Joe Carollo taps former Doral city manager to lead downtown Miami city agency
Three days after the executive director of the Bayfront Park Management Trust abruptly departed from the position, the agency’s board voted to appoint former Doral City Manager Barbara “Barbie” Hernandez as interim executive director.
Earlier this year, Hernandez joined Miami City Hall as an assistant city manager overseeing parks. In January, she had been fired from her role as the top administrator in Doral amid allegations that her spouse improperly benefited from city resources, something she denied.
Hernandez said at a special Bayfront Park meeting on Friday afternoon that she will maintain her assistant city manager position with the city of Miami while acting as interim director of the Trust. She said she will not receive additional compensation.
“This is an emergency situation and that’s why we’re doing it,” Hernandez said.
City Commissioner Joe Carollo, who is chairman of Bayfront Park Management Trust, advocated for Hernandez’s hiring Friday. The board then voted unanimously to approve her appointment.
“I don’t know anybody that’s got her background in parks in Miami-Dade County,” Carollo said of Hernandez, who previously worked as the parks director for the city of Miami.
Hernandez’s appointment offers a safety net to the agency ahead of its million-dollar New Year’s Eve Bash. While Hernandez won’t physically be at the party, she said she’s available to help however she can.
“Whatever you guys need, I am a call away,” Hernandez said.
Her appointment landed days after José Suárez, who had served as executive director of the Trust since March, announced in an email shortly before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday that he was departing from the agency, “effective immediately.”
“As some of you may be aware, recent decisions beyond my control have undermined my ability to lead the day-to-day management of the Trust and have made it impossible for me to continue faithfully fulfilling the duties required of the Executive Director position,” Suárez wrote in the email.
Reached for comment, Suárez declined to elaborate on the email or specify what he meant when he said his ability to lead day-to-day operations at the Trust had been “undermined.” The email did not make clear whether Suárez resigned or was terminated. Asked for clarity, Suárez referred back to the email.
But according to Carollo, Suárez resigned from his post. He told the Herald that he didn’t have further details about what led to Suárez’s departure.
This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 3:38 PM.
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