HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up from Law DeptSec. 2-11.1. - Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
(a) Designation. This section shall be designated and known as the "Miami -Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of
Ethics Ordinance." This section shall be applicable to all County personnel as defined herein, and shall also constitute
a minimum standard of ethical conduct and behavior for all municipal officials and officers, autonomous personnel,
quasi-judicial personnel, advisory personnel, departmental personnel and employees of municipalities in the County
insofar as their individual relationships with their own municipal governments are concerned. References in the
section to County personnel shall therefor be applicable to municipal personnel who serve in comparable capacities
to the County personnel referred to. (Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-27, § 1, 3-20-73)
(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall be effective:
(1) The term "Commissioners" shall refer to the Mayor and the members of the Board of County
Commissioners as duly constituted from time to time.
(2) The term "autonomous personnel" shall refer to the members of semi -autonomous authorities, boards,
and agencies as are entrusted with the day to day policy setting, operation and management of certain
defined County functions or areas of responsibility, even though the ultimate responsibility for such
functions or areas rests with the Board of County Commissioners.
(3) The term "quasi-judicial personnel" shall refer to the members of the Community Zoning Appeals Board
and such other boards and agencies of the County as perform quasi-judicial functions.
(4) The term "advisory personnel" shall refer to the members of those County advisory boards and agencies
whose sole or primary responsibility is to recommend legislation or give advice to the Board of County
Commissioners.
(5) The term "departmental personnel" shall refer to the Manager, his or her department heads, the County
Attorney and all Assistant County Attorneys.
(6) The term "employees" shall refer to all other personnel employed by the County.
(7) The term "compensation" shall refer to any money, gift, favor, thing or value or financial benefit
conferred in return for services rendered or to be rendered.
(8) The term "controlling financial interest" shall refer to ownership, directly or indirectly, to ten (10) percent
or more of the outstanding capital stock in any corporation or a direct or indirect interest of ten (10)
percent or more in a firm, partnership, or other business entity.
(9) The term "immediate family" shall refer to the spouse, domestic partner, parents, stepparents, children
and stepchildren of the person involved.
(10) The term "transact any business" shall refer to the purchase or sale by the County of specific goods or
services for a consideration.
(11) The term "Ethics Commission" shall refer to the Miami -Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public
Trust.
(12) The term "domestic partner" shall mean a person who is a party to a valid domestic partnership
relationship as described in section 1IA-72(b)(1),(2),(3),(4) and (6) of the Code.
(13) The term "contract staff shall mean any employee and/or principal of an independent contractor,
subcontractor (of any tier), consultant or sub -consultant (of any tier), designated in a contract with the
County as a person who shall be required to comply with the provisions of Subsections 2-11.1(g), (h), (j),
(1), (m), (n) and (o) of the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. Prior to determining whether
to designate a person as contract staff in a RFP, RFQ, bid or contract, the Mayor or his or her designee
shall seek a recommendation from the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-23, § 1, 3-20-73; Ord. No. 86-24, § 3, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(c) Prohibition on transacting business within the County.
(1) No person included in the terms defined in subsection (b)(1) through (6) and in subsection (b)(9) shall
enter into any contract or transact any business, except as provided in subsections (c)(2) through (c)(6) in
which he or she or a member of his or her immediate family has a financial interest, direct or indirect,
with Miami -Dade County or any person or agency acting for Miami -Dade County, and any such contract,
agreement or business engagement entered in violation of this subsection shall render the transaction
voidable. Willful violation of this subsection shall constitute malfeasance in office and shall effect
forfeiture of office or position.
(2) County employees' limited exclusion from prohibition on contracting with the county. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary herein, subsections (c) and (d) shall not be construed to prevent any
employee as defined by subsection (b)(6) [excluding departmental personnel as defined by subsection (b)
(5)] or his or her immediate family as defined by subsection (b)(9) from entering into any contract,
individually or through a firm, corporation, partnership or business entity in which the employee or any
member of his or her immediate family has a controlling financial interest, with Miami -Dade County or
any person or agency acting for Miami -Dade County, as long as (1) entering into the contract would not
interfere with the full and faithful discharge by the employee of his or her duties to the County, (2) the
employee has not participated in determining the subject contract requirements or awarding the
contract, and (3) the employee's job responsibilities and job description will not require him or her to be
involved with the contract in anyway, including, but not limited to, its enforcement, oversight,
administration, amendment, extension, termination or forbearance. However, this limited exclusion shall
not be construed to authorize an employee or his or her immediate family member to enter into a
contract with Miami -Dade County or any person or agency acting for Miami -Dade County, if the employee
works in the county department which will enforce, oversee or administer the subject contract.
(3) Limited exclusion from prohibition on autonomous personnel, advisory personnel and quasi-judicial
personnel contracting with county. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, subsections (c)
and (d) shall not be construed to prohibit any person defined in subsection (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) from
entering into any contract, individually or through a firm, corporation, partnership or business entity in
which the board member or any member of his or her immediate family has a controlling financial
interest, with Miami -Dade County or any person or agency acting for Miami -Dade County. However, any
person defined in subsection (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) is prohibited from contracting with any agency or
department of Miami -Dade County subject to the regulation, oversight, management, policy -setting or
quasi-judicial authority of the board of which the person is a member.
(4) Any person defined in subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4) and subsection (b)(6) shall seek a conflict of
interest opinion from the Miami -Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust ("the Ethics
Commission") prior to submittal of a bid, response, or application of any type to contract with the County
by the person or his or her immediate family. A request for a conflict of interest opinion shall be made in
writing and shall set forth and include all pertinent facts and relevant documents. If the Ethics
Commission finds that the requirements of this section pertaining to exclusions for persons defined in
subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4) and subsection (b)(6) are not met and that the proposed transaction
would create a conflict of interest, the person defined in subsections (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(4) or (b)(6) may
request a waiver from the Board of County Commissioners within ten (10) days of the Ethics Commission
opinion by filing a notice of appeal to the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission shall forward the
notice of appeal and its opinion and any pertinent documents to the Clerk of the Board of County
Commissioners (the "Clerk") forthwith. The Clerk shall place the request on the commission agenda for
consideration by the Board. The Board of County Commissioners may grant a waiver upon an affirmative
vote of two-thirds ( 2/3 ) of the entire Board of County Commissioners, after public hearing, if it finds that
the requirements of this ordinance pertaining to the exclusion for a County employee from the Code
have been met and that the proposed transaction will be in the best interest of the County. The Board of
County Commissioners may, as provided in subsection (c)(6), grant a waiver to any person defined in
subsection (b)(2) through (b)(4) regarding a proposed transaction. Such findings shall be included in the
minutes of the board. This subsection shall be applicable only to proposed transactions, and the Board
may in no case ratify a transaction entered into in violation of this subsection.
If the affected person or his or her immediate family member chooses to respond to a solicitation to
contract with the County, such person shall file with the Clerk a statement in a form satisfactory to the
Clerk disclosing the person's interest or the interest of his or her immediate family in the proposed
contract and the nature of the intended contract at the same time as or before submitting a bid,
response, or application of any type to contract with the County. Along with the disclosure form, the
affected person shall file with the Clerk a copy of his or her request for an Ethics Commission opinion
and any opinion or waiver from the Board. Also, a copy of the request for a conflict of interest opinion
from the Ethics Commission and any opinion or waiver must be submitted with the response to the
solicitation to contract with the County.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the County and any person or agency acting for
Miami -Dade County shall not award a contract to any person defined in subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4)
and subsection (b)(6) or his or her immediate family individually or through a firm, corporation,
partnership or business entity in which the person or any member of his or her immediate family has a
controlling financial interest, unless the Ethics Commission has rendered an opinion that entering the
contract would not be a conflict of interest or the Board waives the conflict in accordance with the
provisions of this ordinance.
The County Manager is directed to include language in all solicitations for county contracts advising
persons defined in subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4) and subsection (b)(6) of the applicable conflict of
interest code provisions, the provisions of this ordinance, including the requirement to obtain an Ethics
Commission opinion and make disclosure, and the right to seek a legal opinion from the State of Florida
Ethics Commission regarding the applicability of state law conflict of interest provisions.
(5) Nothing herein shall prohibit or make illegal (1) the payment of taxes, special assessments or fees for
services provided by County government; (2) the purchase of bonds, anticipation notes or other
securities that may be issued by the County through underwriters or directly from time to time; (3) the
participation of the persons included in the terms defined in subsection (b)(1) through (6), except for
employees of the general services administration and their "immediate family" as defined in (b)(9), in the
public auction process utilized by the County for the disposal of surplus motor vehicles; (4) the purchase
of surplus personal property, pursuant to administrative order, by persons defined in subsection (b)(1)
through (6) and (9); (5) an application for direct assistance from the Miami -Dade County Department of
Housing and Urban Development or an application to participate in a program administered by the
Department of Special Housing has been submitted by an applicant who is a County person as defined in
subsection (b) and who would but for this section be eligible for such assistance from said department;
provided, however, that the exception provided in this paragraph shall not extend to an employee of the
Miami -Dade County Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Special
Housing who participates in the administration of said programs; or (6) and application to participate in a
single-family mortgage loan program sponsored by the Housing Finance Authority of Miami -Dade
County, has been submitted by a County person as defined in subsection (b), and would but for this
section be eligible for participation in said program; provided, however, that the exception provided in
this paragraph shall not extend to an employee of the Miami -Dade County Finance Department who
participates in the administration of said single-family mortgage loan program.
