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REPORT:
County Attorney Bonzon-Keenan advised that Mr. David Clodfelter, Chief Budget Officer and Director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would read into the record scrivener�s errors and proposed amendments.
Mr. David Clodfelter read scrivener�s errors and amendments into the record as follows:
1. To correct scrivener�s error on page 10 of the accompanying memorandum to the proposed budget dated September 1, 2023, entitled �Information for First Budget Hearing � FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget,� the last sentence of the second to last paragraph, to change the capital program number to read �Capital Program Number 2000000133;� and
2. To amend Agenda Item H, Legislative File Number 231741:
a. To correct scrivener�s error on page 2 of the ordinance, Section 2, third line, to change the date to read October 1, 2023;
b. To amend Attachment B, page 96, Waste Collection Services Fee Table, under the Residential Services/Single Family, Duplex, Triplex and Quad sub-heading, the Garbage Trash, TRC, and Recycling (One Garbage Cart) Fee to read $547.00;
c. To amend the Operating Budget/Appropriation Schedules, page 441, under the Department of Solid Waste Management/Waste Collection Operations/(Funds EW001, EW018, and EW019) heading, the amounts for �Collection Fees and Charges� and �Total� listed under the sub-heading �Revenues� to read $195,408,000 and $233,024,000, respectively; and
d. To amend the Operating Budget/Appropriation Schedules, under the Department of Solid Waste Management/Waste Collection Operations/(Funds EW001, EW018, and EW019) heading, the amounts for �Garbage and Trash Collection Operations� and �Total� listed under the sub-heading �Expenditures� to read $212,274,000 and $233,024,000, respectively.
Chairman Gilbert III opened the public hearing; and the following persons appeared before the Board:
1. Ms. Janet Carabelli, 120 NE 90th Street, El Portal, Florida
2. Ms. Gladys Mezrahi, 21150 Point Place, Apartment 2206, Aventura, Florida
3. Ms. Molly Phillips, 2400 SW 27th Avenue, Miami, Florida
4. Ms. Marya Meyer, 1781 Opechee Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida
5. Mr. Michael Rosenberg, 13030 North Calusa Club Drive, Miami, Florida
6. Ms. Mahlia Lindquist, Executive Director of LEAP Women�s Reentry Program, 1206 Madrid Street, Coral Gables, Florida
7. Ms. Kerry Ann Royes, President and CEO of YWCA South Florida, 351 NW 5th Street, Miami, Florida
8. Ms. Corinne Webb, Instructor at the Homestead Correctional Institute, LEAP Program, 8330 SW 176th Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida
9. Mr. J. B. Arbelo, Director of Education, YWCA of South Florida, Court Care Program, 14162 SW 151st Avenue, Miami, Florida
10. Ms. Angelena Jackson, 1120 NW 184th Drive, Miami, Florida
11. Mr. Jose Filpo, 351 NW 5th Street, Miami, Florida
12. Ms. Sofia Valverde, 461 SW 21st Road, Miami, Florida
13. Ms. Angeline Evans, 11300 SW 120th Street, Miami, Florida
14. Ms. Cameron Bills, Miami Waterkeeper, 4050 Loquat Avenue, Miami, Florida
15. Ms. Cynthia Hewitt, 16630 SW 80th Avenue, Miami, Florida
16. Ms. Addy Nagle, Miami Waterkeeper, 2666 Tigertail Avenue, Unit 11, Miami, Florida
17. Ms. Denise Houst, 8865 SW 172nd Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida
18. Ms. Samantha Barquin, Miami Waterkeeper, 15040 SW 49th Lane, Miami, Florida
19. Ms. Julie Clark, Pets� Trust Miami, 11015 SW 52nd Drive, Miami, Florida
20. Ms. Rita Schwartz, Pets Trust Miami, 7100 SW 133rd Street, Miami, Florida
21. Ms. Catherine Dos Santos, Transit Alliance Miami, 1228 West Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida
22. Ms. Sharon Shaw, Pets� Trust Miami, 8415 SW 107th Avenue, Miami, Florida
23. Mr. Nicholas Duran, Advocacy Manager, Transit Alliance Miami, 9860 SW 14th Street, Miami, Florida
