TITLE
RESOLUTION CALLING A COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS OF MIAMIDADE COUNTY THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO AMEND THE HOME RULE CHARTER TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO SHALL BE INDEPENDENT AND SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, BE EMPOWERED TO PERFORM INVESTIGATIONS, AUDITS, REVIEWS AND OVERSIGHT OF COUNTY CONTRACTS, PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, ABUSE, WASTE AND MISMANAGEMENT AS WELL AS COUNTY FUNDED CONTRACTS, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AND PROVIDE INSPECTOR GENERAL SERVICES TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITH SUCH OFFICE�S APPOINTMENT, TERM, POWERS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE FURTHER ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE

BODY
WHEREAS, Section 2-1076 of the Code of Miami-Dade County currently provides for an Office of the Inspector General; and
WHEREAS, the current Office of Inspector General is not provided for by the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter (�Charter�); and
WHEREAS, the amendment of the Charter to create an Office of Inspector General shall provide additional independence and authority to the Office of the Inspector General; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the citizens of Miami-Dade County to have an Independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate County and County funded contracts, programs, projects, abuse, waste and mismanagement,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. A countywide special election is hereby called and shall be held in Miami-Dade County, Florida on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of Miami-Dade County the proposal for amendment to the Home Rule Charter in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Section 2. Notice of such election shall be published in accordance with Section 100.342, Florida Statutes.
Section 3. The result of such election shall be determined by a majority of the qualified electors of Miami-Dade County voting upon the proposal. The polls at such election shall be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on the day of such election. All qualified electors of Miami-Dade County, Florida shall be entitled to vote at said election. The County registration books shall remain open at the Office of the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections until twenty-nine (29) days prior to the date of such election, at which time the registration books will close in accordance with the provisions of general election laws. The question shall appear on the ballot in substantially the following form:
HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT
ESTABLISHING INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL

SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO SHALL BE INDEPENDENT AND SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, BE EMPOWERED TO PERFORM INVESTIGATIONS, AUDITS, REVIEWS AND OVERSIGHT OF COUNTY CONTRACTS, PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, ABUSE, WASTE AND MISMANAGEMENT AS WELL AS COUNTY FUNDED CONTRACTS, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AND PROVIDE INSPECTOR GENERAL SERVICES TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITH SUCH OFFICE�S APPOINTMENT, TERM, POWERS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE FURTHER ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE?


YES

NO

Section 4. The form of the ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements of general election laws.
Section 5. Early voting shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of general election laws.
Section 6. Absentee paper ballots may be used by qualified electors of Miami-Dade County for voting on this question. The form of such absentee ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements prescribed by general election laws.
Section 7. A sample ballot showing the manner in which the question or proposal aforesaid will appear at this election shall be published and provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of general election laws.
Section 8. This special election on the proposal aforesaid shall be held and conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of the general laws relating to elections and the provisions of the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter. The County Mayor or his or her designee, the Finance Director, and the Clerk of the County Commission are hereby authorized and directed to take all appropriate actions necessary to carry into effect and accomplish the provisions of this resolution. This election shall be a nonpartisan election. Election officials in connection with this election shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of general election laws.
Section 9. This election shall be canvassed by the County Canvassing Board, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.07 of the Home Rule Charter.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER

ARTICLE-91

GENERAL PROVISIONS

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>>SECTION 9.11. INSPECTOR GENERAL.

There is hereby created and established an Office of the Inspector General. The Inspector General shall head the Office of the Inspector General. The minimum qualifications, term, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General as well as the organization of the Office of the Inspector General shall be set forth by Ordinance. Such Ordinance shall, at a minimum, provide that: (1) the Office of Inspector General be sufficiently independent to assure that no interference or influence external to the Office adversely affects the independence and objectivity of the Inspector General; (2) the Office of the Inspector General be empowered to perform investigations, audits, reviews and oversight of County contracts, programs, projects, abuse, waste and mismanagement as well as County funded contracts, programs and projects; and (3) the Office of Inspector General be empowered to provide inspector general services to other governmental entities and municipalities upon the approval of a request to provide such services by a majority of the Board of County Commissioners.<<


1Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted. Words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed. Remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged.
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