Barbie Hernandez: Manager eyes senior facility, annexation of lands in Doral

As a professional and leader in public service for more than two decades, Barbie Hernandez returned to the City of Doral in January and began a new chapter in her career: as city manager.
Her journey has taken her to cities including Hialeah, Miami and Miami Beach, but most of her significant and formative years were spent in Doral.

She first got involved with Doral in 2005, when she was hired as a part-timer around the time the city established its parks and recreation department.

Throughout 14 years in Doral, Ms. Hernandez moved up and became the city’s first female parks and recreation director. She was key in completing capital park projects, implementing programming for all ages and capabilities, and building strong relationships with residents.

In 2018, Ms. Hernandez’s expertise was critical in passing the Doral Park Bond referendum and establishing the bond’s master plan.

Since taking the role of city manager, she has been focusing on the parks bond, which includes completing The Doral Central Park.

In the past nine months, Ms. Hernandez initiated and improved city departments, programming and direction. The city has become more transparent by making law enforcement, city staff and officials more accessible to the public, she said. “We have an open-door policy here in city hall.”

Even after creating the most accessible municipality Doral has ever been, Ms. Hernandez said she is nowhere near finished in obtaining and continuing the communication, connection and dialogue between the city and residents.

Ms. Hernandez spoke with reporter Abraham Galvan.

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