24. Ms. Mercedes Cabrera (homeless), Miami Workers Center
25. Ms. Andrea Iglesias, Urban Health Partnerships, 1800 SW 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida
26. Mr. Mel Meinhardt, Chairman, Friends of the Commodore Trail, 3075 Virginia Street, Miami, Florida
27. Ms. Lana Montalban, 210 Seaview Drive, Key Biscayne, Florida
28. Mr. Ethan Ebizadeh, Miami Waterkeeper, 1260 97th Street, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
29. Mr. Mike Pryslak, 10850 SW 42nd Street, Miami, Florida
30. Ms. Heather Glassman, Pets� Trust Miami, 720 NW 140th Terrace, Miami, Florida
31. Ms. Tia Williams, Director of Operation Paw and Board Member of Cat Solutions 305, 929 NW 49th Street, Miami, Florida
32. Ms. Nancy DeNike, LEAP, 41 NW 16th Avenue, Miami, Florida
33. Ms. Ana Campos, licensed pr�vate investigator, 3032 E. Commercial Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
34. Mr. John Adams, 401 Ocean Drive, Miami, Florida
35. Ms. Kim Bonanno, 655 Meridian Avenue, Unit 19, Miami Beach, Florida
36. Ms. Kira Grossman, Board Chairwoman of Voices For Children, 710 Woodcrest, Key Biscayne, Florida
37. Mr. Stanley Young, 500 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida
38. Mr. Theophilus Williams, 1391 NW 95th Street, Miami, Florida
39. Ms. Pascale Romain, 1351 NW 103rd Street, Miami, Florida
40. Ms. Nanelle Jean Pierre, 7776 Dilido Boulevard, Miramar, Florida
41. Ms. Ebony Felton, member of Power U Center for Social Change, 7432 NW 23rd Court, Miami, Florida
42. Ms. Marilyn Holifield, Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora, 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3300, Miami, Florida
43. Mr. Kenneth Kilpatrick, President of Brownsville Civic Neighborhood Association (BCNA), Miami, Florida
44. Mr. Marie Mona Paul, 13100 NE 7th Avenue, Apartment 115, Miami, Florida
45. Ms. Cynthia Seip, Pets� Trust Miami, 916 Medina Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida
46. Ms. Verline Vernette, 770 NE 141st Street, North Miami, Florida
47. Ms. Claudia Ramirez, 4850 SW 149th Court, Unit J, Miami, Florida
48. Mr. E. Simonville, 70 NE 202nd Street, Miami, Florida
49. Ms. Karina Goldenberg, Pets� Trust Miami, 11131 NE 9th Court, Biscayne Park, Florida
50. Ms. Maria Elena Prio, 1550 Tigertail Avenue, Miami, Florida
51. Ms. Ly Bibiana Salmon, 2962 NW 98th Place, Doral, Florida
52. Mr. Joel Alexis, 4613 NW 190th Street, Miami, Florida
53. Mr. Lexius Choute, 21 N9W 68th Street, Miami, Florida
54. Mr. Jeffrey Hearne, Legal Services of Greater Miami, 4343 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida
55. Ms. Cristina DeCastro, Pets� Trust Miami, 23062 SW 104th Court, Miami, Florida
56. Ms. Sharon Frazier-Stephens, 6324 NE 1st Place, Miami, Florida
57. Mr. Juan Carlos Montufar, 3951 NW 7th Street, Miami, Florida
58. Unidentified speaker
59. Ms. Marie Therese (no surname or address given)
60. Ms. Anaruth Solace, 7385 Fairway Drive, Miami Lakes, Florida
61. Ms. Rachel Prestipino, 1818 SW 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida
62. Mr. Kenneth Brown 12300 NW 17th Avenue, Miami, Florida
63. Ms. Roseline Larose, 2511 NE 55th Street, Miami, Florida
64. Ms. Omrit Shimoni, Jewish Community Services of South Florida, 12000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida
65. Mr. Oliver Telusma, Equal Justice Works Fellow, Community Justice Project, 3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 106, Miami, Florida
66. Mr. Charles Curry, 7802 NW 8th Avenue, Miami, Florida
67. Ms. Ericka Valera, 430 NW 73rd Terrace, Miami, Florida
68. Ms. Nelly Medina, Miami Workers Center, 301 NW 22nd Street, Apartment 106, Miami, Florida
69. Mr. Camilo Mejia, 3482 Frow Avenue, Miami, Florida
70. Ms. Betty Petiote, 1440 NE 153rd Terrace, Miami, Florida
