HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-16-0342
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Miami, FL 33133
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Resolution: R-16-0342
File Number: 16-00916aFinal Action Date: 7/13/2016
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS)
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, SETTING FORTH A NEW RESOLUTION, DUE TO THE
SUNSETTING OF RESOLUTION NO. 15-0465, ADOPTED OCTOBER 22, 2015,
EXTENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI CHARTER REVIEW AND REFORM
COMMITTEE, TO CONTINUE THE REVIEW OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AND CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND CHARTER
PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS NECESSARY TO UPDATE THE CHARTER;
STATING THE COMMITTEE'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,
WAIVER OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AUTOMATIC REAPPOINTMENT, AND
PUBLIC NOTICE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") was incorporated by the Florida Legislature in 1896 and
operates pursuant to its City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, ("City Charter") has been
amended from time to time as the governance of the City has evolved; and
WHEREAS, from time to time and when the City Commission deems it necessary, the City
Commission has established a Charter Review and Reform Committee ("Charter Review Committee")
to conduct a comprehensive charter review to update the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the last Charter Review Committee was formed in 2003; however, no reforms
were approved by the residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that the City Charter presently contains
provisions that would benefit from review; and
WHEREAS, the Charter Review Committee is empowered to conduct a comprehensive review
of the City Charter and propose amendments to the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission re-established a Charter Review Committee to address
these concerns by adopting Resolution No. 14-0293 on July, 24, 2014; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission further intended to update the waiver provisions, member
composition, and extending member appointment deadlines within the Charter Review Committee, by
way of rescinding Resolution No. 14-0293 and adopting Resolution No. 14-0357 on September 11,
2014; and
WHEREAS, on September 29, 2014, the City Commission requested additional time to
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appoint members, to create a window of time during which an initial meeting may be held, to clarify
that the Section 4 waiver provisions will be by a four-fifths (4/5ths) majority vote, and to clarify the
appointment of a vice-chairman; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 14-0396 on October 9, 2014
rescinding Resolution No. 14-0357, and re-establishing the Charter Review Committee, intending to
amend its minimum attendance requirements, waiver provisions, member composition, extending
member appointment deadlines, and extending the deadline for establishing a time, date, and place
for its initial meeting; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2014, the City Commission requested to clarify the Section 4
removal provision and the Section 4 vacancies provision; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 15-0465 to, among other things,
provide that the term of the 2015 Charter Review Committee shall end on November 5, 2016, unless
the time is otherwise extended by the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15-0465 additionally states that the Charter Review Committee's
responsibility shall be deemed completed upon submission of its written recommendations and after a
public meeting before the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, on July 13, 2016, the Charter Review Committee presented its final report and
recommendations to the City Commission at a public meeting; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to extend the term of the Charter Review Committee
should its responsibilities be deemed to be completed pursuant to Resolution No. 15-0465; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to reappoint all appointees who are currently serving
as Charter Review Committee members, subject to Section 2-885 of the Code of the City of Miami,
Florida, as amended ("City Code"); and
WHEREAS, the term of the 2015 Charter Review Committee shall end on November 5, 2016
unless the time is extended by the City Commission by this new Resolution; and
WHEREAS, with the extension of the Charter Review Committee, any proposed amendments
to the Charter shall be presented to the City Commission for approval by November 5, 2016;
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. By a four-fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, the Miami City Commission sets forth a
new Resolution, extending the Charter Review Committee, to continue the review of the City Charter,
and continue to recommend Charter proposals and amendments necessary to update the City
Charter for a term ending on November 5, 2016 and which time may be extended by the City
Commission, if necessary. The Charter Review Committee's responsibility shall be deemed
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completed upon submission of its written recommendations and after a public meeting before the City
Commission. With the extension, the Charter Review Committee shall present any proposed Charter
amendments to the City Commission for approval by November 5, 2016.
Section 3. Purpose, Powers, and Duties. The purpose, powers, and duties of the Charter
Review Committee are:
(1)To review the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("Charter"), and any
changes to the Charter suggested by the Mayor or any of the five (5) members of the City
Commission;
(2)To hold public hearings to receive public input, assuring that such hearings are conducted
sufficiently prior to the sunset of the Charter Review Committee, so as to receive public
input in a timely manner for consideration of such input;
(3)To issue a final written report to the City Commission; and
(4)To serve in an advisory capacity to the City Commission and recommend, in writing, any
amendments necessary to reform or update said Charter, providing, however, that any
member of the Charter Review Committee may present an alternative recommendation
regarding any specific Charter change proposal.
Section 4. Membership; Composition, Appointments, Qualifications, Minimum Attendance
Requirements, Removal, and Appointment to Fill Vacancies.
(a)Composition, Appointment, and Qualifications.
The Charter Review Committee shall consist of thirteen (13) regular voting members, and a
Commission appointed member of the Commission who shall serve as Chairman and be a non-voting
member of the Charter Review Committee. All voting members shall be invested in the City and serve
without compensation. Each member shall have an interest in, or experience relating to, the City
Charter, City Code, or governmental procedures and processes. Members shall be appointed as
follows:
(1)Each of the five (5) City Commissioners shall appoint two (2) persons to serve as voting
members of the Charter Review Committee. A City Commissioner may be appointed to the
Charter Review Committee as one of the voting members. Any such voting member shall
be a City resident, work in the City, or own real property in the City;
(2)Two (2) persons shall be appointed by the Mayor, one (1) of whom may be the Mayor,
and/or the other(s) shall be a City resident, work in the City, or own real property in the
City; and
(3)One (1) person shall be appointed by the City Manager. Such person shall be a City
resident, work in the City, or own real property in the City.
