shortly.
>>chair: would everyone please
take their seats.
We are going to begin now.
Thank you.
Going to ask my dear colleague
commissioner gonzalez to lead
us in prayer and commissioner
cohen higgins to lead us in the
pledge of allegiance.
>>commissioner gonzalez: it
thank you MADAM Chair. If you
can bow your heads, thank you
for this wonderful day you've
given us, we pray you bless
everybody in attendance, bless
every commissioner up here in
this committeeand in all the
committees, every director in
miami-dade county, let your
will be done and let every
decision we make and everything
we do before your glory and for
the betterment of people of
miami-dade county, in your holy
name we pray amen.
>> 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.
>>chair: thank you.
Ood
morning everyone.
So MR. Attorney, at this time
would it be appropriate to
extend reasonable opportunity
for the public to be heard?
>> thank you MADAM Chair. This
would be appropriate time for
the reasonable opportunity to
be heard on any nonpublic
hearing items.
>>chair: I don't have any cards
for non-public hearing items so
is there anyone who wishes to
address the commission for the
non-public hearing item?
Seeing none then we will
entertain.
A motion to set the agenda.
>> MADAM Chair.
>>chair: excuse me, my
apologies.
>> this is my first time here,
not sure if I'm here but I want
to talk on economic opportunity
of miami-dade county for the
residents of hialeah, is this
the appropriate time or do I
come back.
>>chair: this is your card,
hosea?
I believe you filled out a
public hearing card.
Do you know the item number you
are speaking on.
>> the grants awarded, how it
impacts communities like
hialeah for economic
opportunity, do I come back.
>>chair: you MAY, you have two
minutes.
>> 7088 southpark drive, I have
experienced with cultural
affairs holiday award grants
and hialeah only received
50,000 of that and it's
something I stressed to the
cultural affairs department,
when you provide a grant your
providing economic
opportunities.
The companies that get million
dollar grants are very
well-funded, very
well-developed and it's not
fair for income communities.
e pay 28% of our taxes go to
miami-dade county and we are
98% spanish-speaking and
unfortunately a lot of our
residents don't know the system
but I asked for the cultural
affairs board or even the
grants you'll board for
projects that they include
putting in systems for
communities that are
disenfranchised, communities
that are marginalized, low
income, that they have to make
an extra effort.
I am a retired employee with
the parks and recreation
department for hialeah and when
they built the underlined my
friends working for miami-dade
county only wanted a bicycle
trail but it was when related
groups got involved and wanted
the economic impact but
unfortunately now we are
speaking and not heard because
how are you going to hear me
when you have these big
companies.
But the underlined went all the
way down south, ignoring
alapata as north hialeah even
though we have green space so I
hope you talk about quality and
equity, there is no equity in
the way you award your grants
for cultural affairs.
I hope you look into that and
sometimes it's not done on
purpose but when you make
someone aware I hold you look
into it and make it equitable
we are communities like
hialeah, we have the highest
percentage of humans and we are
rich in cultural affairs but we
don't have the know-how and I
hope you look out for us.
>>chair: thank you josc, seeing
no further public input we are
ready to set the agenda,
correct attorney?
>> yes MADAM Chair, matters for
consideration in today's
meeting are on the final
printed agenda with changes
noted in the changes memorandum
which included the addition of
item 3c and 3d so without a
motion to set the agenda is in
order.
>>chair: motion by commissioner
cohen higgins, second by
commissioner gonzalez, all in
favor say aye.
Any matters, just so everyone
knows I will take up the
discussion items at the end of
the meeting so we will move
towards the public hearing
item, 1g1.
Would it be appropriate to move
to public hearing item 1g1 now?
Class and ordinance related to
the rules of procedure of the
board of county commissioners
amending two b
one of the code
of miami-dade county revising
requirements relating to
notification provided by the
county mayor or designee to all
applicable district
commissioners of certain
matters originating with the
administration providing
severability inclusion in the
code and an effective date.
>>chair: public hearing is open
if anyone wishes to speak on
item 1g1.
Seeing none, so the public
hearing is now closed, do I
have a motion on 1g1 and any
discussion?
I have a motion by commissioner
cohen higgins, second by
commissioner gonzalez, MADAM
Clerk will you call the roll.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
for.
>>commissioner gonzalez: for.
>>chair: yes.
>> motion passes unanimously.
>>chair: now would you like to
bifurcate any of the items on
the agenda for discussion?
So do I have a motion to
approve the agenda?
>>commissioner gonzalez: I
moved the balance of the
agenda.
>>chair: seconded by
commissioner cohen higgins, all
in favor.
So I also have a request to
waive iiib, 3c and 3d to the
JULY 21 bcc meeting.
Are there any other requests to
waive onto the meeting?
Anything else remaining county
attorney on the agenda.
>> other than the discussion
item note.
>>chair: we will move to the
discussion item.
We ve a budget presentation by
the internal compliance
department.
If you already, you MAY
approach.
>> good morning.
>>chair: good morning chief.
>> I like to introduce ophelia
presenting on behalf of the
mayor the internal compliance
strategic objectives for the
year.
>>chair: thank you so much, you
are recognized director.
>> thank you, good morning
gerald and lopez and members of
the committee, I'm pleased to
provide an overview of the
internal compliance department,
the results we are delivering,
the challenges affecting our
work and modernization
priorities that position us to
provide greater value.
at its core icd is an
operational partner.
We hope departments strengthen
internal controls improve
business processes recover
revenue, manage risk and use
county resources more
effectively.
Based on the scope of
responsibilities of the
departments preventative focus
consideration could be given to
referring our role as a
counties enterprise risk
management function.
Our mission is to support
county administration and
ultimately county residents.
By improving operational
performance and strengthening
accountability across the
organization.
Our goal is to identify issues
early, provide practical
recommendations and health
management implement
improvements before small
control weaknesses become
larger problems.
We do that by working directly
with county departments,
jackson health system,
municipalities and
constitutional offices.
