City Commission Meeting

welcome to the city of miami commission meeting for FEBRUARY 12th, 2026. We will be starting shortly with a presentation. I am joined today by my colleagues commissioner damian pardo, commissioner ralph rosado, commissioner rolando escalona as well as our mayor. [Applause] Let's start with our presentation. Our presentation today is by commissioner rosado. And commissioner escalona who he was here just a second ago. [Laughter] Okay. MADAM Mayor, would you like to say good morning to well. Good morning everyone. I hear we have some kiwanis in the house. Hello. Very excited about this. Thank you, commissioner rosado and commissioner escalona for honoring them. I really appreciate it. I also see one of our county colleagues in the audience, commissioner raquel regalado, welcome. Thank you for being here. He's coming. Okay, here he comes. You know, I'm looking this way because I think his office is that way. Lo siento, lo siento. I didn't realize you walked off. Thank you, MADAM Chair. Good morning everyone. So today we want to recognize an organization that is very special to the community. They do quite a bit of work in district three and district four in particular, but really their efforts are citywide. Last month my office had the honor of being able to organize with help from a number of individuals throughout the city the three kings parade which is a tradition that's gone on for almost 55 years and every single year we've been very fortunate to have the assistance of the kiwanis of little havana. They also organize they also organize what is perhaps miami's signature annual event that's been going on for over 50 years, which is the carnival on calle ocho. And so we are so deeply grateful for what you've done to help us organize events. We are incredibly grateful even more so for what you do for children in helping them get back to school. You pay for summer camps, you help senior citizens. I think there's just about nobody in the community that you haven't helped at some point or more importantly for over five decades. This is their 50th anniversary and so we want to honor you with this proclamation and I'm happy to have my colleagues speak because I know that you all are so essential to little havana and my district three colleague commissioner escalona wanted to say some words as well but thank you all. Good morning. So first of all we want you to know that the community our community appreciates everything that you do for us. I want to encourage you to continue doing what you have been doing for many years and just thank you for all the hard work that you put put you put every day. Thank you. Thank you thank you. Congratulations 50 years is such a milestone and to be doing the things that you do is amazing and thank you for what you do for our city. Let's do it. >> oh yeah. So before we take the pictures thomas falcone is there PRESIDENT This year. Tom, would you like to say some words.? >> I just want to thank the city for, you know, many years of a partnership as we celebrate our 50th year, we're very grateful to the partnership that we've had with the city of miami, the city of miami parking authority and this will be our 48th year of quiet and and 48 years ago how began it began as open house eight and I'll bring our founding member to give a little story about open house eight leslie panting. Uh I'm going to be like lincoln at the gettysburg address very brief. He's super to be here. The city of miami was the first one that helped us when we reached for red was the mayor. Uh, the officials here said you guys cannot do that. You cannot afford that. You cannot do kyoko blah blah blah and help us and here we are uh, 50 years later. Thank you to the city for having [Applause] Us today. Thank you, thank. >> you, thank you. [Laughter] [Laughter] [Applause] Thank you [Laughter] Guys. [Applause] You. [Applause] [Applause] Ladies. And at this time we are going to have pastor covington of gamble memorial church of christ lead us in prayer. Amen. >> thank you. Oh yeah. >> yeah okay. You sure? You sure? Because, uh, I just had this. I just want to be sure. First of all, I'd like to say good morning everyone. Actually take a moment of silence for MRS. Thelma gibson. Thank you for the lord's day. Not going to be before you long I'd like to read a scripture. Then we're going to go ahead and pray. Psalms 90 and 17 says and let the beauty of our lord our GOD be upon us and establish thou the works of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it and our prayer will be. Loving and wise. GOD, we thank you for the opportunity to stand before you today in the assembly GOD we ask you that you will grant wisdom and understanding. We also ask that you would grant solidarity amongst the commission members that they will have the best interest of the community in hand, that they would join together as they make decisions, that the decisions that they make will be for the benefit of everybody. We ask that you grant them grace and peace and understanding because we know the lord and the toll is heavy. You have set them for a time like this and we pray that you continue to keep them lifted up. We also pray that you keep them in your loving arms as they carry out the mission that has been designed for the city of miami and your precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you. Amen. Yes ma'am. Thank you. Carol I love her, commissioner. I'll lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I never really do. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Applause] MR. City attorney, I believe you have a statement. Yes, madam chair, thank you. Good morning. Welcome to the city of city of miami commission meeting. Um, detailed information about the processes order of business, rules of procedure and scheduling or rescheduling of city commission meetings can be found in chapter two article two of the city code, a copy of which is available online at w-w-w dot com. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to chapter two, article six of the city code must register with the city clerk and comply with related city requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the city commission, a person MAY not lobby a city official, board member or staff member until registering a copy of the code section about lobbyists is available at the city clerk's office or online at w-w-w dot com. 