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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRB report - 2January 22, 2004 Mr. Joe Arriola Office of the City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida 33133 Dear Mr. Arriola: Pursuant to the City Code Sec.2-890, I am pleased to submit the Community Relations Board Annual Report for your review and comments. We have addressed the required issues to be raised in the report and welcome your comments and questions. With the assistance of our coordinator, the Board was able to accomplish much during the year.We are especially appreciative of Karen Cooper's direction and your support. We are available to answer questions which may arise from the report and invite you to contact any board member or Ada Rojas, our coordinator, for additional comments. Respectfully, •, Chairperson J • k Blumenfeld,: Vice -Chairperson. Cc: Manny Diaz, Mayor City Commissioners Priscilla Thompson, City Clerk CRB Board Members CITY OF MIAMI COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2003 Pursuant to City Code Sec.2-890, this report is submitted to the City Manager. The City of Miami Community Relations Board (CRB) was created to encourage mutual understanding and respect among the diverse economic, ethnic, racial and religious groups living and working in the City of Miami. During the year 2003, the Board earned increased respect from the Administration, the Commission, and City Departments as each sought the assistance and guidance from the twelve members of the Board and our Coordinator to create the opportunity for discussion of a diverse number of issues and events in the community. We offer the following information as required by the ordinance. 1. The Board serves the purpose for which it was created. The Administration, Commission and Police Department each turned to the Board to conduct public hearings, hold public meetings, gather information to assist in planning for the FTAA, recommend policies and procedures to improve communication between citizen groups and individuals within the community and attend events both traditional and unique to the City during the year. Each request was met with willing response as the Board, the mirror of the diverse community it serves, shared its perspective with elected officials, administrators and city personnel. 2. The Board serves current community needs. The Board fills the role of community catalyst, making it possible for individuals and groups within the City to express their concern on a variety of topics from the presence of a serial rapist in their neighborhood, perceived inadequate code enforcement, and the right to demonstrate peacefully for and against the Latin Grammys and the FTAA . By conducting public hearings, holding public meetings (large and small), and gathering information from concerned citizens , the Board made recommendations to elected officials, administrators, police personnel and department heads. Through the active involvement of Board members, community needs were directly addressed . 3. The Board's major accomplishments during the year include: From November of 2002 through April of 2003, under the leadership of Forum Committee Chair Linda Romero, the Board conducted a study identifying illogical polling places within the City boundaries making it possible to effect change at the Department of Elections. Sam Feldman, Chair of the CRB's Police Community Relations Task Force suggested and accomplished the creation of the City of Miami Goodwill Ambassadors to serve as community resources to those attending City events such as the annual spring break celebration on Virginia Key in March, the Goombay Festival in June, The Latin Grammys in September and the FTAA in November. In September, Board members organized and held a community meeting in Shenandoah attended by children and adults living in the neighborhood. Mental health professionals and representatives from the State Attorney's Sexual Battery Unit informed and instructed residents on effective coping strategies to deal with the serial rapist stalking the area. From June through November, Board members mediated discussion between police personnel responsible for strategic planning for the FTAA and the AFL-CIO, first amendment activists, and all groups requesting permits to march or demonstrate during the FTAA. At the request of the City Commission and City Manager, the CRB conducted two public hearings on the Parade and Demonstration Ordinance, held a public meeting between the AFL-CIO, their coalition partners and police personnel.Eight of ten CRB members eligible to serve during the week of FTAA activities did serve, a remarkable demonstration of the Board members' commitment to their appointed roles. In July, the CRB held its monthly meeting in the Upper Eastside, taking testimony from residents who expressed the need for better code enforcement , a message the Board shared with the appropriate City departments. In December, guided by Board member Miguel de la 0, the board invited other community relations boards to join us for a tour of the CO -Existence Project at Miami -Dade College followed by dialogue about living in a community so rich in its diversity. 4. There is no other Board, public or private, which would better serve the function of the Board. Because the Board is comprised of twelve members who reflect the diversity of Miami's population and who serve the unique function of working to create understanding and better communication among community groups and individuals, no other board is equipped to fulfill our role. The CRB earned the respect of the Commission, the Administration , the Police Department and citizens groups by the effective work done during this challenging year. 5. The ordinance creating the Board was effectively amended during the year. Recognizing a need to return to the original nomination process for Board membership, the CRB sought and accomplished an amendment restoring the original nominating process. A nominating committee of the Board selects three names to present to the Commissioner or Mayor for selection n of one appointee when required. The Board believes this expands the pool of member applicants and is an open, inclusive way to appoint members. Further, the Board requested an additional member to be selected by the Mayor making the full board thirteen members which mitigates against votes resulting in ties. 6. The Board's membership requirements do not need to be modified. 7. The Cost of maintaining the Board is less than the benefits derived from the Board's positive impact upon better intergroup relations within the City. For the first time, Board funding reflects the Administration and Commission commitment to the responsibility assigned to the Board.. Now budgeted at $139,000, the Board will add a second coordinator to work with the Board and provides monies for Diversity Training and Mediation Training, essential to sharpen the collective skills of Board members. Increased staff will enable the Board to hold more public meetings in many more neighborhoods throughout the city. We will be able to conduct research regarding intergroup tensions which still present concerns to the Board. 8. Summary 2003 was a fulfilling year for the CRB. Ada Rojas, completed her first full year as our coordinator demonstrating her growing professional talent which enabled us to address many unique tasks assigned to us by Commissioners and the Administration. We are proud of the extraordinary role we played in planning for the FTAA earning the respect of the Police Department while maintaining our independence and autonomy. We are eager to welcome new appointees to our ranks as we seek to increase our visibility and our impact upon our community