(6) Extension of waiver to county commissioners, autonomous personnel, quasi-judicial personnel, and
advisory personnel. The requirements of this subsection may be waived for a particular transaction only
by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire Board of County Commissioners, after public hearing. Such
waiver maybe affected only after findings by two-thirds of the entire Board that:
(1) An open -to -all sealed competitive bid has been submitted by a County person as defined in
subsection (b)(2), (3) and (4), or
(2) The bid has been submitted by a person or firm offering services within the scope of practice of
architecture, professional engineering, or registered land surveying as defined by the laws of the
State of Florida and pursuant to the provisions of the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act, and
when the bid has been submitted by a County person defined in subsection (b)(2), (3) and (4), or
(3) The property or services to be involved in the proposed transaction are unique and the County
cannot avail itself of such property or services without entering a transaction which would violate
this subsection but for waiver of its requirements, or
(4) That the property or services to be involved in the proposed transaction are being offered to the
County at a cost of no more than 80 percent of fair market value based on a certified appraisal paid
for by the provider, and
(5) That the proposed transaction will be to the best interest of the County.
Such findings shall be spread on the minutes of the Board. This subsection shall be applicable only to prospective transactions,
and the Board may in no case ratify a transaction entered in violation of this subsection.
Provisions cumulative. This subsection shall be taken to be cumulative and shall not be construed to amend or repeal any
other law pertaining to the same subject matter. (Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-24, § 1, 3-20-73; Ord. No. 73-45, § 1,
5-1-73; Ord. No. 75-91, § 1, 11-4-75; Ord. No. 75-119, § 1, 12-16-75; Ord. No. 79-85, § 1, 10-16-79; Ord. No. 80-33, § 1, 5-6-80; Ord.
No. 85-84, § 1, 10-1-85; Ord. No. 85-98, § 1, 11-5-85; Ord. No. 87-58, § 1, 9-1-87; Ord. No. 88-102, § 1, 10-18-88; Ord. No. 91-113, §
1, 10-1-91; Ord. No. 00-1, § 1, 1-13-00; Ord. No. 00-151, § 1, 11-28-00)
(d) Further prohibition on transacting business with the County. No person included in the terms defined in subsections
(b)(1) through (6) and in subsection (b)(9) shall enter into any contract or transact any business through a firm,
corporation, partnership or business entity in which he or any member of his immediate family has a controlling
financial interest, direct or indirect, with Miami -Dade County or any person or agency acting for Miami -Dade County,
and any such contract, agreement or business engagement entered in violation of this subsection shall render the
transaction voidable. The remaining provisions of subsection (c) will also be applicable to this subsection as though
incorporated herein by recitation.
Additionally, no person included in the term defined in subsection (b)(1) shall vote on or participate in anyway in any matter
presented to the Board of County Commissioners if said person has any of the following relationships with any of the persons or
entities which would be or might be directly or indirectly affected by any action of the Board of County Commissioners: (i) officer,
director, partner, of counsel, consultant, employee, fiduciary or beneficiary; or (ii) stockholder, bondholder, debtor, or creditor, if
in any instance the transaction or matter would affect the person defined in subsection (b)(1) in a manner distinct from the
manner in which it would affect the public generally. Any person included in the term defined in subsection (b)(1) who has any of
the above relationships or who would or might, directly or indirectly, profit or be enhanced by the action of the Board of County
Commissioners shall: (1) announce publicly at the meeting the nature of the conflict before the matter is heard; (2) absent
himself or herself from the Commission chambers during that portion of the meeting when the matter is considered; and (3) file
a written disclosure of the nature of the conflict with the Clerk of the Board within 15 days after the vote. The filing of the State
of Florida form prescribed for written disclosure of a voting conflict shall constitute compliance with this subsection. (Ord. No.
72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-45, § 2, 5-1-73; Ord. No. 86-11, § 1, 2-18-86; Ord. No. 86-24, § 1, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 16-47, 5-17-16)
(e) Gifts.
(1) Definition. The term "gift" shall refer to the transfer of anything of economic value, whether in the form
of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, item or promise, or in any other form, without
adequate and lawful consideration. Food and beverages consumed at a single sitting or meal shall be
considered a single gift, and the value of the food and beverage provided at that sitting or meal shall be
considered the value of the gift.
(2) Exceptions. The provisions of subsection (e)(1) shall not apply to:
a. Political contributions specifically authorized by State law;
b. Gifts from relatives or members of one's household;
C. Awards for professional or civic achievement;
d. Material such as books, reports, periodicals or pamphlets which are solely informational or of an
advertising nature;
e. Gifts solicited by County employees or departmental personnel on behalf of the County in the
performance of their official duties for use solely by the County in conducting its official business;
f. Gifts solicited by Commissioners on behalf of the County in the performance of their official duties
for use solely by the County in conducting its official business;
g. Gifts solicited by Commissioners, or their staff members, on behalf of any nonprofit organization for
use solely by that organization where neither the Commissioner, nor his or her staff receives any
compensation as a result of the solicitation. As used in this subsection, a "nonprofit organization"
shall mean any entity described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") that is
tax exempt under section 501(a) of the Code. As used in this subsection, "compensation" means any
money, gift, favor, political contribution, thing of value or other financial benefit.
(3) Prohibitions. A person described in subsection (b)(1) through (6) shall neither solicit nor demand any gift.
It is also unlawful for any person or entity to offer, give or agree to give to any person included in the
term defined in subsection (b)(1) through (6) or for any person included in the term defined in subsection
(b)(1) through (6) to accept or agree to accept from another person or entity, any gift for or because of:
a. An official public action taken, or to be taken, or which could be taken;
b. A legal duty performed or to be performed, or which could be performed; or
C. A legal duty violated or to be violated, or which could be violated by any person included in the term
defined in subsection (b)(1).
(4) Disclosure. Any person included in the term defined in subsection (b)(1) through (6) shall disclose as
provided herein any gift, or series of gifts from any one person or entity, having a value in excess of one
hundred dollars ($100.00). Said disclosure shall be made by filing a copy of the disclosure form required
by Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, for "local officers" with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioner
simultaneously with the filing of the form with the Secretary of State.
(Ord. No. 78-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 86-25, § 1, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 87-70, § 1, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 91-62, § 1, 6-4-91; Ord. No. 99-
124, § 1, 2-11.1; Ord. No. 99-145, § 1, 10-19-99; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(f) Compulsory disclosure by employees of firms doing business with the County. Should any person included in the
terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) be employed, either himself or herself or through a member of his or
her immediate family, by a corporation, firm, partnership or business entity in which he or she does not have a
controlling financial interest, and should the said corporation, firm, partnership or business entity have substantial
business commitments to or from the County or any County agency, or be subject to direct regulation by the County
or a County agency, then said person shall file a sworn statement disclosing such employment and interest with the
Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for Miami -Dade County.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(g) Exploitation of official position prohibited. No person included in the terms defined in subsection (b)(1) through (6)
and (b)(13) shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for
himself or herself or others except as may be specifically permitted by other ordinances and resolutions previously
ordained or adopted or hereafter to be ordained or adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(h) Prohibition on use of confidential information. No person included in the terms defined in subsection (b)(1) through
(6) and (b)(13) shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity which he or she might
reasonably expect would require or induce him or her to disclose confidential information acquired by him or her by
reason of his or her official position, nor shall he or she in fact ever disclose confidential information garnered or
gained through his or her official position with the County, nor shall he or she ever use such information, directly or
indirectly, for his or her personal gain or benefit.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(i) Financial disclosure.
(1) All persons and firms included within subsections (a) and (b)(2),(3) and (4) of this section shall file, no
later than 12:00 noon of July 1 st of each year including the July 1 st following the last year that person is in
office or held such employment, one (1) of the following:
a. A copy of that person's or firm's current federal income tax return; or
b. A current certified financial statement on a form of the type approved for use by State or national
banks in Florida listing all assets and liabilities having a value in excess of one thousand dollars
($1,000.00) and a short description of each; or
An itemized source of income statement, under oath and on a form approved by the County for
said purpose.
Compliance with the financial disclosure provisions of Chapter 112 (Part III), Florida Statutes, as
amended, or with the provisions of Article II, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution, as amended by the
voters on November 2, 1976, and any general laws promulgated thereunder, shall constitute compliance
with this section.
(2) County and municipal personnel. The following County personnel shall comply with the filing
requirements of subsection (i)(1) above: The Mayor and members of the Board of County
Commissioners; County Attorney and Assistant County Attorneys; County Manager; Assistant County
Manager(s); Special Assistant(s) to the County Manager; heads or directors of County departments and
their assistant or deputy department heads; employees of the Miami -Dade Police with the rank of
captain, major and chief, Building and Zon-ing Inspectors. References herein to specified County
personnel and Boards shall be applicable to municipal personnel and Boards that serve in comparable
capacities to the County personnel and Boards referred to.
