HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-David McDougal-Letter to Commissionc.1e�-k .
Submitted into the pub 'c
record fo ite 1 s)
on City Clerk
February 7, 2018
Honorable Keon Hardemon, Chairman
City Commissioner, District 5
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
Dear Chairman Hardemon:
As you are aware, Mayor Francis Suarez has sponsored Item D1.3, "Discussion Item Regarding the Miami
Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board" on the February 8, 2018 City Commission agenda. We
have reviewed the existing proposed ordinance and have offered our recommendations (attached) to
Mayor Suarez. These recommendations generally include:
• The Board shall be diverse in race, sex, economic status, and education.
The Board shall be comprised of City residents only.
The Board shall include City residents that will elevate the voices of vulnerable populations.
Not allow the appointment of persons who may represent businesses that stand to profit
directly or indirectly from the work generated by the bond program.
Since 2015, the Miami Climate Alliance (MCA), a network of over 70 organizations and hundreds of
additional individuals dedicated to creating people -centered solutions that address sea level rise and
other impacts of climate change, has been working to ensure equity in resilience policy by activating
organizations and community through strategic action, increasing understanding of climate change and
sea level rise as threats that require informed community-based problem solving, and building urgency
around community well-being.
Throughout the years, government has not paid sufficient attention to our vulnerable populations,
leaving many communities with broken promises and failed policies that further deepen the divide
between rich and poor and diminish trust in government. We believe this bond has the potential to
counteract the distrust that inequality brings, and instead to elevate the voices and well-being of those
who are most vulnerable to sea level rise, hurricanes, poverty, homelessness, and other factors that
threaten our ability to be resilient and thrive as a city.
To that end, in an October 2017 letter to former Mayor Tomas Regalado, the MCA made clear its
support of the bond program with conditions, including:
Submitted into the publ'
record f ite (s) _� I
cin ViQ City Clerk ,
• Full transparency and accountability with regards to the stormwater
infrastructure project selection and approval process.
• Seats on the Citizen's Oversight Board representing an equity perspective that will elevate the
voices of vulnerable populations.
• Community -driven project identification and selection in the affordable housing funding, with
the intention that these projects do not further gentrify our communities.
• Funding for parks focusing on uplifting and supporting marginalized communities, especially
communities of color.
In response to the November 2017 passage of the Miami Forever Bond Program, the MCA launched the
Resilient Miami Working Group focused on organizing City of Miami residents around a strategic action
plan to shape the implementation of the bond program and to elevate community needs and voices. A
45 -action plan was crafted, and the working group launched its weekly conference calls on December 5,
2017 with 12 participants. After seven calls, the group has grown to over 65 active participants.
The process of developing the proposed recommendations as been a democratic, open, and
collaborative process. A community meeting was held on December 7 where 35 concerned residents
provided input into the composition of the oversight board. Ten working group and community
members participated in a December 21 meeting with Mayor Suarez to present community priorities.
And finally, the working group is currently seeking to support a diverse group of Miami residents who
want to serve on the Oversight Board and will be providing completed forms received from your district.
We hope that you will honor the Citizen's recommendations, and we request a meeting with you and
your staff in the near future to discuss the bond program's implementation and how we can be of
assistance in ensuring community involvement and representation. Please contact Maggie Fernandez,
Resilient Miami Working Group Lead, at 786-251-7380 or gtmagfer@gmail.com in order to coordinate
the meeting.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Irvans Augustin and Marta Viciedo, Directing Partners, Urban Impact Lab/Resilient Miami
(Miami residents and business owners)
Gretchen Beesing, Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst Miami
Rob Biskupic-Knight, Executive Director, Engage Miami
Maggie Fernandez, President, Sustainable Miami (Miami resident and business owner)
Maria M. Garcia, Breakthrough Communications (Miami resident and business owner)
Submitted into the public
recordf r it m(s)�_
on ,_. City Clerk
Alana Greer, Co-founder, Community Justice Project, Inc.