71. Ms. Bernadette Campos, 905 SW 1st Street, Apartment 105, Miami, Florida
72. Dr. Enid Pinkney, 4990 NW 31st Avenue, Miami, Florida
73. Ms. Carla Crossno, Co-Chairwoman of the Philanthropy Miami, 445 Bianca Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida
74. Former State Representative Dr. James Bush, III, Hampton House, 4900 NW 30th Avenue, Miami, Florida
75. Mr. Rolando Bosch Rodriguez, 2841 NE 163rd Street, Apartment 1114, North Miami Beach, Florida
76. Mr. James Mills, 12805 SW 104th Terrace, Miami, Florida
77. Ms. Nerlande Mervilus, 305 NW 104th Terrace, Miami, Florida
78. Mr. Paul Christian Namphy, 1275 NW 123rd Street, Miami, Florida
79. Ms. Falicia Douglas, Senior Program Director for Curley�s House of Styles, Inc., 6025 NW 6th Court, Miami, Florida
80. Mr. Rubin Young, Director of Grants and Development, Curley�s House of Style, Inc., Hope Relief Food Bank, 6025 NW 6th Court, Miami, Florida
81. Mr. James Watley, Sr., on behalf of Curley�s House, 1217 NW 2nd Avenue, Apartment 105, Miami, Florida
82. Mr. Pedro Rafael Castro, Miami Workers Center, 5086 NW 7th Street, Miami, Florida
83. Mr. Emiliano Cambra-Morales, made statement on behalf of Ms. Victoria Morales, 1293 SW 22nd Avenue, Miami, Florida
84. Ms. Bernadette Cunningham, Curley�s House, 786 NW 75th Street, Miami, Florida
85. Ms. Maria Donaldson, Curley�s House, 70 East 7th Street, Unit 714, Hialeah, Florida
86. Ms. Yanelis Valdes, 58 NE 14 Street, Miami, Florida
87. Ms. Caro Rodriguez, 8950 NE 8th Avenue, Miami, Florida
88. Ms. Alexandra Contreras, 9725 SW 110th Street, Miami, Florida
89. Ms. Z. Spicer, Engage Miami, 1465 NE 123rd Street, North Miami, Florida
90. Ms. Yeimi Valdes, 1500 NE Miami Place, Miami, Florida
91. Ms. Angelena Spicer, Curley�s House, 6025 NW 6th Street, Miami, Florida
92. Ms. Clara Mae Jenkins, 2469 NW 63rd Street, Miami, Florida
93. Ms. Lavern Spicer, 6025 NW 6th Court, Miami, Florida
94. Ms. Janie Jackson, Miami Workers Center, 1161 NW 50th Street, Miami, Florida
95. Ms. Maria Elena Rodriguez, 1530 SW 20th Street, Miami, Florida
96. Ms. Daymara Reyes, 1550 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida
97. Ms. Vanny E. Veras, Attendance Organizer, Miami Workers Center, 1007 SW 26th Terrace, Miami, Florida
98. Ms. Barbara Ayllon Hernandez, Chapman Partnership, 4111 NW 37th Avenue, Lot D-418, Miami, Florida
99. Ms. Francene Hagama, 2905 NW 51st Terrace, Miami, Florida
100. Ms. Vanessa Ressler, Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors, Jewish Community Services, 12000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida
101. Ms. Miriam Singer, Jewish Community Services, 12000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida
102. Ms. Brenda Tynes, 5255 NW 24th Avenue, Unit A545, Miami, Florida
103. Ms. Patricia Arias, Executive Director of CAMACOL, 1401 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida
104. Deacon Larry Williams, Jr., Chair of the Brownsville CAHSD Community Advisory Committee, 3110 NW 55th Street, Miami, Florida
105. Ms. Rayna Milfort, Miami Homes for All, 3250 SW 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida
106. Ms. Audrey Aradanas, 3250 SW 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida
107. Ms. Marsha Jaqeays, 13100 West Dixie Highway, North Miami, Florida
108. Mr. Rudy Shanyo-Theophin, 3592 SW 68th Way, Miramar, Florida
109. Former State Representative Roy Hardemon, 1292 NW 79th Street, Miami, Florida
110. Ms. Maria Claudia Schubert Fontes, 10063 Costa del Sol Boulevard, Doral, Florida
111. Ms. Daniella Roger, Miami Homes for All, 3250 SW 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida
112. Mr. Carl Bey, Member of the Brownsville CAHSD Community Advisory Committee, 5150 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida
113. Ms. Claudia Erica Romero Perez, 217 NW 15th Street, Miami, Florida