(3) Candidates for County and municipal office. All candidates for County and municipal elective office shall
comply with the filing requirements of subsection (i)(1) above at the same time that candidate files
qualifying papers.
(4) Consultants. All persons or firms providing professional services as defined by Section 2-10.40)(a) and (b)
of the Code of Miami -Dade County, to Miami -Dade County or any municipalities, their agencies, or
instrumentalities, shall comply with the filing requirements of subsection (i)(1) above within ninety (90)
days of the effective date hereof. All persons or firms subsequent to the effective date of this section,
which engage in competitive negotiation with Miami -Dade County or any of its municipalities, their
agencies or instrumentalities under and pursuant to Section 2-10.4 of the Code of Miami -Dade County
shall comply with the reporting requirements of subsection (i)(1) of this section within thirty (30) days of
execution of a contract arising out of said competitive negotiations and prior to any payments from said
County, municipalities or other agencies or instrumentalities. Failure to comply with the terms hereof by
such persons or firms shall render existing contracts voidable and shall automatically void any contracts
negotiated and executed subsequent to the effective date of this section where the required information
is not furnished within thirty (30) days of the execution of said contract as noted herein.
(5) Reports; filing. All documents required to be filed hereunder by County persons or consultants shall be
filed with the supervisor of elections. Documents required to be filed hereunder by municipal persons or
consultants shall be filed with the municipal Clerk of that entity.
(6) Public disclosure. All documents filed pursuant to this subsection shall constitute public records within
the meaning of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
(7) Construction. The construction of this subsection shall be considered as supplemental to and not in
substitution of any requirements of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, or any rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(Ord. No. 77-13, § 1, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 83-18, § 1, 4-19-83; Ord. No. 84-39, § 1, 5-15-84)
Q) Conflicting employment prohibited. No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) and (b)
(13) shall accept other employment which would impair his or her independence of judgment in the performance of
his or her public duties.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 2, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(k) Prohibition on outside employment.
(1) No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(5) [departmental personnel] and (6)
[employees] shall receive any compensation for his or her services as an officer or employee of the
County, from any source other than the County, except as may be permitted by Section 2-11 of this Code
of Ordinances.
(2) All full-time County and municipal employees engaged in any outside employment for any person, firm,
corporation or entity other than Miami -Dade County, or the respective municipality, or any of their
agencies or instrumentalities, shall file, under oath, an annual report indicating the source of the outside
employment, the nature of the work being done pursuant to same and any amount or types of money or
other consideration received by the employee from said outside employment. Said County employee's
reports shall be filed with the supervisor of elections no later than 12:00 noon on July 1 st of each year,
including the July 1 st following the last year that person held such employment. Municipal employee
reports shall be filed with the Clerk of their respective municipalities. Said reports shall be available at a
reasonable time and place for inspection by the public. The County Manager or any city manager may
require monthly reports from individual employees or groups of employees for good cause.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 3, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 77-79, § 1, 1-11-77; Ord. No. 77-87, § 1, 12-6-77; Ord. No. 83-
18, § 2, 4-19-83; Ord. No. 84-39, § 2, 5-15-84; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(1) Prohibited investments. No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) and (b)(13) shall
have personal investments in any enterprise, either himself, herself, or through a member of his or her immediately
family, which will create a substantial conflict between his or her private interests and the public interest.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(m) Certain appearances and payment prohibited.
(1) No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1), (5),(6) and (13) [commissioners, the Mayor,
departmental personnel, employees and contract staff] shall appear before any County Board or agency
and make a presentation on behalf of a third person with respect to any license, contract, certificate,
ruling, decision, opinion, rate schedule, franchise, or other benefit sought by the third person. Nor shall
such person receive compensation, directly or indirectly or in any form, for services rendered to a third
person, who has applied for or is seeking some benefit from the County or a County agency, in
connection with the particular benefit sought by the third person. Nor shall such person appear in any
court or before any administrative tribunal as counsel or legal advisor to a party who seeks legal relief
from the County or a County agency through the suit in question.
(2) No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(2),(3) and (4) [autonomous personnel, quasi-
judicial personnel, and advisory personnel] shall appear before the County board or agency on which he
or she serves, either directly or through an associate, and make a presentation on behalf of a third
person with respect to any license, contract, certificate, ruling, decision, opinion, rate schedule, franchise,
or other benefit sought by the third person. Nor shall such person receive compensation, directly or
indirectly or in any form, for services rendered to a third party, who has applied for or is seeking some
benefit from the County board or agency on which such person serves, in connection with the particular
benefit by the third party. Nor shall such person appear in any court or before any administrative
tribunal as counsel or legal advisor to a third party who seeks legal relief from the County board or
agency on which such person serves through the suit in question. However, this section shall not prohibit
an architect serving without compensation on the Miami -Dade County Board of Energy Regulation or on
any architectural Board, whose sole function is to pass on the aesthetics of plans submitted, from
submitting plans on behalf of a client so long as such member makes known his or her representation of
the applicant and disqualifies himself or herself from speaking or voting or otherwise participating on
such application.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-25, § 1, 3-20-73; Ord. No. 73-51, § 1, 5-15-73; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 79-
39, § 1, 6-19-79; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(n) Actions prohibited when financial interests involved. No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1)
through (6) and (b)(13) shall participate in any official action directly or indirectly affecting a business in which he or
any member of his immediate family has a financial interest. A financial interest is defined as a special financial
interest, direct or indirect, as that term is used in Section 4.03 of the County's Charter; or as a financial interest as
defined in Section 769 of the Restatement of the Law of Torts as an investment or something in the nature of an
investment. This section shall not prohibit any official, officer, employee or person from taking official action (1) to
promote tourism or downtown development or redevelopment within the County or any portion thereof, or (2) to
authorize the expenditure of public funds for promoting tourism or downtown development or redevelopment, so
long as no such authorized public funds are to be paid to such person or a member of his or her immediate family or
any business in which he or she or any member of his or her immediate family has a financial interest.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-50, § 1, 5-15-73; Ord. No. 75-76, § 1, 9-17-75; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 10-
48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(o) Acquiring financial interests. No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) and (b)(13)
shall acquire a financial interest in a project, business entity or property at a time when he or she believes or has
reason to believe that the said financial interest will be directly affected by his or her official actions or by official
actions by the County or County agency of which he or she is an official, officer, employee or contract staff.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(p) Recommending professional services. No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) may
recommend the services of any lawyer or law firm, architect or architectural firm, public relations firm, or any other
person or firm, professional or otherwise, to assist in any transaction involving the County or any of its agencies,
provided that such recommendation may properly be made when required to be made by the duties of office and in
advance at a public meeting attended by other County officials, officers or employees.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77)
(q) Continuing application after county service.
(1) No person who has served as an elected county official, i.e., mayor, county commissioner, or a member
of the staff of an elected county official, or as county manager, senior assistant to the county manager,
department director, departmental personnel or employee shall, for a period of two (2) years after his or
her county service or employment has ceased, lobby any county officer, departmental personnel or
employee in connection with anyjudicial or other proceeding, application, RFP, RFQ, bid, request for
ruling, or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, charge, accusation, arrest or other particular
subject matter in which Miami -Dade County or one (1) of its agencies or instrumentalities is a party or
has any interest whatever, whether direct or indirect. Additionally, no person who has served as a
community council member shall, for a period of two (2) years after his or her county service or
employment has ceased, lobby, with regard to any zoning or land use issue, any county officer,
departmental personnel or employee in connection with anyjudicial or other proceeding, application,
request for ruling, or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, charge, accusation, arrest or
other particular subject matter in which Miami -Dade County or one (1) of its agencies or instrumentalities
is a party or has any interest whatever, whether direct or indirect. Nothing contained in this Subsection
(q)(1) shall prohibit any individual included within the provisions of this subsection from submitting a
routine administrative request or application to a county department or agency during the two-year
period after his or her county service has ceased.
(2) The provisions of this Subsection (q) shall not apply to officials, departmental personnel or employees
who become employed by governmental entities, 501(c)(3) non-profit entities or educational institutions
or entities, and who lobby on behalf of such entities in their official capacities.
(3) The provisions of this section shall apply to all individuals as described in Subsection (q)(1) who leave the
county after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives.
