HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubstitution Memo from City AttorneyCITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: George K. Wysong III, City Attorney GeOYg.x. Wyso„'rn
DATE: November 12, 2025
RE: Substitution of Item RE.19 on November 20, 2025, City Commission
Meeting: Resolution proposing to co -designate Northwest 1st Avenue
between West Flagler Street and Northwest 1st Street as "Harvey Ruvin
Way."
File No.: 18396
Item RE.19 on the November 20, 2025, City Commission Meeting Agenda
proposes to co -designate Northwest 1st Avenue between West Flagler Street and
Northwest 1st Street as "Harvey Ruvin Way." The Legislation is being substituted
to correct a typo in the title.
cc. Arthur Noriega V, City Manager
Marie Gouin, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Miriam Santana, Agenda Coordinator
Ci
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City of Miami
Resolution
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 18396 Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS
AFFIRMATIVE (4/5THS) VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 54-137 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
WAIVING THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED THEREIN AND CO -
DESIGNATING NORTHWEST 1ST AVENUE BETWEEN WEST FLAGLR
STREET AND NORTHWEST 1 STREET AS "HARVEY RUVIN WAY" IN
HONOR OF HARVEY RUVIN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE JUDICIAL-BYSTIM 711
AND ENVIRONMENT; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE AU!
NECESSARY ACTION TO EFFECTUATE THE CODESIGNATION; AND
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF4HIS-,
RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS. = a 7
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner Christine
WHEREAS, Harvey Ruvin was Miami -Dade County's longest -serving elected official,
having devoted over fifty (50) years to public service, including thirty (30) years as Clerk of the
Courts for Miami -Dade County; and
WHEREAS, born in New York City on June 1, 1937, Mr. Ruvin later moved with his
family to Miami and received his bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University
of Florida in 1959 then received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in
1962; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin was first elected in 1968 at age 30, becoming mayor of North Bay
Village, then from 1972 until 1992, he served as a Metro Dade County Commissioner, where he
focused on environmental and technology issues; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, he was elected as the Clerk of the Courts for Miami -Dade County,
holding the position until his passing in 2022 after being re-elected numerous times; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-1990's Mr. Ruvin, before documents could be digitized as quickly
as today, implemented a system to allow for cases to be filed and viewed quicker; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin was also instrumental in helping former felons restore their voting
rights under Amendment 4, which passed in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin is widely recognized as one of the earliest and most vocal
advocates for the protection of Biscayne Bay, playing a pivotal role in pioneering "Baynanza," a
longstanding environmental initiative dedicated to preserving and restoring the bay's ecosystem;
and
WHEREAS, many of today's core environmental efforts in Miami -Dade County are the
result of ordinances and policies that Mr. Ruvin set forth as a commissioner decades before
limited change was a commonplace concern — among them, Miami-Dade's residential and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 18396 (Revision:) Printed On: 11/12/2025
File ID: 18396 Enactment Number:
commercial recycling system, efforts to curb greenhouse gases that offset 40 million -plus metric
tons of carbon emissions, an endangered land preservation program that at the time of its
creation was the largest of its kind in the nation and, more recently, leading the county's Sea
Level Rise Task Force; and
WHEREAS, he also served as president of the National Association of Counties in the
late 1980s and remained on the board of directors until his passing; and
WHEREAS, he regularly crossed party lines and alliances, working with all and listening
to everyone's concerns; and
WHEREAS, he will forever be remembered as an exemplary public servant and leader,
a champion of the environment, and his transformative, trailblazing work in the field of judicial
administration; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 14317, adopted on September 26, 2024, provides that the
restrictions related to street co -designations, including the distance requirements, contained
in Section 54-137 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida ("City Code"), may be waived by a
four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote of the City Commissioners, or an unanimous vote of the
quorum that exists because of either abstentions or vacancies resulting from resignation,
death, suspension, or physical incapacitation;
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 Miami City Commission, by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote waiving
the restrictions contained therein, hereby co -designates Northwest 1st Avenue between West
Flagler Street and Northwest 1st Street as "Harvey Ruvin Way" in honor of his dedicated service
and lasting impact on the community.