Icd brings together several
functions that reinforce one
another to protect county
resources by managing risk,
strengthening controls and
ensuring accountability.
Credit and collections covers
delinquent receivables and
helps protect revenue needed to
support county services.
Risk management addresses
claims, insurance, loss
prevention and mitigation of
property liability and personal
risks.
He purchasing card
compliance division promotes
secure and efficient card use
while monitoring transactions
for compliance.
The process and control
management team conducts
targeted reviews of operations,
contracts revenues and internal
controls.
These reviews are intended not
only to identify deficiencies
but improve processes.
These divisions collectively
strengthen the counties
integrity and operational
resilience by preventing loss,
managing risk, ensuring
compliance, protecting revenue
and driving continuous
improvement.
While icd was currently
supporting counties enterprise
resource planning system, that
responsibility is scheduled to
be managed by the clerk of
court as of AUGUST 3, 2026.
Our recent accomplishments
demonstrate the value of this
integrated approach.
It debt collections have
increased by 11%.
Not just a reflection of
stronger collection activity
but also effectuating
compliance where at equitable.
Process and control management
completed 52 review reports in
the prior year, identifying
preventative improvements while
also identifying about $402,000
in assessments and
approximately $613,000
recovered from previously
issued reports.
Within purchasing card
compliance process improvements
reduced monitoring turnaround
time improving responsiveness
and making the process more
seamless for cardholders and
departments.
We are also beginning to
incorporate artificial
intelligence into selected
activities.
Our goal is not to replace
professional judgment, is to
automate repetitive work
analyzed larger amounts of
information and allow employees
to focus on higher value
activities.
At the same time several issues
can inhibit our ability to
expand these results.
The first is a legacy code
enforcement system.
F age
limits automation system
integration analytics and
reporting.
The second issue is workforce
capacity.
Ecruitment,
retention and retirements, the
3rs affect our ability to
maintain and service and
demands.
Risk management is also a major
priority.
The county faces a wide range
of exposures including employee
injuries, vehicle accidents,
property losses liability
claims to be or whether an
operational disruptions.
A more coordinated data-driven
risk management approach can
help reduce both the frequency
and financial impact of these
events.
Finally icd must continuously
manage competing priorities.
Our challenge is to remain
responsive while keeping
attention on the counties
highest risk and highest value
needs.
Our first priority is replacing
the legacy code enforcement
system.
His should be viewed
as a business process
modernization effort not simply
an information technology
replacement.
A modern platform can improve
case management collections
reporting data quality and
accountability.
Our second priority is
expanding the responsible use
of artificial intelligence and
collections and process
reviews.
Potential applications include
prioritizing accounts analyzing
documents identifying
anomalies, evaluating trends
and responding to routine
customer questions.
Our third priority is
strengthening risk management
processes and controls.
We want to move from reacting
to claims after losses occur to
identifying causes and helping
departments prevent future
losses.
These initiatives are
connected.
Better systems produce better
data.
Better data supports better
analysis and better analysis
allows us to direct resources
towards the areas where they
can produce a greater benefit.
Looking ahead our modernization
strategy is centered on three
outcomes, first we will
strengthen internal controls
and enterprise risk management
through risk-based planning
workforce development and
stronger follow-up corrective
actions.
Second we will
modernize collections by
expanding digital tools,
improving customer outreach and
giving collectors better
information to prioritize
accounts.
Third we will continue
optimizing the purchasing card
program through dashboard
analytics and more timely
reporting.
The broader objective is a
coordinated effort across the
department rather than a series
of isolated projects.
In closing ultimately icds
value should be measured by
outcomes.
Revenue collector recovered
increased compliance, losses
prevented, processes improved,
internal controls strengthened
and risk addressed before they
become larger problems.
We appreciate the committees
support as we continue
strengthening roles as a
high-impact operational partner
to the county administration
and departments and ultimately
county residents, thank you.
>>chair: thank you director,
any questions of the director
on her presentation,
commissioner cohen higgins.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
to our director I appreciate
the presentation on the slides,
I'm looking through my papers,
do you have a printout so we
MAY have a copy on the dais?
And our previous hearings where
I know a number of departments
if not all have been giving
presentations I previously
mentioned monday I know the
charge from the administration
was to keep all departmental
budgets at no greater than a 3%
increase year-over-year.
Does your budget reflect that
charge and that mandate?
and you're passing out the
presentations I appreciate it,
nothing further.
>>chair: any questions, seeing
none thank you director for
your presentation.
Now we will hear from the
strategic procurement
department.
>> we invite namita oppal to
present.
>>chair: you are recognized.
>> namita oppal, director for
procurement.
What I'm presenting today is a
reflection of values and the
principles that the board has
always focused on.
Strategic procurement
department division is to be
the leader, global leader of
purpose driven deployments,
purpose matters.
Purpose, I'm sorry.
Purpose is a reflection of the
values the board has adopted.
Being transparent, being fair,
being inclusive.
It's not a matter of just
getting a contract done and
getting approved, it has value.
It delivers value to the
residence, delivers value to
the department and contracts
enable departments to reach out
to the customers and deliver
service and the board has
always proffered on going above
and beyond.
Make sure the processes are
transparent, make sure we are
responsive to the constituents,
making sure we are resilient
and adaptive to the evolving
needs of the environment.
We are ethical in our business
practices, we are efficient.
We train our people.
We train our vendors.
We are inclusive and yesterday
we heard community benefits so
that is the whole purpose, the
word purpose includes all of
these values.
In our contracts, that is the
goal, that is our vision and
that's what we strive for.
The major functions for my
department of course, we bring
you the contracts for goods and
services, architecture
engineering services, design
build, public-private
partnership.
Last year the board approved
the merger of small business
services with procurement and
with that we have all the
certification programs we had
miscellaneous construction
contracts program, equitable
distribution.
19 also manages the vendor
registration through the county
for all county vendors.
We do run to academies,
procurement academy for
training programs for county
staff.