(4) Any former county officer, departmental personnel or employee who has left the county within two (2)
years prior to the effective date of this ordinance and has entered into a lobbying contract prior to the
effective date of this ordinance shall, for a period of two (2) years after his or her county service or
employment has ceased, comply with Subsection (q) as it existed prior to the effective date of the
ordinance from which this section derives and as modified by this Subsection (q)(4) when lobbying
pursuant to said contract. No former county officer, departmental personnel or employee who has left
the county within two (2) years prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this section
derives shall for a period of two (2) years after his or her county service or employment has ceased enter
into a lobbying contract to lobby any county officer, departmental personnel or employee in connection
with anyjudicial or other proceeding, application, RFP, RFQ, bid, request for ruling, or other
determination, contract, claim, controversy, charge, accusation, arrest or other particular subject matter
in which Miami -Dade County or one (1) of its agencies or instrumentalities is a party or has a direct and
substantial interest; and in which he or she participated directly or indirectly as an officer, departmental
personnel or employee, through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of
advice, investigation, or otherwise, during his or her county service or employment. As used herein, a
person participated "directly" where he or she was substantially involved in the particular subject matter
through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation or
otherwise, during his or her county service or employment. As used herein, a person participated
"indirectly" where he or she knowingly participated in any way in the particular subject matter through
decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of legal advice, investigation or
otherwise, during his or her county service or employment. Former county officers, departmental
personnel and employees who have left the county within two (2) years prior to the effective date of the
ordinance from which this section derives shall execute an affidavit on a form prepared by the Office of
the Inspector General prior to lobbying any county officer, departmental personnel or employee stating
that the requirements of this section do not preclude said person from lobbying any officer,
departmental personnel or employee of the county. The Inspector General shall verify the accuracy of
each affidavit executed by former county officers, departmental personnel or employees.
(5) Any individual who is found to be in violation of this Subsection (q) shall be subject to the penalties
provided in either Subsection (u)(1) or Subsection (u)(2).
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 99-2, § 1, 1-21-99)
(r) Ethics Commission to render opinions on request. Whenever any person included in the terms defined in subsection
(b)(1) through (6), (b)(9) and (b)(13) is in doubt as to the proper interpretation or application of this Conflict of Interest
and Code of Ethics Ordinance as to himself or herself, or whenever any person who renders services to the County is
in doubt as to the applicability of the said ordinance as to himself or herself, he or she may submit to the Ethics
Commission a full written statement of the facts and questions he or she has. The Ethics Commission shall then
render an opinion to such person and shall publish these opinions without use of the name of the person advised
unless such person requests the use of his or her name. Any person included in the term defined in subsection (b)(1)
(i.e., Mayor or Commissioner) who is employed or retained by an entity that receives County funds or is under
contract with the County shall, within sixty (60) days after (a) being retained or employed by the entity, or (b)
becoming aware of the entity's receipt of County funds or of the entity's contract with the County, whichever is later,
seek an opinion from the Ethics Commission or the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission regarding the
applicability of the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. Any person included in the term defined in
subsection (b)(1) who is employed or retained by an entity that receives County funds or is under contract with the
County and has received an opinion from the Ethics Commission or the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission
prior to the effective date of this ordinance regarding the applicability of the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics
Ordinance to himself or herself shall not be required to seek another opinion from the Ethics Commission.
(Ord. No. 73-26, § 1, 3-20-73; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 97-105, § 2, 7-8-97; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10; Ord. No. 12-22, §
1,4-3-12)
(s) Lobbying.
(1) (a) As used in this section, "County personnel" means those County officers and employees specified in
Section 2-11.1(1)(2) of the Miami -Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
(b) As used in this section, "Lobbyist" means all persons, firms, or corporations employed or retained
by a principal who seeks to encourage the passage, defeat, or modifications of (1) ordinance,
resolution, action or decision of the County Commission; (2) any action, decision, recommendation
of the County Manager or any County board or committee; or (3) any action, decision or
recommendation of County personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process
on such action, decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the
County Commission, or a County board or committee. "Lobbyist" specifically includes the principal
as well as any employee whose normal scope of employment includes lobbying activities. The term
"Lobbyist" specifically excludes the following persons: attorneys or other representatives retained
or employed solely for the purpose of representing individuals, corporations or other entities
during publicly noticed quasi-judicial proceedings where the law prohibits ex -parte
communications; expert witnesses who provide only scientific, technical or other specialized
information or testimony in public meetings; any person who only appears as a representative of a
neighborhood association without compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether
direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or opposition to any item; any person who only
appears as a representative of a not-for-profit community based organization for the purpose of
requesting a grant without special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance; and
employees of a principal whose normal scope of employment does not include lobbying activities.
(2) All lobbyists shall register with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners within five (5) business
days of being retained as a lobbyist or before engaging in any lobbying activities, whichever shall come
first. Every person required to so register shall:
(a) Register on forms prepared by the Clerk;
(b) State under oath his or her name, business address and the name and business address of each
person or entity which has employed said registrant to lobby. If the lobbyist represents a
corporation, the corporation shall also be identified. Without limiting the foregoing, the lobbyist
shall also identify all persons holding, directly or indirectly, a five (5) percent or more ownership
interest in such corporation, partnership, or trust. Registration of all lobbyists shall be required
prior to January 15 of each year and each person who withdraws as a lobbyist for a particular client
shall file an appropriate notice of withdrawal. The fee for annual registration shall be four hundred
and ninety dollars ($490.00). Every registrant shall be required to state the extent of any business or
professional relationship with any current person described in subsection (b)(1). The registration
fees required by this subsection shall be deposited by the Clerk into a separate account and shall be
expended for the purpose of recording, transcribing, administration and other costs incurred in
maintaining these records for availability to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, fifteen (15)
percent of future funds generated by lobbyist registration fees after the effective date of this
ordinance shall be deposited into a separate account, and shall be expended by the Ethics
Commission for the purposes of educational outreach, the rendering of advisory opinions and
enforcement of the provisions of Section 2-11.1(s) relating to lobbyists. There shall be no fee
required for filing a notice of withdrawal and the Board of County Commissioners may, in its
discretion, waive the registration fee upon a finding of financial hardship.
(c) Prior to conducting any lobbying, all principals must file a form with the Clerk of the Board of
County Commissioners, signed by the principal or the principal's representative, stating that the
lobbyist is authorized to represent the principal. The principal and the lobbyist must also submit a
joint affidavit stating that the principal has not offered and the lobbyist has not agreed to accept
any contingency or success fees as defined in subsection (s)(7). Failure of a principal to file the
required forms may be considered in the evaluation of a bid or proposal as evidence that a
proposer or bidder is not a responsible contractor. Each principal shall file a form with the Clerk of
the Board at the point in time at which a lobbyist is no longer authorized to represent the principal.
(d) Each lobbyist shall, within sixty (60) days after registering as a lobbyist, submit to the Clerk of the
Board a certificate of completion of an ethics course offered by the Miami -Dade County
Commission on Ethics and Public Trust ("Ethics Course"). Lobbyists who have completed the initial
Ethics Course mandated by the preceding sentence and have continuously registered as a lobbyist
thereafter shall be required to complete a refresher Ethics Course every two years. Each lobbyist
who has completed a refresher Ethics Course shall submit to the Clerk of the Board a certificate of
completion within sixty (60) days after registering as a lobbyist. The Ethics Course shall include, but
not be limited to, a review of the following topics: the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics
Ordinance; the Sunshine Law; and the Public Records Law. The fee for the Ethics Course shall be
one hundred dollars ($100.00). The registration fees required by this subsection shall be deposited
into a separate account, and shall be expended by the Ethics Commission for Ethics Courses and
related costs. The requirements of this subsection relating to the Ethics Course shall not be
applicable to any municipal lobbyist in Miami -Dade County unless said municipality has adopted an
ordinance providing for ethics training of lobbyists, and has entered into an interlocal agreement
with the County authorizing the Ethics Commission to provide the Ethics Course provided for in this
subsection. The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission may waive the Ethics Course
requirement for a particular lobbyist when he or she determines that the lobbyist has taken an
initial or refresher Ethics Course offered by a municipality which satisfies the requirements of this
subsection.
(3) (a) Any public officer, employee or appointee who only appears in his or her official capacity shall not be
required to register as a lobbyist.
(b) Any person who only appears in his or her individual capacity for the purpose of self -representation
without compensation or reimbursement, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support
of or opposition to any item, shall not be required to register as a lobbyist. A principal of any
corporation, partnership or other entity who appears as a lobbyist on behalf of that entity, without
special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent,
to express support of or opposition to any item, shall register with the Clerk as required by this
subsection, but shall not be required to pay any registration fees.
(4) Any person who only appears as a representative of a not-for-profit corporation or entity (such as a
charitable organization, or a trade association or trade union), without special compensation or
reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or
opposition to any item, shall register with the Clerk as required by this subsection, but, upon request,
shall not be required to pay any registration fees. Any principal who only appears as a representative of a
certified Micro Enterprise, as defined in Section 2-8.1.1.1.1 of the Code, as a representative of a certified
Level I Community Small Business Enterprise, as defined in Section 10-33.02 or as a representative of a
certified Tier 1 Community Business Enterprise, as defined in Section 2-10.4.01, without special
compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express
support of or opposition to any item, shall register with the Clerk as required by this subsection, but,
upon request, shall not be required to pay any registration fees.