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The meeting of the miami city commission is a limited public forum. Any person MAY be heard by the city commission through the chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the city commission unless modified by the chair. Public comment will begin at approximately 9:20 A.M. And remain open until public comment is closed by the chairperson. Any person making offensive remarks or has become unruly in the city commission chambers will be barred from further attending city commission meetings and MAY be subject to arrest no clapping, applauding, heckling or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her remarks shall be permitted. No signs or placards shall be allowed in the city commission chambers. Persons exiting the commission chambers shall do so quietly. Members of the public wishing to address the body MAY do so by submitting written comments via the online comment form. Please visit ww miami.Com/meeting instructions for detailed instructions on how to provide public comment using the online public comment form. But the comments submitted through the comment form have been and will be distributed to the elected officials, their staff and city administration throughout the day so that the elected officials MAY consider the comments prior to taking any action. Additionally, the online comment form will remain open during the meeting to accept comments and distribute to the elected officials, their staff and the city administration up until the chairperson closes. Public comment. Public comment MAY also be provided live at city hall here at 3500 pan american drive, miami, florida. Subject to any and all city rules as they MAY be amended if the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard MAY be at such later date before the city commission takes action on such proposition. When addressing the city commission, the member of the public must first state their name, their address and what item will be spoken about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and services for this meeting MAY notify the city clerk. The city has provided different public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public support opposition or neutrality on the items and topics to be discussed at the city commission meeting in compliance with section 286.01 144c florida statutes the public has been given an opportunity to provide public comment during the meeting and within reasonable proximity in time before the meeting. Please note commissioners have generally been briefed by city staff and city attorney's office on items on the agenda today. Anyone wishing a verbatim record of an item considered at this meeting MAY request it at the office of communications or view it online@ww.Com for planning and zoning items. Items shall shall proceed according to section 7.1.4 of the miami 21 zoning ordinance parties for any items including any applicant, appellant, appellee, city staff and any person recognized by the decision making body as a qualified intervenor as well as the applicant's representatives and any experts testifying on behalf of the applicant, appellant or appellee MAY be physically present at city hall to be sworn in by oath or affirmation by the city clerk. The members of the city commission shall disclose any ex parte communications to remove the presumption of prejudice pursuant to florida statute 286.0115 and section 7.1.4.5 of the miami 21 zoning ordinance. The order of presentation shall be as set forth in miami 21 and in the city code staff will briefly present each item to be heard. The applicant will present its application or request to the city commission. If the applicant agrees with the staff recommendation, the city commission MAY proceed to its deliberation and decision. The applicant MAY also waive the right to an evidentiary hearing on the record for appeals. The appellant will present its appeal to the city commission followed by the appellee. Staff will be allowed to make any recommendation they MAY have. Please silence all cell phones and other noise making devices. This meeting can be viewed live on miami tv, the city's facebook page, the city's twitter page, the city's youtube channel and comcast channel 77. The broadcast will also have closed captioning. Thank you, MADAM Chair. Thank you, MR. City attorney MR. City clerk MRS. Clark. Good morning chair thank you. The procedures for individuals who will be providing testimony to be sworn in for planning and zoning items and any quasi judicial items on today's city commission agenda will be as follows the members of city staff or any other individuals required to be sworn in who are currently present at city hall will be sworn in by me, the assistant city clerk immediately after I finish explaining these procedures. Those individuals who are preparing remotely MAY be sworn in now or at any time prior to the individual providing testimony for planning and zoning items and or quasi judicial items. Commissioners, are you comfortable with all the notice provision sets forms and these uniform rules of procedures we have established for this meeting? Yes. >> thank you. MADAM Chair. >> can I proceed with administering the oath please? Thank you. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If anyone will be speaking on today's planning and zoning items that's pc one, two and three. MAY I have you stand and raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give at this meeting today is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Thank you chair. Thank you, MR. City attorney. I'm sorry, MR. City manager. How are you today? >> I'm doing great. Good morning CHAIRWOMAN. MADAM Mayor, commissioners clerk attorney. At this time the administration would like to defer or withdraw. The following items are one to be indefinitely deferred fr five to be deferred to FEBRUARY 26th and d two to be withdrawn. Thank you. I'm going to ask my colleagues now if they have any items that they would like to withdraw or defer.. No commissioner. No no. No okay MAY I have a motion to set the agenda. So moved. Second I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. >> motion carries unanimously. MR. Chair. My apologies. Just for the record, I have some co-sponsor requests. Mayor higgins will be co-sponsoring rt 12, rt 14 sr one and sr two chair king will be co-sponsoring r4 and r5. Commissioner escalona will be co-sponsoring r4 and r5. Thank you chair. Thank you. MADAM Chair I also had co-sponsor request for rt ten rt 12 and re 14. Thank you MR. City clerk did you get that at this time? I'm going to open the floor for public comment. Those who wish to speak on behalf of any of the items that are currently on our agenda, please step forward five at a time. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. My name is don worth. I'm a resident of 1390 ocean drive in miami beach and I'm here to support restoration of the marine stadium. The stadium is not a nostalgia project. The feasibility study done for the city demonstrated that it should be in the top tier of all performing arts venues nationwide and when the city did do an rfp for an operator, the two best operators in the country responded because they see opportunity. Why restore it first, the stadium will provide a bold new attraction for our tourism based economy. As bill talbert, former ceo of gm cvb said two words no competition the stadium is often compared to red rocks amphitheater in denver. Red rocks is the largest tourist attraction in the state and generates $20 million annually in tax revenue for the city. Second, the stadium will provide a valuable community benefit. Miami's greatest physical asset is the water, but most of the residents who live in your districts can't afford those million dollar condos at the stadium everyone is a vip with a water view seat. We must make sure it's accessible to the community. One idea keep it open as a park during selected hours so families can enjoy those spectacular views. I imagine you're concerned about cost. There are significant non-city funds available to help pay for it. The proposed study is important so that we can update both the construction costs and the sources of funding. Having a professional operator