HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Summary FormAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM
Second Reading
File ID: #3350
Date: 12/13/2017
Commission Meeting Date: 05/10/2018
Type: Ordinance
Subject: Amend Code - Financial
Integrity Principles
Requesting Department: Department of
Finance
Sponsored By: Wifredo Gort
District Impacted: All
PURPOSE OF ITEM:
It is respectfully recommended that the Miami City Commission adopt the attached Ordinance to
ensure the proper handling of finances and best practices for the City. Additionally, under the
current Ordinance, the financial integrity principles must be reviewed and updated as
necessary, at least every three years, thereby preserving the integrity of the City and providing
financial sustainability.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City previously formalized a series of financial principles, which serve as the basis for
governing the City's finances. The City desires to clarify and expand its adopted financial
integrity principles.
Budget Impact Analysis
Item has NO budget impact
City Commission
Department of Finance
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Management and Budget
City Manager's Office
City Manager's Office
Legislative Division
Office of the City Attorney
Office of the City Attorney
City Commission
City Commission
Office of the Mayor
Office of the City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Reviewed B
Nicole Ewan
Richara E. Brown
Donovan Dawson
Christopher M Rose
Fernando Casamayor
Nzeribe Ihekwaba
Maricarmen Lopez
Maricarmen Lopez
Victoria Mendez
Maricarmen Lopez
Nicole Ewan
Mayor's Office
City Clerk's Office
City Clerk's Office
Meeting
Department Head Review
Budget Analyst Review
Budget Review
Assistant City Manager Review
City Manager Review
Legislative Division Review
Deputy City Attorney Review
Approved Form and Correctness
Meeting
Meeting
Completed
Completed
Completed
Completed
Completed
Completed
Skipped
Skipped
Completed
Completed
Completed
Signed by the Mayor Completed
Signed and Attested by the City Clerk Completed
Rendered Completed
01/11/2018 9:00 AM
03/06/2018 4:38 PM
03/06/2018 7:10 PM
03/08/2018 11:59 AM
03/19/2018 4:19 PM
03/20/2018 5:47 AM
04/12/2018 8:13 AM
04/12/2018 8:13 AM
06/08/2018 2:08 PM
04/12/2018 9:00 AM
05/10/2018 9:00 AM
05/18/2018 3:12 PM
05/18/2018 3:46 PM
06/08/2018 5:31 PM
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance
Enactment Number:13767
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 3350 Final Action Date: 5/10/2018
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE IX/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED "FINANCIAL
INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES," MORE SPECIFICALLY AMENDING THE
INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, THE RESERVE POLICIES, THE MULTIYEAR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE BASIC FINANCIAL POLICIES, AND
EVALUATION COMMITTEES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18-541 of the City of Miami Code of Ordinances, as
amended, the City of Miami's Financial Integrity Principles shall be reviewed and updated as
necessary; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") believes that it is in the best interest to adopt these
amendments to and update the City's Financial Integrity Principles;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 18/Article IX/Division 2 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended, is amended in the following particulars:1
"CHAPTER 18
FINANCE
ARTICLE IX. FINANCIAL POLICIES
DIVISION 2. FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES
Sec. 18-541. Established; implementation; review; reports.
Financial integrity principles and policies to assure and maintain financial integrity in the city
are hereby established and shall be implemented immediately upon adoption of this division.
1 Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be
added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted and
unchanged material.
City of Miami
File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
The financial integrity principles as set forth herein shall be reviewed and updated as
necessary, at least every three years. The city's auditor general shall be responsible for
preparation of a written report to be transmitted to the mayor and the members of the city
commission by July 1 of each year as to compliance with the principles and policies set forth in
this division. The report shall include recommendations for additional policies or actions, to be
considered for action after reviewing the latest annual audit comprehensive annual financial
report (CAFR)-1 Ssingle audit report, and management letter comments.
Sec. 18-542. - Financial integrity principles.
The following financial integrity principles are hereby adopted:
(1) Structurally balanced budget. The city shall maintain a structurally -balanced budget.
Recurring revenues will fund recurring expenditures.
(2) Revenue Eestimating conference process. The city shall adopt budgets and develop its
long and short-term financial plan utilizing a professional revenue estimating
conference process. Conference principals shall include, but not be limited to: one (1l
principal from the budget office; one LU principal from the finance department, and two
non -staff principals with public finance expertise.