(5) Any person who appears as a representative for an individual or firm for an oral presentation before a
county certification, evaluation, selection, technical review or similar committee, shall list on an affidavit
provided by the County, all individuals who may make a presentation. The affidavit shall be filed by staff
with the Clerk's office at the time the proposal is submitted. For the purpose of this subsection only, the
listed members of the presentation team shall not be required to pay any registration fees. No person
shall appear before any committee on behalf of an individual or firm unless he or she has been listed as
part of the firm's presentation team pursuant to this paragraph or unless he or she is registered with the
Clerk's office and has paid all applicable fees.
(6) (a) On July 1 of each year, the lobbyist shall submit to the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners a
signed statement under oath, as provided herein, listing all lobbying expenditures in excess of
twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the preceding calendar year. A statement shall not be filed if there
have been no expenditures during the reporting period. The statement shall list in detail each
expenditure by category, including food and beverage, entertainment, research, communication,
media advertising, publications, travel, lodging and special events.
(b) The Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners shall notify any lobbyist who fails to timely file an
expenditure report. In addition to any other penalties which may be imposed as provided in
subsection (s)(9), a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day shall be assessed for reports filed after the
due date. Where a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day is assessed, the Ethics Commission shall not
impose a fine as provided in subsection (z). Any lobbyist who fails to file the required expenditure
report by September 1 shall be automatically suspended from lobbying until all fines are paid
unless the fine has been appealed to the Ethics Commission.
(c) The Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners shall notify the Commission on Ethics and Public
Trust of the failure of a lobbyist or principal to file a report and/or pay the assessed fines after
notification.
(d) A lobbyist or principal may appeal a fine and may request a hearing before the Commission on
Ethics and Public Trust. A request for a hearing on the fine must be filed with the Commission on
Ethics and Public Trust within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the notification of the failure to
file the required disclosure form. The Commission on Ethics and Public Trust shall have the
authority to waive the fine, in whole or part, based on good cause shown. The Commission on Ethics
and Public Trust shall have the authority to adopt rules of procedure regarding appeals from the
Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.
(7) No person may, in whole or in part, pay, give or agree to pay or give a contingency fee to another person.
No person may, in whole or in part, receive or agree to receive a contingency fee. As used herein,
"contingency fee" means a fee, bonus, commission, or nonmonetary benefit as compensation which is
dependent on or in any way contingent on the passage, defeat, or modification of: (1) an ordinance,
resolution, action or decision of the County Commission; (2) any action, decision or recommendation of
the County Manager or any County board or committee; or (3) any action, decision or recommendation
of County personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process regarding such action,
decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the County Commission, or
a County board or committee.
(8) The Clerk shall publish logs on a quarterly and an annual basis reflecting the lobbyist registrations which
have been filed in accordance with this subsection (s). All logs required by this ordinance shall be
prepared in a manner substantially similar to the logs prepared for the Florida Legislature pursuant to
Section 11.045, Florida Statutes.
(9) The Ethics Commission shall investigate any person engaged in lobbying activities who may be in
violation of this subsection (s). In the event that a violation is found to have been committed the Ethics
Commission may, in addition to the penalties set forth in subsection (z), prohibit such person from
lobbying before the County Commission or any committee, board or personnel of the County as provided
herein.
Every lobbyist who is found to be in violation of this section shall be prohibited from registering as a
lobbyist or lobbying in accordance with the following schedule:
1 st violation for a period of 90 days from the date of determination of violation;
2nd violation for a period of one (1) year from the date of determination of violation;
3rd violation for a period of five (5) years from the date of determination of violation;
A bidder or proposer shall be subject to the debarment provisions of Section 10-38 of the Code of Miami -
Dade County as if the bidder or proposer were a contractor where the bidder or proposer has violated
this section, either directly or indirectly or any combination thereof, on three (3) or more occasions. As
used herein, a "direct violation" shall mean a violation committed by the bidder or proposer and an
"indirect violation" shall mean a violation committed by a lobbyist representing said bidder or proposer.
A contract entered into in violation of this section shall also render the contract voidable. The County
Manager shall include the provisions of this subsection in all County bid documents, RFP, RFQ, CBO and
CDBG applications; provided, however, the failure to do so shall not render any contract entered into as
the result of such failure illegal per se.
(10) All members of the County Commission, and all County personnel, shall be diligent to ascertain whether
persons required to register pursuant to this subsection have been complied. Commissioners or County
personnel may not knowingly permit a person who is not registered pursuant to this subsection to lobby
the Commissioner, or the relevant committee, board or County personnel.
(11) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (s)(9), the validity of any action or determination of the Board
of County Commissioners or County personnel, board or committee shall not be affected by the failure of
any person to comply with the provisions of this subsection (s).
(Ord. No. 86-24, § 1, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 91-22, § 1, 2-19-91; Ord. No. 92-27, § 1, 4-21-92; Ord. No. 95-21, § 1, 2-7-95; Ord. No. 98-73, §
1, 6-2-98; Ord. No. 98-76, § 1, 6-2-98; Ord. No. 00-19, § 1, 2-8-00; Ord. No. 01-93, § 1, 5-22-01; Ord. No. 01-162, § 1, 10-23-01; Ord.
No. 10-03, § 1, 1-21-10; Ord. No. 10-04, § 1, 1-21-10; Ord. No. 10-34, § 1, 6-3-10; Ord. No. 10-56, § 1, 9-21-10; Ord. No. 12-10, § 1,
3-6-12; Ord. No. 12-63, § 1, 9-6-12)
(t) Cone of Silence.
Contracts for the provision of goods and service other than audit and independent private sector
inspector general (IPSIG) contracts.
(a) "Cone of Silence" is hereby defined to mean a prohibition on:
(i) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between a potential vendor, service
provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and the County's professional staff including, but not
limited to, the County Manager and his or her staff,
(ii) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between the Mayor, County
Commissioners or their respective staffs and any member of the County's professional staff
including, but not limited to, the County Manager and his or her staff,
(iii) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between a potential vendor, service
provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and any member of the selection committee therefor;
(iv) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between the Mayor, County
Commissioners or their respective staffs and any member of the selection committee therefor;
(v) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between a potential vendor, service
provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and the Mayor, County Commissioners and their
respective staffs; and
(vi) Any communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ, or bid between any member of the
County's professional staff and any member of the selection committee therefore.
The County Manager and the Chairperson of the selection committee may communicate about a
particular selection recommendation, but only after the committee has submitted an award
recommendation to the manager and provided that should any change occur in the committee
recommendation, the content of the communication and of the corresponding change as well as
the reasons for such change shall be described in writing and filed by the Manager with the Clerk of
the Board and be included in any recommendation submitted by the Manager to the Board of
County Commissioners. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Cone of Silence shall not apply to:
(i) Competitive processes for the award of CDBG, HOME, SHIP and Surtax Funds administered by
the Miami -Dade County Office of Community and Economic Development and the community-
based organization (CBO) competitive grant processes administered by the Park and
Recreation, Library, Water and Sewer, and Solid Waste Departments, Cultural Affairs and
Tourist Development Councils and the Department of Environmental Resources Management;
(ii) Communications with the County Attorney and his or her staff,
(iii) Communications between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, consultant or lobbyist
and employees of the Management and Technical Assistance Unit of the Department of
Business Development regarding small business and/or minority business programs, the
Community Business Enterprise and Equitable Distribution Programs;
(iv) Communications between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, consultant or lobbyist
and employees responsible for administering disadvantaged business enterprise programs in
County departments receiving federal funds, provided the communications are limited strictly
to matters of programmatic process or procedure;
(v) Duly noticed site visits to determine the competency of bidders regarding a particular bid
during the time period between the opening of bids and the time the County Manager makes
his or her written recommendation;
(vi) Any emergency procurement of goods or services pursuant to Administrative Order 3-2;
(vii) Communications regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between any person and the Vendor
Information Center staff, the procurement agent or contracting officer responsible for
administering the procurement process for such RFP, RFQ or bid, provided the communication
is limited strictly to matters of process or procedure already contained in the corresponding
solicitation document;
(viii) Communications between a potential vendor, service provider or bidder and employees of the
Department of Procurement Management or other department identified in the solicitation
document as the issuing department; and
(ix) Consultations by employees of the Department of Procurement Management with
professional procurement colleagues in determining an appropriate approach or option
involving a solicitation in progress.
(b) Procedure.
(i) A Cone of Silence shall be imposed upon each RFP, RFQ and bid after the advertisement of
said RFP, RFQ or bid. At the time of imposition of the Cone of Silence, the County Manager or
his or her designee shall provide for public notice of the Cone of Silence. The County Manager
shall issue a written notice thereof to the affected departments, file a copy of such notice with
the Clerk of the Board, with a copy thereof to each Commissioner, and shall include in any
public solicitation for goods and services a statement disclosing the requirements of this
ordinance.
