Hall

Public-comment meeting in Miami Springs on a proposed charter amendment to allow taller multifamily housing in Zone 3 of the Northwest 36th Street District. Residents raised concerns about traffic, public safety, ballot wording and fiscal impacts; city staff and the city attorney explained zoning, drafting choices and data.

Discussion Points

•City Attorney Roger said ballot language is iterative and constrained by statutory word limits and explained the amendment applies only to Zone 3 (east of East Drive).
•Deputy Chief provided event and arrest statistics for the corridor and said the department will continue proactive policing.
•Planner said underlying zoning already permits 120-foot heights for hotels and offices; the amendment would allow comparable residential heights in Zone 3 subject to a 150-foot buffer near single-family homes.
•Residents asked for modeling showing how many units or revenue Zone 3 would need to offset those losses.
•Residents cited a manager and company (Juan Oliva / Eleve 8) posting renderings and raised transparency concerns.
•Residents pressed for more granular crime data, the possibility of a satellite police office, and limits on hourly motels.
•Residents said ballot language was vague and accused staff of hiding height increases behind marketing language.
•Staff estimated year-one revenue loss if Amendment 3 passes and discussed long-term inflator effects.
•Staff said two of the images are likely AI-generated, there is no active zoning application for a residential project in Zone 3, and a 2019 hotel/office/retail approval exists for a different parcel.

Directions

•City attorney and staff will continue public engagement and clarify technical materials ahead of the ballot.
•City staff and attorneys will evaluate whether ordinance changes or zoning options are legally feasible.
•Police will produce more granular data from the new records system on request.
•Residents requested the city reach out to property owners for clarity on intentions.
•Residents requested transparent numbers before any charter change is finalized.
•Staff agreed to provide more detailed information on design standards, density calculations, and traffic impacts to the public.
•Staff to continue outreach and to notify the public when formal project applications arrive.
•Staff to provide fiscal modeling and more detailed revenue projections linked to possible development scenarios.

Oct

Workshop The Shoreline Concept 10/27/2026

Consultants told Village of Key Biscayne officials the Rickenbacker Causeway shoreline concept is technically feasible, outlining an elevated viaduct, reclaimed public space and a financing strategy; staff said more study and coordination (NEPA, county bridge work) and funding decisions remain before construction.

Discussion Points

•A formal traffic analysis is still required to quantify level-of-service and event impacts.
•Aim to divert about 28,000 trips per day to an elevated viaduct.
•Beachfront/community improvements likely require grants, naming rights, concessions and other revenue sources.
•Bear Cut bridge PD&E/LDCA work must be coordinated so the two projects do not preclude each other.
•Column spacing targeted at 150–180 ft in most spans; intersections may require longer steel spans.
•Consultants reported the concept is feasible and cited completed technical baseline work and outreach.
•Design aims to avoid impacts to the existing power bridge and to protect a 102-inch shoreline force main.
•Further NEPA and interagency permitting will be necessary before design or construction.
•Governance choices (county project vs conservancy) affect what revenue can be charged and how it can be used.
•Governance options include county-owned project, conservancy model or hybrid; structure affects allowable revenue uses.
•Grade and ramp geometry (up to 6%) are within code but may need revisiting for user comfort and ADA compliance in final design.
•NEPA and PD&E are prerequisites and can take multiple years; schedule estimates varied widely.
•Plan includes about 3.5 miles of multimodal path and roughly 400 parking spaces below/adjacent to the viaduct.
•The Bear Cut bridge project must be coordinated so neither project precludes the other.
•Toll revenues are currently dedicated to Rickenbacker assets and could back transportation financing.

Directions

•Commission traffic-study work during NEPA/design phases; validate order-of-magnitude counts against event operations.
•Continue county coordination to align PD&E efforts; assess governance models in the final report.
•Explore federal/state grant programs, test revenue models for naming rights and concessions, and align governance with revenue restrictions.
•Further geotechnical testing, alignment refinements and a traffic study required before final geometry is set.
•Team to deliver final feasibility report in November and continue county coordination for NEPA and PD&E links.