like oakview on board changes the game. Finally, please understand the opportunity we have here. I've taken some of the most high profile people in the entertainment industry into this building and to a person when they see it they are stunned and don't understand why it just sits here. Many of us have put 18 years of blood, sweat and tears into this project. This commission can be the one to finally get the ball rolling. This is a legacy project for you. Please vote yes and if you do we plan to return to you with a proposal that you simply can't refuse. Thank you. Thank you good morning. Thank you. Good morning elvis cruise 631 east 57th street regarding these two amendments to the soccer stadium agreements in 2019, the voters were promised 11 soccer fields in 2019 after the election. This press release confirmed a public park with 11 soccer fields and the picture showed the complex again with 11 soccer fields. But in 2022 things got suspicious when the commission approved this agreement where the number of soccer fields was left blank. Yet no one mentioned that during the hearing in 2023, the development agreement was officially recorded with the county clerk. This document is attached to today's agenda. Yet this officially recorded agreement before you today is not signed by any parties. Is this even legally valid? The 2023 original which they are striking out in red does not say how many soccer fields will be built but in today's amendment they want you to approve only six soccer fields not 11 and it would only be free to city of miami kids 16 and under which would exclude high school soccer teams they originally agreed to zoysiagrass which is best for soccer fields and two feet of soil but now they want to use cheaper, less desirable grass with only one foot of soil. Please say no to this bait and switch keep the 11 soccer fields promised to the voters not six. Make it free for kids 18 and under to benefit high school teams. Keep the zoysiagrass do not allow a less desirable species keep two feet of topsoil if that is better for the public. They are already getting a super sweetheart deal and please restore miami marine stadium. Thank you. Thank you good morning. Good morning my name is rosa lowinger, 900 bay drive miami beach, florida I am a cuban american who grew up in miami beach and works in historic preservation both here and around the world. And I'm here today to argue on behalf of the miami marine stadium preservation. For many of us in the cuban community, the stadium is far more than a building. It is a memorial orgullo and continuidad the personal part of our legacy that emboldens that embodies the bold modernism that flourished in 1950s havana, which was a culture of innovation and civic ambition when that spirit could no longer flourish on the island. It came here to miami where we were given a home and opportunity. The stadium is proof of that exchange and what happened here it also happens to be a world a work of world class modernist architecture that's been honored by the prestigious getty foundation with a keeping it modern grant that allowed us to ascertain that the graffiti can be safely removed and the concrete can be repaired with that grant the getty place the stadium in the same company of landmarks like the sydney opera house, the eames house of los angeles and the bauhaus architecture of tel aviv. Imagine for a moment if the once neglected and dilapidated art deco buildings of miami beach had been demolished when they were worn and faded. Had that happened, I can assure you there would be no art basel miami beach. There would be no global recognition of our city as an arts and design capital. Architectural identity is the foundation of a cultural economy and we have that in the stadium. So I urge you please don't think of this as nostalgia. This is foresight. The stadium is world class, it's known throughout the world and it's an opportunity to honor the immigrant energy that built this city, preserving our excellence and recognizing once and for all the possibilities afforded by what los cubanos americanos achieved in this city we call home. Thank you. Thank you. Um, commissioner regalado, would you like to get up? I don't have do you have a commission meeting to go to or something? If you don't mind, please give professional courtesy. I'm happy to wait. I don't have a problem. I don't like jumping in front of them but I'm happy to wait and I'll take your questions. So happy to do it. No worries. Oh okay. Just checking, just checking. Good morning. Good morning. My name is alisa margulies. I live at 3333 rice street in center grove. I'm here about three, four and five and pz2 they say you always remember your first. My first was jimmy buffett. My last was basha by the way. I remember that too. In a world of instagram reels, youtube shorts and disappearing messages, we need places where long term memories can be created for those of us fortunate enough to have attended a concert at the miami marine stadium, we remember the perfect combination of sunsets, music and water. It didn't matter if you sat in the bleachers, boat or float the acoustics and views were magical. Sadly this precious jewel has been defaced and neglected just another forgotten relic. But the city has a rare opportunity to correct and admitted mistake an entire generation was unable to experience with this unique venue offered, it's imperative that the stadium is restored in a way that pays homage to its past even while updating it for the future. Hopefully our new city manager and our commissioners will take their role as guardians seriously. We need you to start holding developers to their promises and you can start with freedom park. The previous city manager was replaced for a reason lots of reasons. Please don't allow his way of doing business to be your legacy. Thank you., thank you good morning. Hi. >> good morning. My name is jamila stevens. I reside at 3181 hibiscus street. We're here today in support of our um fr two and we're going to read a resolution so it's included in the record. The coconut grove village west homeowners and tenants association has resolved to name the new aquatic facility at elizabeth park for the aquatic facility in honor of anika stewart um silva, a local community leader and advocate. Whereas veronica stewart silva was born in miami, florida to william samuel stewart and ellen ingraham stewart, who were among the earliest settlers in coconut grove who migrated from the bahamas whereas arthur graduated from booker t washington high school in miami in earning a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education from florida a&m university in tallahassee, MISS. Silva began a 40 plus year career in the miami-dade county public school system holding positions of physical education teacher guidance counselor and lastly assistant principal at coral gables senior high school from where she retired in 1986. She embarked on and completed graduate and post-graduate pursuits at atlanta university, new york university and barry university while working full time raising her daughter and caring for her parents. Whereas she was a lifelong member of the historic christ episcopal church in coconut grove, served in various capacities and in 1978 was licensed by the episcopal diocese of southeast florida as a lay