There are professionals in all
county departments and ask a
matter of fact there are a lot
of jurisdictions cities and
counties who have taken
advantage of our procurement
training.
We are also partnering with
international companies relying
on us for training programs.
We also have a vendor training
academy that offers a lot of
vendor training activities, how
to do business with the county
and those are provided online
as well as in person.
We also reach out to your
district offices to do training
programs, all encompassing the
vendor academy that we have.
This year as part of the budget
the mayor has proffered the
movements of real estate
management division from pi od
to strategic procurement
department and with that the
acquisition and sale of
properties, any development
agreement and leases will fall
under the strategic procurement
department.
Our main customers, key
customers are obviously the
first customers are the county
residents that we provide
service to.
Vendor community, county
departments, constitutional
offices and municipalities.
There are a lot of
municipalities who piggyback on
our contracts and use our
training programs that we
offer.
Just very high level of key
accomplishments, we actually
were, are probably one of the
first ones to use ai tools and
we develop those in the house.
One of the ai tools is the
appointment of the selection
committee, the other is the ai
tool to train my staff read
that tool is actually includes
all of the code regulations and
rules and processes and staff
can actually go in the tool and
say how to do an rfp in miami
dade county and we share
information that is relevant to
miami dade county, not the
other jurisdictions so the
tools were recognized as one of
the pioneer tools.
We have, we were selected by fa
po for excellence in
procurement award.
Selected by the national
procurement institute.
We also launched a
certification program, that's
probably one of its kind in the
country.
It's a certification of public
procurement professionals and
we have certified over 449
individuals in the county and
other jurisdictions are
modeling our program through
this certification.
E reached
out to them, we did 359 events
for vendors reaching out to
almost 24,000 participants.
We bring items to the board in
the volume that you see in
every board and committee and
in 2025 we brought $5.4 billion
worth of contracts for board
approval, 179 items and be
thank the chair for appointing
the task force and you will see
the recommendations coming very
soon.
We analyzed 200 pieces of
legislation and are making
significant recommendations.
For making the process better.
Like any other department we do
have key issues.
Ome of them
of course complicated when it
comes to federal state and
local regulations and we are
hoping that through the strict
we can it on and some of the
local regulations so we can
expedite the procurement
process.
We have multiple systems that
don't talk to each other so we
are trying to figure out and of
course informs as our system of
record but to get the job done
there are multiple systems we
use so we are trying to create
platforms so staff does not
have to rely on multiple
systems to get from point a to
point b. Staff retention has
always been an issue.
i did lose and I mentioned it
to commissioner cohen higgins I
lost six or seven people to
constitutional offices in the
past year and retention is
always key.
Which we are trying our best to
retain.
Few priority
initiatives, streamlining,
these are the three initiatives
we actually came out of the
strict and we were working on
some of them.
Streamlining this small
business certification program
and what we are proffering is
there were 60 requirements,
over 60 requirements for a
vendor to get certified though
we are reducing it down to the
board all approval authority
and reducing processing time to
get certified as a small
business by 50%.
I know the board is always
questioning why procurement
takes long and one of our
commitments to the board is to
reduce the procurement cycle
time.
Our goal is for procurements
and they are 5 million, we
should be able to make an award
recommendation between 90 to
120 days and over 5 million
between 120 to 150 days and
that's from the receipt of
proposals to the mayor making
the recommendation, that is our
commitment and that is what we
are working towards diligently
and lastly creating an online
dashboard that's key to our
vendors, key to our
constituents and the board if
you can go online and see what
the status of each procurement
is and that is one of our key
initiatives.
future outlook, of course
processing time, making sure we
do this with speed and
efficiency.
98 to 130 days after 5 million.
We did launch a comprehensive
small local business plan
ensuring taxpayer dollars
remain within the local
economy, that's key and the
last one is coming up with one
single bidding system for
capital projects.
And those are the few key
priorities we hope to
accomplish very soon.
I'm here for questions and
commissioner cohen higgins, we
are also at 3% and budget would
reflect that.
>>chair: thank you director,
any questions of the director,
commissioner cohen higgins you
are recognized.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
thank you MADAM Chair. To the
director and this is for you in
the previous director that gave
a presentation, what was it you
were asked to present, a budget
presentation?
I'm not being facetious, was
the request a budget
presentation, that's my
understanding of what was to be
presented was a budget
presentation or maybe I'm
wrong.
>> the staff was asked to
prepare summaries of the
drivers for their budget.
The accomplishments for the
year so you all would have
clarity on the assumptions that
went into private how they
prioritize their work for the
upcoming year.
At two or 2:30 today the mayor
will be presenting our proposed
budget.
>>commissioner cohen higgins: I
appreciate that but here's the
reason I'm asking.
On our agenda it says
discussion item regarding the
proposed fiscal year 26-27
budget presentations and it
lists the department.
We had to presentations devoid
of any numbers whatsoever,
there is not a number that's
been presented and we're
talking about accomplishments
but not numbers in a budget
presentation so I'm not sure
I'm understanding whether the
presentations meet the request
that has been made and I
understand the budget will be
printed at 2:30 today and there
were things that will be
revealed at that time but in
transportation at started there appropriately
because it is a budget
presentation.
I haven't heard a number from
either department on what is
their budget.
>> through the chair, I'm not
sure ophelia or namita if you
are prepared to give your total
numbers.
>> our proposed budget is $53
million including the real
estate transition of the real
estate.
F which 33 million as
personnel, 1.2 is operating in
7.2 is transferred to the
department.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
your department budget is $53
million.
>> if the adoption of the real
estate function is adopted,
yes.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
that is within or below the 3%.
>> yes.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
from last year to this year.
>> one of the things we did
last year and that will be
reflected is when small
business function when it
merges with procurement one of
the charges I got was a
reduction to 50 positions which
we did plus this year the real
estate function approves 3% and
also the eliminations that we
have contemplated.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
thank you and if the director
on the icd department can
approach and I'm not trying to
get into any details before the
budget is printed but I think
macro numbers are appropriate
during a budget presentation so
if you don't mind approaching I
have a few questions.
