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1
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MINUTES PREPARED BY:
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REPORT:
Chester Rodriguez, Commission Reporter
(305) 375-3819
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1A
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INVOCATION AS PROVIDED IN RULE 5.05 (H)
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Steinberg led the invocation.
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1B
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ROLL CALL
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Steinberg convened the Infrastructure, Innovation and Technology Committee (IITC) meeting at 12:35 p.m.
In addition to the Committee members, the following staff members were present:
~ Assistant County Attorney (ACA) Christopher J. Wahl;
~ Mr. Josiel Ferrer-Diaz, Deputy Director, Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW)
~ Ms. Namita Uppal, Director, Strategic Procurement Department (SPD);
~ Ms. Aneisha Daniel, Director, Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM);
~ Mr. Jorge Olazabal, Director, Communications, Information and Technology Department (CITD)
~ Mr. Roy Coley, Deputy Mayor, Office of the Mayor; and
~ Deputy Clerks Kerry Khunjar Breakenridge and Chester Rodriguez, Clerk of the Board.
MOTION TO SET THE AGENDA
ACA Wahl advised the items to be considered at today�s meeting were those listed on the final printed agenda, including the addition of Agenda Item 3C as listed in the changes memorandum dated July 15, 2026. He further noted that Agenda Item 3D would also be added to the agenda and read the title into the record.
Commissioner Lopez moved to approve today�s agenda, with the aforementioned changes. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Cohen Higgins, and upon being put to a vote, passed 3-0 (Commissioner Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Hardemon were absent).
Commissioner Cohen Higgins requested to bifurcate Agenda Items 3C and 3D for additional information.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins moved to consider Agenda Items 3A, 3B and 6A simultaneously. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, and upon being put to a vote, passed 4-0 (Vice Chairman Hardemon was absent).
NOTE: Agenda Items 3A, 3B, and 3D were forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC/Board) with a favorable recommendation, and Agenda Item 6A was approved.
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1C
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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REPORT:
Commissioner Cohen Higgins led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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1D
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REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HEARD AS PROVIDED IN RULE 6.06
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Steinberg opened the reasonable opportunity to be heard; seeing no one come forward to speak, the reasonable opportunity to be heard was closed.
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1E
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
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1F
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DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
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1F1
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261232
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Discussion Item
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Anthony Rodriguez
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DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING THE PROPOSED FY 2026-27 BUDGET PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS:
� COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
� DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
� MIAMI-DADE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT
� PEOPLE AND INTERNAL OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
� DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES
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Presented
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REPORT:
Commissioner Cohen Higgins noted that the presentations appeared identical in format to those given at the committee meeting held earlier that day and requested physical copies for the dais.
In response to her question, Mr. Olazabal confirmed that his presentation did not contain budget figures but that he was prepared to discuss them.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked that he and each subsequent director state the department's total budget and whether the department had met the administration's charge of not exceeding three percent growth.
Commissioner Gonzalez asked that future presenters distribute copies to the Committee before coming forward. Staff confirmed copies were being distributed for each presentation scheduled for the meeting.
Deputy Mayor Coley explained that the Mayor had directed each department director to submit budget requests, which were returned for revision multiple times because the requests exceeded available resources. He stated that all directors had been given the same presentation format to describe their challenges, concerns, and budget drivers, but that the exact figures would be released by the Mayor that afternoon, and that the directors and the Mayor's staff would be available to review those figures following the release. He later added that the directors did not have some of the requested information and were not authorized to disclose the information they had until the Mayor unveiled her budget, in the event she changed any recommendations.
Commissioner Lopez observed that the three Committee members had also served on another committee that morning, where the presentations had not enabled a substantive discussion despite an hour of questions. She noted that basic information such as total budget, the percentage funded by the General Fund, and the number of vacancies eliminated had not been included, and stated that although she appreciated the directors' efforts, the presentations would not assist her in making budget decisions and it was unfair to expect the directors to answer questions they were not prepared to address.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated that the Chairman of the Board had requested the budget reviews so that the Board could work collectively toward a common goal, and that proceeding without figures would not accomplish that purpose. She noted the earlier committee had discussed holding a workshop after the Mayor's 2:30 p.m. release and suggested the Committee either waive the presentations or wait for that workshop, as reviewing each department's aims and accomplishments without actual numbers was not the best use of the Committee's time.
Commissioner Gonzalez agreed, stating that reviewing the presentation for purposes of analyzing potential budget reductions was premature and that the presentations could be waived or deferred.
In response to Chairwoman Steinberg's question regarding the planned workshop, Commissioner Lopez explained that the Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee had decided not to recess in August and would review every department budget following the Mayor's release. She noted the committee had found that departments had not been asked to reduce their budgets but rather to grow them by three percent, and stated the committee was confident it could work with the administration to identify savings.