Valencia Gunder, Executive Director, Make the Homeless Smile
Caroline Lewis, Founder/Executive Director, The CLEO Institute
Andrea Mercado, Executive Director, New Florida Majority
Gustavo Perez, City resident
Shelley Poticha, Managing Director, Healthy People & Thriving Communities,
Natural Resources Defense Council
Adrianna Quintero, Founder and Director, Voces Verdes
Susan Windmiller, President, League of Women Voters -Miami -Dade
C: Honorable Francis Suarez, Mayor
Emilio M. Gonzalez, City Manager
Jane Gilbert, Chief Resilience Officer
2AL
IMATE
LIANCE
Submitted into the public
record f0tr it (S) —�
on City Clerk
Miami Climate Alliance
Resilient Miami Working Group
(Miami Forever & 100 RC)
Ordinance Establishing the Miami Forever Bond Program
Citizens Oversight Board
RECOMMENDATIONS
December 21, 2017
Submitted into the public
record f it n(s) t �
on _M_ f`ity Clerk
City of Miami
city Hall
Legislation
3500 Pan Amarican Drive
Miami. FL 33133
Ordinance
WWW miamigov.00m
File Number: 3292 Final Action Date:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY AMENDING CHAPTER
2/ARTICLE 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE")
ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS" TO
ESTABLISH AND ADD THE "MIAMI FOREVER BOND PROGRAM CITIZENS
OVERSIGHT BOARD" AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUNSET OF SAID BOARD; TO SET
FORTH SAID BOARD'S PURPOSE, POWERS, AND DUTIES TO PROVIDE FOR
MEMBERSHIP, QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, VACANCIES, OFFICERS,
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND RULES OF PROCEDURE, MEETINGS,
QUORUM, VOTING, ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS, ASSIGNMENT OF STAFF,
COUNSEL, NOTICES AND FILING OF RECORDS AND ANNUAL REPORTS; MORE
PARTICULARLY BY ADDING A NEW DIVISION 24, CONSISTING OF SECTIONS 2-1338
THROUGH 2-, , CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY AMENDING CHAPTER
2/ARTICLE 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE")
ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS" TO
ESTABLISH AND ADD THE "MIAMI FOREVER BOND PROGRAM CITIZENS
OVERSIGHT BOARD" AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUNSET OF SAID BOARD; TO
SET FORTH SAID BOARD'S PURPOSE, POWERS, AND DUTIES TO PROVIDE
FOR MEMBERSHIP, QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, VACANCIES,
OFFICERS, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND RULES OF PROCEDURE,
MEETINGS, QUORUM, VOTING, ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS, ASSIGNMENT
OF STAFF, COUNSEL, NOTICES AND FILING OF RECORDS AND ANNUAL
REPORTS; MORE PARTICULARLY BY ADDING A NEW DIVISION 24, CONSISTING
OF SECTIONS 2-1338 THROUGH 2- ; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Body
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2017, the registered voters of the City of Miami
("City") approved by referendum ballot for the City to issue General Obligation Bonds in
an aggregate principal amount not exceeding Four Hundred Million Dollars
($400,000,000.00) (collectively, "Miami Forever Bonds") with interest payable at or
below maximum rate allowed by law, payable from ad valorem taxes levied on all
taxable property in the City, provided that the capital projects debt millage not exceed
the current rate of 0.5935, to reduce flooding risks; improve stormwater infrastructure;
improve affordable housing, economic development, parks, cultural facilities, streets,
and infrastructure; and enhance public safety; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Commission now recommend
and
Submitted into the public
record fo ite(s) �V, I
on City Clerk
WHEREAS, accordingly, the Mayor and the City Commission wish to create the
Miami Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board ("Board") in order to
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 fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board is hereby
created and Chapter 2/Article XI/ is hereby amended to create a new Division
24/S4ections 2-1338 through 2-, of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("City Code"), in the following particulars: {1)
"CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATIO
W
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
DIVISION 24. MIAMI FOREVER BOND PROGRAM CITIZENS
OVERSIGHT BOARD.
Sec. 2-1338. Established: sunset date
(a) There is established a limited agency and instrumentality of the city to
be known as the Miami Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board, which shall
hereinafter be referred to as the "Board."
