HomeMy WebLinkAboutmemoCITY OF MIAMI
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Honorable Members of the
City Commission
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From: Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk
Date: February 9, 2007
Subject: Zoning Board
References: March 8, 2007 Agenda
Enclosures: List of members
The Zoning Board was created to: (1) hear applicants for the rezoning of specific properties and
make recommendations to the Commission; (2) act as a quasi-judicial instrument for granting
variances or conditional uses; and (3) perform such other functions as requested by the
Commission. Members appointed to the Board must be electors of the City of Miami. See
attached legal opinion.
Five (5) appointments are required at this time:
• Chairman Gonzalez has two (2) nominations for seats currently held by:
1. Miguel A. Gabela, incumbent and alternate member, whose term expired January 12,
2007.*
2. Vacancy (due to the removal of Carlos Martell due to legal opinion).*
• Vice Chairman Sanchez has one (1) nomination for seat currently held by:
1. Juvenal Pifia, incumbent, whose term expired January 12, 2007, and requires a 5/5ths
term waiver of the Commission.*
• Commissioner Spence -Jones has one nomination for a seat currently held by:
1. Vacancy (due to the resignation of Georges Williams).*
2. Ron Cordon, incumbent, whose term expires March 9, 2007.
Pursuant to requirements under City Code Section 62-123, our office placed a notice in a
newspaper of general circulation in the City and has received applications from a number of
individuals, who comply with the City's requirements. See attached applications.
By copy of this memorandum, we are requesting the Agenda Office to place this issue on the
March 8, 2007 Commission agenda. *This matter was deferred from the February 8, 2007
Commission meeting. For your convenience, we are including a copy of the current membership of
said board.
Please be aware that City Code Section 62-124 states in part:
"In reaching a decision on appointment to a vacancy on the planning advisory
board or on the zoning board, the city commission shall give due regard to, and be
guided by the necessity for representation on the boards, of:
(1) Geographical sections and areas of the city;
(2) Social, economic and demographic characteristics of the city;
(3) Qualifications, background, experience and abilities of appointees to fulfill
the duties and responsibilities of board membership or alternate membership;
prospective appointees shall be subject to a personal appearance before the
city commission, to afford the city commission an opportunity to ascertain
prospective nominees' proficiency in the English language, educational
background and general knowledge of planning and zoning.
(4) Prior demonstration by prospective appointees of interest in and concern for
planning and planning implementation, as may be evidenced by previous
attendance at planning or land use control seminars;
(5) Membership in organizations having the primary aim of the furtherance of
dissemination of knowledge of and support of sound planning and
implementation programs;
(6) Other activity evidencing knowledge and interest in the public purposes of
planning and plan implementation;
(7) Potential conflicts of interest;
(8) Demonstrated maturity and objectivity of judgment; and
(9) Needs for expertise, if any, in the membership and alternate membership of
boards.
Appointees shall be persons in a position to represent the public interest
and no person shall be appointed having personal or private interests likely to
conflict with the public interest.
No person shall be appointed who has any interest in the profits or
emoluments of any contract, job, work, or service for the city. Before making any
appointment, the city commission shall determine that the persons so appointed
satisfies the requirements of sections 2-611 (Conflicts of Interest) et seq., and no
person shall be confirmed in appointment who has not filed the statement
required by section 2-615 (List of real estate owned - Required of certain
officials). In addition, the code of ethics of Metropolitan Dade County shall
apply to members and alternate members of the planning advisory board and of
the zoning board.
PAT:pb
c: George Wysong, Assistant City Attorney
Teresita Fernandez, Chief, Hearing Boards
Elvi Alonso, Agenda Coordinator
Ileana Hernandez -Acosta, Chairperson