Chairwoman Steinberg stated that, based on the consensus of the members, the Committee would waive the presentations and take them up at an August meeting for a more in-depth budget discussion after the Mayor's proposed budget was released. She noted that presentations at the prior day's committee meeting had similarly lacked budget figures and stated she wished to participate in the August review.
Commissioner Gonzalez added that directors should come to the workshop prepared to know their numbers and defend every expenditure requested rather than reading from a presentation.
Commissioner Lopez reiterated her request that all department directors provide a schedule of vacancies with aging reports. She emphasized the need for truth in budgeting, explaining that staff reductions should be clearly distinguished from employees transferred to other departments under their employment rights or from positions and services moved to constitutional officers, which produced no net savings. She stated that directors should be prepared to discuss every line item and, consistent with the zero-based budgeting approach used at the State, identify what services would be affected by a reduction.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked for confirmation that the August budget hearings would be open to all Commissioners in the manner of a committee of the whole, and Chairwoman Steinberg confirmed they would.
Deputy Mayor Coley thanked the Committee for its direction and noted that the Mayor had adopted the truth-in-budgeting theme. He advised that the Mayor had issued a memorandum on solid waste and a similar one on water and sewer rates, each outlining the consequences of the proposed actions, and stated the administration intended to follow that approach going forward.
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1G
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PUBLIC HEARING(S)
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2
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COUNTY COMMISSION
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3
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DEPARTMENT(S)
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3A
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261158
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Resolution
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Strategic Procurement |
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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,879,707.00 FOR A TOTAL MODIFIED CUMULATIVE POOL AMOUNT OF $18,896,707.00 FOR PREQUALIFICATION POOL NO. EVN0000187, DEWATERING AND TANK CLEANING SERVICES, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT; PROVIDED THAT ANY CONTRACT AWARD UNDER THE POOL EXCEEDING $5,000,000.00 IS RATIFIED BY THE BOARD
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Danielle Cohen Higgins
Seconder: Roberto J. Gonzalez
Vote: 4 - 0
Excused: Hardemon
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3B
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261270
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Resolution
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Water & Sewer Department |
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RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT NO. S-20298, VENETIAN CAUSEWAY WATER MAIN AND SEWER FORCE MAIN RELOCATION, TO ITG COMMUNICATIONS LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,096,425.02 AND WITH A CONTRACT PERIOD OF 231 CALENDAR DAYS; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO UTILIZE THE MIAMI-DADE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT�S CONSENT DECREE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS ACCELERATION ORDINANCE, SECTION 2-8.2.12 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO MANAGE THE CONTRACT; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND EXERCISE THE TERMINATION AND OTHER PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Danielle Cohen Higgins
Seconder: Roberto J. Gonzalez
Vote: 4 - 0
Excused: Hardemon
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Steinberg advised that, due to time considerations, she would submit a formal request to BCC Chairman Rodriguez�s office to advance Agenda Item 3B to the July 21, 2026 Board meeting.
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3C
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261225
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Resolution
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Strategic Procurement |
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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A NON-COMPETITIVE DESIGNATED PURCHASE PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-8.1(B)(3) OF THE COUNTY CODE, BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT, UNDER CONTRACT NO. 6938-2/22, GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES; AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL TIME OF THREE YEARS AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,411,303.00 FOR A TOTAL MODIFIED CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF $81,897,586.00 FOR MULTIPLE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE RELATED CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS AND EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY CANCELLATION OR EXTENSIONS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-8.1 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA AND IMPLEMENTING ORDER 3-38
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Deferred
to
September 10, 2026
Mover: Danielle Cohen Higgins
Seconder: Vicki L. Lopez
Vote: 4 - 0
Excused: Hardemon
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REPORT:
Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked whether the additional allocation resulted from the extension of the contract term.
Ms. Uppal confirmed that the term was being extended to allow DSWM time to transition the services in house, and that the vendors had agreed to the extension at the rates currently paid.
In response to Commissioner Cohen Higgins's question whether companies other than Waste Management and Waste Connections could provide the services, Ms. Uppal stated that the two vendors were the largest providers, that any new entrant would face significant upfront investment in trucks and loaders that companies were generally unwilling to make for a short-term contract, and that any other providers were very small. She advised that another procurement in this space had been conducted approximately three years earlier, from which the same two vendors were awarded.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins noted the magnitude of the request, which sought to extend a $62 million contract expiring in 2028 through 2031 with an additional $20 million, and asked what rates would be maintained.
Ms. Uppal explained that rates varied by facility, container size, and pickup frequency, with 50 to 60 different rates, and cited as an example a 30-cubic-yard container picked up once weekly at $2,366.