(b) Sunset date. This Board shall sunset on December 31. 20 _
Sec. 2-1339. Purpose, powers and duties.
The purpose, powers and duties of the Board are as follow*
(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the City Commission related to the
monitoring of the resources derived from the issuance of general obligation bonds,
approved by the electorate on November 7. 2017, for capital projects to reduce
flooding risks: improve stormwater infrastructure: improve affordable housing,
economic development, parks, cultural facilities, streets, and infrastructure: and
enhance public safety: and improvements and enhancements for capital projects
including those specifically identified by the City administration and set forth in
Submitted into the public
record fqr it s
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informational pamphlets and media releases distributed to the public prior to said
election:
(b) Monitor such projects related to reducing flooding risks: improving
stormwater infrastructure: improving affordable housing, economic development, parks,
cultural facilities, streets, and infrastructure: and enhancing public safety;
(c) Monitor amount of funding to be dedicated for each improvement or project:
(d) Monitor each project's status for efficient use of allocated funding, and
request, through the City Manager, that vendors, contractors. or any other entity
receiving funding from the general obligation bond issuance approved on November 7.
2017, appear before the Board to answer questions regarding the status of such
funded projects:
Ue Review the city's implementation of the recommendations contained within
the stormwater master plan(s), or other Bond related existing or future
master plans:
Discuss, conduct a recorded vote on the board's recommendations, and
include such recorded vote(s) and written recommendation(s) in the city
commission agenda package for any item upon which the board is making
a recommendation to the city commission:
(g) Expedite the development of the following projects identified as priorities by
the City Commission:
1.
: and
2. City-wide road and sidewalk repairs.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Cily Commission, by
unanimous vote. may gxpedite the development of any other project.
Sec. 2-1340. Membership: qualificationsm terms of office: vacancies: officers:
parliamentary procedures and rules of procedure: meetings: quorum% voting: attendance
requirements.
(a) Membership. The Board shall consist of 15 voting members who shall
serve withhUt compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses
incurred
in official duties. as may be determined and approved by the city commission. and shall
be composed as follows:
W Five memf ers who are residents of the city at -large appointed by the Mayor:
and
Q Ten members appointed by the members of the City Commission,
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record fo •iter (s MU_
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with each Commissioner nominating two individuals who must reside
within his or her commission district of the city.
Q Four members nominated by the city manager and appointed by the
commission as follows:
La� One representative who resides in a flood -affected
neighborhood:
Lbj Two city resident community representatives from low-income,
vulnerable populations; and
Lc� One individual with an expertise in affordable housing.
(b) Qualifications. The provisions set forth in section 2-884 shall apply to
the members of the Board.
(c) Terms of office.
W The terms of office of the members of the Board shall be as follows:
(a) for one year: or
(b) until the Mayor or the nominating Commissioner leaves office,
whichever occurs first. All members shall continue to serve until
their successors have been appointed and qualified.
No board member shall serve more than four consecutive terms. Nothing
set forth in the subsection above shall prohibit any individual from being
reappointed to a city board after a hiatus of one year.
(d) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs on the board, such vacancy shall be filled
as applicable by either the Mayor or a nomination by the Commissioner who
nominated the member whose position has become vacant with subsequent
appointment by the Commission. Such appointment shall be effective for the remainder
of the unexpired term or until the Mayor or the nominating Commissioner leaves office.
(e) Officers. The Mayor shall designate the chairperson of the Board. The
Submitted into the public
record f r ite n(s)
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Board shall select and designate from its members a vice -chairperson, secretary, and
such other officers as may be deemed necessary, who shall serve at the pleasure of the
Board. The vice -chairperson shall serve as chairperson in the absence of the
chaff erp rson.
(f) Parliamentary authority and rules of procedure. The parliamentary authority
of the Board shall be Robert's Rules of Order (current edition), unless the Board
adopts its own order of business and rules of procedure governing its meetings, and
actions on matters within its jurisdiction, not inconsistent with the provisions set forth
herein, which rules of procedure shall be fled with the City Clerk. Copies of minutes of
all Board meetinas shall be furnished to the Mavor. Commissioners and the Citv
Manager.