minister, becoming one of the first females in the diocese to receive that distinction. Whereas MISS Silva worked closely with the father theodore r gibson, MISS Elizabeth and other concerned residents in the 1950s and 1960s in their slum clearance effort in coconut grove. An outgrowth of that project was the establishment of a city miami owned and operated park and pool and named in honor of elizabeth burke for the neighborhood families to enjoy. Whereas she was recognized over the years for many achievements from civic, social and religious organizations and educational institutions at local, state and national levels. Whereas MISS Silva's lasting efforts on the lives of those those individuals in her family, neighbors, colleagues, students it's a clear testament of why naming the quality facility in her honor and in the coconut grove neighborhood where she spent her lifetime is so deserving now be it hereby resolved that we, the executive board and members of coconut grove village west homeowners and tenants association referred to as hoda extend our resounding support of district two commissioner damian pardo's proposal to name the new aquatic facility at elizabeth park as the vernica silva aquatic facility signed this 10th day of FEBRUARY 2026. Thank you and chair my apologies if we can have the speakers name again. MAY we have your name again? Um jamila stephens and I would like to submit this into the record. >> thank you. Thank you chair. Good morning. Good morning bruce matheson 3191 grand avenue miami, florida. Our marine stadium is unique in all the world and part of miami's skyline built for all our citizens and visitors to enjoy boats, music, theater, prayer etc. It is waiting to be reintroduced to the world the only one in the world please don't let us down. Thank you. Thank you good morning. Good morning stuart lundberg 7532 cutlass avenue, north bay village, florida. Uh I have been involved in my career in many iconic venues performing arts center, convention center ,convention center, hotel etc. Etc. This is the last one on my bucket list. This is the one that I want to see which is closest to my heart which is the miami marine stadium. Having been a member of the audience back in those days and I have been around a long time, I watched richard nixon become nominated on the floating stage at the marine stadium. I watched kris kristofferson, willie nelson, jimmy buffett. It's such an iconic, iconic venue. It it means miami. It says miami. It fits with the vizcaya. It fits with the tower theater. It fits with the coconut grove playhouse. It is tradition. It is history in this community. I was fortunate enough to sit on the evaluation committee to pick a company to manage this facility when it opens. I was unanimously in my favor of the oak view group. Uh ,their significant contribution, their incredible commitment to making this project work uh, was unbelievable even to the extent that when and if this is voted for they have people locally on the ground ready to hit the ground running. Uh, I was involved in the msms study the same company that did the performing arts center. This is a venue for the future of miami. It is red rock on the water. There'll be nothing like it and it'll be part of the history of this wonderful city. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. My name is annie lord. I'm the executive director at miami homes for all 3250 southwest third avenue in miami. And thank you so much, MADAM Chair and MADAM Mayor, um, I'm here to speak about our e18, which is the consideration of proposals to redevelop the gsa site a 19 acre site in allapattah and I applaud the movement forward of development in of this site. This is a fantastic opportunity to help address the needs of our communities, including the terrible deficit of affordable housing we have in the city of miami. Um we're miami homes for all is also part of a coalition called the public land for public good coalition. And I know that I and some of my peers have had a chance to speak with many of the commissioners and with the mayor's team about this. But this site has long been slated for redevelopment and we hope in 2019 actually I don't know if I had a chance to tell everybody here but um, we conducted miami homes for all with our partners in public land for public good conducted a community engagement, a really in-depth community engagement process that yielded three insights from residents and business owners. They wanted community services, green space and affordable housing. And so what we are hoping that you all will do is make sure that whatever comes of this site one of the last great opportunities for development of affordable housing and other services in miami will align with the community we generally propose and and and support a competitive city driven process an rfp process that makes it clear to community members and developers alike what is expected and what is desired. But we know we're not anti-development we want to see this developed but we want to see it have something for everybody and it is big enough to have something for everybody. And just to be one more point of specificity, the community wanted to see a really reasonable thing 20% of all the units developed on site affordable between 60 and 100% of the area median income which is well pegged to kind of the upper end of the range of income in the neighborhood. So we are happy to meet with you at any time. Um thank you so much for your consideration and good luck as you redevelop the site. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning, MADAM Mayor and commissioners. My name is gina gilford, 7625 southwest 50th avenue, miami. I am here today representing the villagers. The villagers is the oldest historic preservation group in miami and we are entirely run by volunteers. The villagers are requesting your support of the restoration and operation of miami marine stadium. As a personal note, I was born and raised in miami and I grew up with miami marine stadium. As part of my childhood I watched my sister's water ski there with the miami ski club. My parents attended one of the iconic jimmy buffett concerts and I also listened to ray charles sing georgia from a boat on biscayne bay. There is no other place like miami marine stadium in our world or in our country it is our red rocks. After 33 years, we applaud the city of miami's efforts to restore this famous and architecturally significant symbol of our city. The miami marine stadium has been named a national treasure by the national trust for historic preservation is on the watch list of world monuments fund, has been designated historic by the city of miami and is on the national register of historic places. This one of a kind masterpiece designed by cuban born architect eladio candela represents the best of miami and we look forward to bringing it back to our community. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning commissioners. My name is misha ezratty. I live at 1717 northview drive miami beach, florida 33140. Today we stand in an important moment as we take the next step towards restoring one of miami's great landmarks the miami marine stadium. Built in 1962, the stadium had its heyday for 30 years until it was shuttered after andrew hit in 1992, although the stadium itself was not damaged in 2008 a dedicated restoration movement began. After 18 years of hard work, they're finally ready to move forward. I'm a home builder throughout the state of florida and my passion is architecture. The design of this stadium represents an architectural marvel with its incredibly long cantilevered spans. It also sits on one of the most amazing pieces of real estate in south florida. To acquire a parcel like the marine stadium and construct a new facility would be astronomical in price, but we have one sitting here that has been unused for almost 33 years. This is an amazing opportunity to transform a dead asset into a high impact location from a visual, cultural and revenue perspective, resurrecting the stadium is not only possible but achievable within a reasonable time frame and for a budget that pales in comparison to what the cost would be if we had to start from scratch with land acquisition, zoning, financing and construction. This is a unique opportunity to build on the vibrant and rich culture we have in miami. We are now a global destination and having a venue that would rival red rocks, jones beach or hollywood bowl would cement miami's place as a mecca for entertainment and world class experiences in a natural setting. The resolution before you would appoint the oak view group as the operator of the marine stadium. Once restored, if passed by the commission, the decision will go to the voters in AUGUST 2026 and then return to the commission. So this is just an initiation and the people should have a right to choose if the restoration provides the community benefit that all of us supporters believe it does. In closing, the resolution is about opportunity the opportunity to restore a beloved landmark, strengthen our economy, enhance our community and let voters decide the future of the marine stadium. Let's take this next step together. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning .My name is chris mccleary. Excuse me. Um, I speak to you today on behalf of the board of directors of the miami rowing club which is the next door neighbor of the miami marine stadium. Um, and we are here to endorse the city's efforts to move forward with restoration of the stadium and a wise use of the stadium, the basin and that 13 acres of asphalt that is currently called a flex park right behind the stadium which is immediately adjacent to our rowing club mrc has been a great partner of the city of miami for more than 40 years. Um we are located next door to the marine stadium. Um and we have hundreds of athletes young people, middle and high schoolers, old people like me um, rowing, dragon boating, outrigger canoeing using that gem of a basin because it is surrounded by land on three sides. It is the only place in the city of miami biscayne bay where athletes using paddles and oars can safely get on the water most days of the year. Any decisions made about the marine stadium and the flex park directly impact the miami rowing club? Um so of course the devil will be in the details about how this process will move forward. We understand this is a first step to put the question to the voters and we trust that if the voters support it that the operator and the city will welcome us as a partner so that the development of this gem can be done in a way that supports the operations of the miami rowing club. So we look forward to a partnership with the city and the hoped for operator for um, we can do a lot better with the state of that 13 acres of asphalt and that um, decaying stadium. We can do a lot better and we think we could be a part of that and a really wonderful way. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. I uh good morning council. My name is david poljanec. I was born in miami, grew up on key biscayne and now live in miami shores at 9259 north bay shore drive. My dad took me to concerts at the marine stadium by boat when I was a kid. I remember those experiences fondly floating around in an inner tube with my brothers listening to music. The marine stadium is a world class and absolutely amazing and unique venue. There are few if any waterfront venues like it in the world. In addition its location it's in addition to its location it has amazing architecture that should be preserved. Miami has grown into a world class city since the marine stadium was shut down and deserves such a venue to come back. The marine stadium deserves and is ready for a second life. Oak view is a first class organization that manages many first class venues in addition to the. Miami beach uh miami beach venue. My understanding is they get how they get uh my understanding is they get how exciting this venue could be. They're as good as any of a fit to manage this venue. I can't wait to go as an adult to see a show at the marine stadium from the water while I float around in an inner tube. I can't wait to take my kids to introduce them to this great experience. Please vote in favor of the resolution and let's take a big step to giving the marine stadium the second life it deserves. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. Mayor higgins. CHAIRWOMAN King commissioners this is my first appearance with the new commission and how nice to see such a lovely group of people here. So thank you. Uh, christine robb executive director, dade heritage trust, 190 southeast 12th terrace. As you can imagine I'm speaking here on r4 and r5 in support of the operator oak view group for the miami marine stadium as miami's um historic preservation, another historic preservation group in miami. We've been working for well over 15 years with some of the individuals and organizations that have spoken here today to see the stadium come back to life and I want to say from from a preservation point of view, choosing an operator is a first step. It's a it's a logical step because you can't just preserve a building for the sake of preserving it. You have to know what the end use is going to be and it makes it just makes so much sense. And it's a progressive step forward by this commission to select an operator, have the voters select an operator so we know what the restoration effort will be. So I applaud you for the for the step that you're taking here because it makes perfect sense. I also want to add I don't want to be repetitive for all the wonderful speakers that have appeared before you today, but this um stadium is recognized locally, nationally, internationally and prior to my coming to dade heritage trust I was the director at the coral gables museum several years ago we did a beautiful exhibit showcasing the stadium and it received such amazing feedback. We were sponsored by the national trust for historic preservation and american express. So there is no doubt there's going to be corporate interest in this stadium and it's going to be an amazing economic driver for the city if you look long term, think about people coming into town hotel rooms, restaurants, all of the economic benefits that are going to be driven by a restored stadium. So thank you so much. Um and we highly endorse this item, these items. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning good morning council my name is paula decarolis 2144 southwest 12th street miami florida 33135I am here in support of fr three I am vice chair at miami dade county public school citizens coalition. I'm a voting member at the parent advisory subcommittee and recording secretary at fcc with miami-dade county public schools. I also am a parent of two children attending public education, and an education advisory board would provide significant benefits to our community. It would demonstrate leadership on education, build a coalition among parents, educators and local small business owners and create a formal mechanism of early informed community input. Such board could offer well-considered recommendations, improved transparency and public trust, foster collaboration across governmental entities and strengthen coordination of existing resources. It would also provide greater predictability to the commission, reduce risk and ultimately enhance the quality of education and outcome that directly shapes our future workforce, workforce and the long term vitality of our city. And by the way of background, several neighboring municipalities including the village of biscayne, miami beach, miami shores and pembroke pines to name a few already have education advisory boards and these boards serve as valuable assets to the communities. I would like to thank commissioner ralph rosado for sponsoring this item and respectfully ask the commission to support it. There is approximately 50 miami-dade county public schools that are located within the city of miami, and all would benefit from the creation of this ordinance and partnership. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning, CHAIRWOMAN James torres, PRESIDENT Of the dna. I want to briefly address agenda item re seven which could which could become a creation of the business improvement district along local re reflects a simple idea if people are willing to pay for and for these enhanced services, they should have a say in how those services are addressed and delivered. This is not the reality in downtown miami downtown residents are subject to a mandatory downtown development hostage tax. This is an opt out no [Laughter] Service agreement and little direction accountability is given. The executive director is constantly writing out checks to podcasters at the rate of $20,000 per item and despite that ongoing tax burden, downtown continues to struggle with cleanliness, noise, congestion and public safety. Corporate welfare checks are given on an almost on a monthly basis and the ongoing impact of homelessness is also an issue. Re seven points to a better model so if this board is willing to listen to re seven, it should also listen to its residents in converting the dda into a business improvement district. It is voluntarily approved by owners which is something that we've never had the opportunity to vote on. So we're kindly asking if you're going to look at this item as a bid. Please also consider the dda and being converted once again, the city is also looking at a way to entrust its residents. This should be enforced by you as the commission to create this bid. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good morning. >> good morning commissioners. MADAM Mayor, um, my name is steve warnick. I'm here on behalf of the wynnewood community enhancement association in support of prs three, which is the wynnewood naught nrd two text amendments. Um, I'm really pleased to be here today. Um, the mission of the wynnewood cea is to provide a unified voice for neighborhood improvements and enhancing the quality of life of current and future residents. I want to thank CHAIRWOMAN King for sponsoring this item. It's been a pleasure working with your office over these last several months with the planning department. This is a continued collaboration to preserve and strengthen one of miami's oldest working and diverse urban neighborhoods. It remains diverse, it remains energetic and we appreciate your support today. I have a resolution from the board that I'll submit into the record. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. >> good morning. Um my name is michael. Pizzi and. I represent uh, 20 year uh, police officer lieutenant westland louis francois. Uh, and I want to tell the mayor that the CHAIRWOMAN And the commissioners I thought it was important for me to come here personally and thank the mayor, the CHAIRWOMAN And the commissioners for your positive leadership, uh, in supporting the settlement agreement on the agenda between, uh, westland louis francois and the city that's recommended by the city attorney's office. So I just wanted to come here myself and speak in support of the settlement agreement. It's recommended by the city. And also thank you for your leadership in bringing closure, uh, to this item and moving this city in a really wonderful, uh, positive direction. And on behalf of, uh, my client and on behalf of myself, I just want to say I think it's wonderful that you're with the mayor and the commissioners that you're bringing closure to some of these things and you're moving the city in a really positive direction where the focus is on really great things happening, uh, and uh, doing really, really good and making changes to make sure that the city moves positively. So I just wanted to say thank you for supporting this. We're happy to close this out and thank you for your leadership. And it's really great that the city has the leaders you have and thank you very much. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning CHAIRWOMAN King commissioners and and MADAM Mayor my name is rich heissenbuttel I'm PRESIDENT Of rj heissenbuttel architects and it is indeed a pleasure to be here on a day that is a day of action, a day when we finally end the logjam that has gone on with miami marine stadium for for so many years. I want to talk to you a little bit about larry candela, the architect for miami marine stadium, born in cuba, educated at the university of havana, graduate of georgia tech university. MR. Candela designed the marine stadium in 1963. He went on to become PRESIDENT Of candela and partners, which at the time was the largest hispanic owned architectural firm in the united states. He was part of the restoration team that was headed by my firm when the city [Laughter] Engaged us in 20 in. Um when did they do 2017? It's been that long right. Um to develop restoration plans for the stadium. He built the stadium to be a venue for boat racing. The stadium operated from 1963 to 1992 and hosted hundreds of boat races and concerts on this floating stage and performers like jimmy buffett, arthur fiedler and the boston pops, benny goodman, rock stars like queen and the beach boys um all performed on this stage and it became much more. The stadium is an integral part of miami's community, hosting other events like political rallies, easter sunday services, boxing, wrestling and and the annual uh virgin of charity event. Today, um the stadium has a significant place in miami's culture and history today your vote after these years of delay and your commitment by all the parties involved here to finally make a come up with a preservation solution for this iconic structure will stand as a test of time. Thank you. Allow me to introduce hilario candela junior who's behind me. >> okay. Thank you. Good morning. My name is hillary candela. I am recently a proud new resident here of cocoanut grove at 2666 tigertail avenue. Uh 33133I am here to support the revitalization of the marine stadium. This