Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 112618
   Clerk's Official Copy   

File Number: 112618 File Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: 11-76 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: CREATING TASK FORCE ON SCRAP METAL & COPPER WIRE THEFT Introduced: 12/13/2011
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 10/4/2011
Agenda Date: 10/4/2011 Agenda Item Number: 7B
Notes: THIS IS FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED. ALSO SEE 111954, 111170, 111900. HAS SUNSET PROVISION. Title: ORDINANCE CREATING A TASK FORCE ON SCRAP METAL AND COPPER WIRE THEFT TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES REGULATING JUNK DEALERS AND SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, EDUCATION OF BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY ON THE EFFECT OF SUCH ORDINANCES, AND THE PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL SALES OF REGULATED AND RESTRICTED REGULATED METALS (SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NOS. 111170, 111900, & 111954)
Indexes: ORDINANCE CREATING
  SCRAP METAL AND COPPER WIRE THEFT TASK FORCE
  TASK FORCE
Sponsors: Audrey M. Edmonson, Prime Sponsor
  Lynda Bell, Co-Sponsor
  Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
  Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor
  Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
  Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
  Joe A. Martinez, Co-Sponsor
  Jean Monestime, Co-Sponsor
  Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor
  Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor
Sunset Provision: Yes Effective Date: 10/14/2011 Expiration Date: 10/15/2014
Registered Lobbyist: None Listed


Legislative History

Acting Body Date Agenda Item Action Sent To Due Date Returned Pass/Fail

County Attorney 12/13/2011 Assigned Joni A. Mosely

Board of County Commissioners 10/4/2011 7B AMENDED Adopted as amended P
REPORT: Assistant County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams read into the record the title of the foregoing proposed ordinance. Hearing no further questions or comments the Board proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed ordinance as amended to add one member to this Task Force once appointed by the Miami-Dade Public School Police Department.

Legislative Text


TITLE
ORDINANCE CREATING A TASK FORCE ON SCRAP METAL AND COPPER WIRE THEFT TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES REGULATING JUNK DEALERS AND SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, EDUCATION OF BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY ON THE EFFECT OF SUCH ORDINANCES, AND THE PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL SALES OF REGULATED AND RESTRICTED REGULATED METALS

