MIAMI – Just two days after David Beckham's stadium land purchase was approved by Miami-Dade County commissioners, one of its amendments sparked outrage at the city of Miami.
In an unplanned vote, commissioners decided to formally fight Miami-Dade County's effort to have county first responders share the work at the future Major League Soccer stadium.
"I think the big issue here, Glenna, is accountability," Miami police Chief Rudy Lanes told Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg.
Miami Department of Fire-Rescue Chief Joseph Zahralban echoed that thought.
"We do not look at the political ramifications," he said.
Both support the city as sole jurisdiction over health and safety at Miami Beckham United's yet-to-be-built Overtown stadium site.
"No. 1, to earn off-duty pay in the city of Miami," Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez said. "No. 2, we have jurisdiction."
Miami city manager Daniel Alfonso raised a question of why the city should police a "property that is not county owned, that is privately owned."
The answer to that lies in Miami-Dade County politics.
Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz made his vote on the county's soccer land deal contingent upon county police and fire sharing in the lucrative off-duty jobs at future games and events.
"It sets a precedent that hasn't happened before," Miami-Dade County Commissioner Frank Carollo said.
Other venues in city limits policed by the county include the American Airlines Arena, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art and Marlins Park. But they are county owned.
The Miami Beckham United soccer stadium will be team Beckham's private property.
"To work with, back up and take command of the units that are working inside of the stadium, it only makes sense that city of Miami units are inside the stadium working," Zahralban said.
Llanes believes the county is intruding on property rights.
"What the county has said is that they can impose on a private property owner that they use their emergency services, which doesn't make much sense," he said.
What may be a bigger problem for team Beckham United is the indication from the Miami commissioner -- in whose district the stadium site falls -- that a stadium is far from a foregone conclusion.
"The real issue comes to, is the zoning appropriate to handle a stadium?" Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon said.
A date has not been set for the team to come before the city on its zoning requests, which will include determining the footprint of the stadium and at least one road closure.