114. Ms. Anjuli Casta�o, Miami Homes for All, 800 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida
115. Ms. Claudia McLean-Jo, Joshua�s Heart Foundation, 5243 Alton Road, Miami Beach, Florida
116. Ms. Marie Carmelle Lindley, 14327 SW 275th Lane, Homestead, Florida
117. Mr. Helisson Atelus, Model City, 2420 NW 85th Terrace, Miami Gardens, Florida
118. Ms. Chikanma Pondexter, 345 NW 188th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida
119. Ms. Jo Ann Harris, Alliance for Musical Arts Productions, 5020 NW 197th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida
120. Ms. M. Lee Kinsler, A Leap of Faith Foundation, 554 NW 56th Street, Miami, Florida
121. Ms. Julie Robinson, South Dade Women�s Veterans Alliance, Inc., 14661 Harrison Street, Miami, Florida
122. Mr. Ijamyn Gray, Encouraging Dreamers Breaking Barriers, 1490 NW 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida
123. Mr. Jules Dalge, 1055 NE 126th Street, Apartment 207, Miami, Florida
124. Ms. Janne� Smith, Miami Homes for All, 1545 NW 15th Street Road, Apartment 805, Miami, Florida
125. Ms. Katherine Passley, Beyond the Bars, 300 NE 118th Terrace, Miami, Florida
126. Ms. Sarai Gabar, Beyond the Bars, 1071 NE 11th Terrace, Miami, Florida
127. Mr. Marlon Hill, 13525 SW 119th Avenue, Miami, Florida
Hearing no other persons wishing to speak, Chairman Gilbert III, closed the public hearing.
Mayor Levine Cava thanked everyone for attending tonight�s (9/7) first budget meeting. She emphasized the public�s input was key to allowing the County to respond to the community�s needs and determine the County�s priorities before moving forward with the budget. Mayor Levine Cava stated she was proud of the proposed budget (Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24) because it was responsible, compassionate, and served the people. She pointed out that the County set historic tax rates and made targeted investments last year to ensure families could continue to afford to pay their bills despite the increased cost of living. Mayor Levine Cava commented on the County�s commitment to providing financial relief to residents and laying the foundation for future growth and prosperity. She stated this year�s proposed budget also created a more future-ready Miami by investing in tomorrow, addressing long-term challenges, and preparing for major impending budgetary needs, while making unprecedented infrastructure investments in key priorities previously mentioned by the community.
Mayor Levine Cava advised that her administration had secured approximately $1 billion in federal and state infrastructure grants. She pointed out those funds constituted the largest financial growth in this year�s budget, and were appropriated for infrastructure investments. Mayor Levine Cava stated it was important to have an investment-minded infrastructure budget to continue building on the progress made over the last two (2) years despite providing an additional one percent (1%) property tax reduction. She noted that the proposed property tax reduction would offer financial relief to residents and represented $36 million in savings to the public while maintaining the same level of service delivery expected by residents. Mayor Levine Cava pointed out that the proposed budget also invested in key priorities such as housing, transportation infrastructure, public safety, environment, small businesses, families, and the older adult population. Therefore, she believed the proposed budget was balanced, smart, compassionate, and responsible; and it ensured fiscal stability and prosperity for years to come by investing in more livable communities, and providing enhancements for each County Commission District in response to the community's needs and concerns. Additionally, the budget included a $2 million allocation to expand and enhance Animal Services programs.
