Resolution 2025-33693 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33693
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN
FUNDING TO UNIDAD OF MIAMI BEACH, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$70,000 FOR SENIOR MEAL SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025,
BRINGING THE TOTAL CITY FUNDING SUPPORT FOR UNIDAD TO
$350,000 FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
SERVICE LEVELS OF 140 MEALS PER DAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER
30, 2025.
WHEREAS, UNIDAD of Miami Beach, Inc. has long served as a vital community
partner in providing essential nutrition services and programs to Miami Beach seniors,
many of whom are low-income, isolated, or at-risk; and
WHEREAS, since 2018, the City of Miami Beach has awarded an annual grant of
$230,000 to UNIDAD, without any cost-of-living or inflationary adjustments over a six-
year period; and
WHEREAS, in addition, UNIDAD successfully leveraged matching federal support
through the Older Americans Act to supplement its services and initially provide 120
meals per day to eligible seniors; and
WHEREAS, in October 2024, the Mayor and City Commission approved an
increase in City funding to $280,000, enabling UNIDAD to serve 140 meals per day on a
first-come, first-served basis; and
WHEREAS, however, in the past seven weeks alone, UNIDAD has had to turn
away 130 Miami Beach seniors due to insufficient meal supply, with growing demand far
outpacing resources; and
WHEREAS, tensions have escalated to the point that Miami Beach Police have
been called on two occasions due to incidents involving hungry and desperate seniors;
and
WHEREAS, recent federal budget decisions have resulted in a freeze and cut to
Older Americans Act funding, jeopardizing UNIDAD's ability to serve the community; and
WHEREAS, inflation and rising operating costs, including a significant May 1,
2025, increase in per-meal costs under a competitively bid catering contract, are placing
further strain on UNIDAD's budget; and
WHEREAS, without additional funding, UNIDAD will be forced to reduce daily meal
service from 140 to 110 meals, leaving even more seniors without access to basic daily
nutrition; and
WHEREAS, the requested $70,000 in additional City support would allow UNIDAD
to sustain its current service level of 140 meals per day through September 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission recognizes its moral and civic
responsibility to protect its most vulnerable residents and ensure no senior goes hungry
in our community; and
WHEREAS, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "the test of our progress is not
whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, but whether we provide
enough for those who have too little," and as Mahatma Gandhi observed, "a nation's
greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize an increase in funding to UNIDAD of Miami Beach, Inc., in
the amount of$70,000 for senior meal services in Fiscal Year 2025, bringing the total City
funding support for UNIDAD to $350,000 for the current Fiscal Year, in order to maintain
service levels of 140 meals per day through September 30, 2025.
PASSED and ADOPTED this oil day of h� 2025.
ATTEST: 0
Thi MAY 2 7 2025 teven Meiner, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez,
Co-sponsored by Commissioners Tanya K. Bhatt,
Alex Fernandez, Joseph Magazine,
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, and Mayor Steven Meiner)
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MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: City Attorney Ricardo J. Dopico
DATE: May 21, 2025
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN FUNDING TO
UNIDAD OF MIAMI BEACH, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,000 FOR SENIOR
MEAL SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, BRINGING THE TOTAL CITY FUNDING
SUPPORT FOR UNIDAD TO $350,000 FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, IN
ORDER TO MAINTAIN SERVICE LEVELS OF 140 MEALS PER DAY THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
ANALYSIS
The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor, Commissioner Laura
Dominguez, and the co-sponsors, Commissioners Tanya K. Bhatt, Alex Fernandez, Joseph
Magazine, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, and Mayor Steven Meiner.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
The fiscal impact of this measure is $70,000.
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on:
See BIE at: https:l/www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/citv-clerk/meeting-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
Applicable Area
2036 of 2719
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project?
No No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-81
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? Yes
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Victor Diaz/Unidad of Miami Beach, Inc.
Department
City Attorney
Sponsors)
Commissioner Laura Dominguez
Co-sponsorlsl
Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Commissioner Joseph Magazine
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Mayor Steven Meiner
Condensed Title
Increase Funding by $70K to UNIDAD for Senior Meal Services. (Dominguez) CA
Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only(
2037 of 2719