Charter Review Task Force recommendations are available at http://www.miamidade.gov/charterreview/reccommendations.asp or at the background section at the end of this release. For more information on the Charter Review Task Force and to provide public comments, please visit www.miamidade.gov/charterreview.

Background
The Miami-Dade County Home Rule, which is essentially the County’s "constitution", requires Board review of its Charter at least once every five-year period to determine whether or not there is a need for revision. The Charter Review Task Force recommended in its October 31, 2007, report to the Board of County Commissioners that the electors of Miami-Dade County are asked whether they wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that:

• The Public Safety Director (i.e. Sheriff, Police Chief) shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at the expiration of each term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be vetoed by a super majority (two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Public Safety Director could be removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple majority vote of the County Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a super majority (two-thirds) vote. Once appointed, that person shall carry out the functions of the office independent of the Mayor and County Commission except for funding and budgeting matters. (Motion passed: 10-5)
• The Supervisor of Elections shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at the expiration of each term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be vetoed by a super majority (two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Supervisor of Elections could be removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple majority vote of the County Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a super majority (two-thirds) vote. Once appointed, that person shall carry out the functions of the office independent of the Mayor and County Commission except for funding and budgeting matters. (Motion passed: 10-5)
• The position of Property Appraiser becomes an elected position. (Motion passed: 12-4)
• County Commissioners shall receive a population based salary provided by Florida’s Statutory formula (approx. $91,995); Commissioner’s terms in office shall be limited to two, four-year terms; and Commissioners shall be prohibited from having outside employment. (Motion passed unanimously: 14-0)

The Task Force further recommends that the Home Rule Charter not be amended with respect to the following issues:

• The Tax Collector remains an appointed position. (Motion passed unanimously: 14-0)
• The manner in which the Board of County Commissioners is currently comprised shall remain as is, with 13 single-member Commission Districts. (Motion passed: 14-1)

At subsequent meetings since the release of its Initial Report, the Task Force further recommends that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether they wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that:

• The County Commission appoint an independent Task Force to prepare and submit a comprehensive plan in 2009 for countywide incorporation, accomplished through annexation and/or incorporation, subject to amendments or changes by two-thirds vote of the County Commission, and placed on the ballot for all citizens to vote on at a general election in 2010.  (Motion passed: 12-2 on November 20, 2007)
• The Home Rule Charter include a provision that addresses the need for periodic charter review be amended to provide that the Charter Review Task Force, once appointed by the County Commission, will have the power to put recommendations directly on the ballot, unless vetoed by a 2/3 super majority vote of the County Commission. (Motion passed: 10-1 on November 20, 2007)
• The Home Rule Charter be amended to provide future Charter Review Task Forces with the power to place proposed Charter amendments directly on the ballot if supported by a two-thirds vote of the Task Force members present; and to provide that the appointment process for future Task Force members be the same as contained in Sections 1 and 2 of the enacting resolutions that created the current Charter Review Task Force, with the exception of that portion that allowed a Commissioner to appoint him or herself to the Task Force, which was deleted.  (Motion passed 13-1 on December 12, 2007)
• The time period in the Charter to collect signatures for proposed Charter amendments be expanded to 120 days and that Charter amendments must be placed on the general election.  (Motion passed: 14-0 on November 28, 2007)
• With regard to Charter changes, the public hearing be held on the day the County Commission approved the petition as to form; that the ministerial act of certifying the petition be done at a public hearing; and that the issues be placed as two separate questions on the ballot. (Motion passed 14-0 on November 28, 2007)
• The Home Rule Charter be amended to provide that the Board of County Commissioners shall adopt no resolutions or ordinances regulating the petition process as defined in Sections 8.01, 8.02, 9.06, 9.07 and 9.08 of the Home Rule Charter. (Motion passed: 14-0 on December 12, 2007)
• Section 9.07 of the Home Rule Charter be amended to reflect that the certification and petition gathering provisions of Section 8.01 of the Charter shall also govern initiatory petitions to amend the Charter.  (Motion passed: 14-0 on December 12, 2007)
• The Home Rule Charter be amended to provide that initiative petitions shall be filed with the Clerk of Courts in the same manner as recall petitions, instead of coming before the County Commission. (Motion passed: 13-0 on December 12, 2007)