Miami-Dade Animal Services has a new director
From David Volz
Miami-Dade County Animal Services has announced the appointment of Ms. Annette Jose as its new director. Director Jose, who is from Miam, brings a vast experience and a deep commitment to the community, which makes her the ideal leader for one of the county’s most vital departments.
“This appointment marks an exciting new chapter in the history of our Animal Services Department,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Her extensive experience, dedication to public service, and deep ties to the community make her the perfect leader to continue the important work of ensuring the welfare and well-being of the animals under our care. I am confident in Annette’s leadership and ability to usher the department forward with professionalism, excellence, and compassion.”
Director Jose holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Miami. Her professional career began in the private sector at a prominent mortgage finance firm in Coral Gables. In 2014, she transitioned into the public service sector, serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe. In 2019, she joined Miami-Dade County Animal Services as the Assistant Director of Administrative Services, marking the beginning of her transformative journey within the department.
Director Jose has spent over four years at Animal Services, during which time she acquired an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges and needs of our shelter pets. Her dedication to the welfare of animals and her passion for public service have made her an asset to the department.
“I am grateful that this appointment will allow me to continue serving this community,” said Director Jose during her appointment at the recent meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. “Having been part of Animal Services for over four years, I am familiar with its history and how it became an industry-leading shelter. I will focus on enhancing our strengths and expanding our partner network to address the current challenges. Again, I am thankful for this opportunity and look forward to serving the Miami-Dade County residents.”
We encourage you to follow Director Annette Jose on Instagram at @directorannette to stay updated on the latest initiatives, developments, and heartwarming stories from Miami-Dade County Animal Services.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department continues to break Capital Improvement construction records
From David Volz
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) continues to break Capital Improvement Program (CIP) construction records, having invested more than $599 million to upgrade the County’s water and sewer infrastructure during fiscal year 2022-2023, which surpassed the previous year’s historic execution rate of $557 million.
WASD’s $7.8 billion multi-year CIP will result in both water and wastewater system-wide enhancements to overcome a vast range of challenges, from addressing aging infrastructure to building capacity and reliability throughout our systems. Under the leadership of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Water and Sewer Department has successfully accelerated many critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. To date, approximately $1.5 billion has been invested in critical upgrades during Mayor Cava’s administration.
“Water is essential to the wellbeing of our community, and these upgrades are needed to ensure continued uninterrupted access to safe water for our residents,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Through these critical projects we are investing in our local economy and good jobs today, to build a future-ready infrastructure for our environment and our customers tomorrow.”
In order to build a resilient infrastructure, WASD is planning for sufficient capacity in its systems to support economic projects and population growth, as well as mitigating the risk of damage to wastewater and drinking water infrastructure by upgrading facilities to include the adoption of resilient and climate-ready designs to maintain high-quality, safe, and reliable services in the future.
WASD Director Roy Coley credits the water professionals who work at the Department for delivering high-quality services that will benefit the public’s health and economic and environmental well-being for decades to come.
“Safe and reliable water and wastewater services provide foundational support to a thriving community,” said Director Coley. “This was another landmark year where we beat our best. We will continue to strive and stretch beyond expectations to provide not only high-quality water services but high-quality customer service as well.”
Miami International Airport restrooms to be redone
From David Volz
Miami International Airport’s (MIA) 207 public restrooms are scheduled for a total makeover by 2030 as part of the airport’s future-ready initiative to execute significant capital investment projects to modernize the airport under Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration. The restroom makeover will move forward thanks to a new re-design contract approved by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners earlier this month.
A total of 31 bathrooms have already been modernized in concourses D, H, and J, and 35 more in MIA’s other concourses are on schedule for renovation by the end of 2024. The remaining 141 bathrooms pre- and post-security on all three levels are scheduled for completion during the third and final phase of the airport’s restroom renovation program between 2025 and 2030.
“These newly renovated facilities will improve customers’ experiences when traveling through MIA and is another step in my administration’s continued efforts to offer exceptional service and to make our airport future-ready,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “I’m also proud to see that water and energy conservation features are included in this renovation program.”
Each renovation includes interior demolition and the installation of new partition walls and flooring made of sustainable materials, improved accessibility features, vanity countertops with handles for carry-on bags, touchless plumbing fixtures that are WaterSense certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and energy-efficient lighting fixtures.
“Our restroom renovation program is one of the many ways that we are upgrading MIA for the next chapter in our role as our community’s gateway to the world,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO. “MIA is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world, and our goal is that the quality and efficiency of our facilities match or surpass that growth.”
Through the installation of $45 million in energy-efficient lighting, domestic water, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades, MIA is achieving water consumption savings equivalent to filling 16 Olympic-sized pools each year.