In response to Commissioner Cohen Higgins's question whether the item stated that current rates would be honored through 2031, Ms. Uppal indicated the item referenced the existing terms and conditions.
Chairwoman Steinberg asked whether the rates were flat or included a built-in annual increase, and Ms. Uppal responded that the contract contained a Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment applied to the existing rates, noting that no vendor would agree to a five-year contract without one.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins expressed concern that approximately $80 million would go to the same vendors without a competitive procurement process, based on a representation that rates would remain the same that was not articulated in the item. She reiterated her longstanding concern regarding the County's reliance on what amounted to a monopoly by two companies for waste hauling and asked why the County was not seeking to diversify its providers, including through a combination of smaller companies, and whether the department had discussed putting the services out to bid.
Ms. Uppal responded that the plan was for DSWM to bring the services in house and that the department was in an equipment testing phase.
Ms. Daniel explained that DSWM had purchased front-end loaders, which took approximately one year to a year and a half to acquire, and had been conducting a six-month pilot to assess the frequency, container type, and service level required for each account and to evaluate productivity and cost per pickup. She stated the transition would take time because additional containers and container equipment would need to be purchased through the retirement and replacement of existing equipment rather than through additional purchases.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated that her concerns remained, noting that the item extended a contract originally procured in September 2013, two years before its expiration, at a substantial cost, with one department seeking an additional $8 million and the Department of Housing and Community Development seeking an additional $6 million. She stated she would accept a finding that no other provider could offer the service at alternative pricing, but did not wish to advance the item without that review.
Ms. Uppal responded that the department had performed that analysis three years earlier and offered to repeat it before September or bring the item back at that time.
In response to Commissioner Cohen Higgins's question regarding the urgency of the request, Ms. Uppal stated the department was being proactive and noted the Commissioner had previously asked that extensions be brought forward with sufficient time.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated she wanted to understand why each department needed the additional allocation and what the rates would be, and moved to defer the item to allow the department to provide additional information. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Lopez.
Commissioner Gonzalez agreed with the deferral and thanked Ms. Uppal for bringing the item forward early. He noted that the in-house transition depended on a number of factors, including equipment purchases and the outcome of the pilot, and suggested that procuring the services this year could identify cost savings and provide additional time to implement the pilot properly. He stated that the early submission allowed the Committee to evaluate the proper course rather than act on assumptions.
Chairwoman Steinberg confirmed the item would be deferred to the September Committee meeting and asked whether that would allow sufficient time for the analysis.
Ms. Uppal stated the department would contact known providers and any small providers to obtain pricing for the same scope of work and would have a price comparison ready.
Chairwoman Steinberg also asked DSWM to provide its plan and a realistic timeline for bringing the services in house so that the Committee would understand the department's trajectory if extending the contract proved to be the best path forward.
Ms. Uppal added that all of the contracts contained termination-without-cause provisions that would allow the County to end them sooner if the in-house transition were completed earlier.
Commissioner Lopez asked whether DSWM could identify savings from bringing the services in house, noting that outsourcing did not always yield lower costs.
Ms. Daniel responded that she did not yet have that answer, which was why she had initiated the pilot to obtain actual data, and that six months of data from 75 accounts was now available. She noted that the front-end loaders required one operator rather than the three-person crew used with the department's standard loaders, which represented an efficiency. She clarified that the 75 pilot accounts were commercial accounts the department already serviced with different equipment and personnel rather than accounts covered by the contract, but stated she would also perform that analysis.
Commissioner Lopez further asked whether pricing obtained informally from vendors would be equivalent to pricing obtained through a formal solicitation, and how the County could determine the contracted service was cheaper without putting it out to bid.
Ms. Uppal stated the department could share the scope of work informally or issue a formal solicitation and indicated she had intended to go out to the market formally.
Commissioner Lopez recommended a formal solicitation, stating that it was the only way to confirm whether providers other than the two vendors were willing to bid, that others may have entered the market in the past three years, and that a formal result would provide a defensible basis for the Committee's decision.
Ms. Uppal stated she would obtain the numbers.
Commissioner Gonzalez asked for confirmation that the item would be procured, noting that the deferral presented an opportunity to compare the cost of contracted service against bringing the service in house, including the additional equipment DSWM would need to purchase.
Chairwoman Steinberg expressed concern that a full procurement could be problematic if the County ultimately brought the services in house and asked how the department would obtain actual pricing by September.
Ms. Uppal clarified that the department would issue a formal Invitation to Bid, under which vendors would submit prices, rather than a more onerous Request for Proposals.
Hearing no other questions or comments, by motion duly made and seconded, the foregoing proposed resolution was deferred to the September 10, 2026 Committee meeting.
