Today decisions were made for all non-UDB items (1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27). Some general comments on the UDB were also heard on the record. UDB applications will be discussed tomorrow, April 19th, beginning at 9:30am in the Stephen P Clark center. The public is encouraged to attend (and wear green).

1:10pm. We are on lunch. The meeting will proceed at 1:30pm. Non-UDB items are being heard first. So far, application numbers 1, 2, & 3 have passed with a 13-0 vote. Item number 27 was heard and a preliminary vote was taken.

Remaining items to be addressed prior to UDB items are: 4, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, & 27. My assumption is that we will not reach the UDB items today, although one may be heard. Proceedings will continue tomorrow, April 19, and through April 20 if necessary.

UDB application number 23 withdrew yesterday, which leaves only 5 items remaining (5, 6, 7, 11, 24).

This morning…

9:50am. I arrived a little late, but the meeting still hasn’t started. I signed a Clean Water Action petition on the way in. The girl running it, who I would regard as an activist in the traditional sense, saw that Commissioner Rebeca Sosa was walking in at that time. She told the commissioner that they polled 26 people last night (and I forget where) and 23 were against moving the UDB. Comm. Sosa says, "You should go to Hialeah, Flagmiami,"…they go back and forth. Sosa, "I’ve gotten many emails & letters"…"I just want to get this over with, we have so many other important things to do." Then she said something to me like, I just want to go to the Keys and be done with this.

Chairman Joe Martinez holds a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Before starting the meeting, because a few commissioners had not yet arrived, he addressed the public and the commissioners. "A lot has be written that these decisions we are going to make here this week are life-altering decisions." He states that he has made life or death decisions before, and this is not one of them. He goes on to discuss the personal attacks. "One person has decided that they are the only ethical person in the county." He seems to be referring to this article, and to Mayor Carlos Alvarez. "Everyone in this room has an agenda – usually to their benefit. We [, the commissioners,] have to make decision to benefit our voters," goes on Martinez. He tells us that each decision is based on three things: Political, Ethical, & Heartfelt.

He is obviously very upset to the harm that has come to his family. He finishes, "I am not reclusing myself, and I will vote on every single issue." After that, Commissioners Seijas, Jordan, Diaz, Gimenez, Sosa, Edmonson, Rolle, Barreiro, Souto, & Moss all compete in a Talk As Long As You Can While Saying The Same Thing Contest in support of the Chairman.

Today, the Final Actions on these items will be: Adopt, Adopt with Changes, or Deny. Deferrals are no longer possible. Approval requires 7 members for non-UDB items and 9 members for UDB items. Decorum is discussed multiple times, due to lots of moving around and occasional murmuring of the audience, a full house. Each applicant has 15 minutes to speak, and the public has 3 minutes each.

The director confirms to one of the commissioners that it maintains the idea that we have enough residential land inside Miami-Dade county (I assume inside the UDB) to last until the year 2018.

Update 8:53pm: The meeting ended probably around 6:30pm. Application #4 (staff recommendation: Deny) passed a preliminary vote, expecting changes that are supposed to happen tomorrow. Number 15 passed 13-0. Number 20 (staff recommendation: Deny) passed 12-1 (Sorenson: no). #21 (staff rec.: deny) passed 11-2 (Sorenson & Heyman: no). #22 passed 13-0, with amended workforce housing to 65 units. I was out of the room for #26.

One of the interesting topics that came up today started being discussed during application #2. Urban infill and/vs. Hold the Line. The developer on this project stated that "there is not one person from Hold the Line stating that this is the type of development that we need for urban infill." Later Comm. Sorenson commented and told him, "I am a member of Hold the Line and this is the kind of project that we need in order to Hold the Line."

This was an important point. First of all, people get sick of hearing "No" all of the time without receiving solutions. I’m sure it is difficult to dedicate resources to cover so many issues, but that could be an incredible resource: to work with projects that are in the right locations, as well as oppose projects in the wrong location.

On application #3, Comm. Sorenson commented that the developer has stated 9 potential water saving measures that are very good, including green roofs, low irrigation, etc. The developers are interested in creating a green building, and potentially getting certified "green", but are not prepared to commit to that.

After returning from lunch, the 1:30pm meeting began at 2:00pm. We hear from the water experts: we are using 2.76 million gallons/day of "borrowed water" from the Biscayne Aquifer. The idea is to give the county 18 months for alternative water development, that don’t rely on water that comes from the Everglades. He also states that Dade County hasn’t put a lot of energy into water reuse. (Currently, we only reuse 5%.)

General comments: The "green shirts" in the audience are varied in age, from young college students to senior citizens. In the morning, it was a full house. In the afternoon, the room was much more empty. The tension between Commissioners Sorenson and Seijas can be cut with a knife.

Application #15. Site for a Publix in South Dade. Moss: want to "create conveniences closer to where people live". "There was a time that I said if it was on the UDB line I wouldn’t support it." Sorenson: Couldn’t decide how to vote, but hope that by putting it closer, people will walk, bike, scooter or segway to the store.

Chairman Martinez mentions that he is under a confidentiality agreement, but that we all know that CSX (apparently a railway) is coming down that way, and wanted to know if he could get them to set aside some parking for a Park & Ride. Turns out this land doesn’t bump up to that site. Also, Sorenson was surprised to hear this and would think very differently about the project if that was the case. Developer states that this use will be the lowest water use of all potential uses.

Application #20. Lawyer states: For economic development in the area, offering mixed use. Residents in this area (near Cutler Bay) do not drive. Affordable housing and affordable business space is needed.

The big discussion on this one is that there is existing business space, but in poor conditions. So do you approve new space that will be done "right" and "nice", or do you encourage updating the current establishments? The absorption rate in the area is  until the year 2024. This was interpreted by Seijas and Moss that it is slower because there is no investment in the area. (Much of the rest of the county is 2018.) The commission voted to create new space.

#21 is located about 1/3 mile from #20. It is a parcel of land less than one acre. There was a big question as to who’s district this is in. After having to delay the vote to determine, it is in Sorenson’s district (whereas #20 is in Moss’s). Sorenson: With dilapidated buildings/businesses, the worst thing you can do is open up more land. There is no incentive to redo older ones. When she asked what was planned to go there, the answer was a pharmacy or a fast food chain. Sorenson: Hate to see it become "Trans-Fat Row".

#22: We hear opposition first: Opposed to so much re-zoning because it just increases property values when they don’t even intend on using it. Sorenson: Supports density along transportation corridors. For approval. Martinez wants more workforce housing, a topic he’s been very interested in all day. Finally, after much discussion, the developer commits to 65 units for workforce housing, in a manner which felt very much like an auction.

4:46pm Chairman Martinez opens the floor to the public that has general UDB comments, for or against, for people that can not return tomorrow. Below are my notes on their comments.

Commenter, Urban Environmental League of Greater Miami, The number 1 reason for moving the UDB was to provide affordable housing. Most application are commercial in nature. No plans for water, transportation, roadways, affordable housing, saving farm land, infill housing, or to fix existing infrastructure.

Commenter, Kenwood ’06 Storm Rebuilding Team (on his t-shirt), I’m impressed. Chairman Martinez told the applicants that he wanted a traffic plan…and they all pulled out. You are training developers quite well. If you say no, what will they do? They’ll put it in parts of Miami that need revitalizing.

Commenter, Lawyer for Sierra Club and other organizations, The state has seen the crisis. Miami Dade is on the cutting edge of making difficult decisions.

Commenter, Redlands resident, I live outside the UDB. It took me 2 hours to get here by mass transit. I took the day off work. I moved outside of the UDB to not live in this environment.

Commenter, Redlands resident, VP Motes Orchids, South Florida is a horticultural economy more than an agricultural economy now. They’ll have you think that it is hobby farming, and, "that we wander around milking a goat with a glass of while wine in our hand." "People need green space more than the rabbits and people need trees more than the birds."

Commenter, Tree Farmer, In support of moving the UDB. Between freezes, floods, hurricanes, etc, we can’t afford to farm anymore. I’ve been shot at, had cars stolen, illegal dumping 12 times in the last year, stolen tractors…..

Commenter, This has a worldwide impact. I ask you to hold the line because of the impact on 2 national parks. Cement means less opportunity to recharge the aquifer.

Mark Lewis, Biscayne National Park also representing Dan Campbell Super Intendent of the Everglades. We have reviewed all of the most recent information, and there is nothing in it to allow us to change our position. We are still concerned about Everglades Restoration. Expansion will make it more difficult to achieve restoration. (This is probably the reason I support Holding the Line.)

Nathan Geisler, Clean Water Action, used his 3 minutes to list off all organizations in support of Hold the Line. This created some discussion.

The discussion goes back to what I mentioned in item #2. Commissioner Moss is challenging the community to not just say "No, no, no", but to also support higher density projects. Nathan makes it clear that Hold the Line is not a no-growth campaign. I think this is an incredible point. One reason I am cautious to join activist groups is that they can be viewed as very negative forces by the government and the public. If there is a way to become a resource and be viewed as a positive force, so much more will be able to be accomplished.

Another topic that was brought up by various citizens today was the fact that there is not a "master plan" but a lot of the work and approvals are being done piecemeal, as people come to the county with requests. They feel that a much larger plan should be in place for overall development in the county.

Additionally, farm land was a topic not discussed very much, but a little, and I hope it gets touched on more tomorrow. Comm. Jordan: Saddened by the loss of farmland – don’t know if we’ve done enough to support the farmers in South Dade. If a farm is not profitable, have we ventured into organic farming, etc?

And again, urban infill was discussed, in which Chairman Martinez stated that urban infill with $400,000 condos – you’re getting gentrification. People that live there currently can’t afford it. Where do they go?

By the way, I experienced acronym mania today, and still have to learn what some of them mean! PAB, DCA, CDC, MSA, CDBG, CUC, UMSA, SERP.

Until tomorrow, this is GreenerMiami, signing off.