(ii) The Cone of Silence shall terminate at the time the Manager makes his or her written
recommendation to the County Commission; provided, however, that if the Commission refers
the Manager's recommendation back to the Manager or staff for further review, the Cone of
Silence shall be reimposed until such time as the Manager makes a subsequent written
recommendation. The foregoing notwithstanding, for contracts and purchases which the
County Manager has the delegated authority to award under Sec. 2-8.1(b) of this Code, the
Cone of Silence shall terminate: (i) at the time the award recommendation letter is issued and
filed with the Clerk of the Board for such contracts and purchases involving the expenditure of
over one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); (ii) at the time the written award
recommendation is posted in accordance with Section III of A.O. 3-21 for such contracts or
purchases involving the expenditure of over $25,000 up to $100,000; or (iii) at the time the
award recommendation is issued in accordance with Section IV of A.O. 3-21 for contracts and
purchases involving the expenditure of $25,000 or less.
(iii) While the Cone of Silence is in effect, County Staff shall create a written record of any oral
communications with potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant related
to or regarding a solicitation, bid, proposal, or other competitive process. The record shall
indicate the date of such communication, the persons to whom staff communicated, and a
general summation of the communication. This subsection applies to all communications
made while the Cone of Silence is in effect for a particular solicitation.
(c) Exceptions.
(i) The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to oral communications at pre-bid
conferences, oral presentations before selection committees duly noticed as a public meeting,
recorded contract negotiations and contract negotiation strategy sessions in compliance with
the exemption in Florida Statutes Section 286.0113, public presentations made to the Board of
County Commissioners during any duly noticed public meeting or communication in writing at
any time with any County employee, official or member of the Board of County Commissioners
unless specifically prohibited by the applicable RFP, RFQ or bid documents. The bidder or
proposer shall file a copy of any written communication with the Clerk of the Board. The Clerk
of the Board shall make copies available to any person upon request.
(ii) The provisions of this ordinance shall also not apply to oral communications at briefings held
by county commissioners and the County Mayor or his designee, after the selection committee
or other evaluating group makes its recommendation to the County Manager, provided that
the briefings are not intended to influence the outcome of the selection committee or other
evaluating group's recommendation to the County Manager; provided, however, that this
exception shall not apply to outside groups such as lobbyists or representatives of the
responding or bidding companies or entities.
Audit and IPSIG contracts.
(a) "Cone of Silence" is hereby defined to mean a prohibition on: (a) any communication regarding a
particular RFP, RFQ or bid between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or
consultant and the Mayor, County Commissioners or their respective staffs and any member of the
County's professional staff including, but not limited to, the County Manager and his or her staff; (b)
any oral communication regarding a particular RFP, RFQ or bid between the Mayor, County
Commissioners or their respective staffs and any member of the County's professional staff
including, but not limited to, the County Manager and his or her staff. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Cone of Silence shall not apply to (a) communications with the County Attorney and
his or her staff, (b) communications between a potential vendor, service provider or bidder and
employees of the Department of Procurement Management or other department identified in the
solicitation document as the issuing department; and (c) consultations by employees of the
Department of Procurement Management with professional procurement colleagues in
determining an appropriate approach or option involving a solicitation in progress.
(b) Except as provided in Subsections 2(c) and 2(d) hereof, a Cone of Silence shall be imposed upon
each RFP, RFQ and bid for audit and IPSIG services after the advertisement of said RFP, RFQ or bid.
At the time of the imposition of the Cone of Silence, the County Manager or his or her designee
shall provide for the public notice of the Cone of Silence. The Cone of Silence shall terminate when
the County Manager executes a particular audit or IPSIG contract.
(c) Nothing contained herein shall prohibit any bidder or proposer: (i) from making public
presentations at duly noticed pre-bid conferences or before duly noticed selection committee
meetings; (ii) from engaging in recorded contract negotiations in compliance with the exemption in
Florida Statutes Section 286.0113; or (iii) from communicating in writing with any County employee
or official for purposes of seeking clarification or additional information from, subject to the
provisions of the applicable RFP, RFQ or bid documents. Any recordings made pursuant to this
section shall be made available, as a public record, upon the conclusion of the selection committee
or negotiation meetings notwithstanding the elapsed time from bid or proposal opening. The
bidder or proposer shall file a copy of any written communication with the Clerk of the Board. The
Clerk of the Board shall make copies available to the general public upon request.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall prohibit any lobbyist, bidder, proposer or other person or entity
from publicly addressing the Board of County Commissioners during any duly noticed public
meeting regarding action on any audit or IPSIG contract. The County Manager shall include in any
public solicitation for auditing or IPSIG services a statement disclosing the requirements of this
ordinance.
Penalties. In addition to the penalties provided in Subsections (s) and (v) hereof, violation of this
Subsection (t) by a particular bidder or proposer shall render any RFP award, RFQ award or bid award to
said bidder or proposer voidable. Any person who violates a provision of this ordinance shall be
prohibited from serving on a Miami -Dade County competitive selection committee. In addition to any
other penalty provided by law, violation of any provision of this ordinance by a Miami -Dade County
employee shall subject said employee to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Additionally,
any person who has personal knowledge of a violation of this ordinance shall report such violation to the
State Attorney and/or may file a complaint with the Ethics Commission.
The requirements of Section 2-11.1(t) shall not apply to any municipality in Miami -Dade County that has
adopted an ordinance providing that the cone of silence shall not apply to that municipality. Any
municipality that opts out of the requirements of Section 2-11.1(t) shall provide the Ethics Commission
with a copy of the ordinance.
Within thirty days of a recommendation from a selection committee, the County Mayor or his designee
shall either appoint a negotiation committee or take other affirmative action with respect to the
solicitation, including but not limited to rejection of proposals or recommendation for award. In the event
that negotiations have not commenced within thirty days, or if such other affirmative action has not been
taken within thirty days, the County Mayor or his designee shall report such event, and the reasons
therefore, to the Board of County Commissioners. Additionally, the County Mayor or his designee shall
present the Clerk of the Board with a recommendation for award, or a recommendation to reject
proposals, within ninety days from the date a selection committee makes a recommendation. In the
event that the County Mayor or his designee has not provided such recommendation to the Clerk of the
Board within ninety days, the County Mayor or his designee shall provide a report on the status of the
solicitation to the Board of County Commissioners, including the reasons for any delay.
(Ord. No. 98-106, § 1, 7-21-98; Ord. No. 99-1, § 1, 1-21-99; Ord. No. 00-149, § 1, 11-28-00; Ord. No. 01-149, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No.
01-150, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 02-3, § 1, 1-29-02; Ord. No. 04-77, § 1, 4-27-04; Ord. No. 08-111, § 1, 10-7-08)
(u) Prohibition on certain business transactions. No person who is serving as an elected county official or a member of
the staff of an elected county official, or as county manager, senior assistant to the county manager or department
director shall enter into a business transaction with any person or entity that has a contract with Miami -Dade County
or any shareholder, partner, officer, director or employee of said contractor, unless said business transaction is an
arm's length transaction made in the ordinary course of business. The provisions of this subsection (u) shall not
apply to a business transaction between an elected county official, a member of the staff of an elected county
official, the county manager, a senior assistant to the county manager or a department director and a not-for-profit
entity. As used herein, a "shareholder" shall mean any person owning ten (10) percent or more of the outstanding
capital stock of any corporation. As used herein, "elected county official" shall mean the mayor, county
commissioners and community council members. As used herein, "business transaction" shall mean any contract
wherein persons either sell, buy, deal, exchange, rent, lend or barter real, personal or intangible property, money or
any other thing of value, or render services for value.
(v) Voting Conflicts. Members of Advisory and Quasi-judicial Boards. No person included in the terms defined in
subsections (b)(3) (quasi-judicial personnel) and (b)(4) (advisory personnel) shall vote on any matter presented to an
advisory board or quasi-judicial board on which the person sits if the board member will be directly affected by the
action of the board on which the member serves, and the board member has any of the following relationships with
any of the persons or entities appearing before the board: (i) officer, director, partner, of counsel, consultant,
employee, fiduciary or beneficiary; or (ii) stockholder, bondholder, debtor or creditor.
(w) Prohibition on acceptance of travel expenses from county vendors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
section, no person included in subsections (b)(1)(Mayor and Commissioners), (b)(5)(departmental personnel) or (b)(6)
(employees) shall accept, directly or indirectly, any travel expenses including, but not limited to, transportation,
lodging, meals, registration fees and incidentals from any county contractor, vendor, service provider, bidder or
proposer. The Board of County Commissioners may waive the requirements of this subsection by a majority vote of
the Commission. The provisions of this subsection (w) shall not apply to travel expenses paid by other governmental
entities or by organizations of which the County is a member if the travel is related to that membership.
(x) Prohibition on county employees and departmental personnel performing contract -related duties. No person
included in subsections (b)(5)(departmental personnel) and (b)(6) (employees), who was previously employed by or
held a controlling financial interest in a for-profit firm, partnership or other business entity (hereinafter "business
entity") shall, for a period of two years following termination of his or her prior relationship with the business entity,
perform any county contract -related duties regarding the business entity, or successor in interest, where the
business entity is a county bidder, proposer, service provider, contractor or vendor. As used in this subsection (x),
"contract -related duties" include, but are not limited to: service as a member of a county certification, evaluation,
selection, technical review or similar committee; approval or recommendation of award of contract; contract
enforcement, oversight or administration; amendment, extension or termination of contract; or forbearance
regarding any contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this subsection (x) shall not apply to the
County Manager or the Director of Procurement Management.
(y) Powers and jurisdiction of Ethics Commission, The Ethics Commission shall be empowered to review, interpret,
render advisory opinions and letters of instruction and enforce the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission shall automatically extend to Commissioners, the Mayor, autonomous
personnel, quasi-judicial personnel, departmental personnel, employees, contract staff, advisory personnel,
immediate family, lobbyists as defined in subsections (b) and (s) who are required to comply with the Conflict of
Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance; and any other person required to comply with the Conflict of Interest and
Code of Ethics Ordinance including, but not limited to, contractors, consultants and vendors. In the event that the
Ethics Commission does not assume jurisdiction as provided in the preceding sentence, the Ethics Commission may
refer the complaint to the State Attorney for appropriate action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Ethics
Commission shall not have jurisdiction to consider an alleged violation of subsection (c) if the requirements of
subsection (c) have been waived for a particular transaction as provided therein.
(Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10)
(z) Prohibition on participation in settlement negotiations. Neither the Mayor, a County Commissioner nor any member
of their staff shall participate in settlement negotiations of claims or lawsuits, including but not limited to contract
scope or compensation adjustments involving the County without prior approval of the Board of County
Commissioners.
(aa) CountyAttorney's Office participation in contract adjustments. County staff shall request the participation of the
County Attorney's Office to provide legal advice regarding scope or compensation adjustments which increase by
more than one million dollars ($1,000,000), the value of a construction contract or a contract involving the purchase
of goods or services.
(bb) Affidavitand Ethics Course. Each person who is elected to serve as a member of the Board of County Commissioners
or as Mayor of Miami -Dade County shall execute an affidavit, on a form prepared by the Ethics Commission, stating
that he or she has read the Miami -Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance and agrees to
comply with the provisions of said ordinance. Each elected official covered by the requirements of this subsection
shall file the required affidavit with the Ethics Commission prior to being sworn into office. Each elected official, as
defined in subsection (b)(1), shall, within ninety (90) days after being sworn into office, submit to the Clerk of the
Board a certificate of completion of an ethics course offered by the Miami -Dade County Commission on Ethics and
Public Trust ("Ethics Course"). Each employee of the County, as defined in subsection (b)(5) and b(6), shall within one
hundred and eighty (180) days of the effective date of this ordinance or within sixty (60) days after being hired by the
County, submit to the Clerk of the Board a certificate of completion of an Ethics Course offered by the Miami -Dade
County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. Employees shall be required to complete a refresher Ethics Course
every two years thereafter. Each employee who has completed a refresher Ethics Course shall submit to the Clerk of
the Board a certificate of completion. The Ethics Course shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the following
topics: the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance; the Sunshine Law; the Public Records Law and the
Citizens' Bill of Rights. The requirements of this subsection (bb) relating to the Ethics Course for employees shall not
be applicable to any municipality in Miami -Dade County unless said municipality has adopted an ordinance providing
for the Ethics Course, and has entered into an interlocal agreement with the County authorizing the Ethics
Commission to provide the Ethics Course provided for in this subsection.
(Ord. No. 12-11, § 1, 3-6-12; Ord. No. 13-50, § 1, 6-4-13)
(cc) Penalty.
(1) Proceeding before Ethics Commission. A finding by the Ethics Commission that a person has violated this
section shall subject said person to an admonition or public reprimand and/or a fine of five hundred
dollars ($500.00) for the first such violation and one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each subsequent
violation. Where the Ethics Commission finds that a person has intentionally violated this section and
determines that a fine is appropriate, said person shall be subject to a fine of one thousand dollars
($1,000.00) for the first such violation and two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for each subsequent
violation. Actual costs incurred by the Ethics Commission, in an amount not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500.00) per violation, may be assessed where the Ethics Commission has found an intentional
violation of this section. The Ethics Commission may also order the person to pay restitution when the
person or a third party has received a pecuniary benefit as a result of the person's governed by an
administrative order adopted by the County Commission and rules of procedure promulgated by the
Ethics Commission.
(2) Prosecution by State Attorney in State court. Every person who is convicted of a violation of this section
in State court shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment in
the County Jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, 11-21-72; Ord. No. 73-26, § 1, 3-20-73; Ord. No. 77-13, § 4, 3-1-77; Ord. No. 86-24, § 2, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 91-22,
§ 1, 2-19-91; Ord. No. 92-27, § 1, 4-21-92; Ord. No. 95-21, § 1, 2-7-95; Ord. No. 97-105, § 2, 7-8-97; Ord. No. 98-73, § 1, 6-2-98; Ord.
No. 98-76, § 1, 6-2-98; Ord. No. 98-106, § 1, 7-21-98; Ord. No. 98-125, § 1, 9-3-98; Ord. No. 99-150, § 1, 11-2-99; Ord. No. 00-46, §
1, 4-11-00; 00-149, § 1, 11-28-00; Ord. No. 01-199, § 1, 12-4-01; Ord. No. 03-73, § 1, 4-8-03; Ord. No. 03-107, § 1, 5-6-03; Ord. No.
03-140, § 1, 6-3-03; Ord. No. 04-55, § 1, 3-16-04; Ord. No. 04-119, § 1, 6-8-04; Ord. No. 04-204, § 1, 12-2-04; Ord. No. 05-71, § 1, 4-
5-05; Ord. No. 06-148, § 1, 10-10-06; Ord. No. 10-11, § 1, 2-2-10; Ord. No. 10-48, § 1, 7-8-10; Ord. No. 13-53, § 1, 6-4-13; Ord. No.
14-96, § 1, 10-7-14)
Editor's note- Ord. No. 72-82, § 1, amended this Code by repealing former § 2-11.1 relative to County officers and employees
transacting business with the County and enacted in lieu thereof a new § 2-11.1 as herein set out. Former § 2-11.1 was derived
from Ord. No. 59-44, §§ 2-5, adopted Dec. 1, 1959.
Annotations- AO 7=1; CAO's 76-8, 76-32, 76-36, 76-39, 76-43, 76-46, 76-50, 76-55, 77-1, 77-9, 77-14, 77-16, 77-19, 77-26, 77-33,
77-37, 77-40, 77-41, 77-44, 77-52, 77-53, 77-56, 77-63, 77-68, 78-2, 78-10, 78-11, 78-12, 78-17, 78-25, 78-33, 78-44, 78-47, 78-53,
78-54, 79-6, 79-7, 79-12, 79-16, 79-19, 79-32, 79-37, 80-3, 80-4, 80-11, 80-21, 80-24, 80-25, 80-28, 80-29, 81-4, 81-13, 81-18, 81-22,
81-31, 81-38, 82-1, 82-10, 82-13, 82-19, 82-24, 82-25, 82-28, 82-29, 83-2, 83-6, 83-11, 83-22, 85-8.
State Law reference- Code of ethics for public officers and employees, F.S. § 112.311 et seq.
ARTICLE VI. - LOBBYISTS
Sec. 2-651. -Applicability.
Notwithstanding any provision in the Code of the city, as amended, to the contrary, the following shall
be applicable in the city.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 1, 3-18-86; Code 1980, § 2-311)
Sec. 2-652. - Penalty.
Any person in violation of any provision of this article shall be subject to the penalty as provided in
section 1-13.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 3, 3-18-86; Code 1980, § 2-312)
City Code cross reference— General penalty, § 1-13.
Sec. 2-653. - Definitions.
As used in this article:
Compensation means money or anything of value or financial benefit received in return for the
performance of lobbying activities.
Contingency fee means a fee, bonus, commission, or nonmonetary benefit as compensation which is
dependent or in any way contingent on the enactment, defeat, modification, or other outcome of any
ordinance, resolution or action of the city commission or any resolution, action, recommendation or decision
of any city board or of the city manager or city staff.
Expenditure means a payment, distribution, loan, advance, reimbursement, deposit, or anything of
value made by a lobbyist or principal for the purpose of lobbying.
Government employee means any agent of government, whether elected, appointed or hired, paid or
unpaid, who is acting on behalf of the United States, the State of Florida, or any agency, political subdivision,
special district, county or municipality of the State of Florida.
Lobbyist means all paid persons, firms, corporations employed or retained by a principal who seeks to
encourage the passage, defeat, or modification of any ordinance, resolution, action or decision of the city
commission; or any resolution, action, decision or recommendation of any city board or committee; or any
action, decision, or recommendation of the city manager during the time period of the entire decision-
making process on such action, decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be reviewed by the city
commission, or a city board or committee.
Lobbyist also means any member of the staff of the "lobbyist" (as defined hereinabove) who receives
for himself or herself any compensation, remuneration or expenses for conducting lobbying activities.
Lobbyist does not mean an attorney who is a member of the Florida Bar representing a client in
enforcement proceedings before the code enforcement board, or before the nuisance abatement board, or
disciplinary or grievance proceedings before the civil service board.