(g) Meetings: quorum: and voting. All meetings of the Board shall be
opened to the public. A quorum shall be 50 percent plus one of the then -appointed
members for purposes of voting and conducting business.
(h) Attendance requirements. The provisions set forth in section 2-886 of
this article shall apply to all members of the Board.
Sec. 2-1341. Assignment of staff.
(a) It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to provide the services of an
individual to keep minutes of meetings, maintain committee correspondence,
post meeting notices, file reports and perform all other necessary support
functions.
(b) It shall be the duly of the City Manager to:
1. Assign staff to manage the day-to-day operations of the Board, including
preparingCity Manager recommendations and providing requested
reports of the administration. Staff will also keep minutes of meetinm
maintain advisory board correspondence, post meetings public notices,
file reports and perform all other necessary support functions. and attend
all meetings of the board
2 Assign individuals from the departments of parks and recreation,
public works. police. fire -rescue, conferences, conventions and public
facilities planning, real estate and economic development, asset
management and the neighborhood enhancement teams as may be
necessary to advise the Board about onaoina and pending proiects and to
rovide administrative support.
3 Ensure that all projects requiring City Commission approval and
employing any of the funds derived from the general obligation bond
issuance approved November 7. 2017, be submitted to the Board for
its review and comment prior to submission to the Citv Commission for
approval.
Submitted into the public
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3. Present to the Board reports regarding the status of the projects.
Sec. 2-1342. Counsel.
The City Attorney's office shall provide legal counsel to the Board.
Sec. 2-1343. Notices and filing of records.
The provisions set forth in section 2-888 shall apply to the Board. Notice of
meetings shall be posted by the City Clerk at city hall and other appropriate locations
after being apprised by the Board of an upcoming _meeting(s). Advertised public notice
of meetings are not required. It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to comply with
applicable laws related to filing of records and section 2-889.
Sec. 2-1344. Annual report.
The provisions set forth in section 2-890 of this article shall apply related to the
submittal of annual reports.
Sec. 2-1345 - 2-13 . Reserved.
*11
Section 3. Chapter 2/Article XI/Division 2/Section 2-897(b) of the City Code, is further
amended in the following particulars:{1}
"CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATIO
N
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
DIVISION 2. STANDARDS FOR CREATION AND REVIEW OF BOARDS
GENERALLY
Sec. 2-887. Quorum requirements; exceptions.
(a) Except for those boards listed in subsection (b) herein below, a
quorum for all boards' meetings, shall consist of fifty percent (50%) plus one of the
board's total membership. The decision of a majority of the board members present and
voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the decision of the board.
S,ollmitted into the PUNIC
for it (s) .rLb � L---
Z%.%�i�__ City Clerk
(b) The following boards are subject to quorum requirements as
provided for elsewhere in this Code.
Audit Advisory Committee
Bayfront Park Management Trust
Downtown Development Authority
Equal Opportunity Advisory Board
Mayor's International Council
Miami Commission on the Status of Women
Miami Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board
Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Street Codesignation Review Committee
Urban Development Review Board
Section 4. Chapter 2/Article XI/Division 2/Section 2-892(4)(g)(1) of the City
Code, is further amended in the following particulars -{l)
"CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATIO
N
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
DIVISION 2. STANDARDS FOR CREATION AND REVIEW OF BOARDS
GENERALLY
Sec. 2-892. "Sunset" review of boards.
Commencing with the year 1995, each city board shall be reviewed in the
following manner:
(1) By February 15 of the year in which a board is to be reviewed, the city
manager shall deliver to the city commission the report submitted by the
chairperson of each board pursuant to section 2-890 hereinabove, together
with any recommendation or comments the city manager desires to submit.
(2) During the month of March of each year in which a board is to be
reviewed, the chairperson shall make an oral presentation to the city
commission. Said presentation shall be based on the report set forth in section
Submitted into the publi
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City Clerk
2-890 above. At the conclusion of the oral presentation by the board's
chairperson, any individual commissioner may request the formation of a special
purpose board, (hereinafter referred to as the "SPB"), consisting of five members
appointed by the city commission. The SPB shall evaluate the chairperson's
report, the city manager's recommendations and any other information it deems
relevant to determine whether the board being reviewed shall continue in its
present form. The SPB shall make a report to the full commission within 90 days.
