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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE File ID: #18707 Resolution Sponsored by: Commissioner Damian Pardo, Commissioner Ralph Rosado A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"), FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH THE PRIMARY GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 18, 2026, PROPOSING, UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, AMENDING SECTION 4(B) OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "FORM OF GOVERNMENT; NOMINATION AND ELECTION/ELECTION OF MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION; TERMS OF OFFICE; RECALL," SECTION 7 OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "ELECTION OF CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR," AND SECTION 12 OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "FILLING VACANCIES FOR MAYOR AND COMMISSION," TO CHANGE THE 2031 GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO 2032, THEREBY MOVING ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS SO THE DATES OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE CONCURRENT WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING TERMS OF OFFICE DUE TO SAID CHANGE; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE. City of Miami Legislation Resolution Enactment Number: R-26-0025 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 18707 Final Action Date:1/8/2026 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"), FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH THE PRIMARY GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 18, 2026, PROPOSING, UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, AMENDING SECTION 4(B) OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "FORM OF GOVERNMENT; NOMINATION AND ELECTION/ELECTION OF MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION; TERMS OF OFFICE; RECALL," SECTION 7 OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "ELECTION OF CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR," AND SECTION 12 OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "FILLING VACANCIES FOR MAYOR AND COMMISSION," TO CHANGE THE 2031 GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO 2032, THEREBY MOVING ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS SO THE DATES OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE CONCURRENT WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING TERMS OF OFFICE DUE TO SAID CHANGE; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE. WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") was incorporated by the Florida Legislature in 1896 and operates pursuant to the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida ("Charter") and under a Code of ordinances, known as the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Code"); and WHEREAS, the Charter and City Code have been amended from time to time as the governance of the City has evolved; and WHEREAS, Section 4(b) of the Charter currently states, "City Commissioners in districts numbered 3 and 5 shall be elected at the general municipal election or runoff election to be held in the year 2001 and at the general municipal election or runoff election each four years thereafter; and WHEREAS, Section 4(b) of the Charter also states, "City Commissioners in districts numbered 1, 2, and 4 shall be elected at the general municipal election or runoff election to be held in the year 2003 and at the general municipal election or runoff election each four years thereafter; and WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Charter currently states, "a general municipal election for the Mayor and City Commissioners shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd -numbered years; and WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Charter furthers that, "all elections held in said City shall be conducted and held according to the provisions of the general election laws of the State of Florida"; and WHEREAS, Section 12 of the Charter provides for a method to fill vacancies for the office of Mayor and City Commissioners in an odd -year General Municipal Election as an option; and WHEREAS, Chapter 16 of the City Code provides for Elections in the City; and WHEREAS, Section 16-2 of the City Code provides for the process of "holding City elections"; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that it is in the best interest of the public to propose a Charter amendment to change the City's General Election for City Commissioners held in November in odd -numbered years beginning in 2031 to the first Tuesday in November following the first Monday in November in each even -numbered year beginning in 2032 so that the City's General Election for City Commissioners will coincide with the national and gubernational elections and the cost of the election would be reduced by such a change; and WHEREAS, the date of said runoff elections shall also be modified to occur on the second Tuesday in December in even -numbered years following the City's General Election for City Commissioners; and WHEREAS, all subsequent elections for City Commissioners will occur on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even -numbered year and the date of runoff elections shall occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in December in even - numbered years following the City's General Election for City Commissioners; and WHEREAS, in addition to a reduction in cost due to moving the election date, such a change would encourage more people to become involved in the political process and increase voter turnout; and WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to submit the above -mentioned proposed amendments to the electorate, for approval or disapproval, at the Special Election to be held concurrently with the Primary Election on August 18, 2026; and WHEREAS, there shall be no change to any election for the office of Mayor; 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 Attorney is directed to prepare an amendment to the Charter, for consideration at the Special Election to be held concurrently with the Primary Election on August 18, 2026, proposing, upon approval of the electorate, to amend Sections 4(b), 7, and 12 of the City Charter for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the City for their approval or disapproval of the proposed Charter Amendments to amend the language of the Charter to change the City's General Election for City Commissioners held in November in odd - numbered years beginning in 2031 to the first Tuesday in November following the first Monday in November in each even -numbered year beginning in 2032 so that the City's General Election for City Commissioners would coincide with the national and gubernational elections, modifying the run-off election schedule accordingly, and to amend the period for qualification and provide for the extension of the term of office for any sitting City Commissioner due to the change of said election. Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: