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File ID: #18937
Ordinance
Sponsored by: Ralph Rosado, Commissioner
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 9 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/RESERVED," MORE SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING SECTION 2-
1121 THROUGH 2-1139 OF THE CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE "INTERFAITH
ADVISORY COUNCIL" ("COUNCIL"), STATING THE COUNCIL'S PURPOSE,
POWERS, DUTIES, COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR OFFICERS, RULES OF
PROCEDURE, MEETINGS, QUORUM, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT,
ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL, WAIVERS, OTHER NECESSARY PROVISIONS,
AND PUBLIC NOTICE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
City of Miami File ID: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026
City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance
Enactment Number: 14450
File Number: 18937 Final Action Date: 3/12/2026
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 9 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/RESERVED," MORE SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING SECTION 2-
1121 THROUGH 2-1139 OF THE CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE "INTERFAITH
ADVISORY COUNCIL" ("COUNCIL"), STATING THE COUNCIL'S PURPOSE,
POWERS, DUTIES, COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR OFFICERS, RULES OF
PROCEDURE, MEETINGS, QUORUM, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT,
ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL, WAIVERS, OTHER NECESSARY PROVISIONS,
AND PUBLIC NOTICE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is home to one of the most diverse faith
communities in the nation, representing a wide range of religious traditions, cultural
backgrounds, and spiritual practices, faiths, and denominations; and
WHEREAS, many leaders in the community are a part of faith -based, religious, or
spiritual organizations vital to the community in the City; and
WHEREAS, faith -based institutions and leaders play a vital role in the civic life of the
City supporting families, providing social services, advancing charitable work, and fostering
community cohesion across neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the creation of an Interfaith Advisory Council
can provide faith -based, religious, and spiritual leaders an opportunity to discuss matters
collegially while assisting in conflict resolution, transformation, education, and communication
across various belief systems;
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 2/Article XI/Division 9 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("City Code"), is further amended in the following particulars:'
"CHAPTER 2
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: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026
ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
* * * *
DIVISION 9. RESERVED INTERFAITH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Sec. 2-1121. Interfaith Advisory Council Establishment; Purpose.
There is hereby created and established the Interfaith Advisory Council, and herein referred to
as "Council", to function as an advisory forum for dialogue among faith leaders, religious
professionals, community stakeholders, and City officials to identify opportunities for
collaboration, address community needs, and provide guidance on matters where faith -based
institutions intersect with public life. The Council may consider and provide feedback and
policies on legislative and policy matters that may impact faith -based communities, including but
not limited to zoning, land use, housing, community development, public safety, and social
service coordination.
The Council is a venue for the exchange of ideas and information related to community
services, emergency response coordination, social support networks, cultural understanding,
and initiatives that promote unity, compassion, and mutual respect across all faiths,
denominations, and spiritual traditions. Through this Council, faith -based organizations may
present recommendations, share community concerns, and collaborate with City leadership on
initiatives that enhance quality of life for residents while fostering inclusivity and shared civic
responsibility.
Sec. 2-1122. - Powers and Duties.
Powers and Duties. The Council shall:
(1) Hold public hearings to receive public and expert input regarding: community services
(faith -based or secular), emergency response coordination, support networks among the
City, cultural understanding and initiatives that promote unity and respect across all faith
traditions;
(2) Encourage the fullest and most active participation and coordination of interfaith
agencies for capital improvement needs of Mami-Dade County Public Schools' public
facilities located within the City's geographical limits;
(3) Create, coordinate, and manage policies and procedures for events related to
the Council's purpose;
(4) The Interfaith Advisory Council may, by majority vote, sponsor advisory items for
placement on the City Commission agenda, provided such items are sponsored by a
City Commissioner, the Mayor, or the City Manager and are submitted in accordance
with established City Commission agenda procedures. All sponsored City Commission
agenda items shall be advisory in nature and shall have no binding effect unless formally
adopted by the City Commission;
(5) Make recommendations to the Mayor, the City Commission, and the City
City of Miami File ID: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026
Manager regarding policies that may affect any faith -based organizations,
congregations, and surrounding communities such as zoning, housing, community
development, social service coordination, and safety;
(6) Any resolution of the Council making recommendations to the City Commission shall be
submitted to all City Commissioners by the Council liaison, The Council liaison shall
solicit sponsorship by City Commissioner for the item to be placed on the next feasible
City Commission agenda as a discussion item with the Council resolution and any
corresponding supporting documentation approved by the Council at the time the
resolution was adopted by the Council; and
(7) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Council shall exercise only such
powers and duties as are granted pursuant to this Article.
Sec. 2-1123. Composition; Appointment and Terms of Office of Members; Filling of
Vacancies.
Composition and Qualifications. The Council shall consist of seven (7) voting members,
with seven (7) alternates, who shall be City residents and must be employed or involved
in the religious or theological field representing any faith tradition or City residents that
have a demonstrable interest in religious or interfaith engagement, not specific to any
one religion or denomination. The Council shall have non-sectarian and inclusive of all
faith traditions and spiritual communities represented within the City.
Appointment of Members. The seven (7) voting members shall be appointed to the
Council as follows:
Each of the five (5) City Commissioners shall appoint one (1) voting member.
The Mayor shall appoint one (1) voting member
The City Manager shall appoint one (1) voting member.
Each City Commissioner, the Mayor, and the City Manager may appoint one (1) non-
voting alternate to serve in addition to their voting appointee. The non -voting
alternates may participate in discussions and serve in the absence of the voting
member but shall not vote unless formally designated to serve in the absent
member's place by a simple majority of the Council members present.
Term. The terms of office for Council members shall be for two (2) years from the date of
appointment.
Minimum Attendance Requirements. The minimum attendance requirements as
provided in Section 2-886 of the City Code shall apply.
Removal. The Mayor and each City Commissioner shall have the power to remove, at
any time and for any reason, his/her respective appointee without a finding of cause.
The City Commission shall have the power to remove, at any time, any Council member
by a majority vote of the City Commission without a finding of cause.
Resignation. Members may resign by submitting a signed letter of resignation to the City
Clerk. The City Clerk shall immediately notify the appointing official of the vacancy. It
shall be the obligation of each Council member to notify the City Clerk if the member
ceases to meet the qualification criteria set forth in Subsection (a) above.
City of Miami File ID: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026
Vacancies. In the event a vacancy occurs on the Council, whether automatically, by vote
of the City Commission, by removal by the Mayor or the City Commissioner who
appointed such member, by resignation of the member, or for any other reason, the
Mayor for Mayoral appointees and the City Commissioner for their respective appointees
may appoint a qualified person to fill the remaining term of the vacant position. Only
notice of such appointment by the appointing City official on the agenda of the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission or as soon as practicable thereafter
is required and no action is required of the City Commission except for the at -large
member. All such appointments shall be consistent with the membership requirements
stated in Subsection (a) above.
Waiver. The City Commission shall have the power to waive any of the requirements of
Subsection (a) above by four -fifths (4/5) vote of the members of the full City
Commission.
Sec. 2-1124. Officers.
(a) The Council shall have a Chair and Vice -Chairperson of the Council.
(b) At the first meeting of each calendar year for the Council, the members of the Council
shall select and designate a Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson from among the voting
members of the Council. Chairperson and Vice -chairperson shall serve one (1) year
terms as those respective officers of the Council.
Sec. 2-1125. Meetings; Parliamentary Authority; Rules and Regulations; Quorum.
(a) Procedure. The Council may adopt its own order of business, rules of procedure, and
bylaws to govern its meetings and actions not inconsistent with the provisions set forth
herein, which shall be filed with the City Clerk. Unless and until the Council adopts its
own rules of procedure, it shall follow Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) except
that the provisions set forth herein shall control in case of conflict.
(b) Notice and Public Participation. All meetings and workshops of the Council shall be
noticed and open to the public as required by the State of Florida's Sunshine Law. In
addition, the public shall be encouraged to submit oral and written comments to the
Council at all meetings.
(c) Minutes. The minutes of each meeting and workshop shall be taken by applicable staff
and shall promptly be provided to the City Clerk as the official record of each such
meeting. Such records shall be open to public inspection.
(d) Quorum. A minimum of three (3) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of convening any meeting. An affirmative vote of no fewer than two (2) of the
members present at any meeting is required for any action to be taken by the Council.
Sec. 2-1126. Legal Counsel.
The Office of the City Attorney shall provide an attorney to serve as legal counsel to the
Council and shall provide legal advice on all matters considered by the Council.
Sec. 2-1127. Liaisons to Council and Assignment of Staff.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the City Code, the City Manager
shall designate the Administration's liaison to the Council, at least one (1) of which shall be from
the City's Department of Innovation and Technology. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to
City of Miami File ID: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026
provide administrative support to the Council, which shall include the services of an individual to
maintain Council correspondence, post meeting notices with the City Clerk, file reports, and
perform all other necessary administrative support functions. In addition to any administration
liaisons assigned to the Council, the City Manager shall designate representatives from the
Departments of Housing and Economic Development and Finance and the Offices of
Management and Budget and City Manager to attend all meetings. Upon the Council's request,
the Mayor and the City Manager may also participate in deliberations of the Council and may
offer technical and policy advice.
Secs. 2-1128--2-1139. Reserved."
Section 4. 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 5. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge = . Wyy•ng IIV, C ty ttor -y 2/17/2026
2 If the Mayor does not sign this Ordinance, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar 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.
City of Miami File ID: 18937 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/19/2026