Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee 10.28.2026

The City of Miami Beach Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee meeting, held October 28, 2026, discussed several budget and capital items. The committee recommended sending a mounted police horse patrol proposal to the City Commission for consideration in the FY2028 budget, with estimated startup costs of about $500,000 and annual operating costs of about $100,000; the Police Chief said community donations could potentially cover startup costs. The committee also approved moving forward with a retroactive sponsorship agreement for Paradiso Swim Week and waiving $6,258.85 in special-event fees, while authorizing staff to negotiate a prospective five-year agreement for later Commission approval. The sponsorship amount was unclear in the transcript. Members raised broader concerns about special-event staffing costs and the City’s fee structure.

The committee reviewed the next tranche of the voter-approved $439 million general obligation bond program (the first tranche was $151.1 million), including funding needs for parks and public-safety projects. The discussion identified $6 million to complete Fire Station 1 and $10 million for Fire Station 3, among other projects; staff said a bond declaration could go to the Commission in November and appropriation in December, with borrowing deferred. The committee recommended implementing up to 11 additional parking spaces on 18th Street at an estimated $61,000, funded from parking revenues, and requested a cost breakdown. It also recommended that the Commission consider an RFI for privately operated on-demand water transportation; staff emphasized the RFI would gauge vendor interest and would not make an award. Water-conservation rebates and an aerial cable-transit concept were referred for further Commission discussion, with no funding commitment identified for the latter.