>> through the chair one of the
other things that's important
to note about both of these
departments is they are not
100% general fund.
What we were doing this year
when you reflect or focus on
the 3% was trying to make sure
that we bend the cost curve
related to the general fund
departments so both of these
women actually have departments
that are revenue-generating so
we are very intentional about
making sure we protect the
investments and parts of the
organization that generate
revenue that support the
general fund.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
thank you for clarifying, what
is your budget?
>> my budget will technically
change drastically because the
enterprise resource team which
is comprised of two different
divisions is going to be
transferred.
that portion represents a large
portion of this budget right
now.
What's remaining will be
administration credit
collections which is self
funded through the collections
they do.
The process and control reports
produced are also not
completely general fund.
And our risk management is
actually self funded through
the insurance.
Right now as we have proposed
through the budget it's about
72 million but again a large
portion, half or more is that
technology divisions that are
going.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
going where?
>> to the clerk of the court
and comptroller.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
on your debt collections page
of your presentation you have
11%, sorry if you went over
that previously but what is the
11%.
>> we have a budget to collect
$24 million in a year, gross
collections.
Right now to date we have
collected $21 million and this
is what goes back to the
departments and to jackson as
collections.
We are like their last line of
collections as you very well
know.
So our team has been above and
beyond in making these
collections record than
budgeted so that's why we are
over our budget number in
collections which is a good
thing.
>>commissioner cohen higgins: I
appreciate the explanation but
i still don't understand, what
is the 11% represent?
>> over the budget amount.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
so you collected 24 million,
you've collected 11% above
that, I understand.
Hank you
for clarifying that.
>> any other questions.
>>chair: commissioner gonzales
you are recognized.
>>commissioner gonzalez: thank
you MADAM Chair. I guess we'll
start with you.
You mentioned there is a 3%
reduction, is that correct.
>> we maintain no more increase
spending 3%.
>> can you explain what 3% is
attributed to.
>> through the chair
commissioner I want to make
sure you understand the 3%
number that keeps floating
around.
The departments were asked to
reduce by it's almost 5%
because the natural inflation
was between eight and 9%.
We asked them to reduce so that
the growth in their department
was no more than three.
So if you remember the growth
the county experienced was only
4.2.
We couldn't afford to maintain,
if you recall the proposed 7%
growth rate, so each of the
general fund departments was
asked to see if they could
reduce their growth rate down
to 3%.
That was the assignment.
>>commissioner mcghee: it would
be 4% so what is that for
present that you're not
counting on, what specifically
are, what specifically is the
department cutting to avoid
that excessive 4% growth?
>> great question, we wanted
our personnel.
We have right sized the
personnel so if we have
vacancies we didn't need took
advantage of that.
We've also looked at the
operational costs and
streamline that as well.
If we had consulting costs we
also looked at that and saw if
our team could do it could save
money there as well so we have
given back.
>>commissioner gonzalez: as the
chief stated you are growing by
3% instead of 7%.
Iq.
And namita, if you could
come up because you mentioned
that you folks were able to
eliminate 50 positions and then
so what is the, I guess the 4%
savings that you folks, what is
that attributed to?
>> 50 was because we merged
with small businesses in
procurement and were able to
identify synergies between the
operations.
On top of that we have
proffered elimination of more
positions.
Plus freezing some of the
positions we think we don't
need right now but maybe in the
future but and also eliminating
any other operational costs we
could cut down to.
>>commissioner gonzalez: so
your growth will only be by 3%
as well.
>> yes.
>>commissioner gonzalez: no
further questions.
>>chair: vice CHAIRWOMAN You
are recognized.
>> my question is for ophelia,
what is the size of your
department.
>> I have with risk management
so risk management division in
the new budget year is coming
over it's about 311 total but
please keep in mind as of
AUGUST 3 I will lose the oes
division which has 36 oes
division which has 36 positions
and that ets division which has
about 46 positions.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
so the 311 makes up for the 72
million budget.
>> but then that signified
portion of that.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
you were touching that but I
don't know if you gave us the
number and as you're looking
for that number what is the
breakdown between your
operating and personnel costs?
>> I will get you that right
now.
>> through the chair, some of
the changes ophelia is speaking
of MAY not be reflected in the
budget published today, they
MAY be in the change memo.
E
are working with the clerk and
comptroller's office to ensure
that we transition the right
number of employees with the
right amount of funding to
support this effort so I don't
want anyone to have the
expectation they will see that
this afternoon.
Some changes will not be
reflected until we are able to
finish that project.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
what is the anticipated time
you will figure out the change.
>> we are very close, AUGUST 3
is the date we are hoping to
have the transition completed.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
we should see those numbers
reflected in the budget.
>> 2627 budget you will opine
on in DECEMBER.
>> employee wise it's over 50%
county employees.
Some operational costs are
driven by the consulting
services as well and mainly for
the system.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
what do you mean for the
system?
>> the enterprise resource
planning system.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
so you are 50-50.
50% is personnel costs, okay
and do you know how much of
that you will offload once it
moves over to the clerk's
office?
Or estimate.
>> through the chair, ophelia I
prefer we not give an estimate.
We are very close MADAM Chair
and commissioner milian orbis
and I can even give you a
head's up as soon as we get
that completed over the next
week.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
okay, thank you.
I think this presentation would
be helpful to have a breakdown
of what you are anticipating is
going to be shifted away from
your department, it would be
helpful to see what we are
looking at as we look into the
budget that's going to be
presented.
I think that information was
helpful and it would have been
good to have it so if we could
have that updated in this
presentation you gave us it
would be good to note the shift
and how it will look after that
transition is done.
hank you.
>> I have questions.
>> we will provide that.
>>chair: namita, you can come
up as well, I have questions
for both so we will start with
vacancies which has always been
a pet peeve of mine in
budgeting.
