George Navarrete Heads Countys 29 Billion Bond Program And Others While He Oversees Choices Of Architects Engineers

George Navarrete has become director of Miami-Dade’s Office of Capital Improvements at a crucial time for the department, as it oversees a $2.9 billion community-building bond program that has taken a hit from dwindling tax rolls.

The voter-approved bond program is funding hundreds of projects, including the new baseball stadium, the tunnel, neighborhood parks and roadway improvements.

Mr. Navarrete, who’s been in the department five years, now occupies the seat Johnny Martinez vacated to take on an assistant manager post at the City of Miami.

As the county prepares for the next bond sale this fall, the issuance is smaller than projected because the tax roll continues to shrink. With fewer dollars to bond, Capital Improvements has been working on a priority list to determine the projects to fund next.

The three-decade county veteran, who worked 22 years with the transit division, said the experience he’s gained from working on long, complex transit projects has helped him prepare for this new role.

Mr. Navarrete said he plans to continue cross-training the 24 employees in his department as the county has to do more with less. Keeping a close eye on all capital improvement projects to ensure they stay on budget and on time is another priority, he said.

His No. 1 mission is to keep the promise made to residents when they voted for the bond program: to build every project on the list.

Mr. Navarrete discussed his priorities as director and plans for the department with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at Miami-Dade’s administrative offices in downtown. To read this profile article in its entirety, subscribe to Miami Today’s E-paper. With the E-paper you will be able to read the entire contents of Miami Today online exactly as it appears in print. Or order this issue, to receive a regular printed copy of this week’s Miami Today. You may also subscribe to the printed edition of Miami Today to receive the newspaper every week by mail. If you are reading this in Miami Today’s “Online Archive” as an archived web page and would like to see the entire article that was published, call Miami Today, 305-358-2663 and ask for the Circulation Department.   Top Front Page About Miami Today Put Your Message in Miami Today Contact Miami Today © Copyright 2010 Miami Today designed and produced by Green Dot Advertising and Marketingvar gaJsHost = ((“https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.”);document.write(unescape(“%3Cscript src='” + gaJsHost + “google-analytics.com/ga.js’ type=’text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”));var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(“UA-4990655-1″);pageTracker._initData();pageTracker._trackPageview(); var _rsCI=”us-bpaww”; var _rsCG=”0″; var _rsDN=”//secure-us.imrworldwide.com/”; var _rsPLfl=0; var _rsSE=1; var _rsSM=1.0; var _rsCL=1;