(3) At the conclusion of this review process, the city commission shall
determine whether to abolish, continue, consolidate or modify the board for the
ensuing four years thereafter. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to
authorize the abolition, consolidation or modification of any multijurisdictional
board.
(4) The following boards shall initially be reviewed in the following years
and shall be reviewed every four years thereafter:
a. 1995:
1. Bayfront Park management trust.
2. Citywide community development advisory board.
3. Civil service board.
4. Code enforcement boards.
5. Equal opportunity advisory
board. b. 1996.-
1.
996:1. Committee on ecology and beautification.
c. 1997:
1. Reserved.
2. Audit advisory committee.
3. Urban development review board.
4. Nuisance abatement
board. d. 1998:
1. Historical and environmental preservation board.
2. Miami sports and exhibition authority.
3. Waterfront advisory board.
4. Reserved.
5. Community relations
board. e. 1999-
1. Little Havana Special Events District.
2. Commercial solid waste management
Submitted into the public
record F{s
on lvs'D�—. City Clcrk
advisory committee.
f. 2000:
1. Commission on the status of women.
2. Virginia Key Beach Park
trust. g. 2002:
1. Homeland defense/neighborhood improvement bond
program oversight board (to be sunsetted December 31,
2014).
City of Miami arts and entertainment council.
h. Rese
rved. i.
2003:
1. Mayor's International Council.
j. 2007:
1. Community Technology Advisory Board.
k. Rese
rved. I.
2010:
1. Overtown Advisory Board/Overtown
Community Oversight Board.
2. Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust.
3. Education advisory board.
4. Planning, zoning, and appeals
board. m. 2011:
1. Parks and recreation advisory board.
n. Rese
rved. o.
2013:
1. Housing and commercial loan committee.
1. Miami Forever Bond Program Citizens Oversight Board
(5) All boards created after the effective date of this division shall be placed
in the appropriate area under subsection (4) hereinabove, and shall be
reviewed in accordance therewith.
Submitted into the pub is
record fof mite m(s)
on -LCity Clerk
Section 5. 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 6. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final
reading and adoption thereof. {2}
Submitted into the publ'c
record fol lte (s)
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t
Footnote
{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.
{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.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
flow
MW IMF,
aMIAMI
CLIMATE
ALLIANCE
'e.
The Miami Climate Alliance seeks to
support a diverse group of Miami
residents who want to serve on the
Oversight Board to hold the City
accountable and elevate the voices of ALL
populations.
$400 Million for Infrastructure Projects
In November 2017, Miami voters passed the $400 million Miami Forever
Bond Program allowing the City of Miami to address its aging infrastructure
by issuing long-term bonds to fund capital projects to be completed over
r the next 15 years.
Projects Under Five Major Categories
• Flood Prevention and Sea Level Rise Mitigation ($192 million)
• Affordable Housing and Economic Development ($100 million)
• Parks and Cultural Facilities ($78 million)
• Roadway Improvements ($23 million)
• Public Safety ($7 million)
Citizen's Oversight Board
A Citizen's Oversight Board will be created by the City Commission to
provide the residents of Miami a means to participate in the
implementation of the Miami Forever Bond Program. Board members are
likely to meet monthly in the evening. Time committment is expected
to be 5-8 hours a month.
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Tell us about yourself.
Are you a City of Miami resident? YES / NO Commission District No:
Name:
Address:
Contact number: Email:
I commit to the following principles:
[ ] I believe in elevating the voices and well-being of City residents who are vulnerable to sea level rise,
hurricanes, poverty, homelessness, and other factors that threaten our ability to be resilient and thrive.
[ ] I believe that the residents and diverse cultural communities that built Miami's vibrant neighborhoods like
Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, West Coconut Grove, Allapattah, Overtown should have a central
place in the neighborhood's future and be able to continue living and doing business as they become
neighborhoods of opportunity.
[ ] I believe in full transparency and holding our City leaders accountable.
Tell us about yourself and why you want to serve: