The Miami‑Dade County Recreation Tourism Committee on Feb. 10 voted unanimously to report favorably an ordinance that would extend the confinement period for animals impounded under certain circumstances.

A staff member read the item into the record as “an ordinance relating to animals amending section 5‑18 of the Code of Miami‑Dade County, extending the confinement period for animals impounded under certain circumstances, providing severability, inclusion in the code, and an effective date.” The committee heard no public testimony on the measure.

Why it matters: The proposal changes local animal‑control procedure by lengthening the time impounded animals may be held before release, adoption or other disposition. The committee reported the ordinance and its two supplements favorably and forwarded them for further processing; specific implementation dates and enforcement procedures were not specified during the meeting.

Committee action and votes: A request to add co‑sponsors was made during the item and recorded before the vote. On a roll call the committee recorded five affirmative votes and no oppositions: Commissioner Bassian (yes), Commissioner McGee (yes), Commissioner Regalado (yes), Vice Chairwoman Steinberg (yes) and Chairman Garcia (yes). The item was reported favorably with supplements 1 and 2.

Other business: During the meeting a commissioner moved to place agenda item 3A on the next Board of County Commissioners (BCC) agenda; that request was approved to be moved.

Meeting context: The committee conducted a brief session with a quorum present, heard no public testimony on the animal ordinance, and disposed of the item by a unanimous committee vote. No ordinance number, effective date, or detailed enforcement language was announced on the record at this meeting.

Next steps: The committee’s favorable report and supplements will proceed through the county’s legislative processing; the record at this meeting does not specify the next hearing date or final adoption timeline.