is obviously deeply personal for me. I have largely been an observer regarding the restoration effort much to my chagrin. Along the way I've seen the effort and the purity of a grassroots organization come together. I want a singular cause. Unfortunately I have also seen the pain and suffering of a long and challenging process. My sincere hope is that my father's award winning design and his signature achievement be restored. Be restored I apologize. And preserved. He gave his life to our community. This facility was designed and built for our community. Of the few historic landmarks we have, none have the unique designation bestowed upon them by the million organizations you have heard from other speakers today. I am humbled by how so many in our community are in love with this facility, many of whom have never witnessed a stadium in operation. Perhaps it is because this stadium literally rises and floats above the water. Where else can you experience the calm of the marine basin? The energy of miami's skyline, the extraordinary architecture and our vibrant culture all at the same time? Imagine a future watching a concert, a sporting event, a graduation, a ceremony all while enjoying that same breathtaking view. That was and remains the stadium's purpose. We have the opportunity respectfully the obligation to bring this historic and iconic landmark back to life. Let this be our eiffel tower. Thank you our big ben, our empire state building to be celebrated locally and from afar and if I MAY dreams like structures can endure when they are built on hope. Thank you purpose and the public at large. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning and thank you for your time. My name is tyler o'neill and I'm coming from the united way miami and I am here in support of fr three to implement an education advisory board with the city of miami. I would like to personally thank commissioner rafael rosado for bringing this to the forefront and the potential support of all the commissioners today. Uh, there are other municipalities that have successful eve's examples including the village of key biscayne, miami beach, miami shores and pembroke pines. And with this new iteration of the commission, the timing to form a partnership between institutions can never be better. The benefit of having an eab would not only benefit our schools and families, but also could be an effort to bolster the connection between private and public sectors. This would improve transparency and public trust in our education systems and educate coordination of existing resources. I respectfully ask for the commission to support this item. Thank you again for your consideration. Thank you. Good morning. My name is beverly heller. I live at 5916 west drive miami beach and I am here as a parent and a grandparent to strongly support commissioner rosado's initiative fr three to create an education advisory board similar to the successful city of miami beach quality education committee which I have sat on and chaired for many years um over 20 years not shared it but sat on it um the miami beach committee receives recommendations from parents, students and educators and the community. The members research and determine if the recommendations are worthy and if so via contract contract with various entities get the necessary support for the needed educators. This is so you know what we do. Um I um know that while your committee's makeup is different from the one that we have and that you envision just having a group supporting educational matters will make a significant positive difference and give a voice to those who might not now be involved free some of the initiatives that we have, uh, been successful to get passed at miami beach has been free early pick up pre-k education for every one of our children on miami beach free. We also have gotten a scoreboard for miami beach senior high school. We have um a medical care and in every school on miami beach and we have um community um intervention together with the the museums and the parks and all kinds of things for our kids to visit free um an educational advisory board costs the city nothing but it is worth everything if I hope you support the educational advisory board for your city and it will positively affect generations of families to come and I invite you to visit us on miami beach to see how our quality education works and the successes that we have. Thank you so much. Thank you. [Laughter] Thank you. Good morning. Hello good morning I am mateo lopez 1415 northeast second avenue miami and I am the legislative advisor to miami-dade county school board member joseph s geller who cannot join us today. But I am here on behalf of our office to speak in support of commissioner ralph rosado's fr three item which establishes the education advisory board. Our office has seen firsthand the kind of good that comes from having a committee centered around education. As you just heard before me, this education advisory board will provide a space for parents to come together and work with our city of miami and our school district for the sake of all children. I know this works because our office works closely with the city of miami beach that has their own version called the quality of education committee or qsc for short. The qsc has been the birthplace of countless collaborations between our city and our miami beach schools. Together we have solved local concerns efficiently, created opportunities for students to showcase their talents and made sure that our children received the best education possible. We urge the commission to support this item that will strengthen the bond between our families, the city and the school district. It truly takes a village and this is an opportunity for everyone to have a seat at the table to uplift our students, schools and community. Thank you so much. Thank you. Is there any. Good morning commissioners and mayor higgins my name is annette spillane. Sorry 788 northeast folded. 23rd street miami florida district two and I'm here today not just as a resident but as a mom. Every day I hold my child's hand as we cross her streets. I don't think about traffic engineering formulas or signal timing plans. I think about whether the car turning right sees us. I think about how wide the road is. I think about how fast the vehicles are moving and I think about whether we will make it across safely. That feeling, that moment of uncertainty in a crosswalk is something no parent, no grandparent, no older adult, no person using a walker or wheelchair should ever have to experience. We are designing streets that serve vehicles well but too often they don't serve the people who live there. Speed and aggressive driving turn everyday mistakes into life altering tragedies. That's why I strongly support resolution one on speeding enforcement and re 12 establishing a vision zero policy. When we improve crossings we aren't just improving infrastructure we are restoring dignity and safety to everyday life. As a mom I want my child to grow up in a community where crossing the street is not a risk calculation. As a neighbor, I want seniors to feel confident walking to the pharmacy or to the park. As a resident I want miami-dade to lead with courage and clarity. Thank you so much for your leadership and for choosing safety. Thank