LTC 258-2024 Resignation of Public Works Department Director and Appointment of Interim Public Works Department DirectorMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Rickele wiams, Interim ciy Manager /)
June 24, 2024
Resignation of Public Works Department Director and
Appointment of Interim Public Works Department Director
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to provide follow-up information regarding the
Public Works Director position. As you already know, Joe Gomez resigned from his role as Public
Works Director to pursue a promotional opportunity in a nearby municipality. Joe joined the City of
Miami Beach in August 2021 and has been responsible for the third largest department in the City
with over 340 fulltime equivalent employees and a total capital and operating budget of
approximately $500 million. With oversight of four ( 4) department divisions Engineering,
Greenspace Management, Infrastructure (Operations) and Sanitation - Joe has led the
department by example with professionalism, unparalleled dedication, and impeccable work ethic.
Alongside his team, Joe has attained numerous accomplishments including, but not limited to:
completion and adoption of the Stormwater Master Plan Update; continued implementation of the
Critical five-year Capital Improvement Water and Sewer Projects; construction and elevation of
seawalls with 29 segments in progress including five living shoreline projects; successful delivery
of first-class sanitation and greenspace services citywide; maintenance and cleaning of the City's
stormwater infrastructure; and continued implementation of the Streets and Sidewalks
Rehabilitation Program and Smart Street Lighting Improvements. Joe's leadership resulted in the
department's fourth consecutive accreditation through the American Public Works Association in
2023 with a focus on nearly 500 best practice guidelines.
Joe came to the City with more than 45 years of experience in the South Florida engineering
community and brought with him many relationships with outside agencies and professionals
within the field. Joe always put his team and their success at the top of his priority list. His
expertise, patience, and kindness to all will certainly be missed.
To ensure continuity within the Department, I have selected Brad Kaine to serve as Interim Public
Works Director effective July 13, 2024. Since January 2020, Brad has been part of the Public
Works senior leadership team serving as the Sanitation Division Director, the largest Public Works
division with over 150 employees. Overall, the Sanitation Division has focused on being more
proactive and responsive to residents and businesses under Brad's leadership, particularly during
high-impact periods. Among his many accomplishments, Brad successfully expanded litter control
services in the City's North Beach neighborhood from five (5) to seven (7) days per week in 2023
and also led an important upgrade to the City's fleet of street sweepers in 2021 that resulted in an
expanded capacity to remove up to a ton of trash daily from the most heavily used streets and
parking lots.
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258-2024
With over 25 years of relevant management experience in various South Florida municipalities
including in coastal cities, Brad brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Public Works
Department. Prior to joining the City of Miami Beach, Brad worked for twelve ( 12) years as a Public
Works Director between the City of Dania Beach and the City of Weston. He has also served as
Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Parkland and Assistant to the Public Works Director
for the City of Deerfield Beach.
Brad's broad experience with oversight of multiple core functions including utilities, water and
sewer, stormwater, streets/operations, engineering, solid waste, recycling, landscape
maintenance, facilities, and fleet, will help to provide stability during the transition period. In
addition, Brad has significant knowledge regarding emergency management procedures with
experience responding to numerous rain events, named storms and major hurricanes including
Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, and Irma.
Brad holds a bachelor's and master's degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic
University. He is the current Vice Chair of the American Public Works Association South Florida
Branch and has served on its Board of Directors from 2005-2019 and from 2021 to present. His
combination of education, administrative and practical experience, and industry associations make
him a great fit for the role. During this period, Brad will maintain oversight of the Sanitation Division,
and George Ruiz will continue in his role as Assistant Sanitation Division Director with an elevated
focus on all operational functions.
Please join me in thanking Joe Gomez for his service to the City and wishing him well in his future
endeavors. In addition, please join me in congratulating Brad Kaine on his new appointment.
CC: Ricardo J. Dopico, City Attorney
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
Joseph M. Centorino, Inspector General
Executive Staff
Department Directors
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