Oct

Behavioral Health Advisory Board

The Miami-Dade Behavioral Health Board heard presentations on state and county behavioral-health funding, the Navigate early‑psychosis program, the Mobile Response Team and Crisis Intervention Team, and received an update on a county mental‑health facility; board members approved minutes and directed staff to collect law‑enforcement/CIT data for follow up.

Discussion Points

•Ambulance‑transport costs rose ~75% between FY2024 and FY2026 and have created a budget shortfall.
•Board members raised concerns about capacity and funding
•Board requested data on school usage, ZIP‑code distributions and transport types.
•CIT Miami‑Dade model described as community‑based with law‑enforcement liaisons and low arrest statistics.
•Contracts executed and state land‑use approved for the mental‑health facility.
•Federal block grants account for a substantial share (~48%) and include set‑aside/maintenance‑of‑effort rules.
•Furniture and procurement steps completed to meet accreditation and certification requirements.
•MRT reports increased call volume and school involvement, with an estimated 10,000 crisis responses and a notable growth trend since 2023.
•Navigate is a voluntary, two‑year program for first‑episode psychosis (ages 15–40) offering medication and weekly individual resiliency therapy, family education and supported employment services.
•Program has served ~800 clients locally, with ~80% of graduates working or in school per presenter claims.
•Proposed trust fund to accept private donations is on the BCC calendar for Nov. 17.
•Some board members disputed the 1.7% arrest figure and requested the underlying methodology and training rosters.
•Thriving Minds manages DCF contract funding (~$140,000,000) and uses OCAs that restrict reallocations.
•Thriving Minds pays providers promptly and maintains low administrative overhead (~4.2%).

Decisions

•Motion to gather data approved by voice vote.

Directions

•Board directed staff to collect and reconcile training and arrest/diversion data from law enforcement agencies for review at next meeting.
•Board to consider recommendations about diversifying county dollars and exploring funding options for program expansion.
•Board to explore options for county negotiation with ambulance vendors and potential funding contributions from school system.
•MRT to share raw ZIP‑code and transport data with the school district and board staff for further analysis.
•Staff to continue onboarding, hiring and preparations and to report back to the board as the facility moves toward certification and opening.
•Thriving Minds to provide follow‑up fiscal schedules and materials to board members.

Oct

Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust

Citizens Independent Transportation Trust meeting covering ambassador recognition, community engagement and social media metrics, South Corridor operations and BRT performance, a $387.7 million supplemental agreement for the South Transitway project (DB19) that added 507 calendar days and used $2,448,325 in surtax funds, neighborhood project reporting, public comment about a pedestrian bridge at Coconut Grove, and scheduling for the 2027 Mobility Summit.

Discussion Points

•Alex Byers said the funding is a reallocation from project contingency into the construction contract, and that construction contracts typically have a 10% contingency.
•DTPW explained 'peach' lines on district NIP pages represent internal staffing charges (design, inspection, construction engineering) billed to projects.
•DTPW staff said FDOT had studied a bridge but ADA‑grade constraints and landing questions made it unworkable at the time and no sponsor is pushing the initiative.
•Joey reported videos are the top performing content across platforms and LinkedIn engagement continues to trend up.
•July collections were down ~17.5% from last year and year‑to‑date down ~9.5%; elimination of business rent tax cited as a major factor.
•Meisel explained the dashboard allows staff to identify routes and stations lacking coverage and match applicants to those routes.
•Public commenter described frequent near-miss incidents at Coconut Grove Metrorail Station and urged a pedestrian overpass.
•Stacy Miller said ongoing construction at Dadeland South affects on‑time performance and that standards adopted in 2009 need review for newer service types such as BRT.
•Staff described the 507 added days as non‑compensable time intended to align contract time with as‑built work and avoid liquidated damages.
•Staff explained the supplemental was needed because of evolving fire‑department criteria tied to electric‑vehicle charging equipment at the 168th Street parking garage.
•Staff presented the new dashboard and KPIs; trustees asked how the tool improves recruitment and coverage.
•Staff previewed multiple events and partnership activities to raise awareness of PTP projects.
•Staff reported 602 exceeding 78% on‑time target and cited three service lineups over the past year to improve operations.