Lobbyist does not mean a city employee when acting in his official capacity, or a city consultant when
acting in such capacity.
Lobbyist does not mean a government employee acting in his/her official capacity.
Page 1
Lobbyist does not mean a foreign dignitary appearing in his/her official capacity.
Lobbyist does not mean a person who owns, publishes or is employed by a newspaper, periodical,
radio station, television station or other bona fide news media.
Lobbyist does not mean a person who merely appears before the mayor, city commission, city board
or committee, the city manager or city staff in an individual capacity for the purpose of self -representation
to express support for or opposition to any ordinance, resolution, decision or action of the city commission;
or any resolution, action, recommendation or decision of any city board or committee; or any action,
decision or recommendation of the mayor, city manager or city staff.
Lobbyist does not mean a person appearing solely to provide factual information requested by the
mayor, a member of the city commission or a city board.
Principal means the person, firm, corporation, or other entity, whether for profit or nonprofit, which has
retained a lobbyist.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 2(a)(1), (2),3-18-86; Ord. No. 10181, § 1, 11-13-86; Ord. No. 10478, § 1, 9-
8-88; Code 1980, § 2-313; Ord. No. 11469, § 2, 3-20-97; Ord. No. 11527, § 2, 7-24-97; Ord. No.
11564, § 4, 10-28-97)
City Code cross references— Code enforcement board, § 2-812 et seq.; civil service board, §
40-66 et seq.
Sec. 2-654. - Registration; fee; disclosure requirements; log of registered lobbyists; exemptions from
payment of fee; failure to register.
(a) A person may not lobby a city official, a city board member, the city manager or city staff, until such
person has registered as a lobbyist with the city clerk and submitted a certificate of completion, of an
ethics course provided by the Miami -Dade County Commission on Ethics Public Trust or the city
completed no more than one year priorto registering. Such registration shall be due upon initially being
retained as a lobbyist by a principal, prior to any type of lobbying activity, and shall be renewed on a
yearly basis thereafter. The annual registration fee for each lobbyist shall be $525.00 as an initial
registration fee, plus an additional fee of $105.00 for each principal represented for each issue lobbied
on behalf of any one principal. The registration fees required by this section shall be deposited by the
city clerk into a separate account and shall be expended for purposes of recording, transcription,
administration and/or any other associated costs incurred in maintaining these records for availability
to the public. The city commission may, in its discretion, waive the registration fee in demonstrated
instances of financial hardship. Regardless of the date of the initial registration, all lobbyists'
registrations shall expire December 31 of each calendar year, and shall be renewed on a calendar
year basis.
(b) Every person required to register as a lobbyist shall:
(1) Register on forms prepared by the city clerk;
(2) Pay an initial registration fee of $525.00, plus an additional fee of $105.00 for each principal
represented and for each issue the lobbyist has been retained to lobby on behalf of any one
principal; and
(3) Disclose, under oath, the following information:
a. Lobbyist's name and business address;
b. Name and business address of each principal represent;
c. The specific issue on which he or she has been retained to lobby; and
Page 2
If the lobbyist represents a corporation, partnership or trust, the name and business address
of the chief officer, partner or beneficiary of the corporation, partnership or trust and the
names and addresses of all persons holding, directly or indirectly, at least five percent
ownership interest in said corporation, partnership or trust. A separate registration form shall
be filed by the lobbyist and an additional fee of $105.00 shall be paid for each principal
represented and for each issue the lobbyist has been retained to lobby on behalf of any one
principal. Such issue shall be described with as much detail as is practical, including, though
not limited to: a specific description (where applicable) of a pending request for proposals,
invitation to bid, ordinance, resolution, or a given item on the agenda. The city clerk or the
clerk's designee shall reject any registration statement which does not provide a clear
description of the specific issue on which such lobbyist has been retained to lobby. Lobbyists
shall register on or before April 1, 1997, and yearly thereafter, in accordance with the
provisions of this section.
(c) In addition, every registrant shall be required to state under oath the existence of any direct or indirect
business association, partnership, or financial relationship with the mayor, any member of the city
commission, any member of a city board, the city manager or a member of the city staff before whom
he lobbies, or intends to lobby.
(d) The city clerk shall maintain a log, which shall be updated on a quarterly basis by April 15, July 15,
October 15 and January 15 of each year, reflecting the lobbyist registrations filed in accordance with
this section and shall be distributed to the mayor and city commission.
(e) The mayor, all members of the city commission, of city boards, the city manager and city staff shall
be diligent to ascertain that persons required to register pursuant to this section have complied, by
requesting record of compliance from the city clerk. The mayor, members of the city commission, of
city boards the city manager and city staff may not knowingly permit a person who is not registered
pursuant to this section to lobby.
(f) Each person who withdraws as a lobbyist for a particular principal shall file an appropriate notice of
withdrawal concerning representation for that principal. There shall be no fee required for filing a notice
of withdrawal.
(g) The validity of any action or determination of the city commission or any other city board or committee
shall not be affected by the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this section.
(h) The following persons shall be required to register but will be exempt from paying the registration fee:
(1) A person who, pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, has been designated
and is so recognized by the city as a representative of a collective bargaining unit composed of
city employees;
(2) A person(s) appearing before the commission, committee, or board on behalf of the community's
interest, as a volunteer and without compensation, representing the position of a bona fide
community organization such as a taxpayers' association, a civic or homeowners' association, a
public interest group, a chamber of commerce, or a merchants' assocation.
(i) All registration forms shall be open to the public upon the filing thereof.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 2(a)(3), (b)(d), 3-18-86; Ord. No. 10181, § 1, 11-13-86; Code 1980, § 2-
314; Ord. No. 11469, § 2, 3-20-97; Ord. No. 11564, § 4, 10-28-97; Ord. No. 13125, § 2, 1-14-10;
Ord. No. 13141, § 1, 2-11-10; Ord. No. 13142, § 2, 2-11-10)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 13141, § 1, adopted February 11, 2010, changed the title of section 2-
654 from "Registration; fee; disclosure requirements; log of registered lobbyists; exemptions
from payment of fee" to "Registration; fee; disclosure requirements; log of registered lobbyists;
exemptions from payment of fee; failure to register."
Page 3
Sec. 2-655. -Annual expenditures report.
A lobbyist shall annually submit to the city clerk's office a signed statement under oath listing all
lobbying expenditures and the sources from which funds for making lobbying expenditures have come. The
lobbying expenditures shall include, but not be limited to: meals, entertainment and gifts for public officers
and employees for the preceding calendar year. Lobbying expenditures shall not include the lobbyist's own
personal expenses for lodging, meals, travel, salary, and office expenses. Such statement of expenditures,
entitled "Annual Expenditures Report" shall be due on January 15 of each year. Such statement shall be
rendered on the form provided by the city clerk's office and shall be open to public inspection. Such
statement shall be filed, even if there have been no expenditures during the preceding calendar year.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 2(e), 3-18-86; Ord. No. 10611, § 1, 7-13-89; Code 1980, § 2-316; Ord. No.
11469, § 2, 3-20-97)
Sec. 2-656. -Advisory opinions.
(a) A lobbyist, when in doubt about the applicability and interpretation of this article in a particular context,
shall submit in writing the facts for an advisory opinion by the city attorney. The city attorney shall
render advisory opinions to any lobbyist who seeks advice as to whether the facts in a particular case
would constitute a violation of this section. All advisory opinions of the city attorney shall be numbered,
dated and furnished to the city clerk's office and shall be open to public inspection.
(b) The city clerk's office shall keep all advisory opinions of the city attorney relating to lobbyists and
lobbying activities, as well as a current list of registered lobbyists and their respective reports required
under this article, all of which shall be open for public inspection.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 2(f), (g), 3-18-86; Code 1980, § 2-317)
Sec. 2-657. - Penalties for violations.
(a) Any lobbyist who fails to file the annual expenditures report by the January 15 deadline each calendar
year shall be subject to a fine of $25.00.
(b) Upon verification of a lobbyist's failure to file the annual expenditures report, the city clerk shall notify
the lobbyist by certified mail that the annual expenditures report must be filed within five business days
following receipt of the notice. The name of any lobbyist who fails to comply with said requirement
shall be automatically removed from the list of active lobbyists. Should said person wish to re -register
as a lobbyist, he/she shall submit a new registration form accompanied by a $525.00 registration fee
plus any and all outstanding fines accrued prior to re -registration.
(c) The city clerk shall submit a report to the city commission as to those lobbyists who have failed to
comply with registration and/or the annual filing requirement of this section.
(Ord. No. 10087, § 2(h), 3-18-86; Code 1980, § 2-318; Ord. No. 11469, § 2, 3-20-97; Ord. No.
13246, § 2, 1-13-11)
Sec. 2-658. - Contingency fees
No person shall retain or employ a lobbyist for compensation based on a contingency fee, and no
person shall accept any such employment or render any service for compensation based on a contingency
fee.
(Ord. No. 11469, § 2, 3-20-97)
Page 4
Secs. 2-659-2-690. - Reserved.
Page 5