“Today, we're deciding not just on one application. We're actually deciding on something that's much bigger than that. We're talking about the future of our county and longstanding policies that we have developed here that protect our water, our neighborhoods, and our future. And that is why I'm calling upon all of you to sustain my veto and stand with the community in protecting Miami-Dade's wetlands.”

Mayor's veto statement on Kelly Tractor CDMP application

“The urban development boundary exists for a reason, and it has served us very well. We have the most recovered economy. We've been aggressively addressing our housing needs. We have been really concerned about following the guidance from the Community Development Master Plan and the Urban Development Boundary Line in order to not unfairly burden our taxpayers with infrastructure for building outside of the protected area in sensitive areas.”

Mayor's defense of UDB policy

“The Biscayne Aquifer is the source of our drinking water, and the wetlands are not obstacles to development. They are infrastructure. They're natural infrastructure that protects us. They filter our water. They recharge the aquifer. They help protect us during heavy rains and storms.”

Mayor's environmental argument regarding wetlands

“This veto was not issued lightly. I think you all know I have provided very few vetoes during my term as mayor. And I understand the importance of economic growth. And we have been growing successfully with our economy. We are, in fact, the place that everybody wants to be for their companies and to live. So I understand the need for housing and jobs.”

Mayor's explanation of veto decision

“But growth must be responsible. It cannot be unbridled. And so over the last two weeks, we have seen a clear and growing momentum for sustaining this veto across the county. Three cities have already passed formal resolutions supporting the veto, and two more have resolutions tonight.”

Mayor citing community support for veto

“Once our wetlands are filled, they are gone. This is an opportunity to further protect our environment, to safeguard our taxpayer dollars, and to plan responsibly for the future. We have the UDB for a reason. I remain ready to work with this board and our community to ensure that we can continue to grow responsibly.”

Mayor's closing statement on veto

“And Commissioner Lopez exactly wetlands obviously there were concessions made this board did that at the last hearing more concessions could be made that would be preferable at the end of the day and to Commissioner Gilbert's point it isn't only that this is outside the UDB obviously there are other things that get developed outside the UDB it's that it didn't follow the proper process to allow us to do the full evaluation because of the text amendment.”

Mayor clarifying two-part basis for veto

“Text amendments have historically been brought forward to refine our CDMP policies when you have a full application you have a joint zoning application you can see exactly what's going to happen and then you can discuss those exact impacts you also establish need which there wasn't a cause to establish need.”

Mayor explaining proper process for applications

“This is a great company I nothing that I have said or whatever say is against the company itself which is doing well and that's good for all of us it's a great company but they have not because they use the text amendment process they've not been able to establish why it was necessary for them to go outside the UDB to build this and that is really the problem of the process.”

Mayor explaining procedural problem versus criticism of Kelly Tractor company

“I know it would be better and I hope this commission will look to further refine what is appropriate through a text amendment but I can assure you that it was never intended to facilitate site specific urban development outside the UDB.”

Mayor's position on text amendment intent

“It was not recommended that the applicant use a text amendment. That was laid out in the transmittal memo to Tallahassee. In fact, it was recommended denial. We have sought to discover who might have possibly indicated that. We are not able to discover anyone who specifically recommended this process.”

Responding to allegations of administration direction

“The urban development boundary is not forever. It's a line that can be moved. We're looking at urban expansion areas identified for when there is a demonstrated need for growth. Not just conveniently. There has to be an established need for growth.”

Explaining UDB philosophy and expansion areas

“I prefer that you would sustain my veto. That is exactly why I vetoed so that you could take into consideration all of these concerns and look at it not specific to only one application but the overall precedent that is being set.”

Requesting board sustain veto

“Nothing prevents this applicant from coming forward with much more information that would be inclusive of a UDB full application. How quickly they could do that, I don't know. That would obviously require some real thought and study by our staff.”

Addressing possibility of accelerated UDB process

“Staff that we are able to identify has never told anyone they should do this as a text amendment. I personally was at a meeting at Kelly Tractor about a year ago reviewing this project and that discussion didn't happen. We'd never discussed whether it would be a text amendment or not.”

Denying administration direction on text amendment

“I went on my own quest through staff through department directors, assistant directors, through all the people, and I said, did anyone say this? And I'm unable to find a soul that says they said it.”

Describing investigation into alleged direction

“When I had these discussions not with Mr. Kelly but with his representatives we were clearly told what the administration said didn't matter they had the votes.”

Responding to questions about what administration said regarding the text amendment approach

“When this issue came up my understanding is that the applicants did have a discussion with our staff as to the different approaches that could be taken as has been acknowledged the text amendment what is not prohibited explicitly in our rules so I don't think that any staff would have taken the tact to tell someone you cannot do this but certainly it was pointed out.”

Explaining staff's role in discussions with applicants about text amendment approach

“I would advise that. And included in that plan will be the cost involved of implementing a zero waste master plan. And you will find it will be substantially less than a new incinerator. Please consider the burden to our rate payers.”