Both of you said you were
reducing personnel, do you have
a schedule of the remaining
vacancies you have an aging for
those vacancies, you don't have
to have them now but do you
have it?
I'd like to see those, I'm
collecting them for all the
departments making budget
presentations and it's
important to see that aging
because you MAY have gotten rid
of some of the vacancies but I
will need to know how you
justify keeping any vacancy in
your budget that is greater
than 90 days.
That's just giving you full
warning on that.
Namita, you talked about the
constitutional officers in your
presentation.
And I am a little confused.
So how much, because we've
heard from the constitutional
officers on monday.
'll much
of what you're doing, I'm
trying to understand what part
you are doing for them that
they are not doing for
themselves.
I have the impression they are
doing their own procurement but
I see you are doing
procurement, can you explain
that in greater detail?
>> MADAM Chair, for the
sheriff's office we are doing
all they are procurements now.
clerk and comptroller is doing
I would say most of they are
procurements but they used
county contract.
My presentation what I said was
I lost seven key professionals
to the clerk because they chose
to accept positions with the
clerk.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
I'm referring to your
customers, which constitutional
officers would be helpful.
>> we are doing all
procurements for sheriff's
office.
Elections we do the
procurements for them for the
ones where we are obligated by
the florida statute for
example, be buying the system
and things like that so we do
procurements for them.
Property appraiser we do not do
any procurements for them.
Clark and the comptroller they
have established their own
procurement team to do their
own procurement.
>>chair: it will be helpful
when you can give us the
numbers as to what the value of
that service you are giving
them because then I will ask
what are they doing on their
end as well.
I also wanted to talk with you
about the strip committee.
Their recommendations, when
will those be presented to us?
Do you know.
>> I am thinking next week I
believe, I don't know the
answer.
>> it's been a question I've
been asking since you been
doing your work and it's the
one place I love to drill down
on which is procurement.
As we've seen some of the
procurement processes be
questioned, I've had concerns
about how we procure things.
It's important for me to
understand the work of the
committee.
It's recommendations and
whether or not there were any
savings as a result of their
recommendations because I'm
hopeful not only were we
increasing efficiency by having
created a committee of people
who have used the system and
can tell us you know, their
experiences and then come forth
with recommendations that would
make the system more efficient,
I'm interested do did they
identify any savings and their
efficiency studies they were
doing with procurements, do you
know since you were there.
>> I don't know if they were
able to quantify but we did
identify the savings in the
number of days and moving
things faster.
How do you equate that to
dollar savings, I don't think
that was the exercise the
committee did but definitely
the time savings were
significant that you will see.
>>chair: hopefully someone will
tell me when I'm going to see
those recommendations, that's
one question.
The other, you mentioned namita
when you were evaluating
systems you mentioned that many
don't each other.
I would like a listing.
I was a member of the house it
committee when we did this work
and I thought it was a useful
exercise to understand where
are the deficits in our it
systems or in any system that
doesn't each other.
i'd like a list of all the
systems not speaking to each
other and if they are speaking
to a system which ones?
It would be helpful for this
committee to understand whether
or not, because I see a lot of
items that come before us that
have to do with extending
contracts or legacy, I love
that word, the legacy systems.
I don't know that that's the
best use of our funds or
whether it's efficient in
achieving outcomes which we are
purchasing systems for.
I'd like to see an analysis by
department which systems when
they were bought, if they were
replaced or if they had to be
replaced by something else
because it didn't work in those
systems not working with each
other creating inefficiencies
in government.
>> MAY I ask for clarification,
you one of the list of the
systems book procurement team
uses.
>>chair: just belongs you were
referring to because I find it
curious we know they don't each
other so is a known fact we are
inefficient and that's costing
us money so I would like to
know which ones those are and
in addition you mentioned in
your proposal priority, under
your priority initiatives you
had budgetary impact.
And I see there's no budget
impact.
Where do I see savings?
I don't hear savings.
Et me
tell you why I ask this
question.
When the governor's budget
would come to my committee I
said thank you and then I would
meet with every department and
I wouldn't say you get to
decrease your growth to 3%, I
said go back and reduce your
budgets by 3%.
So I'm curious, is there any
budgetary savings anywhere in
your budget anywhere?
You can answer it.
>> item curious how you define
that.
>>chair: let's assume I was
spending $100 million last
year.
Is there anywhere you can tell
me in that hundred million
dollars budget you were able to
achieve some savings?
>> commissioner, by the mere
fact we were able to eliminate
50 positions and some of those
were filled that's $5 million
right there because we were
able to combine the functions
and synergies between
procurement and small business.
That was straightaway $5
million.
>>chair: it already did, were
those filled decisions?
Have they been terminated or
did you move them to another
department.
>> some of them had rights, I
see where the positions work.
>>commissioner lopez: that
makes zero sense to me to tell
me you eliminated 50 positions
but then I find out those 50
people are somewhere else in
the budget.
>> one of the great things
about the county is it is a
fairly large institution.
So when positions are
eliminated based on the
classification of the employee
they have particular employment
rights so we worked hard, this
board directed us to make sure
the hundred 50 people laid off
had jobs so the positions
eliminated we work and I love
to give credit to virginia
washington our ahead of people
who tried to make sure every
human being found a position
they were qualified for so they
did not necessarily have to
leave the county.
So the elimination of the
positions funded or unfunded
did result in savings because
those individuals some left the
county, others went into
positions that had great need.
One of our great stories and
they are loves to tell is about
those who worked in parks as
lifeguards and were able to get
vacant positions in the fire
department as lifeguards that
were difficult to fill.
So namita, ofelia, anyone of
the departments that had to be
eliminated or positions that
were filled that had to be
eliminated.
We actually take pride in
trying to make sure the
individuals, that humans are
not displaced to the extent
that's possible.
It doesn't undermine the
savings.
>>commissioner lopez: I
appreciate that vary much but
you know me, truth in
budgeting.