Decisions

•Trust recommended approval of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 (item 7a); motion passed with opposition recorded.

Directions

•DTPW will continue tweaking schedules and signal timing; another service change is scheduled for November and data collection will continue for the corridor.
•Forward recommendation to Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
•Staff suggested continued citizen engagement to build local support; no formal action was taken.
•Staff to provide further NIP detail and to assist trustees in locating district pages and project accounting information.
•Staff will use the dashboard to recruit ambassadors for underserved routes and share coverage updates with trust members.
•Trust members asked to amplify posts and encourage municipal participation in the project showcases.

Oct

Public Health Trust Board of Trustees

The committee of the whole received an update on Jackson Health System's FY26 finances, quality improvements at Jackson Memorial Hospital (including a new emergency room), a $15 million philanthropic gift, communications and government-relations priorities, and a warning that Florida Amendment 3 could cut roughly $64 million in recurring revenue when fully implemented.

Discussion Points

•$15,000,000 gift announced from Carlos Peralta; naming of 4th‑floor ICU.
•Amendment 3 could reduce recurring annual funding by $64,000,000 when fully implemented in FY29.
•FY26 surplus of $32,400,000 and revenues exceeding expenses by approximately $50,000,000 were reported.
•Leadership is monitoring and discussing contingency options but has no final plan.
•New ER treated >44,000 patients in six months; triage times improved 62%; HAI targets met; mortality down >22% since 2023.
•Staff presented items 11a–d and the proposed amendment to state priorities.

Decisions

•Slate (11a–d) approved as amended

Oct

Miami Springs City Council Regular Meeting - October 26th, 2026

Miami Springs City Council met in late October to hear a student presentation, take several routine votes, and discuss local issues including naming a heritage trail, a downtown digital kiosk feasibility report, a proposal to name the community rec center after former mayor Billy Bain, and growing complaints about feral chickens; public commenters urged action on local schools and animal control.

Discussion Points

•Approval of minutes and consent agenda.
•City attorney advised staff will prepare formal resolution and check legal steps.
•City attorney and manager provided brief reports.
•City attorney flagged potential charter/legal issues with the term 'park.'
•City manager offered to provide a prior presentation on Amendment 3 impact and to share materials with residents.
•Clerk read five name options recommended by the historical preservation board.
•Council agreed to pledge $500 to support the leadership summit.
•Council discussed promoting heritage tourism and events to increase pedestrian activity.
•Council discussed using city resources to assist with hosting and marketing.
•Council expressed broad support and recalled Bain's leadership.
•Council members favored option 5 (Glenn H. Curtis Heritage Trail) for simplicity and marketing value.
•Lamas summarized Bain's service and role in getting rec center funding.
•Resident reported three teacher surpluses and class sizes over 30 at Spring View Elementary.
•Resident requested the council add the issue to an agenda and invite a school board representative.
•Residents provided examples of noise, sanitation issues, safety concerns and cited a closed case number 260873.
•Staff said they are exploring humane removal vendors and possible enforcement mechanisms.
•Student Evangeline Oden described her EVA program, past events and sponsorships.
•Vendor concluded downtown foot traffic insufficient during site assessment.
•Vendor would have guaranteed a minimum revenue (~$8,000 per kiosk) but still declined.
•Vice mayor reported complaints dating to June 2025 and asked staff for options.

Decisions

•Consensus to move forward with staff drafting a formal resolution; no formal vote at meeting.
•Council expressed consensus to pursue option 5 pending legal review.
•Minutes and consent agenda approved unanimously; meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
•Motion to pledge $500 approved unanimously.
•No formal council motion taken at this meeting.
•No ordinance adopted at this meeting; staff assigned to return recommendations.
•No purchase or contract authorized at this meeting.

Directions

•City attorney and code enforcement to review municipal code and propose options (ordinance language or resolution) and vendor estimates for humane capture/relocation.
•Staff to coordinate dates and logistics with presenter and place donation on administrative ledger.
•Staff to coordinate follow-up and provide materials; council to consider formal request for school board briefing if desired.
•Staff to draft resolution, prepare signage and budget estimates, and return for formal action.
•Staff to explore strategies to increase foot traffic and consider other vendor/site options.
•Staff to provide requested materials on Amendment 3 to residents who asked.
•Staff to report back with cost estimates and legal analysis.
•Staff to verify legal implications and return with a formal resolution and any recommended edits to wording.