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3D
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261323
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Resolution
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Transportation and Public Works |
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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 1 BETWEEN BCC ENGINEERING, LLC AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, AND INSPECTION SERVICES, ISD PROJECT NO. E20-DTPW-04, CONTRACT NO. CIP207-DTPW20-CEI; BRINGING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT TO $5,467,817.92 TO SUPPORT THE DADELAND SOUTH INTERMODAL STATION PROJECT; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE SAME AND TO EXERCISE THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN; AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF PEOPLE�S TRANSPORTATION PLAN BOND PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT WHICH WAS ADDED TO THE FIVE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN FEBRUARY 2020
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Danielle Cohen Higgins
Seconder: Roberto J. Gonzalez
Vote: 4 - 0
Absent: Hardemon
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REPORT:
Commissioner Cohen Higgins requested clarification on the item, given its late addition to the agenda, and asked whether the $5,467,817.92 total covered the provider's professional services alone or included construction costs, the term of the agreement, the aggregate value of the project, and the justification for the additional expenditure of approximately $1.9 million above the original $3.5 million allocation.
Mr. Ferrer-Diaz explained that the amount was for Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services only and did not include construction. He stated that the CEI team functioned as the County's on-site inspectors for the Dadeland South Intermodal Station project, reviewing construction specifications, materials, and testing; monitoring the contractor's schedule and budget; and conducting the first-pass review of invoicing and reimbursement requests, and that the County contracted out such services for projects of this magnitude. He advised that the agreement term matched the construction contract, which had been extended by 264 days beyond its initial term of approximately 300 days, for a total of nearly two years, and that payments averaged approximately $200,000 per month. He stated that the design-build project was valued at approximately $77 million and clarified that the agreement was a time-and-materials contract with negotiated hours at contractually set rates, rather than a percentage-based agreement, although CEI services generally fell within a range of about five percent of project cost.
Mr. Ferrer-Diaz attributed the additional cost to the 264 days of work added to the construction project as a result of additional scope, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure and work in the kiss-and-ride area and bus station. He explained that the scope had been added based on operational needs related to the bus rapid transit (BRT) service and new requirements from permitting agencies, and that the Board had authorized the additional design scope through a supplemental agreement approved on November 2, 2025. He confirmed that the CEI cost had not accompanied that item and that the present supplemental corresponded to the work approved for the contractor at that time.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins acknowledged the need for outside engineering expertise but expressed concern that the request stemmed from an expansion of scope at a time when the County faced transportation budget shortfalls. She stated that she would support the item based on the department's representation that the funding was necessary, and indicated she intended to closely examine the County's $2 billion transportation budget, including professional services agreements and whether percentage-based or time-and-materials calculations were appropriate.
Chairwoman Steinberg noted she had also intended to raise questions on the item because of its late addition and the lack of an opportunity to be briefed.
Commissioner Lopez expressed concern that the County frequently approved additional scopes of services without knowing the associated cost, as had occurred in November 2025, and questioned the fairness of that practice to the competitive bidding process. She stated that she would closely scrutinize such items during the budget cycle and was not prepared to approve items that had not been carefully planned from the outset.
Commissioner Gonzalez commended Mr. Ferrer-Diaz for his preparedness and inquired about the original bid and scope of work and when the additional work became necessary.
Mr. Ferrer-Diaz explained that the project originated from a planning and scoping effort conducted several years earlier, that the design-builder bid on that planning effort, and that changes arose during design, both through modifications accepted by the County and through new permitting requirements for electric vehicle charging and fire suppression.
In response to Commissioner Gonzalez's question as to why those requirements had not been factored into the original scope given that the County issued the permits, he stated that the applicable National Fire Protection Association codes were still being written when the project was bid and that the more rigorous standards had affected several County projects. Asked whether the new standards accounted for the full increase, he noted that the item also included County-accepted design changes, including reconfiguring the bus pickup alignment from parallel to a seesaw design, escalator and elevator modifications, and added infrastructure for evacuation purposes. He explained that the evacuation requirements had not been included initially because the planning report had been vetted under the standards in effect at the time, which were subsequently modified before the project went to bid.
Chairwoman Steinberg stated that scope changes and change orders warranted closer scrutiny, particularly where the changes originated with the County.
Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented.
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4
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COUNTY MAYOR
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5
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COUNTY ATTORNEY
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6
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CLERK OF THE BOARD
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6A
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261124
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Report
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APPROVAL OF THE CLERK�S SUMMARY OF MINUTES FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MEETINGS [AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE BOARD DEPARTMENT]:
� APRIL 15, 2026
� MAY 13, 2026
� JUNE 10, 2026
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Approved
Mover: Danielle Cohen Higgins
Seconder: Roberto J. Gonzalez
Vote: 4 - 0
Excused: Hardemon
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7
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REPORT(S)
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8
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ADJOURNMENT
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| 10/5/2026 |
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Agenda Key: 5539 |