(3) Interfund borrowing. The city shall not borrow or use internal fund transfers to obtain
cash from one fund type or reserve to fund activities of another fund type or reserve
unless such use is deemed lawful, and unless the revenue estimating conference has
determined that (a) the funds to be loaned will not be needed during the lending period,
and (b) the funds for repayment will be available within a two-year period. Any actions
taken to borrow funds under these conditions must be separately presented to and
approved by the city commission and the term of such borrowing shall not extend
beyond the last day of the subsequent fiscal year.
Recognizing that some programs are funded by grants or other entities on a
reimbursement basis, the city shall apply for such reimbursements on a timely basis to
minimize the period that city funds are used as float. In the event loans/float for these
reimbursements extend beyond the end of a fiscal year, such reimbursements shall be
reflected as receivables in the comprehensive annual financial statements report
(CAFR) to the extent allowed under accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (GAAP). The department of finance shall make a quarterly
determination of the amount of expenses incurred which may not be reimbursable
under these programs. A quarterly report of expenses incurred but not reimbursable
shall be presented to the city commission, together with the actions needed to avoid
project deficits.
(4) For purposes of this section, city-wide surplus for any fiscal year is defined as the
increase in unreserved general fund balance as reflected in the city's comprehensive
annual financial report (CAFR). City-wide deficit for any fiscal year is defined as the
decrease in unreserved general fund balance as reflected in the city's comprehensive
annual financial report (CAFR). Budget surplus of any office, department or elected
official is defined as the excess of budgeted expenses over actual expenses in any
fiscal year.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the total amount of budget
surplus to be added to designated reserves and special revenue funds pursuant to this
section (together, the "rollover amounts") is limited to city-wide surplus for any fiscal
year. In the event the rollover amounts would result in a city-wide deficit, then each
budget surplus within the rollover amounts shall be reduced proportionately so the
city's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) will reflect no change in
undesignated, unreserved general fund balance. In the event that a city-wide deficit
would result before effecting the rollover amounts in any fiscal year, then no rollover
amounts shall be available.
a. Budget surpluses in an elected official's budget in any fiscal year shall be reflected
as designated reserves at the end of the fiscal year in which such surplus arose
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
(5)
and be appropriated for discretionary use of such elected official for the following
fiscal year.
b. Budget surpluses of the parks and recreation department shall be allocated, as of
the end of the fiscal year in which such surplus arose, to a parks special revenue
fund. Allowed expenditures from the parks special revenue fund shall be limited to
the purchase of parks recreational and maintenance equipment, capital
improvements for the city's parks, and the direct operations of recreational
programs in and for the city's parks, subject to appropriation by the city
commission.
c. Budgeted surpluses of the department of conferences, conventions and public
facilities real estate and asset management shall be allocated, as of the end of the
fiscal year in which such surplus arose, to a public facilities special revenue fund.
Allowed expenditures of the public facilities special revenue fund shall be limited to
capital improvements for the city's public facilities, subject to appropriation by the
city commission.
d. Budgeted surpluses of the department of information technology shall be
allocated, as of the end of the fiscal year in which such surplus arose, to an IT
strategic plan special revenue fund. Allowed expenditures of the IT strategic plan
special revenue fund shall be limited to expenditures, excluding those related to
permanent city staff, necessary for the implementation of the city's information
technology strategic plan, subject to appropriation by the city commission.
Department names may change from time to time. This section shall be applicable to
those Departments regardless of its designation in a given fiscal year.
Reserve policies. The following three reserve policies categories are established for
the general operating fund of the city:
a. Current fiscal year contingency. A "contingency" reserve level of $5,000,000.00
shall be budgeted annually. Such contingency reserve shall be available for use,
with city commission approval, during the fiscal year, to fund unanticipated budget
issues which arise or potential expenditure overruns which cannot be offset
through other sources or actions. The unused portion of the budgeted contingency
reserve in any fiscal year shall be reflected as unassigned fund balance reserves
until such time as the city has funded 50fifty percent (50%) of the liabilities of the
long-term liabilities (excluding bonds, loans, and capital lease payables) as
reflected in the city's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). Amounts not
needed to satisfy the 50fifty percent (50%) requirement shall be considered
general fund unassigned fund balance reserve and be treated in accordance with
subsection (5)b.