you. Good morning again. Good morning again. Um commissioner raquel regalado representing district seven. It's always a pleasure um, to be in the city of miami. Um I'm here as your county partner to support the item today for the marine stadium and also to provide some clarity as to the restrictions of the site. The miami marine stadium was a piece of land that was deeded to the city of miami by miami-dade county and it has very specific restrictions and a covenant that rides with the land. In 2008, then mayor manny diaz wanted to demolish the miami marine stadium and that resulted in a action that started at the county and my father, then commissioner thomas regalado later mayor thomas regalado moved to declare it historic. The preservation of that site has been a priority for the county and for the city for a very long time. The friends of the marine stadium have been working for over a decade and my father has worked with them and in the miami forever bond there was an allocation for the preservation of the marine stadium. The reverter language is very clear and in the past administration there was a movement here to have residential use at the marine stadium. And for those of you who remember I conducted a meeting with the county on the limitations of the marine stadium and the county's intent to move on the reverter should the restrictions of the use be challenged. Currently I'm in support of commissioner pardo's item we've been working very closely on the rickenbacker um the last eight years has been very difficult for the county dealing with the marine stadium. We are in favor of one operator um your predecessors I worked with them and the issues with the rickenbacker. What has been happening with the rickenbacker and the marine stadium is similar to virginia key. The county will get a request for a permit on a thursday for an event that's happening on a saturday, and everyone has to rush to figure out how we're going to deal with the traffic. We already have issues with crandon, um, with bill bags and with the general maintenance of the rickenbacker on the weekends. So having one operator one contact and I want to thank commissioner prado for baking in all the work that we've been doing on the rickenbacker and the transit plan, um, in terms of moving the vehicles into this rfp, it's really going to make our work with the city of miami a lot easier. It's also important to focus on um, the investment to the infrastructure. One of the things that I talked about last time that the marine stadium came up is the need for the city to invest in the infrastructure, the lack of infrastructure on that site. Um, same to virginia key creates a lot of chaos for the county in managing the rickenbacker. One of the examples is you can uber to the site but you cannot uber back because there is not um connectivity um to the uh to wi-fi. So we have people wandering around um the rickenbacker phones in the air trying to find a signal. Um, I'm currently working with the commissioner on an event plan that will help us with that. And there also are a lot of limitations in terms of water and sewer. Uh, when a former commissioner on this dais wanted to put a temporary housing there, we had to provide a lot of information that I'm happy to provide to all of you regarding the lack of water and sewer infrastructure and the need to add it there in terms of preservation of the site and the proper use of it. So all that being said, I'm here as your county partner. We're excited to move forward with the restoration of the marine stadium. My father was unable to attend because he has another um commitment. But he did tell me to remind you all that it is his fourth child and he feels very strongly for it and will be involved in everything marine stadium I finally want to tell you as a native miamian I know that growing up here we were in a minority. We are no longer a minority in miami-dade county. Um as native miamians we're very thoughtful that people come here and after ten years we consider them miamians but the reality is that for those of us who grew up here going to the handful of historic sites that we have left, they mean a lot to us. So while I appreciate everyone that mentioned growing up here and jimmy buffett and all the things that they saw at the marine stadium, um those events were great. They were iconic. Um I attended many there but for native miamians I ask you to consider that while other people return to their homes of origin and they take their children to the places that they went to as children we only have a handful of places. So I ask you to consider that when you look towards the future of the marine stadium it is iconic. It will be a beautiful venue. It will be the face of the city of miami for many years to come. But for those of us who are born and raised here and have no place to return to, it is for us not just nostalgic but very important. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak on behalf of any of the items here on our agenda? Seeing none public comment period is now closed. Thank you. Gentlemen MAY I have a motion to pass the meeting minutes of the following meetings OCTOBER 23rd 2025 NOVEMBER 20th 2025 and DECEMBER 11th 2025. So moved. Moved so have a motion and a second. All in favor? [Applause] Aye. >> item passes. Gentlemen, are there any items of the consent agenda that you would like to pull for discussion? Ca 1 or 2. No no no. I'm going to wait till my colleague returns just to make sure. Commissioner. No not at all. >> I'm sorry I apologize. Not at all. Um, we passed the meeting minutes. I didn't think you would have an issue with the meeting minutes. I'm sorry. We passed the meeting minutes am one, two and three. We're on the consent agenda. Would you like to pull either a 1 or 2 for discussion? No. Okay. MAY I have a motion for ca one and two? I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor? Aye. >> motion carries unanimously. Gentlemen of the items, are there any items that you would like to pull for discussion? No no. No no okay. >> MAY I have a motion for p1p2 as amended and ff three. Motion I have a motion. Second. >> second. >> I have a second. All in favor? Aye. >> motion passes unanimously. Gentlemen from the resolutions are re one being um indefinitely deferred. Do you have any items that you would like to pull for discussion from the re items? Re 12. Re 12. And I imagine a lot of you want to pull re 18. Re 818. I have none. Rt three. >> re three. Commissioner escalona. None okay so MAY I have a motion to pass re two. Rf four as amended and our clerk will have a statement re five as amended and our clerk will also have a statement for that one re 6789 ten as amended 11 1314 1516 as amended and 17. So moved. I have a motion. Second. >> second. >> I have a second. All in favor? Aye. >> my apologies. Briefly before the vote um for re for re four will be amended pursuant pursuant to a substitution memo dated FEBRUARY 11th, 2026. Re five will be amended pursuant to two substitution memos both dated FEBRUARY 9th, 2026 and add the following resolution number in the body of the legislation r dash 26 0056 re ten will be amended pursuant to a substitution memo dated FEBRUARY 9th, 2026 and re re 16 will be amended pursuant to a substitution memo dated FEBRUARY 10th, 2026. Thank you chair. Thank you. >> I h