County waives rule, names South Dade Arts Center for ex-commissioner

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is to be renamed “Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center” as county commissioners approved a resolution waiving a rule establishing that “the naming, renaming, or designation of a county road, facility, or property may not be for any elected official currently serving or having served in any elected office within the last five years.”

“It seems very rampant lately that so many things are being renamed for people that are either still living, or are still a politician, or do not fall within that five-year length of time that they have to have been out of office,” said Miami-Dade resident Mary Waters at the public hearing of the resolution.

Rule 9.02 of the commission’s Rules of Procedure also provides that the commission may by a three-fifths vote of members present name a county road, facility, or property after a living individual who “has made a direct, significant lifetime contribution to this community.”

“I think that some public servants here in Miami-Dade County deserve recognition prior to their passing,” said Danielle Cohen Higgins, commissioner of District 8, where the arts center stands.

“Commissioner Dennis Moss is the perfect example of that, not only because of his service of 27 years to Miami-Dade County, nor because of his incredible efforts after Hurricane Andrew, his list of service and accomplishments for South Dade are exceptionally long and outstanding and he has a famous saying of ‘We leave footprints in the sand’ and renaming the South Cultural Arts Center after Commissioner Dennis Moss would be exactly that, leaving his footprints in the sand,” she added.

Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee was listed as a co-prime sponsor, and the document received co-sponsorships from Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert, and Commissioners Rebeca Sosa, Jean Monestime, Sally Heyman and Sen. Javier Souto.

“Commissioner Moss was the engineer behind ensuring that the South Dade community would have representation as it relates to cultural arts,” Commissioner McGhee said. “The reason being that this is so important is to give individuals their flowers while they are still here to remind them how much we appreciate them,” he added.

Mr. Moss currently serves as vice chair of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and his term expires in May 2025, according to the authority’s website.

The lifelong resident of south Miami-Dade County and former District 9 commissioner left office in November 2020 due to term limits. In his over 27 years of service, he worked on a comprehensive plan to rebuild areas affected by Hurricane Andrew, helped save the Homestead Air Reserve Base after the federal government listed it for closure, and advocated for the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, the document notes.

Mr. Moss has been involved in multiple community organizations including the South Dade Alliance for Black Neighborhood Development, the Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust, the Land Use and Water Planning Task Force, the South Florida Regional Planning Council, and the Richmond Perrine Optimist Club, the legislation adopted last week says.

A review of Miami-Dade legislation reveals that commissioners have waived the same rule two times within the past year.

In May 2021, the commission approved a resolution sponsored by Commissioner McGhee renaming “Goulds Park” as “JL (Joe) and Enid W. Demps Park.” Joe and Enid Demps established the Greater Goulds Optimist Club and created many community programs including football, basketball, and cheerleading programs. Enid Demps is currently the vice chairwoman of the Community Council 15.

In March 2021, commissioners also approved the renaming of “West Perrine Park” as “Wilbur Bell Park.” Mr. Bell has been a Perrine resident for 79 years, founded numerous businesses in south Miami-Dade, and in 2020 was elected chairman of Miami-Dade County Community Council 143-14. That proposal was also brought by Commissioner McGhee.

As Miami Today reported last week, the naming of some county assets historically has entailed payments to the county. Last year county commissioners approved a $135 million, 19-year deal for the naming of the county’s FTX Arena, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County was named for the $30 million donor who helped fund the county project.