BODY

WHEREAS, skyrocketing prices for metals, especially copper, has resulted in a significant increase in the theft of copper, aluminum and other ferrous and nonferrous metals material in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, such thefts include metals material from light poles which create power outages and endanger the health, safety and welfare of the public particularly the elderly and children; and
WHEREAS, such thefts are economically burdensome on the County since the County is required to expend funds to replace or repair stolen or vandalized street signs and street lights owned by the County; and
WHEREAS, for example, since 2009, the County�s Public Works Department has spent thousands of dollars to repair or replace vandalized light poles; and
WHEREAS, such thefts damage or interrupt utilities which endanger the public�s health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, such thefts also result in increased costs to businesses and homeowners that have been victimized by thefts and have suffered damages; and
WHEREAS, the economic recession has resulted in many residential and commercial properties in foreclosure which are either unoccupied or under renovation and thus more likely targets for burglars to steal or vandalize personal property that contain ferrous and nonferrous metals material; and
WHEREAS, for example, air conditioning units have been vandalized because they contain copper material; and
WHEREAS, such criminal activity adversely affects the economic recovery in Miami-Dade County by hampering the ability of property owners, banks and mortgage holders to market and sell residential and commercial properties; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, over 800 burglaries of residential properties have been reported to the Miami-Dade Police Department�s Northside District alone; and
WHEREAS, the criminal activity also affects the social and economic quality of life of the County�s citizens by resulting in unsafe properties, business losses and higher insurance costs; and
WHEREAS, the theft of such metals material may result in its unlawful sale to junk dealers and scrap metal processors also known as secondary metals recyclers;
WHEREAS, on April 5, 2011, the Board approved Ordinance No. 11-17 which created Sections 8A-9 through 8A-9.6 to regulated junk dealers and scrap metal processors; and
WHEREAS, this Board finds that the creation of a task force to formulate recommendations on enforcing and amending ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors, educating businesses and the community on the effect of such ordinances, and preventing the illegal sale of scrap metal and copper wire will promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of the people of Miami-Dade County, Florida;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. Creation.
There is hereby created the Miami-Dade County Task Force on Scrap Metal and Copper Wire Theft (�Task Force�).
Section 2. Membership; Appointments; Vacancies; and Qualifications.
The Task Force shall be comprised of twenty four (24) members from the following categories of representatives:
(1) One (1) member of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners appointed by the Chair;
(2) One (1) selected by each of the following municipalities:
(a) City of Miami,
(b) City of Hialeah,
(c) City of Miami Gardens,
(d) City of North Miami,
(e) City of Miami Beach,
(f) City of Medley, and
(g) City of Homestead;
(3) One (1) selected by the League of Cities;
(4) One (1) from the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney selected by the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney;
(5) One (1) selected by the Miami-Dade County Inspector General�s Office;
(6) One (1) from Florida Power & Light selected by Florida Power & Light;
(7) One (1) from the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department selected by the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department; and
(8) One (1) representative from each of the following County departments appointed by the Mayor or the Mayor�s designee:
(a) Miami-Dade County Police Department, and
(b) Miami-Dade County Public Works Department.
(9) The following representatives shall be appointed by majority vote of the Board of County Commissioners:
(a) Five (5) representatives from the scrap metals industry each possessing at least five (5) years experience in the scrap metals industry; and
(b) Four (4) representatives from the community with an understanding of the impact of copper wire and scrap metal theft on neighborhoods.
(10) Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner by which the original members were appointed.
(11) Qualifications of Members. Each member of the Task Force shall be a permanent resident and duly qualified elector of Miami-Dade County, unless the Board of County Commissioners waives this requirement by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership. No applicant shall be selected for the Task Force if he or she has ever had in any jurisdiction any prior charge, indictment, citation, prosecution, plea of guilty or nolo contendere of a felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation, for larceny, theft, possession of or dealing in stolen goods or any crime related to scrap metal processors or junk dealers, regardless of whether adjudication was withheld. The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.
Section 3. Organization.
(1) The Task Force may establish, adopt, and amend bylaws, rules, and regulations for its own governance.
(2) A chairperson and a vice chairperson shall be selected by the Task Force at its first meeting. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve at the will of the Task Force.
(3) The chairperson shall preside at all meetings at which he or she is present. The vice chairperson shall act as chairperson in the absence or inability of the chairperson.
(4) In order to transact any business or to exercise any power vested in the Task Force, a quorum consisting of a majority of those persons duly appointed to the Task Force shall be present, provided that at least one-half (1/2) of the full Task Force membership has been appointed.
(5) The Task Force may appoint committees to accomplish its tasks. Members of a committee may consist of members of the Task Force and/or other persons with specialized knowledge that would benefit the committee.
(6) The Mayor or the Mayor�s designee shall supply such support staff to the Task Force as may be necessary to fulfill its purpose. The staff shall maintain and keep the records of the Task Force; prepare in cooperation with the chairperson, the agenda for each meeting; be responsible for the preparation of such reports, minutes, documents, or correspondence as the Task Force may direct; and generally administer the business and affairs of the Task Force, subject to budgetary limitations.
(7) The County Attorney�s Office shall provide legal counsel, as needed, to the Task Force.
Section 4. Meetings.
The Task Force shall meet no less than every 90 days. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the Task Force.
Section 5. Powers and duties.
The purpose of the Task Force is to provide non-binding written recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on:
(1) Enforcement of ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors, including Sections 8A-203, 8A-237, and 8A-9 through 8A-9.6 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida;
(2) Proposed amendments to ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors;
(3) Methods of educating local businesses and the community on the effect of ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors; and
(4) Methods of preventing the illegal sale of regulated metals and restricted regulated metals as defined in Sections 8A-9.1 and 8A-9.4 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
(5) The Task Force is advisory only and shall not have the power or authority to commit Miami-Dade County or any of its agencies or instrumentalities to any policies, incur any financial obligations or to create any liability, contractual or otherwise, on behalf of Miami-Dade County or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
Section 6. Reports.
The Task Force shall submit its first written recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners no later than 180 days from the effective date of this ordinance and shall submit written recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners every 180 days thereafter.
Section 7. Applicability of County rules and procedures.
The Task Force shall at all times operate under the Florida Open Government laws, including the �Sunshine Law,� public meeting laws and public records laws and shall be governed by all State and County conflict of interest laws, as applicable, including the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance, Section 2-11.1 the Code of Miami-Dade County.
Section 8. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected by such invalidity.
Section 9. It is the intention of the Board of County Commissioners, and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance, including any sunset provision, shall become and be made part of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such intention, and the word �ordinance� may be changed to �section,� �article,� or other appropriate word.
Section 10. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after the date of enactment unless vetoed by the Mayor, and if vetoed, shall become effective only upon an override by this Board.
Section 11. This ordinance shall stand repealed three (3) years from its effective date.



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