Oct

CZAB Orientation

Orientation for Miami‑Dade County community zoning appeals board members covered the oath of office, an overview of the county's comprehensive development master plan, ethics guidance, and the zoning review and application process, including staff reports, review timelines and ADA accessibility of materials.

Discussion Points

•CDMP balances growth and natural resource protection; map color codes indicate permitted uses and densities.
•Community councils recommend but do not make final decisions on CDMP amendments.
•Ethics commission duties include training, advice and enforcement; complaints must be factual and notarized when necessary.
•Members must file required financial disclosure forms and follow recusal rules when conflicts arise.
•Members sworn in and reminded to sign in before the meeting.
•Preliminary notices are issued within three days; final notices must be sent at least 15 days before hearings and include publication and on‑site postings.
•Staff aims to provide kits at least 10 days before the hearing; the portal holds application histories by application number.
•Staff kits include an initial recommendations report, attachments and executed covenants when applicable.
•Staff told members to check with clerk support if they were not sworn.
•Standard review period is 21 calendar days; expedited/workforce housing reviews are 7 days.

Decisions

•Community councils will make recommendation motions (adopt, adopt with covenants/restrictions, change, or deny) to be forwarded for further hearings.

Directions

•Items deferred because of notice errors are rescheduled to the next preset calendar date rather than an ad hoc meeting.
•Members should consult the ethics commission or county attorneys for opinion requests before acting in uncertain situations.
•Staff to continue work to ensure electronic kits are ADA‑compliant before broad electronic distribution.
•Unspecific members to be sworn after the session if needed.

Oct

Historic Preservation Board

Historic Preservation Board of the City of South Miami reviewed and edited a draft letter urging the commission and developer to preserve the Silva Martin Building, voted 5-0 to send the letter, and heard brief remarks from the mayor about reuse and preservation.

Discussion Points

•Add two code bullets referencing 20‑6.1(d)(3)(k) and (m).
•Board agreed to remove speculative language ('would crumble') and instead advise the commission not to relocate the building or approve designs that block its view.
•Board discussed renderings that show a six‑story building near the Silva Martin Building and raised concerns about visual obstruction and maintenance of exposed framing.
•Board members described the material as giving developers latitude to propose relocation, demolition, or reconstruction.
•Board recommended sending an advisory letter to the commission to put preservation concerns on the record.
•Board viewed changes as making their work more difficult and urged written advisories to compensate.
•Commission changed rules so quorum requires in‑person attendance; Zoom may not count toward quorum.
•Commission reportedly reduced maximum board size from nine to seven.
•Delete speculative phrasing asserting the building would crumble if moved.
•He encouraged direct conversation with board members and stressed that certificates of appropriateness will be part of any relocation/design change.
•Mayor described efforts to secure active uses for historic buildings and to balance preservation with fiscal constraints.
•Members debated the board's authority: advisory role absent a permit application; code now routes historic property applications to HPB.
•Replace with advisory language asking the commission not to authorize relocation or projects that block views from Sunset Drive.
•RFP issued June 2024 emphasized lease/financial terms and did not bind design.

Decisions

•Adopt letter as revised; 5–0 vote to approve.
•Edit language and include code citations; board approved final draft for transmission.

Directions

•Add two bullet points citing section 20‑6.1(d)(3)(k) and (m) to the letter.
•Board members encouraged to contact mayor or attend commission meetings to make the board’s position known.
•Document and transmit the board’s advisory letter promptly; consider appearing at commission meeting to state concerns.
•Martos to incorporate edits; Mr. Castellas to email final draft to Marcus Lightfoot and Mark Alvarez for transmission.
•Mr. Castellas to email the finalized letter to Marcus Lightfoot and Mark Alvarez for transmittal to the commission.
•Transmit advisory letter to commission; encourage board members to speak at commission meeting or contact commissioners individually.