You will hear me say this until
we are done.
The public deserves to know
that's what you did.
The public deserves to know
that you eliminated vacancies
if there were vacancies, 2 if
you had to terminate people how
many left the county and how
many did you place in another
position within the county
because in fact I don't know
that that's called a savings.
That's called a transfer in my
book.
In my accounting book.
So you have to be clear when
you're talking about savings
because I'm going to be
watching very carefully all of
it.
And if you had to move a person
because they had employment
rights, that's understandable
but that's not a savings.
That became a transfer to
another position within the
county and that is what I am
trying to get at, that we have
to be honest about what we are
doing.
It's okay to stand there and
tell me we got rid of 50
positions, it's not true.
If 20 people were transferred
to another place because they
had employment rights.
That's the level of detail I
will be looking for during this
budget process and let me keep
going, I found it interesting.
The transfer of positions to
the clerk and comptroller's
office.
He just presented his budget.
Did it have, is going to come
to us for a budget, here we go
again.
Listen carefully.
I look at a budget from a
global perspective.
Look at
everyone asking us for money.
The clerk came with his budget
asking us for money so if we
are moving, from icd and I
don't remember how many people
but you said quite a few that
showed them that you have a
savings.
It is the clerk going to come
and tell me now when you finish
this agreement that needs money
for those or did his budget you
presented here on monday
contemplate that?
>> through the CHAIRWOMAN, the
budget the clerk presented to
us which was due several months
ago, weeks ago did not
contemplate this particular
move.
So it will be for all intents
and purposes you look at the
general fund it will be a
transition of people and money
from one area to another area.
>>commissioner lopez: so it's
not a savings.
When you present your budget
that's what I wanted to hear.
I should not have to ask this
question is what I'm saying,
you should be clear we are
moving people to the clerk and
the clerk will need that money
in my budget that's now going
to his budget so it's not a
savings.
You see where I'm going?
This is why the public, listen,
I am distressed that we are not
transparent with every one of
these details.
Because that's what the public
is requiring and they deserve.
And certainly my colleagues and
myself in order to make a
decision, to tell the public
what's happening, I am only
getting the information because
I'm asking the right questions.
And I should not have to do
that.
It should be totally
transparent to this committee
and to the full board when we
make those decisions and to the
points lie colleagues have made
here today, the budget will be
rolled out this afternoon but
actually none of these
presentations are what this
committee needed, not at all.
I think it's wonderful.
But without dollars attached to
each one of these assumptions.
It's difficult for me to say I
know what's going on.
I don't think my colleagues do
either as you've heard today.
And honestly, I am somewhat
befuddled that we haven't been
able to cut our budgets.
When you think about the $150
billion a budget the state has,
every department, every
department was required to do
at least 3% budget savings.
So it's really hard for me to
understand how we are not
capable of finding a savings
and as I like to say and it is
not an indictment to any
department or person but
there's always waste in
government, always.
've found
it at the state, I'm certain if
I did my job here which I
intend to do next budget cycle
I will find savings.
I know how to do it.
We certainly have budget chairs
and budget staff that knew how
to do it at the state.
I'm going to pledge to the
taxpayers listening here today,
this committee will in fact do
its job.
We MAY not have had enough time
to do it this session but we
will do it next year and you
will see drilling down like
you've never seen before
because there is ways in which
to save money and unfortunately
we just haven't had the
opportunity to work closely
with the administration to find
those savings.
those are just several of my
questions, I'm sure as we move
into the budget cycle,
commissioner gonzalez and cohen
higgins, you are recognized.
>>commissioner gonzalez: thank
you MADAM Chair. If I could get
the directors to come up for
one second I think the chair
makes a great point.
So that's kind of the reason
why I started off by asking the
difference between that 3% and
7%, I thought it was 6%.
That's why I asked for the
reduction because in reality,
we are not really reducing, we
are still growing by 3%.
To echo the sentiments of the
chair, comparing it to the
state and this is one of the
reasons I've always been a fan
of vicki lopez.
The governor for the entire
time he's been governor and
specifically state under
speaker chris sprawls, speaker
paul renner, speaker danny
perez with the governor have
lowered every department and
the state budget by 3%.
So that's not like they could
have grown but they didn't
grow.
It's more like they did it at a
cheaper rate.
So this is a conversation that
I wanted to and my team is
working on scheduling meetings
with directors but now I'm
listening to this conversation
and hearing the chair and also
hearing the sentiments of my
colleague danielle cohen
higgins and natalie milian
orbis is there a world off the
top of your head and we're not
going to hold you this right
now but is there a world where
you could see your departments
having no growth, 0% growth
which would mean that what you
had last year you could use
this year?
Do you think that is possible?
>> commissioner I think it's an
excellent question.
Ne of the
things I want to make sure it
is clear I think you all
understand which is the budget
we are working with had a 4%
cola so that was already
pre-negotiated.
We also have what are called
step increases that are in our
collective bargaining
agreements than average 5%.
So I have 4+5 is nine.
Those are two things that we
cannot take away out of the
budget so those are natural
drivers for the increase of the
budget.
Then you would add on top of
that the natural inflation,
toilet paper, gas, all the
different things we have to pay
for in order to run the county.
So when you just go baseline,
no enhancements, no new
programs, no new services, no
new employees are at about 89%
on average because it's an
average, increase
year-over-year.
The omb projected that we could
come in as a 7%.
So we started off saying to the
departments even though your
natural growth is nine, can you
cut so that we get down to
seven?
The things that you can and the
first place to go because much
of our budget is people is to
look at the money that's
budgeted for positions.
So departments cut and reduced
the vacant positions and we
tried our best because it's a
values statement not to cut
filled positions unless we were
eliminating a program or
service that was commiserate
with that.
Once we finally got the tax
role in and the average
reflected for the fund was 2%
growth, we knew we couldn't
grow by seven.
We need to be consistent with
what our revenues would reflect
so that apartments were then
asked to go back and cut more
to get it down to no more than
3% growth.
