2026-05-14 - City Commission
Summary
Built from the official City Commission minutes; no video or transcript on file.
- Called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Mayor Higgins, presiding under Charter Section 4(g)(1); all five commissioners present (Rosado arrived 9:07, Gabela 9:11). Adjourned 11:52 a.m. Several items were taken out of order. City Manager Reyes, City Attorney Wysong and City Clerk Hannon attended.
- The $450 million fire and police facilities bond was deferred to May 28 by a 4-1 vote (Escalona no) after a long discussion of cost, timing and alternatives.
- The Commission adopted a charter amendment moving City elections to even years (3-2) and set the August 18 ballot (4-1), with the Marine Stadium and Flex Park management agreement as a second question.
- Adopted 5-0: a municipal prosecution function for quality-of-life offenses, a directives tracking portal, the Housing and River funding allocations, seawall contracts and a resolution urging Congress to pass the HELPER Act.
- The Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee was established 3-0, with King and Rosado abstaining; a board meeting recordings portal was deferred to May 28.
- Seven ordinances were adopted on second reading, all 5-0. Zoning items for NW 60th Street passed first reading 4-1; one rezoning was indefinitely deferred.
- Consent agenda items CA.1 to CA.4 (R-26-0209 to 0212) were adopted: a $75,000 Police donation to Amplify Community Resources from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, a part-time polygraph examiner, a $360,000 Recycling Partnership grant ($125,000 in-kind) and three right-of-way deeds.
Public Safety General Obligation Bond
RE.4 deferred to May 28, 4-1 (King moved, Gabela seconded; Escalona no). Hevia gave response-time data; Escalona won a commitment to a public dashboard and quarterly reports; Rosado, Gabela and Pardo asked about maintenance, timing and alternatives; the Mayor said it is a life-safety question for voters.
Even-Year Elections Charter Amendment
RE.13 adopted with modification 3-2 (R-26-0228; King and Gabela no). RE.14 adopted 4-1 (Gabela no) to prepare the August 18 charter amendment; RE.6 (adding a year to terms) withdrawn.
Municipal Prosecution Function
RE.8 adopted 5-0 (R-26-0222); report back in 90 days.
Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee
RE.15 adopted with modifications 3-0, King and Rosado abstaining.
Commission Directives Tracking Portal
RE.16 adopted 5-0.
Board Meeting Recordings Portal
RE.17 deferred to May 28.
Bicycle Master Plan
RE.2 deferred to May 28.
Miami for Everyone District Funding
PH.7 ($125,000 to Sunshine For All) and RE.19 ($360,000 to the Miami River Fund) adopted; PH.6 ($4,000,000 for a 300-unit senior affordable project) withdrawn.
NW 60th Street Commercial Rezoning
PZ.2 and PZ.3 passed on first reading 4-1 (Gabela no). PZ.1, a T6-8-O rezoning in the NW 1st Place and 1st Court area, was indefinitely deferred.
Park and Facility Naming Ordinances
SR.6 adopted; SR.5 withdrawn; FR.1 and NA.1 passed first reading.
Advisory Board Creation Ordinances
SR.2 and SR.7 adopted 5-0.
Other items
PH.1 to PH.5 adopted 5-0 (two plats and three traffic-flow requests). RE.1 budget amendments adopted as amended 5-0. RE.3 withdrawn. RE.5 (Branches Allapattah Regional Community Center), RE.7 (purchase and sale agreement), RE.12 (temporary access agreement with Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church), RE.18 (Wynwood BID funds) adopted. RE.9 urged Congress to pass the HELPER Act (H.R. 2904 and S. 978). RE.10 and RE.11 awarded seawall contracts to Florida Engineering and Development Corp (Morningside and Shorecrest) and Harbour Construction (District 2). Second readings: SR.1 pension plan amendment (14459), SR.3 unsafe-structure cost-recovery waiver for seniors and low-income residents (14461), SR.4 transit shelter conduct (14462). BC.1 granted a term-limit waiver for an Art in Public Places Board member. The Mayor presented a Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation. Public comment on the bond covered the County's 287(g) agreement and the City's debt.
Agenda
Consent agenda, public hearings, resolutions RE.1 to RE.19, second readings SR.1 to SR.7, first reading FR.1, board appointments, planning and zoning PZ.1 to PZ.3 and NA.1.