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(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- For the past six months, a group of 21 upstanding citizens have been meeting and hosting public hearings to re-examine Miami-Dade County’s Charter, or constitution, in order to make sure that it provides for the most efficient, responsive and ethical form of local county government. This Wednesday, October 31, 2007, the Charter Review Task Force will release an interim report to the Board of County Commissioners.
“In this Initial Report, the Task Force has made some important final recommendations for changes to our Home Rule Charter which we believe will help promote a County government that is ethical, representative and responsive,” said Task Force Chair Victor M. Diaz, Jr. “The Task Force has made their recommendations after lively debate and thoughtful deliberation, and after one of the most extensive and participatory public comment process in Charter Review history. I congratulate the Task Force for their conscientious service and creative initiatives for change.”
It is the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Miami-Dade County's Home Rule Charter, which was adopted in 1957. Section 9.08 of the Home Rule Charter requires that the Board review the Charter at least once every five years to determine whether or not there is a need for revision of the Charter.
Charter Review Task Force recommendations to date are:
The Task Force recommends that the electors of Miami-Dade County be 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.
- 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.
- The position of Property Appraiser become an elected position.
- Commissioners shall receive a population based salary provided by Florida’s Statutory formula (approx. $89,000); Commissioner’s terms in office shall be limited to two, four-year terms; and Commissioners be prohibited from having outside employment.
The Task Force further recommends that the Home Rule Charter not be amended with respect to the following issues:
- The Tax Collector remain an appointed position.
- The manner in which the Board of County Commissioners is currently comprised shall remain as is, with 13 single-member Commission Districts.
It is important to note that these recommendations are final, but the Report to be issued is an Initial Report. The Task Force expects to make additional final recommendations in other areas of Charter reform. An additional and Final Task Force Report will be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners in January 2008.
Pending issues are:
- Study of Municipalities and Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA)
- Creating/Abolishing Municipalities
- Separation of Powers or Responsibilities between the County and municipalities
- Annexation/Incorporation in effort to eliminate UMSA
- Study of Initiative, Referendum, Petition & Recall processes
- Study of Balance of Power - Mayor and Board of County Commissioners
- Review Functions of Mayor vs. County Manager
- Review Powers of Commission Audit
- Study of Procurement Reform
- Study of Lobbying Reform
- Study of Ethics Regulations
- Study of Public Records
- Study of Zoning and Urban Development Boundary (UDB) reform
- Study of the Delineation of Powers and Checks and Balances of the Ethics Commission and the Office of the Inspector General for Inclusion in the Charter
- Study of Any Changes to the Form of County Government be Required to be Placed on the Ballot during a General Election
- Study of Placement in the Charter Language regarding County Employees Convicted of Any Crime Involving a Breach of the Public's Trust be Subject to Forfeiture of his/her Public Salary, Pension Rights and Privileges
For more information on the Charter Review Task Force or to view the full report, official meeting minutes and more, please visit www.miamidade.gov/charterreview.
It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For materials in accessible format, please call 305-644-5127.
Background
On April 24, 2007, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution creating the Charter Review Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of 21 members including the Mayor and each Board member or his/her designee, as well as designees from the four largest municipalities (Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens and Miami Beach) and three from the Miami-Dade League of Cities. The Task Force is charged with reviewing the Charter and submitting to the Board of County Commissioners recommendations setting forth any proposed amendments or revisions to the Charter.
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