Remarks by René Garcia
82 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
- Play at 3:17:21
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, and this is an item that we talked about, I think, in the last or previous county commission meeting when there was a debate in the legislature of removing the ADAP dollars to cover for treatment for HIV. And we have made a motion for some dollars to be appropriated for HIV to cover the nexus. This is the car one. Which is this one? Cars.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 3:18:05
“And I appreciate that. So this is what happens when you're doing 10 things at the same time.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 3:18:10
“So I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman, for your indulgence. And yes, this is just a simple item that we're going back and making sure that the 1.1. that were allocated to the Department of Health that $300,000 of those dollars will go for HIV testing to try to see if we can mitigate and lower the HIV rates in Miami-Dade County. So I think I have the county attorney that could help me read the amendment.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 4:02:16
“Yeah, Mr. Chairman, this is a tow truck contract. I do have a question that I wasn't able to get full clarification on. And the question is, Madam Mayor, who could I address the question to?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 4:02:41
“Director Miller. Secretary Miller, always for me, but anyway. Madam Secretary, quick question on the toll truck contract. I see that we are increasing the cost of this contract, correct?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 4:03:20
“So these tolls that are currently happening are only happening For our fleet.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 4:03:46
“That question was going to be follow-up if you did, if we were removing vehicles, if there was a shared revenue part of the contracts. I didn't want them to. Understood. Okay. So then, otherwise, so then I'm seeing we have increased it. Is it just because of our cars are getting older or our fleet is getting older?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 2, 2026
- Play at 0:18
“Please bow your heads. Dear Father, grant us the wisdom to do your service today, to make sure that we take care of the people of Miami-Dade County in the best way that we can, always keeping you at the forefront of all our actions. With that, we pray in your Holy Son's name. Amen. Thank you. So, county attorneys, good morning. I think at this time it would be appropriate to extend the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:58
“Yes, Madam Chair. I would like to bifurcate 3J, and I also want to talk about 3F before we set the agenda. Madam Chair, I know that there was a motion, there's some talk about deferring it, but i would like this item to to not be deferred and move to the full bcc so we can make a decision on it because at the end of the day we are rejecting all bids and wanting to re-bid this contract out i think it's important that we don't delay the process and hopefully we can have a decision by by the full board come the next bcc”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 15:35
“Thank you, Madam Chair, and I appreciate that clarification. And I just want to remind us, I think a couple of years ago we tried to change the methodology of the 50% for housing and 50% somewhere else. We have the ability to change it, if I'm not mistaken, correct?”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 15:55
“We can always change that because we, a couple of years ago, Madam Chair, before you were here, we had a big debate over this, and this is why they settled on 50%. We, as a board, decided on 50% on housing. And while I recognize that housing is extremely important, affordable housing, if we are entering some budget crunches, we need to be careful on how we budget some of these dollars and not tie our hands. But I just want us to be very clear, understand that we have the ability to change that through a motion or an ordinance and overweigh the rules. So I appreciate that. And I thank you for…”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 38:08
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 41:47
“Mr. Chairman, I mean, Madam Chairman, if I may, again, and I appreciate your line of question, if I may, because these are the issues that we have. And again, why was that not explored beforehand? Is there issues with that? We have now an RFP that we have two vendors before us, and now we're thinking of exploring, oh, let's talk with the other vendor. this is why i think instead of getting into the whole conversation debate over this move this forward let's get the information look at the two vendors that were selected the two top vendors give us all the pricing points make sure we clarify…”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 43:22
“Listen, I would move that we reject. I'm going to read it, Madam Chair, just to be on spot, all right? I move that we reject the recommendations by the mayor and that we direct the marriage present to the board. a report to assist the Board in the ultimate allocation of price points among the two highest technically qualified proposals. And it should include pricing sheets and analysis of what was included or excluded in the pricing offered together with an estimate of any excluded items. That's the item, Madam Chair.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 50:41
“And then if I may, you know, I think we've done this quite quite a few times already in the past. I want to would like to advance it so we can continue to have the conversation understanding very, very well that there is two vendors right now that are at the top. There's a $20 million spread between both of them. And I think from here to the time that we get to the county commission, I think we can all sit down with the administration, have conversations and figure out where we land on this item and get the clarification that we need again. My concern is trying to delay another RFP, making it…”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 54:11
“Madam Chair, if I may, I think the motion stands. Look, the reality is this is the first time we've done this. It's not going to be the last time. And we, as a board, have dealt with much more complicated issues and are dealing with much more complicated issues. I think by advancing this, we send a message that we need to look at our processes and we're not going to hold our private companies that are doing business with the county hostage. move it forward, we'll have the conversations that we need to have, and then we make a decision. By the time it gets to the full board demonstration, give…”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 55:36
“We could advance it without the recommendation and, you know, looking at the two top vendors, I think there was two vendors that were at the top and looking at different price points, spreading that out so we can get a clear understanding as how it was done and moving it forward without any recommendations. I'm perfectly fine with that.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 57:56
“If we can clean it up, because I want to make sure that we send it to the full board with all this information that we were requesting.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 59:15
“Yes, that's fine. I'm fine with that, guys. Hey, we're getting the details. At the end of the day, it's coming back to the county commission, so yes.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:00:59
“We will still have a conversation at the full board.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:01:30
“I think by... I've seen this board, when we've ranked one, two, and three, I've seen this board go with number five. So this is why I think we're putting a lot more detail and emphasis on things that we still have control over as a full board. So if we advance the first two, we still have the option to access the other eight. But if you feel more comfortable with that, I'm okay with it.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:01:58
“No, that's fine. If you want this, we'll advance them all together and you get a scoring sheet from all of them. So we'll see. The reason I picked the two, because those are the top two normally, you know, and there was such a price point differential between number one and number two. So that's why I go. Let's pick those two. Let's get analysis on those two. But if you feel comfortable, I'm feel comfortable getting analysis tonight. Or six or whatever it was there and move that forward without a recommendation, that's perfectly fine.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:05:10
“Yeah, it's in committee now. Madam Chair, that in itself is the deferral itself. So the reality is we do this to ourselves so many times, Madam Chair, that we have a lengthy conversation and debate to end up in the same place. If we move this forward with With what Commissioner Cohen-Higgins recommended, with analysis of all the parties, we look at the price points at all points, at all levels. Then in itself, it goes to the full county commission, and then we could get a report from the mayor's office determining who, what, why, and where. And then we can make that determination at that…”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:08:26
“I'm going to vote no. So you guys, it's my motion. You can do whatever you want, but again.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026
- Play at 1:08:36
“What is the amendment? We're going to ask for that information to come back to the full board? Yes. It appears that that is exactly what- If that's the case, what you all want to do, it's perfectly fine.”
Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee · May 13, 2026