(4)No alternates shall be appointed.
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(5)The City Clerk was to be notified of all appointments by October 9, 2014. Any new
appointments must conform to Section 4(d) below.
(6)An appointee who may be currently serving as special counsel to the City performing basic
non-litigation legal services for the City may continue to do so and receive an automatic
waiver from the Commission to sit on the Charter Review Committee and continue
assisting the City pursuant to City Code Sections 2-612 and 2-614.
(7)The City Commission continues to appoint Commissioner Francis Suarez as the Chairman
of the Charter Review Committee. As Chairman of the Charter Review Committee,
Commissioner Suarez shall not vote on any matter before the Committee. Commissioner
Suarez shall retain the right to appoint two (2) voting members to serve as members of the
Charter Review Committee as provided for in Section 4(a)(1) of this Resolution.
(8) All appointees who are currently serving as Charter Review Committee members shall be
automatically reappointed to sit on the Charter Review Committee and continue assisting
the City, subject to Section 2-885 of the City Code.
(b) Minimum Attendance Requirements.
It is expected that appointed citizen members of the Charter Review Committee attend each meeting.
Unless otherwise excused, pursuant to the discretion of the Chairman as described below, any
member of the Charter Review Committee, other than the Mayor or City Commissioner, who is absent
from more than three (3) meetings, shall automatically be deemed to have vacated his or her position.
The Chairman of the Charter Review Committee, may at his discretion, determine if an absence is
excused for the purpose of avoiding the automatic vacating of said member's position.
(c) Removal.
The City Commission shall have the power to remove any citizen member, for cause, as articulated
by the City Commission, by four-fifths (4/5ths) vote of its membership or an unanimous vote of the
quorum that exists because of either abstentions or vacancies resulting from resignation, death,
suspension, or physical incapacitation.
(d) Vacancies.
In the event a vacancy occurs on the Charter Review Committee, whether automatically, by vote of
the City Commission, or by resignation of the member, the Mayor, the City Manager, or City
Commissioner who appointed the vacating member, may, subject to ratification by the City
Commission, appoint a qualified person to fill the remaining term of the vacant position. The
appointment may be made at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission or as
soon as practicable thereafter. Such appointment shall be consistent with the residency requirements
stated in Section 4(a) of this Resolution.
(e) Waiver.
The City Commission shall have the power to waive any of the requirements of Section 4 of this
Resolution by four-fifths (4/5ths) vote of its membership or an unanimous vote of the quorum that
exists because of either abstentions or vacancies resulting from resignation, death, suspension, or
physical incapacitation.
(f) Waiver of Conflict of Interest.
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The City Commission hereby waives any conflict of interest of members of the Charter Review
Committee to transact business with the City pursuant to Sections 2-612 and 2-614 of the City Code,
and to appear before the City Commission and other boards for future lobbying activity pursuant to
Section 2-11.1.2 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida
Section 5. Officers. The Charter Review Committee shall have its first meeting within thirty
(30) days of the final appointment of all Charter Review Committee members. At the initial
organizational meeting, the members of the Charter Review Committee shall select and designate a
Vice-Chairperson from among the members of the Committee who shall serve at the pleasure of the
Charter Review Committee. The Chairperson shall reserve the right to appoint an executive
committee and to delegate tasks to various subcommittees of the whole. Decisions of the executive
committee and subcommittees are subject to ratification by the full Charter Review Committee.
Section 6. Meetings and Quorum. All meetings of the Charter Review Committee shall be noticed
and open to the public. The public shall be encouraged to submit oral and written comments to the
Charter Review Committee. A minimum of fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the Charter Review
Committee's total members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of convening any meeting. An
affirmative vote of not less than fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the members present and voting at
any meeting is required for any action to be taken by the members.
Section 7. Rules of Procedure. The Charter Review Committee may adopt its own order of
business and rules of procedure governing its meetings, and take actions on matters within its
jurisdiction, not inconsistent with the provisions set forth herein, which rules of procedure shall be filed
with the City Clerk. The Charter Review Committee and any executive committee or subcommittee, if
applicable, shall comply with all requirements of Chapters 119 (Public Records) and 286 (Sunshine
Law), of the Florida Statutes. The minutes of each meeting shall be promptly made available by the
City Clerk and such records shall be open to public inspection. Copies of minutes of all Charter
Review Committee meetings shall be furnished to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City Attorney, and
City Manager.
Section 8. Legal Counsel. The City Attorney shall serve as legal counsel to the Charter Review
Committee and shall provide legal advice on all matters considered by the Charter Review
Committee. The City Attorney or designee shall provide legal support to the Charter Review
Committee and attend Charter Review meetings accordingly.
Section 9. City Manager. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to provide full cooperation and
sufficient personnel for administrative necessary support to the Charter Review Committee, including
assignment of a particular person to act as liaison and Secretary to the Charter Review Committee.
The City Manager may participate in deliberations of the Charter Review Committee and may give
technical and policy advice to the Committee as requested.
Section 10. City Clerk. It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to provide the services of an individual
to keep minutes of meetings, maintain Charter Review Committee correspondence and public input,
update the City website with Charter Review Committee information, post meeting notices, file
reports, and perform all other necessary support functions in compliance with applicable laws related
to public notice and recordation of meetings.
Section 11. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature
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of the Mayor. {1}
Footnotes:
{1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of (10) calendar
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
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