HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislationFile Number: 16-01037
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CHARTER"), FOR CONSIDERATION AT
THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 2016, PROPOSING,
UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, TO AMEND SECTION 7 OF THE
CHARTER, ENTITLED "ELECTION OF CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR," TO
CHANGE THE DATE OF ARUNOFF ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONER FROM THE SECOND TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN
NOVEMBER, TO THE THIRD TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN
NOVEMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 51 OF THE CHARTER, ENTITLED "CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL," TO PROVIDE FURTHER INDEPENDENCE OF THE
CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL BY CLARIFYING ITS MEMBERSHIP
COMPOSITION, AFFIRMING ITS RIGHT TO HIRE AND FIRE AN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, SUBJECT TO CITY COMMISSION
APPROVAL, ESTABLISHING AN ANNUAL BUDGET BY ORDINANCE,
CONFIRMING ITS AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE CONDUCT AND REVIEW
POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CLARIFYING
ITS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 52 OF THE
CHARTER, ENTITLED "CITIZENS' BILL OF RIGHTS," TO PLACE THE CITIZENS'
BILL OF RIGHTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CHARTER, TO EXPRESSLY
REQUIRE THE CITY TO ABIDE BY THE CHARTER'S PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE
THE CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO SUE AND BE HEARD IN COURT TO ENFORCE
COMPLIANCE WITH CHARTER PROVISIONS, AND IF SUCCESSFUL, AND TO
RECOVER COURT COSTS BUT NOT ATTORNEY'S FEES; PROVIDING FOR AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 ("City Charter"); and
WHEREAS, the City Charter has been amended from time to time as the governance of the
City has evolved; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission established a Charter Review and Reform Committee
("Committee") in 2014 to conduct a comprehensive review of the City Charter and propose
amendments to the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the Committee has held numerous public meetings, conducted a comprehensive
review of the City Charter, and has recommended that the City Charter be streamlined, updated, and
amended to meet the current needs of the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, on July 13, 2016, the Committee presented its final report and recommendations
Cite ofMianu Page 1 of 3 File Irl: 16-01037 (Tlersiom 1) Printed On; 712012016
City of Miami
ff
Legislation
'
Resolution
File Number: 16-01037
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CHARTER"), FOR CONSIDERATION AT
THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 2016, PROPOSING,
UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, TO AMEND SECTION 7 OF THE
CHARTER, ENTITLED "ELECTION OF CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR," TO
CHANGE THE DATE OF ARUNOFF ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONER FROM THE SECOND TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN
NOVEMBER, TO THE THIRD TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN
NOVEMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 51 OF THE CHARTER, ENTITLED "CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL," TO PROVIDE FURTHER INDEPENDENCE OF THE
CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL BY CLARIFYING ITS MEMBERSHIP
COMPOSITION, AFFIRMING ITS RIGHT TO HIRE AND FIRE AN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, SUBJECT TO CITY COMMISSION
APPROVAL, ESTABLISHING AN ANNUAL BUDGET BY ORDINANCE,
CONFIRMING ITS AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE CONDUCT AND REVIEW
POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CLARIFYING
ITS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 52 OF THE
CHARTER, ENTITLED "CITIZENS' BILL OF RIGHTS," TO PLACE THE CITIZENS'
BILL OF RIGHTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CHARTER, TO EXPRESSLY
REQUIRE THE CITY TO ABIDE BY THE CHARTER'S PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE
THE CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO SUE AND BE HEARD IN COURT TO ENFORCE
COMPLIANCE WITH CHARTER PROVISIONS, AND IF SUCCESSFUL, AND TO
RECOVER COURT COSTS BUT NOT ATTORNEY'S FEES; PROVIDING FOR AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 ("City Charter"); and
WHEREAS, the City Charter has been amended from time to time as the governance of the
City has evolved; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission established a Charter Review and Reform Committee
("Committee") in 2014 to conduct a comprehensive review of the City Charter and propose
amendments to the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the Committee has held numerous public meetings, conducted a comprehensive
review of the City Charter, and has recommended that the City Charter be streamlined, updated, and
amended to meet the current needs of the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, on July 13, 2016, the Committee presented its final report and recommendations
Cite ofMianu Page 1 of 3 File Irl: 16-01037 (Tlersiom 1) Printed On; 712012016
File Number: 16-01037
to the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission approves the Committee's proposed amendment to Section
7 of the Charter entitled, "Election of City Commissioners and Mayor," to change the date of a runoff
election for Mayor and City Commissioner from the second Tuesday after the first Monday in
November, to the third Tuesday after the first Monday in November; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission approves the Committee's proposed amendments to Section
51 of the Charter, entitled "Civilian Investigative Panel," to provide further independence of the Civilian
Investigative Panel by clarifying its membership composition, affirming its right to hire and fire an
executive director and independent counsel, subject to City Commission approval, establishing an
annual budget by ordinance, confirming its authority to investigate conduct and review policies and
practices of the Police Department, and clarifying its authority to issue subpoenas in consultation with
the Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission approves the Committee's proposed amendments to Section
52 of the City Charter, entitled, "Citizens' Bill of Rights," to place the Citizens' Bill of Rights at the
beginning of the City Charter, to expressly require the City to abide by the City Charter's provisions, to
provide the citizens the right to sue and be heard in court to enforce compliance with City Charter
provisions, and if successful, to recover court costs but not attorney's fees; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to submit the above-mentioned proposed
amendments to the electorate, for approval or disapproval, in time for the November 8, 2016 Special
Election;
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 City Charter for
consideration at the Special Election to be held on November 8, 2016, proposing, upon approval of the
electorate, to amend Section 7 of the Charter entitled, "Election of City Commissioners and Mayor," to
change the date of a runoff election for Mayor and City Commissioner from the second Tuesday after
the first Monday in November, to the third Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Section 3. The City Attorney is directed to prepare an amendment to the City Charter for
consideration at the Special Election to be held on November 8, 2016, proposing, upon approval of the
electorate, to amend Section 51 of the Charter, entitled "Civilian Investigative Panel," to provide further
independence of the Civilian Investigative Panel by clarifying its membership composition, affirming its
right to hire and fire an executive director and independent counsel, subject to City Commission
approval, establishing an annual budget by ordinance, confirming its authority to investigate conduct
and review policies and practices of the Police Department, and clarifying its authority to issue
subpoenas in consultation with the Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office.
Section 4. The City Attorney is directed to prepare an amendment to the City Charter for
consideration at the Special Election to be held on November 8, 2016, proposing, upon approval of the
electorate, to amend Section 52 of the City Charter, entitled, "Citizens' Bill of Rights," to place the
City of A land Page 2 of 3 File Id: 16-01037 (Yetsion: 1) Printed On: 7/2012016
File Number: 16-01037
Citizens' Bill of Rights at the beginning of the Charter, to expressly require the City to abide by the
Charter's provisions, to provide the citizens the right to sue and be heard in court to enforce
compliance with Charter provisions, and if successful, to recover court costs but not attorney's fees.
Sectio° -r ThiVResolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature
of the May,6r.{1}
A ROVED S TO FO A D CORRECTNESS:
VICTORIA MEND
CITY ATTORN ,'''
(1) If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, 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 Resolution, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
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