Mayor's response to incinerator cost concerns

“With all due respect, Chair, it wasn't our proposal that by April we would bring you back definitive costs on the system on waste to energy and the ancillary facilities. Our commitment was to negotiate the interim agreement, which would allow for us to come back at the end of the interim agreement period, which we anticipated was in six to 12-month time frame with those definitive costs.”

Clarifying scope and timeline of April presentation

“What I can tell you is we've met with the representatives of the companies and what we've said to them is we want you to tell us what's most efficient. We don't want you to price something and us find out later that you could have done it cheaper.”

Explaining administration's guidance to consortium on efficiency

“Part of the interim agreement being they validate the sizing of everything as far as the size of the plant and then a menu of options would be in that interim agreement that they would ultimately be pricing for the waste diversion.”

Describing scope of interim agreement regarding facility sizing and options

“We expect our zero waste master plan to be finalized that will identify waste diversion and probably tell you whether we should have some of those things or we shouldn't have some of those things.”

Referencing upcoming zero waste master plan to inform decisions

“There's 5 million tons of solid waste in Miami-Dade County created every year and we're only talking about building a plant one to one and a half million tons.”

Providing context on waste volumes in county

“If there is a size that's more efficient we've asked them to propose it and that will be part of our interim agreement.”

Confirming that sizing optimization will be part of interim agreement

“We have not looked at 30 acre parcels. We have not done that.”

Confirming no analysis of smaller parcel sizes has been conducted

“If we do not want to waste campus we may can be less than the 60 but you're going to need substantial amounts of land and we can ask these builders standing here what's the minimum size land we should be looking at. I'd rather them tell us.”

Suggesting consortium provide guidance on minimum land requirements

“We don't want you to price something and us find out later that you could have done it cheaper, but you were doing what we said.”

discussing interim agreement with waste-to-energy contractor regarding plant sizing and pricing

“In the next few months we expect our zero waste master plan to be finalized that will identify waste diversion and probably tell you whether we should have some of those things or we shouldn't have some of those things.”

discussing future planning for waste diversion strategies

“There's 5 million tons of solid waste in Miami-Dade County created every year and we're only talking about building a plant one to one and a half million tons.”

explaining scale of county waste generation versus proposed facility capacity

“We've not looked at 30 acre parcels. We have not done that.”

responding to Commissioner Regalado's question about smaller parcel analysis

“The unexpected is becoming the norm in Tallahassee.”

opening legislative update on state concerns

“The most concerning is the property tax reform situation. There have been three bills that have passed out of committee one of those bills which is the 10-year phase out is going to the floor this week.”

discussing legislative threats to county revenue

“It is not if there is a property tax reform it is will win and what it will be.”

emphasizing inevitability of property tax reform impact

“The House has continued to fund Biscayne Bay at 20 million the Senate budget doesn't include any money for Biscayne Bay. The House also has recurring funding for trial rail but not for new starts northeast corridor. The Senate doesn't include funding for either.”

detailing state budget disparities on environmental and transit projects

“The Department of Health to change the income level for those that are on the AIDS medication that keeps people alive. That's going to impact 15,000 Floridians many of which live in my district.”

discussing health policy impacts on vulnerable populations

“The fiscal impact recurring to be 32 to 37 million dollars to us every single year so what is going through the Senate is a sovereign immunity that's going to lift the levels. Right now we have a $250,000 limit.”

explaining sovereign immunity reform and fiscal impact

“The local business tax the House bill 103 actually repeals the local business tax but preserves notice this preserves the funding source for the Beacon Council so they would get their money but we don't get ours.”

explaining HB 103 local business tax repeal

“House Bill 399 that actually will require a study by OPAGA to study whether or not the UDB line is something that should be considered and what its purpose is and should it be eliminated repealed or somehow moved.”

discussing HB 399 and Urban Development Boundary study requirement

“Senate Bill 1134 that will prohibit any county or municipality to fund or promote any diversity equity or inclusion. It broadly defines diversity equity and inclusion it would mean anything related to race color sex ethnicity gender identity or sexual orientation that would mean things like Hispanic Chamber of Commerce because it is to do with ethnicity.”

discussing SB 1134 and its broad impacts on DEI-related funding

“It would include all of our community and advocacy boards all of them would have to be eliminated.”

explaining implications of SB 1134 for county advisory boards

“If we chose to not follow that law it would provide for any county commissioner to that would be acting in their official capacity that violates this that they would be committing malfeasance misfeasance which we could then be removed from office.”

explaining penalties in SB 1134 for non-compliance

“I like to fund things like a mobile mammogram unit and that would be considered gender related and I might not be able to do that anymore.”

explaining specific examples of programs that would be impacted by SB 1134

“Many of our CBOs are gender related like girls programs Girl Scouts people like that.”

discussing community-based organization impacts under SB 1134

“There is now a bill moving that would require local governments to submit all of their applications for federal funding to F dot first.”

discussing federal funding application requirements change

“The county has been known for a lot of transportation grants it has submitted its grants to the federal government without the need for the state to involve itself in our priorities.”

explaining historical county transportation grant process

“I'm in the middle of the sixth week and things will begin to fly at warp speed.”

discussing legislative session timeline and pace

“No good news hate to say it but no good news.”