Remember the natural growth
looks much higher than that so
I appreciate that we are saying
we didn't save any money but
the departments didn't have to
do the heavy lifting of saying
what are we not going to do
anymore because the revenue is
not matching the natural growth
that was incorporated into the
budget without adding any
enhancements despite all the
enhancements that have been
requested over the course of
the year.
So I actually really appreciate
CHAIRWOMAN Lopez challenge and
I am thrilled to have a
strategic partner not just with
the CHAIRWOMAN With this
committee on what we are going
to do to continue bending the
cost curve next year and to
actually look for the things we
need to eliminate or reduce so
that we are on a positive
trajectory given the fact that
revenues are down and inflation
is up.
And so I want to make sure
everyone's clear that the
department directors were asked
not to get ahead of the mayor
and omb as we are literally
dotting the I's and crossing
the t's on her budget and we
are happy to come to you about
any department budgets you have
concerns where you see
opportunity that we MAY have
missed.
This is why we are proposing
and we look forward to the
county commission saying did
you think about this, did you
consider this, I see something
you all MAY not have considered
or missed.
>>commissioner gonzalez: thank
you chief and I appreciate that
explanation and want to point
out I did meet with you and MR.
Baker and the mayor and I know
you guys have been working hard
and I recognize you been
working very hard.
But I guess I think the
hesitation that we are seeing
from the board members up here,
this committee in particular
and other board members as well
is projection has always been
for growth and thank you for
explaining it so eloquently, I
understand where you're coming
from but the projection is
always growth rather than a
projection to save.
've heard
commissioner cohen higgins and
lopez say this many times and
because commissioner lopez
comes from the state perhaps it
would behoove this committee to
as the chief has stated after
the budget has been presented
perhaps it would behoove this
committee to have departments
come up and perhaps we could
take a look to help.
I want to recognize that from
the conversations we had not
only with the chief but with
mr. Baker that they have been
you know, working very hard.
But I think it would be a great
idea as I've heard commissioner
cohen higgins and lopez have in
the past for us to take a shot
at it too.
And bring whatever cost can be
brought down down.
So that perhaps this commission
and this mayor can deliver for
the first time ever a reduction
in taxpayer savings for certain
departments and there are
departments that can have
reductions.
But maybe there are departments
that can grow by 1% instead of
3%, maybe some departments that
can lower some departments that
need the 4% or some that might
need the 7%.
Perhaps there is a world where
government doesn't continue to
grow and rather it shrinks
every year because if we just
keep projecting for growth and
sometimes that's necessary and
I understand that but if we
keep projecting for growth and
we are telling ourselves it's
impossible to ever shrink when
perhaps we just roll up our
sleeves and get down to it.
Think this committee is ready
willing and able to do it,
thank you MADAM Chair.
>>chair: I will say before I
recognize commissioner cohen
higgins that not only were we
able to save money at the
state, we were able to put
money in reserve which is
critically important and
currently as we face what could
be a severe reduction of
revenue at the property tax
reform amendment we should
still be thinking about saving
for that rainy day because it
is here, you're absolutely
right, commissioner gonzalez,
it's raining and it's going to
start storming and we need to
be fiscally responsible and I
know that I speak for all the
members of this committee, we
are ready and willing to roll
up our sleeves and do the work
as soon as the budget has been
published, you are recognized.
>>commissioner cohen higgins:
thank you MADAM Chair. And this
is an important conversation we
are having at this committee
and frankly won the german
intended us for us to have at
the committee level and I think
that there needs to be a
recognition that things might
need to be done differently in
miami-dade county as a result
of the fiscal climate we are
forced to face as a reality.
We are accustomed absent 2008
and 2009 that real estate clash
are accustomed to being flush
with cash until those days are
over.
I frankly strongly believe that
I don't know this is a
philosophical conversation but
conversations where we are
asking questions that
essentially boil down to is it
responsible for us to keep
doing things the way we always
have?
I think the answer to that is
clearly no and the budget
dashboard which was presented
to this committee a few months
ago is my understanding it is
ready, I plan to use that as a
tool not only for this budget
cycle but future budget cycles
so when we have presentations
we will have an electronic
reflection in front of us in
addition to whatever is placed
in front of us on a powerpoint
presentation with actual
numbers that are, that the
departments are working with us
as opposed to stagnant
snapshots in time by way of
memos but I wanted to add to
our chief, I think that we and
I look forward to working with
my colleagues because the
sentiment is the same and I
don't think the request is an
unreasonable one and we will
see what happens come NOVEMBER
and what the voters ultimately
decide to do and on monday when
we have a budget presentation
from our budget chief I asked
him and I said is there
anything in this budget that
anticipates or contemplates a
potential yes vote on that
referendum and the answer was
no.
So I get that were going to
work to try and get through
this year's budget.
My concern is beyond.
My concern is as my colleagues
said are we planning for a
rainy day that we believe is
likely to come that's a few
months down the road and the
answer is no and what does that
mean for us financially?
I also think it is important
chief carla denise when we talk
about the natural growth in our
budget at 9%, I don't know that
that's necessarily fair to call
natural growth only because
frankly it's contracted growth.
It's growth we have implemented
through policies we passed
saying we agreed 2: at three,
for which we are contracted to
do but I don't know if that's
considered natural growth and I
don't know if we will reconcile
that now as we plan the budget
so to those paying attention I
think that the chickens are
coming home to roost.
I think the way we budget in
this county needs to be studied
greatly and I think savings is
not an unrealistic ask
considering the size of our
budget in miami dade county,
considering the amount of
dollars that we move.
So I would like for us to work
towards that end and as you
know chief I worked in the
legislation in the past to
bring in outside consultants
and that couldn't come to
fruition for a number of
reasons so here we sit tackling
a difficult budget year we
anticipate will continue to get
more difficult, all that to say
in the end when the budget
passes everybody has
conversations about whose
budget is it, is it the mayor's
budget or our budget, whose
budget is it?