b. General fund unassigned fund balance reserves. The city shall retain unassigned
fund balance reserves equal to a threshold ten percent (10%) of the prior three j
years average of general revenues (excluding transfers). Amounts designated as
"contingency" reserve in subsection 5a. shall be included in the calculation of
meeting the ten percent (10%) of the prior gj three years average of general
revenues for the unassigned fund balance category. Such reserves may only be
used for offsetting an unexpected mid -year revenue shortfall or for funding an
emergency such as a natural or man-made disaster, which threatens the health,
safety and welfare of the city's residents, businesses or visitors. Any time these
reserve funds fall below the ten percent (10%) threshold, the city commission shall
adopt a plan to achieve the threshold within two gi fiscal years and the city
manager shall present an oral report at the second commission meeting of every
month, except during the month of September, regarding: i) the status of the
current fiscal year budget and ii) the proposed budget for the subsequent fiscal
year. Such oral report shall appear on the city commission agenda as a discussion
item under the agenda category titled "Budget." Amounts in excess of the ten
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
percent (10%) threshold may be used for capital improvements, unanticipated
expenditures necessary to assure compliance with legal commitments, and for
expenditures that will result in the reduction of recurring costs or the increase in
recurring revenues of the city.
c. General fund designated assigned fund balance reserves. The city shall retain
designated assigned fund balance reserves equal to ten percent (10%) of the prior
three years average of general revenues (excluding transfers). The designated
fund balance reserves shall be classified as either restricted, committed, or
assigned and such designation shall be based on standards and guidance
established, and amended from time to time, by the Governmental Accounting
Standards Board (GASB). Such reserves shall be used for funding long-term
liabilities and commitments of the city such as:
1. Compensated absences and other employee benefit liabilities, including
liabilities related to post -retirement benefits;
2. Self-insurance plan deficits (including workers compensation, liability claims
and health insurance);
3. Anticipated adjustments in pension plan payments resulting from market
losses in plan assets and other unanticipated payments necessary to maintain
compliance with contractual obligations.
Payment for compensated absences and other employee benefit liabilities and self-
insurance plan deficits may be drawn from this reserve during the fiscal year and shall
be replenished each year until 50 fifty percent (50%) of such the liabilities are funded.
Other designated reserves may be drawn upon without the need for replenishment.
(6) Proprietary funds. The city shall establish proprietary funds only if the costs to provide
the service are fully funded from the charges for the service.
(7) Multi -year financial plan. The city commission shall annually adopt a five j year
financial plan by September 30 of each year, reflecting as the base year, the current
year's budget. For fiscal year 2004 the multi -year financial plan will be adopted no later
than thirty (301 days after the completion of labor negotiations. Such plan will include
cost estimates of all current city operations and pension obligations, anticipated
increases in operations, debt service payments, reserves to maintain the city's officially
adopted levels and estimated recurring and non -recurring revenues. This plan will be
prepared by fund and reflect forecasted surpluses or deficits and potential budget
balancing initiatives, where appropriate.
(8) Multi -year capital improvement plan. The city commission shall annually adopt a capital
improvements plan ("CIP") by November 30th of each year simultaneously with the
adoption of the City's final budget pursuant to Section 200.065, Florida Statutes. The
CIP shall address cost estimates for all necessary infrastructure improvements needed
to support city services, including information technology, with an adequate repair and
replacement ("R&R") component. Funded, partially funded and unfunded projects shall
be clearly delineated_ The CIP shall be detailed for the current fiscal year and for five
additional years and, if practicable, additional required improvements aggregated
for two (Q additional five L5j year periods. To the extent feasible, department heads
shall be required to submit independent needs assessments for their departments for
use in preparing the CIP. The CIP will be detailed by fund, include recommended
project prioritization rankings, identified revenue sources, planned financing options
and unfunded projects. The CIP shall include estimates of the operational impacts
produced for the operation of the capital improvements upon their completion. The CIP
shall include a component reflecting all on -going approved capital projects of the city,
the date funded, amount budgeted, amount spent since the start date, remaining
budget, fiscal impact of known changes to financial assumptions underlying the project,
estimated expenditures by fiscal year for the project and estimated completion date.
Approved projects, with circumstances that arise which change the funding
requirements of the project, shall be addressed in the CIP annually.
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
(9) Debt management. The city shall manage its debt in a manner consistent with the
following principles:
a. Capital projects financed through the issuance of bonded debt shall be financed
for a period not to exceed the estimated useful life of the project.
b. The net direct general obligation debt shall not exceed five percent (5%) and the
net direct and overlapping general obligation debt shall not exceed ten percent
(10%) of the taxable assessed valuation of property in the city.
c. The weighted average general obligation bond maturity shall be maintained at
fifteen (15) years or less.
d. Special obligation debt service shall not exceed twenty20 percent (20%) of non -ad
valorem general fund revenue.
e. Revenue based debt shall only be issued if the revenue so pledged will fully fund
the debt service after operational costs plus a margin based on the volatility of the
revenues pledged.