Section 3. The City Manager is directed to take all necessary steps to effectuate this co -
designation, including the installation of appropriate signage.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Departments of Police, Fire -Rescue, and Solid Waste; the Miami -Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works; the Miami -Dade County Commissioner of District 5; the
United States Postal Service; and, if a State of Florida road, to the Florida Department of
Transportation, District Six, for sign installation within the newly designated roadway.
Section 5. If any section, clause, or provision of this resolution is declared invalid, thg 23
remainder shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect. : rl
_ 7
Section 6. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
-13
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: rn
its
O
t fi co
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 18396 (Revision:) Printed on: 11/12/2025
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
File Number: 18396
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS
AFFIRMATIVE (4/5THS) VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 54-137 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), WAIVING THE
RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED THEREIN AND CO -DESIGNATING NORTHWEST 1ST
AVENUE BETWEEN WEST FLAGLER STREET AND NORTHWEST 1 STREET AS
"HARVEN RUVIN WAY" IN HONOR OF HARVIN RUVIN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENT; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTION TO EFFECTUATE THE CODESIGNATION; AND
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS.
WHEREAS, Harvey Ruvin was Miami -Dade County's longest -serving elected official,
having devoted over fifty (50) years to public service, including thirty (30) years as Clerk of the
Courts for Miami -Dade County; and
WHEREAS, born in New York City on June 1, 1937, Mr. Ruvin later moved with his
family to Miami and received his bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University
of Florida in 1959 then received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in
1962; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin was first elected in 1968 at age 30, becoming mayor of North Bay
Village, then from 1972 until 1992, he served as a Metro Dade County Commissioner, where he
focused on environmental and technology issues; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, he was elected as the Clerk of the Courts for Miami -Dade County,
holding the position until his passing in 2022 after being re-elected numerous times; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-1990's Mr. Ruvin, before documents could be digitized as quickly
as today, implemented a system to allow for cases to be filed and viewed quicker; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin was also instrumental in helping former felons restore their voting
rights under Amendment 4, which passed in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruvin is widely recognized as one of the earliest and most vocal
advocates for the protection of Biscayne Bay, playing a pivotal role in pioneering "Baynanza," a
longstanding environmental initiative dedicated to preserving and restoring the bay's ecosystem;
and
WHEREAS, many of today's core environmental efforts in Miami -Dade County are the
result of ordinances and policies that Mr. Ruvin set forth as a commissioner decades before
limited change was a commonplace concern — among them, Miami-Dade's residential and
commercial recycling system, efforts to curb greenhouse gases that offset 40 million -plus metric
tons of carbon emissions, an endangered land preservation program that at the time of its
creation was the largest of its kind in the nation and, more recently, leading the county's Sea
Level Rise Task Force; and
WHEREAS, he also served as president of the National Association of Counties in the
late 1980s and remained on the board of directors until his passing; and
WHEREAS, he regularly crossed party lines and alliances, working with all and listening
to everyone's concerns; and
WHEREAS, he will forever be remembered as an exemplary public servant and leader,
a champion of the environment, and his transformative, trailblazing work in the field of judicial
administration; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 14317, adopted on September 26, 2024, provides that the
restrictions related to street co -designations, including the distance requirements, contained
in Section 54-137 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida ("City Code"), may be waived by a
four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote of the City Commissioners, or an unanimous vote of the
quorum that exists because of either abstentions or vacancies resulting from resignation,
death, suspension, or physical incapacitation;
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 Miami City Commission, by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote waiving
the restrictions contained therein, hereby co -designates Northwest 1st Avenue between West
Flagler Street and Northwest 1st Street as "Harvey Ruvin Way" in honor of his dedicated service
and lasting impact on the community.
Section 3. The City Manager is directed to take all necessary steps to effectuate this co -
designation, including the installation of appropriate signage.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Departments of Police, Fire -Rescue, and Solid Waste; the Miami -Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works; the Miami -Dade County Commissioner of District 5; the
United States Postal Service; and, if a State of Florida road, to the Florida Department of
Transportation, District Six, for sign installation within the newly designated roadway.
Section 5. If any section, clause, or provision of this resolution is declared invalid, the
remainder shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge . Wy j ng III, C y or y 11/10/2025