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File ID: #19267
Resolution
Sponsored by: Commissioner Damian Pardo
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RESCINDING RESOLUTION
NO. R-26-0025 AND, IN LIEU THEREOF, DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 4(B), 7, AND 12 OF THE CHARTER OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"), FOR SUBMISSION TO
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL
ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18, 2026, TO CHANGE THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS
BEGINNING IN 2034 AND 2036, AS APPLICABLE, SO SUCH ELECTIONS COINCIDE
WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE
QUALIFICATION PERIOD ACCORDINGLY; PROVIDING THAT THOSE ELECTED IN
2031 AND 2033 SHALL SERVE THREE-YEAR TERMS AS AN ADJUSTMENT DUE
TO THE CHANGE IN ELECTION YEARS; TO CONFORM THE VACANCY -FILLING
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12 OF THE CHARTER TO THE REVISED ELECTION
CYCLE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORATE.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-26-0227
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 19267 Final Action Date:5/14/2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RESCINDING RESOLUTION
NO. R-26-0025 AND, IN LIEU THEREOF, DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 4(B), 7, AND 12 OF THE CHARTER OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"), FOR SUBMISSION TO
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL
ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18, 2026, TO CHANGE THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS
BEGINNING IN 2034 AND 2036, AS APPLICABLE, SO SUCH ELECTIONS COINCIDE
WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE
QUALIFICATION PERIOD ACCORDINGLY; PROVIDING THAT THOSE ELECTED IN
2031 AND 2033 SHALL SERVE THREE-YEAR TERMS AS AN ADJUSTMENT DUE
TO THE CHANGE IN ELECTION YEARS; TO CONFORM THE VACANCY -FILLING
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12 OF THE CHARTER TO THE REVISED ELECTION
CYCLE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORATE.
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, on January 8, 2026, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. R-26-
0025, directing the City Attorney to prepare an amendment to certain provisions of the Charter,
specifically Sections 4(b), 7, and 12; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to rescind its prior direction and replace with
the direction provided for herein; 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 also states, "a runoff election for the Mayor and
City Commissioners shall be held on the second Tuesday in December, in odd -numbered
years"; and
WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Charter further states 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 it is in the best interest of the public to propose a
Charter amendment to move the City's general municipal elections and runoff elections for the
Mayor and City Commissioners from odd -numbered years to even -numbered years beginning in
2034 and 2036, as applicable, so such elections are concurrent with any statewide or
countywide election, to amend the qualification period accordingly, to provide that those elected
in 2031 and 2033 shall serve three-year terms as an adjustment due to the change in election
years, and to conform the vacancy -filling provisions of Section 12 to the revised election cycle;
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, the terms of office commencing in years 2031 and 2033 will be reduced to
three year terms due to this change while subsequent terms of office will remain four year
terms; and
WHEREAS, corresponding amendments are also required to Sections 7 and 12 of the
Charter to conform the runoff election schedule, qualification period, and vacancy -filling
provisions to the revised election cycle; 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;
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. Resolution No. R-26-0025, adopted on January 8, 2026, is hereby rescinded.
Section 3. The City Attorney is directed to prepare a proposed amendment to Sections
4(b), 7, and 12 of the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, for submission to the
qualified electors of the City at the Referendum Special Election scheduled for August 18, 2026,
to be held concurrently with the primary gubernatorial election, to: (i) change the general
municipal election and runoff election cycle for the Mayor and City Commissioners from odd -
numbered years to even -numbered years beginning in 2034 and 2036, and every four years
thereafter, as applicable, so the City's general municipal elections are concurrent with any
statewide or countywide election; (ii) amend the qualification period applicable to such elections;
(iii) provide that those elected in the 2031 and 2033 general municipal elections and any
resulting runoff elections shall serve three-year terms as an adjustment due to the change in
election years, after which subsequent terms shall remain four years; and (iv) conform Section
12 regarding the filling of vacancies to the revised election schedule.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge . Wyy ng IIP, C y ttor' -y 5/5/2026