HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-24-0018City of Miami
Resolution R-24-0018
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 15120 Final Action Date: 1/11/2024
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXTENDING THE
CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH VICTORIA MENDEZ AS THE CITY
ATTORNEY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE (5)
MONTHS, WITH COMPENSATION AND EMOLUMENTS TO REMAIN THE
SAME; FURTHER ESTABLISHING A SELECTION COMMITTEE TASKED
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION AND INTERVIEW OF
PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF CITY ATTORNEY;
PROVIDING THE SELECTION COMMITTEE'S PURPOSE, POWERS, DUTIES,
COMPOSITION, MEMBERSHIP APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR OFFICERS,
MEETINGS, QUORUM, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT, ASSIGNMENT OF
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC NOTICE, AND SUNSET; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SPONSOR(S): City Commission
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4(e) of the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("City Charter"), the City Commission is obligated to elect and appoint a City Attorney;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 13-0361 adopted September 12, 2013, the City
Commission elected and appointed Victoria Mendez ("Mendez") as the City Attorney; and
i
WHEREAS, Section 21'of`the City Charter requires the City Attorney to be reappointed
after each general municipal election; and
WHEREAS, the contractual agreement with Mendez should be extended for five (5)
months with the same compensation and emoluments she currently receives; and
WHEREAS, the City eorTimission desires to establish a selection committee tasked with
evaluating and interviewing prospective candidates for the position of City Attorney; and
„Am... WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Article XI, Division 2, Section 2-883 of the Code of the City of
Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Code"), allows for the creation of new boards by either
Ordinance or Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the number, qualifications, responsibilities, and manner of appointment of
the Selection Committee members are set forth in this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds it is in the best interests of the City that this
Resolution be adopted;
City of Miami
Rescinded by R-24-0139
Page 1 of 3 File ID: 15120 (Revision: B) Printed On: 1/29/2024
File ID: 15120 Enactment Number: R-24-0018
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission hereby extends the contractual agreement with
Mendez for five (5) months with the same compensation and emoluments she currently
receives.
Section 3. The City Commission hereby establishes a Selection Committee consisti
of five (5) voting members.
Section 4. Composition, Appointment, and Qualifications.
a. Each District Commissioner shall each be afforded one (1) appointment.
4,/
b. The five (5) members shall be members in good standing with the Florida Bar and
demonstrate expertise in governmental law, and have a minimum of ten (10) years of
practical experience.
Section 5. Purpose; Attendance; Vacancies.
isIL. Nor
The purpose, powers, and duties of the Selection Committee are as follows:
a. The Selection Committee will meet periodically but at least monthly beginning as
soon as enough members are appointed to constitute a quorum. The will meet at
publicly noticed meetings complying with Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 286, Florida
Statutes, and, acting by and through its Chairperson, will deliver its recommendations to
the City Commission.
b. At the conclusion of the City Commission's consideration of the Selection
Committee's written recommendations, the responsibilities of the Selection Committee
shall be deemed completed and the Selection Committee will automatically sunset.
c. It is expected that the appointed members of the Selection Committee attend each
meeting. Attendance requirements and removal from the Selection Committee shall be
pursuant to Section 2-886 of the City Code.
d. Vacancies on the Selection Committee shall be filled pursuant to Section 2-885(a)(3)
of the City Code.
Sec fficers.
At the initial meeting, the members of the Selection Committee shall select and
designate a Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson from among the members of the Selection
Committee who shall serve at the pleasure of the Selection Committee.
Section 7. Meetings and Quorum.
All meetings of the Selection Committee shall be noticed and open to the public and
three (3) members, then appointed, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of convening any
Mg61P1td by R-24-0139
Page 2 of 3 File ID: 15120 (Revision: B) Printed on: 1/29/2024
File ID: 15120 Enactment Number: R-24-0018
meeting. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting at any meeting is
required for any action to be taken by the Selection Committee.
Section 8. Rules of Procedure; Roberts Rules of Order.
The Selection Committee may adopt its own order of business and rules of procedure
governing its meetings and take actions on matters within its jurisdiction not inconsistent with
the provisions set forth herein, which rules of procedure shall be filed with the City Clerk. If no
such rules of procedure are expressly adopted, the Selection Committee shall use Robert's
Rules of Order without the necessity of other action. Robert's Rules of Order will govern in the
event the adopted rules of procedure are silent on an issue. The Selection Committee shall
comply with all requirements of Chapters 119 (Public Records) and 286 (Sunshine Law), Florida
Statutes. The minutes of each meeting shall be promptly made available and such records shall
be open to public inspection. Copies of minutes of all Selection Committee meetings shall be
furnished to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager.
Section 9. Legal Counsel.
The City Attorney's Office shall serve as legal counsel to the Selection Committee and
shall provide legal advice on all matters considered by the Selection Committee. The City
Attorney or designee shall provide legal support to the Selection Committee and attend all
Selection Committee meetings.
Section 10. Assignment of Staff.
It shall be the duty of the City Manager to prde full cooperation and sufficient
personnel for necessary administrative support to the Selection Committee. It shall be the duty
of the Selection Committee `s liaison to keep minutes or cause said minutes to be taken at all
meetings, maintain Selection Committee correspondence, post meeting notices with the City
Clerk, file reports, and perform all other necessary support functions.
Section 11. Sunset.
This Selection Committee will automatically sunset once its recommendations have
been delivered through the Selection Committee's Chairperson to the City Commission.
Son 12. The City Manager is hereby directed promptly to publicize the City Attorney
position through prominent legal publications and any other suitable means. This dissemination
should be immediate and with the explicit objective of expeditiously identifying a qualified
replacement for the City Attorney, no later than Friday, May 3, 2024.
SectioQ1 is Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
John G. , Deputy City Attorney 1/17/2024
Mg61P1td by R-24-0139
Page 3 of 3 File ID: 15120 (Revision: B) Printed on: 1/29/2024