Mayor Levine Cava thanked Budget Director David Clodfelter and the members of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for their assistance in the development of the proposed budget.
Chairman Gilbert III opened the floor to allow each Board member to present their concerns and outline budgetary priorities.
Commissioner Gonzalez expressed his support for providing affordable housing for residents, addressing the increased cost of living, and the need to increase service levels in proportion to the realized funding increase in the budget. He asked that the County Administration to identify budgetary efficiencies to have the savings refunded to the taxpayers with the mid-year budget adjustments in the year 2024.
Commissioner Gonzalez commented budgetary adjustments should be judicious and based on information and suggested a review of every departmental expense to identify efficiencies to provide taxpayers with the needed tax relief. He recommended the County Administration use the Commission Auditor�s budget report as a starting analysis point.
Commissioner Steinberg stated her support for the proposed budget as presented even though County Commission District 4 needed additional enhancements.
Commissioner Bastien reiterated the importance of developing a fair and equitable budget that supported affordable housing, enhanced public safety in neighborhoods, improved vital infrastructure needs, and expanded transportation options; and requested the following:
1. The review of existing affordable housing programs to determine their efficiency and effectiveness to make appropriate modifications since housing remained a critical need throughout the County;
2. The development of new initiatives to attract new business to the County, support to small businesses, and encourage young entrepreneurs;
3. The inclusion of the 7th Avenue and 79th Street corridors in the Priority Areas List of economic development;
4. The review of the root causes of gun violence to be able to develop programs and initiatives to address those problems; and
5. The development of a comprehensive plan to address roadway resurfacing and the permanent resolution of the roadway drainage problems.
Commissioner Bastien expressed her interest in working with the administration to review and address her concerns to make the County more equitable.
Commissioner Regalado suggested the County Administration review the feasibility of increasing the Save Our Seniors Program eligibility threshold to allow more seniors to qualify for the property tax exemption; and to review the feasibility of providing taxpayers with assistance to access applications that facilitated applying for property tax reductions. She also suggested the County Administration evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of existing programs, including the Mortgage Relief Program (MRP).
Commissioner Regalado expressed her support to move forward with the request to refresh the Civic Center Master Plan. She pointed out that the Board members needed to engage in serious discussions regarding the loss of the chain of command of police officers due to the newly established Sheriff�s Office, and the need to continue funding other associated departments. Commissioner Regalado recommended the Board establish a separate millage rate for the Sheriff�s Office.
Commissioner Regalado spoke in support of establishing a version of the Pet Trust proposed in the past and allowing them to continue providing the spay and neuter services with an evaluation of their performance in a year. She recommended that the proposed Pet Trust be included in the decision-making process. She asked that the County Administration implement an aggressive Spay and Neuter Program and expressed disagreement with the continuance of animal sanctuaries.
Commissioner Regalado asked that the County Administration identify funding to continue supporting the Neurodiversity Training Program.
Commissioner Bermudez made the following requests:
1. A discussion within the next two (2) weeks on the project status of the decommissioned landfill located within County Commission District 12 and the adjacent proposed Soccer Park approved by the voters in 2012, which remained unbuilt; and
2. An equitable distribution of art-related opportunities among all county commission districts located on the western side of the County.
Commissioner Bermudez expressed concern for the following issues:
1. The projected $27.5 million Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) budget deficit for the next fiscal year and recommended the Board should address this issue as soon as possible;
2. The low level of funds in the reserve funds;
3. The inadequacy of transportation services;
4. The lack of job creation;
5. The need to provide incentives to large business entities to attract corporations that could offer the types of jobs this County merited; and
