Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez Honored with a 2025 Home Rule Hero Award

Miami Beach, FL – The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez with a 2025 Home Rule Hero Award for his hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2025 Legislative Session. The award was presented to recipients last night at the August meeting of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities Board of Directors. Commissioner Fernandez worked tirelessly throughout the session to promote local voices making local choices by sharing insights, local data and real-world examples that helped inform state lawmakers and elevate the voice of Florida cities.

“This session, local leaders stepped up once again, bringing persistence, perspective and a strong voice for local decision-making to every conversation,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “The League and our legislative team deeply appreciate their leadership and are proud to recognize the meaningful difference they made for Florida’s cities.”

Home Rule is the ability for a city to self-govern and find local solutions to local problems with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials — both elected and nonelected — who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Florida Legislature and provide a local perspective on issues.

“Whether its pushing back against broad preemptions that allow out-of-scale development, fighting to preserve our cherished Art Deco District or opposing prior efforts for the expansion of casinos, I’m honored by the trust placed in me to defend Miami Beach’s right to protect its identity,” shared Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “I’m grateful to the state legislators who have given me the opportunity to collaborate toward meaningful solutions on behalf of the constituents we collectively serve.”

Commissioner Fernandez has emerged as a thoughtful and steadfast defender of home rule and a committed advocate for the rights of residents and local communities across Florida. His leadership reflects both principled advocacy and a collaborative approach to governance.

"I congratulate Commissioner Fernandez on being named a 2025 Home Rule Hero. He represents our city with poise, professionalism, and a deep respect for the responsibilities we share,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “I commend his efforts in Tallahassee to safeguard home rule, and I’m proud to work alongside him as we stand together in defense of local decision-making.”

The commissioner has played a key role in responding to state legislation that threatens local voices. This past session, he worked to secure amendments to the Live Local Act that help preserve architectural design standards in sensitive historic areas. Last year, he successfully advocated for protections for Miami Beach’s nationally designated Art Deco District from the broad scope of the Unsafe Structures and Resiliency Act. In addition, he engaged community stakeholders to help oppose the expansion of casino gambling by prioritizing the cultural and family-oriented character of the city.

“I’m so proud to congratulate my good friend, Commissioner Fernandez, for always leading a good fight in Tallahassee to preserve the values and architectural aesthetics that make Miami Beach not only a unique global destination but also a special part of my district,” added Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones.

“I join the Florida League of Cities in recognizing Commissioner Fernandez for always showing up to Tallahassee ready to work collegially and across party lines,” said Florida State Senator Ileana Garcia. “Alex is a tireless advocate for preserving the unique character and heritage of our district — especially the rich Art Deco legacy of Miami Beach.”

Beyond opposing harmful legislation, Commissioner Fernandez has been equally committed to building solutions through collaboration. He is working with real estate industry leaders on legislation to protect buyers and tenants from delays in condominium approvals and partnered with the city’s Office of the Inspector General to propose one of Florida’s first municipal ordinances protecting condominium owners from predatory buyout practices. He also led the first major update to the city’s Historic Preservation Code in over 40 years — an effort shaped through dialogue with preservationists, architects and development professionals to ensure long-term protections for historic districts while addressing evolving community needs.

Unanimously adopted by the City Commission, Commissioner Fernandez introduced the legislation in response to concerns raised by State Legislators and to update the four-decades-old ordinance to streamline and modernize the process to review development in historic districts, expanding administrative approvals for minor changes, and reworking the voluntary two-step review for complex projects. Notably, the ordinance incentivizes preservation by expanding the property tax exemptions on renovations to historic commercial and multifamily buildings.

Commissioner Fernandez continues to advocate for policies that reflect the values and priorities of local communities — guided by a belief that good governance begins with listening, learning and leading with integrity.

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