If we decide it's our budget or
all our budgets we have to put
in the work along with you the
administration to do these deep
dives and I am saying and I
believe my colleagues has made
it clear we all willing to do
that.
Think we have to do
that in the time for that is
now.
So whether it's special
committee hearings, whether it
is special sessions, I don't
necessarily want 2 budget
hearings that go 12 hours.
I don't want that, my colleague
commissioner gonzalez was
active a couple budget cycles
ago.
He was the only voice covering
with questions.
I'm not sure, I think we should
do it in either special
meetings or special committees,
whatever the proper forum is
what I along with my colleagues
believe there is opportunity
for us to do better with the
numbers in our budget without
necessarily laying off
thousands of people and getting
any kind of dramatic sweeping
consequential changes.
There is so much in our budget
in miami-dade county that I
believe if we were to dive down
we could accomplish a budget
where where we were yielding
reserves and say yes, we are
saving for a rainy day we had
our budget is extremely healthy
even though we are in
challenging economic times and
I look forward to working with
my colleagues and I don't want
this to be accepted as words on
a microphone or going to go
along our very way no one will
remember the conversation.
Let's do that work.
Hank you
MADAM Chair.
>> asked the chair to give us
the authority to call a special
meeting to drill down on each
and every one of the
departments budgets, vice
CHAIRMAN Your recognized.
>> I wanted to put further
questions and statements on the
record, let me preface by
saying I love our county
employees, I've been a county
employee for 20 years there
probably no one here and
understand better what it is to
be a county employee and how
they are the heartbeat of our
community yet I would like a
breakdown as we entered the
budget process of what
percentage of our employees are
unionized.
And not specifically airport
seaport, jackson, I'm talking
about the ones that impact our
general fund the most.
I think it's important to see
that.
I understand this year we are
not opening our bargaining
contracts and I think did you
want to say something?
, I think it's a mistake.
Sometimes we need to do hard
things and letting this moment
pass by agreeing with what they
have MAY not be the best
decision.
>> want to clarify what we are
doing with the union contracts.
>> we've met with other
bargaining units and all the
unions agree to zero this year,
all the contracts are signed
and we did it in anticipation
of the election in NOVEMBER and
they have a reopening in
JANUARY so we will have to make
hard decisions in JANUARY.
>>chair: one about demerits.
>> demerits are baked into the
contract when negotiations are
reopened we will look at all
those.
>>chair: I would hate for
employees to be impacted in the
end because we don't want to
make a tough decision today
that that's what I want to
avoid and I've asked you in our
meetings we had prior to this
for the budget specifically
about the unions.
I think it's important to get
that straightened out before we
have to impact them in the end.
What was the cola last year, it
was approved through our
employees.
>> the: that went into effect
was a 4% increase.
>>chair: and with the: this
year.
>> we did not budget a cola for
APRIL 27 so that such chief
palmer.
>> that means you are flat.
O
you left it at four you have
the option of doing 01234.
>> through the chair what we
did was we closed the contract
with no financial increases or
impact and we agreed to do a
real dinner after the election
in NOVEMBER because we were not
wanting to commit to flat.
There is a scenario where we
MAY need to decrease the
compensation.
So I say 001 we are committing
to something that right now we
don't have confidence that we
would be able to sustain.
If the property tax proposal
goes into effect.
>>chair: I need for
nonunionized employees, what
was the cola, were you speaking
about nonunionized?
>> both, we applied the same
cost-of-living increase to all
employees.
We don't distinguish for
nonbargaining versus
bargaining.
>>chair: just like my colleague
commissioner cohen higgins said
we need to look at natural
growth is and contemplate if
it's necessary.
>>.
>> natural implies there was no
control.
The commissioner said it
eloquently, those were
decisions made three years ago.
So if I have the math right we
did a three 34, that was put
into place three years ago.
So again, the policy decision
was made prior to us
understanding and appreciating
today's circumstances.
>>chair: don't want to harp on
this, we've all said it but we
need to contemplate the passage
of expanded homestead
exemptions.
We need to start doing that
now.
We shouldn't wait until next
budget season to plug in those
reductions that are more than
likely coming our way.
It's a reality and we need to
take that into consideration.
So thank you.
>>chair: commissioner gonzalez
you are recognized.
>>chair: to piggyback off of
what commissioner organist said
because even in NOVEMBER the
homestead exemption expansion
doesn't happen, most of the
candidates for governor,
especially the front runner are
already contemplating
regardless reduction in
homestead exemptions but even
if a homestead exemption
reduction didn't happen, we
have a chance to make history.
And actually reduce government
in miami-dade county because if
we keep projecting growth it's
almost like your budgeting for
next year expecting that you're
going to win the lottery.
Or expecting you're going to
get that promotion.
But then you don't.
And you probably shouldn't have
gone to europe.
And by the way I say this not
in criticism, I know you folks
have been doing a tremendous
job at trying to match the
circumstances.
but there again is the
suggestion especially with the
tone of this committee and of
the chair that we can
definitely help.
We can definitely help and I
look forward to the coming
weeks and even into AUGUST I
look forward to working on this
with the administration and
figuring out a way how maybe we
can make history this year.
>>chair: thank you for that
comment commissioner gonzalez,
for all almost we are on the
ground talking to our
constituents and their
tightening their belts and
there is no reason they should
be alone, we should be leading
the charge and I truly believe
and I'm grateful we can work
with the administration.
There should be a very close
relationship with us trying to
figure out where could we
suggest and recommend other
savings and I think the work of
this committee will absolutely
help us do just that.
Just like we do in the state we
dig deeply into the details of
every department's budget.
We can do it here especially
since I know I have the
commitment of my colleagues on
this committee.
So I'm looking forward to a
vibrant discussion on all of
this looking forward to being
able to tell the taxpayers of
miami dade county that we did
our job ended did it will and
the outcome was positive so if
there is no other items I would
entertain a motion to adjourn.