Oct

Homeless Trust Meeting

The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust board met to ratify an $11.9 million HHS "Miami Safe Streets" grant, hear public comments about grant design and shelter conditions, review a fiscal-agent transition to MDG, set federal legislative priorities, and hear Chapman Partnership performance figures and Homeless Awareness Day plans.

Discussion Points

•Board debated concerns raised in public comment but did not amend the application language.
•Chapman leadership said they had spoken with the resident and would follow up.
•Chapman reported occupancy, shelter lengths, family placements and workforce metrics.
•Judge Leifman provided jail/arrest statistics to justify targeted outreach.
•MDG will serve as fiscal agent for rental assistance, handling inspections, rent calculations and HUD certifications.
•Minutes approval and grant ratification were handled by motion and voice vote.
•Perry asserted the grant ties housing to treatment and promotes compulsory treatment.
•Priorities included Continuum of Care funding, support for CoC lead agencies, special-purpose vouchers, and supportive housing for seniors.
•Resident reported COVID infection of her son at Chapman South, sanitation concerns, and alleged staff discriminatory conduct.
•Staff cited counts of seniors in the CoC system and examples of voucher programs.
•Staff described award size, duration, subrecipients and non-contracted partners.
•Staff reported $3.7M in food-and-beverage tax receipts and total FY25–26 funding of $49.6M.
•Transcript contains no roll-call tally.
•Trustees said the Trust includes people with lived experience and that the grant adds capacity without replacing Housing First.
•Trust encouraged participation in awareness events tied to schools and youth.

Decisions

•Board adopted the federal priorities by voice vote.
•Board ratified the application and authorized staff to enter agreements.
•Minutes approved; grant ratified.
•No changes to grant application language; board proceeded to ratify the grant (see separate article).
•No formal action recorded; follow-up promised.

Directions

•Board and staff to promote Homeless Awareness Day and student events.
•Staff authorized to execute subrecipient agreements and proceed with implementation planning.
•Staff to arrange a follow-up conversation with the resident and Chapman leadership.
•Staff to provide unemployment and call-line checks-and-balances data at next meeting.
•Trust staff to proceed with ratification item as presented (no changes made during meeting).

Oct

TPO Governing Board Meeting

The TPO board met to consider Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendments for FY2027–2031, several resolutions including a traffic-safety lane request to Miami-Dade County, FDOT safety-targets for 2027, a bylaw change to quorum size, committee appointments, and routine business; members also noted a $850,000 Safe Streets award for two schools.

Discussion Points

•Alonso announced Safe Streets award of over $850,000 for two schools in Hialeah and thanked staff.
•Attorney read the revised Article 5 language for board consideration.
•Board moved and approved the appointments.
•Board moved and approved the resolution with no recorded public comment.
•Board moved and approved the resolution without recorded public comment.
•Chair raised recurring quorum problems and proposed changing the bylaws.
•Members urged expediting delivery to move timeline earlier than 2030.
•Nominations for two advisory committee seats read into the record.
•No public speakers stepped forward during the hearing period.
•S5 reported an MOU with FDOT affecting SFRTA operations and transit‑oriented development work.
•S5 said a consultant will present examples across three counties to support funding strategies.
•Staff introduced FDOT Vision Zero targets for 2027.
•Staff read five TIP amendments into the record and opened the public hearing for all five items.
•Staff read the resolution text and identified sponsors.

Decisions

•Acknowledgement and thanks; no formal action recorded in transcript.
•All five TIP amendment items approved on roll‑call.
•Appointments approved.
•Bylaw amendment approved to require at least nine voting members for quorum.
•Informational; no formal action recorded.
•Resolution approved.
•Resolution approved by board.

Directions

•Clerk to update bylaws and revise meeting notices to reflect new quorum definition.
•Clerk to update committee rosters and publish appointment records.
•Consider scheduling an SFRTA presentation to the board after consultant findings are available.
•Referral of the resolution to Miami‑Dade County for evaluation and funding identification.
•Staff to coordinate programming of funds and return with timelines.
•TPO staff to transmit approval to FDOT.
•TPO staff to update TIP and notify FDOT of approved changes.

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