concluding legislative update

“Obviously most of you have had a chance to go to Tallahassee I've been twice and every time and through our advocacy with Jess and our hired lobbyists we have presented scenarios. What will be the result of losing anywhere between 250 million to a billion dollars annually?”

discussing impact of proposed legislation on county services and budget

“It is highly important that we communicate this in the most drastic terms. It is not too late and we must do it. And one representative said to us we should be graphically showing how many libraries will close, how many bus routes will be eliminated, etc.”

urging commissioners to communicate impacts of proposed bills

“I really really encourage this Commission to be extremely vocal and graphic about what the losses will be potentially and we have that information to continue to share with you.”

encouraging commissioners to be vocal about legislative impact

“the number of riders on the Express Service has doubled since we launched the line, and we have many, many satisfied customers. The trick is the cross traffic, and it is, it is very complicated system”

reporting positive ridership numbers but acknowledging synchronization challenges

“Obviously, it's not an elevated train, which we all wanted, and that was what was originally in the half penny, which turned in, it was, should have been a full penny. If it had been a full penny, we might have been able to build a metro rail line”

discussing BRT as alternative to elevated train

“There is nothing that can replace getting in touch personally with people who have experienced the Holocaust, the generations that follow, and I am so grateful that you have stepped up to tell your stories and that we are memorializing them at our Holocaust Memorial with even holograms to be able to have people relate more personally.”

Remarks honoring Holocaust survivors and memorial efforts

“And so what we are doing here today is critically important, and I know we are in a community that honors, respects, and uplifts, and makes sure that anti-Semitism has no home here in Miami-Dade County.”

Statement on commitment to combating anti-Semitism

“75 years in Miami is a very big deal, so that is why it's so important to remember and to celebrate. I want to say in addition to all that has been said about the great medical care and the innovation, it's beautiful. And rising above the water, it's really an iconic, it's not just a building, it's buildings. And so you, you inspire people, not only with a good quality care, but also, and each of those buildings reflects a commitment from people in our community who are grateful for the care they've received and want to be sure that people know that they are dedicated, we are all dedicated to the well-being of this great institution.”

Mayor's remarks on Mount Sinai Hospital's 75-year milestone

“Ray Baker, our new director, brings more than 32 years of experience in Miami-Dade County government, a true understanding of how our government works. He's worked in several departments, including in the Office of Management and Budget. He is the right leader at this moment to guide the county through the complex fiscal environment.”

Introducing and endorsing Ray Baker as new OMB Director

“I want to thank David Clodfilter for his many faithful years of service as my budget director since the beginning of my first term. He is stepping into a new advisor role where he has his work cut out for him.”

Thanking outgoing OMB Director

“I want to congratulate Lydia Lopez, our new interim director at the Miami-Dade Public Library System. Although her name is not Baker, she is a great baker.”

Announcing new interim library director and making light joke

“The departments, when they went back and they came out with a total of 999, we didn't come with a higher number, but I think we're comparing it to last year that we have done, and the departments have done a great job in reducing the number from last year.”

Response explaining reduction in vehicle purchase numbers for 8P1

“There is a very, very robust and detailed criteria. Not only the departments have to follow that, but also there's a centralized fleet division under PIOD. They do a thorough vetting and the way they look at it is number one, the mileage, the age of the vehicles... 100,000 miles. But that doesn't mean if the vehicle is running fine on 100,000, we're not going to replace it. Are the parts available? What is the cost to maintain those vehicles after a certain age and certain mileage?”

Explaining vehicle replacement criteria during 8P1 discussion

“I do think it is very important that we analyze fully the provisions of any contract, choose the right contracting method, and ensure that we are adhering to the four corners of a contract. Obviously, this contract occurred before I came to the county. I wasn't involved in its original implementation or its design.”

Response to contractor performance issues for 14A2

“thank you chief for jumping in uh through the chair um thank you for that compliment our staff work very hard to ensure that the budget had detail and we accept uh the recommendation to have a standard approach to ensuring that all the CRA budgets provide the level of detail that's required for this board to make an informed decision”

responding to Commissioner Gilbert's proposal for detailed CRA budgets

“I am a strong CRA proponent since their creation, and as commissioner, I work to strengthen the legislation to assure community benefits and accountability. I hear a lot of interest in making additional changes. So this report proposes a temporary pause on expansions until we can assess the impact of decisions in the Florida legislature.”

Presenting CRA report and recommendation for temporary moratorium on expansions

“In compliance with your previous direction, the administration has followed your direction, met with both companies multiple times, and their representatives, and they have both represented to the administration that they, in principle, have a path to a potential partnership, but we're working on details.”

Update on waste-to-energy bidders partnership discussions

“Both companies seem to be fully on board and will be proposing things along those lines once determined if they're a partnership or not.”

Discussing bidders' commitment to zero waste strategy

“I'm happy to meet with you. I can assure you we don't mistreat any of our partners.”

Responding to concerns about treatment of existing waste facility partner

“In fact, I know you've pointed that out before, Commissioner, that we're too lenient with our partners.”

Mayor acknowledging commissioner's prior concerns about leniency with partners