6. The need to establish assistance programs for the middle class.
Commissioner Bermudez recommended the development of a mechanism to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and emphasized the need to expedite the decision on building the east-west corridor.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins commended Mayor Levine Cava for addressing the needs and concerns of every speaker at tonight�s meeting and for her level of commitment and leadership. She also thanked the Mayor for meeting with her to establish her budgetary priorities for County Commission District 8, particularly, for addressing the pothole issue and the allocation of $0.31 of every dollar to public safety-related issues.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins explained that the implementation of a Pet Trust was under the control of the Board members if they wished to establish it and not the Mayor; and in the interim, an allocation of over $2 million was included in the budget to help the overcrowding of animals. She expressed support for the proposed one percent (1%) millage rate reduction and asked the Board members to support it.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked Mayor Levine Cava and her administrative team to meet with her before the second budget hearing to discuss the following issues:
1. The position of Chief Bay Officer;
2. The need to increase funding for the Reasonable Assurance Plan
3. The need to prioritize the bay and environmental-related issues;
4. The need to increase funding for parks located within County Commission District 8; and
5. The need to advertise to inform the public of the availability of funds through the Homes Plan.
Commissioner Higgins commented on the issue of increased housing costs and the importance of focusing on balancing and managing property taxes to benefit homestead property owners rather than commercial owners. She emphasized the County needed to ensure it collected sufficient property taxes to support its programs and the delivery of services; and noted her support for funding to Legal Services to provide eviction protection; and funding for the Renter�s Assistance Program.
Additionally, Commissioner Higgins requested an increase in the staffing for the Office of Housing Advocacy.
Commissioner Cabrera made the following requests:
1. To prioritize public safety services;
2. To increase the staffing level in the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) to improve the County�s permitting process;
3. To establish four (4) additional neighborhood enhancement teams;
4. To increase the funding allocation for escalator and elevator repairs and improvements at the airports;
5. To increase funding for the Renter�s Assistance Program from the $27 million carryover funds that remained unallocated from the Homes Plan;
6. To ensure that the Renter�s Assistance Program was properly promoted;
7. To add $1 million to the funding allocation of UMSA�s landscaping and maintenance program to increase the cycles to 17; and
8. To review County Commission District 6�s need for roadway improvements such as sidewalks, roadway resurfacing, and traffic calming devices.
Commissioner Cabrera noted that the optimal landscaping and maintenance cycle level was 20 annual cycles at an approximate additional cost of $700,000. He also expressed concern about the proposed millage rate and spoke about the importance of ensuring homeowners could afford to pay their property taxes.
Commissioner Cabrera noted that the Board needed to prioritize and protect residents from contractors' abuse.
Commissioner Garcia commended Mayor Levine Cava for her work and investment in the County�s parks and the emphasis on public safety-related issues to ensure the community�s protection and safety.
Commissioner Garcia advised the following issues were his priorities:
1. The proposed one percent (1%) millage rate reduction;
2. The lack of metrics to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and departments to support budgetary increases;
3. The lack of funding in the area of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and education since Miami remained the leader in the number of HIV cases;
4. The need for more economic development to help grow and maintain the middle class;
5. The insufficient funding allocation to incentivize the film industry program and promote the community; and
6. The lack of planning for the projected UMSA budget deficit for the next fiscal year;
Commissioner Garcia requested the budget include a $1 million funding allocation to continue HIV research and education and expressed support for the proposed millage rate reduction.
Vice Chairman Rodriguez congratulated the Mayor for preparing a responsible budget and cutting back the community-based organizations (COBs) since funding for them should be a one-time application through the federal government. He pointed out that County Commission District 8 was comprised entirely of UMSA with various social services issues in need of attention.
Vice Chairman Rodriguez commented on the importance of the Board�s role in ensuring the County�s core services were fully funded.
Chairman Gilbert III commented that government should be efficient and finding efficiencies in a government this size was essential. He pointed out it was important to identify efficiencies through a long-term plan or attrition rather than layoffs to avoid larger concerns such as housing and crime problems, and it could all be accomplished through discussions.
Chairman Gilbert III stated that he hoped to accomplish a budget that would move the County as a community; and the proposed budget recognized the community�s need for mass transit, the County�s commitment to the corridors, and the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan.
Chairman Gilbert III commented on the need to decrease housing costs so as not to affect the County�s growth, and noted that the County could go so by increasing density since there was not much land left to develop. Additionally, he commented on the importance of the film production industry to economic development and job creation.
Chairman Gilbert III stated that the Board needed to create a Miami-Dade County that was welcoming and accessible to everyone, and every County budget should be forward-looking.
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