(10) Financial oversight and reporting. The city shall provide for the on -going generation
and utilization of financial reports on all funds comparing budgeted revenue and
expenditure information to actual on a monthly and year-to-date basis. The finance
department shall be responsible for issuing the monthly reports to departments, the
mayor and city commission, and provide any information regarding any potentially
adverse trends or conditions. These reports should be issued within thirty (30) days
after the close of each month.
The external auditor shall prepare the city's comprehensive annual financial report
kCAFR} by March 31 of each year. The single audit and management letter of the city
shall be prepared by the external auditor by April 30 of each year. The external auditor
shall present the findings and recommendations of the audit, single audit and
management letter, to the mayor and city commission at a scheduled commission
meeting prior to July 30 of each year.
Financial reports, offering statements and other financial related documents issued to
the public, shall provide full and complete disclosure of all material financial matters.
(11) Basic financial policies. The city shall endeavor to maintain formal policies, which
reflect "best practices" in the areas of:
a. Debt. Such policy shall address affordability, capacity, debt issuance and
management.
b. Cash management and investments. Such policy shall require 24-month gross and
net cash -flow projections by fund and address adequacy, risk, liquidity and asset
allocation issues.
c. Budget development and adjustments. Such policy shall establish proper
budgetary preparation procedures and guidelines, calendar of events, planning
models by fund, budget adjustment procedures, establishment of rates and fees,
indirect costs/interest income and the estimating conference process. The
proposed budget should be scheduled to allow sufficient review by the mayor and
city commission while allowing for sufficient citizen input.
The city budget document reflecting all final actions as adopted by the city
commission on or before September 30 of each year, shall be printed and made
available within 30 sixty (60) days of such adoption.
d. Revenue collection. Such policy shall provide for maximum collection and
enforcement of existing revenues, monitoring procedures, an8 the adequacy level
of subsidy for user fees and write-offs of uncollectible accounts.
e. Purchasing policy. Such policy shall establish departmental policies and
procedures and provide appropriate checks and balances to ensure the city
departments adhere to the city's purchasing policies.
f. Collective bargaining management practices. Such policy shall require that all
memorandums of understanding (M.O.U.$) entered into between the city and any
bargaining agreement and that may have a fiscal impact of $40,000.00 or more be
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025
reviewed by the budget director, reviewed by the finance committee with
recommendations to the city manager. The finance committee shall provide its
recommendations regarding such M.O.U.s to the city manager not less than 1/1
days prior to consideration by the city commission of any said M.O.U. for
ratification. In the event that the finance committee is unable to meet within the
timeframes provided herein, then the city manager may proceed to the city
commission for ratification.
(12) Evaluation committees.
a. Solicitations. An evaluation committee, consisting of a majority of citizen and/or
business appointees from outside city employment, shall be created, to the extent
feasible, to review city solicitations ("requests for proposals," "requests for
qualifications," etc.). The recommendation(s) of the evaluation committee shall be
provided to the mayor and city commission on all such solicitations prior to
presentation to the city commission for official action.
b. Collective bargaining agreements. The city finance committee, established
pursuant to city commission resolutions 98-631 and 98-767, and the budget
director shall review and provide recommendations to the city manager regarding
all memorandums of understanding (M.O.U.$) entered into between the city and
any collective bargaining unit that amend, alter, or modify any existing collective
bargaining agreement and that may have a fiscal impact of $500,000.00 or more,
and all collective bargaining agreements. The finance committee shall provide its
recommendations regarding such M.O.U.s and collective bargaining agreements
to the city manager not less than fourteen (141 days prior to consideration by the
city commission of any said M.O.U. or collective bargaining agreement for
ratification. In the event that the finance committee is unable to meet within the
timeframes provided herein, then the city manager shall proceed to the city
commission for ratification.
(13) Full cost of service. The city shall define its core services and develop financial
systems that will determine on an annual basis the full cost of delivering those
services. This information shall be presented as part of the annual budget and financial
plan.
*„
Section 3. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final reading and
adoption thereof.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity Attor ey 6/8/2018
2 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date stated
herein, whichever is later.
City of Miami File ID: 3350 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/31/2025