Remarks by Danielle Cohen Higgins
389 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 15 of 16
“Okay. And follow up question. This item that's on our agenda has six pages. Where are you seeing rankings of vendors or is that something that you obtained? So vice chairwoman.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“I don't see a ranking of vendors in our- I'm asking for that ranking.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Okay, so just to recap, the motion that I heard Ask for a report on only the top two. There were nine or 10. I don't want just the top two. I want to see how everybody scored. Why not just give us everything? Do you have an objection to that?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Okay. And then the second part that I have a question on your motion is to reject the mayor's recommendation of rejecting all bids. Is that correct?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“I'm not sure that I'm ready to do that. I'm not sure that I'm ready to reject the mayor's recommendation. I thought that's the whole purpose of advancing it to the full board so that we could have that discussion at the full board, which is why we're advancing it without a recommendation.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“But I feel like the motion goes too far. I think that's my point. I'm comfortable advancing it without a recommendation so the full board can have a discussion with all of the information.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Yeah, just because I don't want... There's 10 bidders here. And if we're not going to get into it in committee, I don't want to advance it excluding anybody from the potential of what we're going to do, whatever that may be, at the full board.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Oh, yeah. So now I'm even more. I certainly do not feel comfortable only advancing.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Thank you, especially because Commissioner Gonzalez in fairness said, I have a whole line of questions and I want to do that now, but we said we're going to do that at the full board. And so if we're going to do that at the full board, I think it's only fair to advance the whole thing so that all of the board can consider all of the candidates. Perfect. Thank you. So to our attorney, I don't know, you need to read another motion, please.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · Meeting · May 13, 2026
“Welcome to this morning's Airport and Seaport Committee. We are going to start this morning with a Czech presentation from our airport director. Good morning, Commissioner. Regarding our contribution and our effort at Miami International Airport to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. And so if everybody that's here for the Czech presentation can join us, I'd greatly appreciate it. Please join us. So I'll have the director explain, but we have three events annually that I believe are five Ks that are run in our different airports throughout. And I know that the event has grown over…”
“I think we should challenge the commissioners to run the 5K and to raise money. So we always support every year. We're so grateful and thankful that this much money has been raised, and hopefully this year we'll even outdo that number. Thank you all for the work that you do at the American Cancer Society, and of course on behalf of Breast Cancer Awareness. You want to speak? Of course.”
“Good morning, will the clerk please call the roll?”
“Welcome again everyone to our Miami International and Seaport Committee. We are going to have prayer led by Commissioner Gilbert, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Millian-Orbis. Please rise.”
“At this time, we'll open the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. I have one speaker card. You'll have two minutes. Please give us your name and your address, Jorge Luis Lopez. And anyone else wishing to speak and address this body, now is your opportunity.”
“Thank you. Any other speakers? Now is your opportunity. Seeing no other speakers, reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard is now closed. To the attorneys, are there any changes to this morning's agenda?”
“I'll entertain a motion on the agenda. Second. It's been moved. It's been second. All those in favor signify by saying aye.”
“Anyone wish to be recorded? No. Our agenda this morning has been set and item 3G has been deferred. To my colleagues, are there any items that you would like to bifurcate or discuss? We do not have any public hearing items on this morning's agenda.”
“Okay, thank you. I'll move the item with that. Thank you. Yeah, Commissioner Gilbert moved the agenda. I'll second. I do want to have a quick discussion with our director, please, on 3i. I'm supportive of the item, but I mentioned the item during our previous BCC hearing regarding sole sourcing, efficiencies, and continuity of service. I would like for you on the record to give a brief description of 3i and the savings that you all anticipate yielding as a result of this item.”
“And thank you for that explanation. I could be wrong, but I believe that the item speaks to a dollar amount that you all anticipate saving. Correct. What is that dollar amount?”
“Okay, and so just to be clear, you said 300 million as a conservative estimate?”
“Thank you for that. And really quickly, we are entering into FIFA season as soon as next month. Yes. Do you mind giving us a brief update on the improvements that our airport has done to prepare for FIFA? I think this might be the last committee hearing that we have as an airport committee prior to the deluge of visitors that we are anticipating as early as next month for the games that we are hosting.”
“So I'm glad that you bring that up because when I visited the state attorney last week, we had this discussion regarding signage. And when we hosted the Super Bowl a few years ago, I mean, our county was covered in human trafficking awareness signs, which I thought was Amazing. Is our airport going to reflect a similar level of commitment to human trafficking and put up signs in the bathrooms and on panels, so on and so forth? Is that in the works?”
“And one final update, I know there was an item on our agenda 3G that was related to concessions. It was probably about a year ago that I passed an item and then a subsequent item creating a pool of potential businesses for our airport. Can you give us an update on that concessionaire program, how it's going along? I know there are a lot of timelines that were built into that original agreement and whether or not those that were in the pool that was created have had an opportunity to bid on any new spaces at the airport.”
“And thank you for that update. And not in the next three years, because we passed it a year ago. It was a three-year timeline then, right? And everybody, as far as I know, is on track and meeting those deadlines. So hopefully as soon as two years, right, we will see.”
“THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. ANY COMMISSIONER GILBERT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.”