Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 121623

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 121623

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-315-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: ONE STOP INFORMATION AND PROCESSING CENTER

Introduced: 8/10/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 4/3/2012

Agenda Date: 4/3/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A5

Notes:

THIS IS FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED. ALSO SEE 120560.

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT A PHYSICAL ONE-STOP INFORMATION AND PROCESSING CENTER FOR OPENING A NEW BUSINESS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 120560)

Indexes:

BUSINESS RESOURCE AREA

Sponsors:	Rebeca Sosa, Prime Sponsor
	Lynda Bell, Co-Sponsor
	Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Jean Monestime, Co-Sponsor
	Xavier L. Suarez, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

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

County Attorney	8/10/2012		Assigned	Gerald K. Sanchez

Board of County Commissioners	4/3/2012	11A5 AMENDED	Adopted as amended				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Jordan noted this proposed resolution for a one-stop information and processing center was recreating Team Metro and questioned the costs associated with this proposal. She inquired whether the program was merged into the Regulatory and Economic Resources Department. Mr. Charles Danger, Regulatory and Economic Resources Department Building Official, responded that the proposed resolution was to assist individuals with licensing and other local and State regulations when opening a business, whereas Team Metro was more outreach oriented. Commissioner Jordan suggested placing information on opening a business on the County’s web-site to which Mr. Danger noted a pilot program was already in progress. Mr. Mario Goderich, Sustainability, Planning and Economic Enhancement Department (SPEED) Assistant Director, clarified that the information Commissioner Jordan requested was currently available on the Department’s website. He noted that the combined services through the consolidation of SPEED and the Permitting and Environmental Regulatory Affairs (PERA) would expedite the process to start a new business. Commissioner Sosa explained that locations to obtain information about opening a new business and to process paperwork would be provided throughout the County through this proposed resolution. She said that personalized services were needed in order to encourage investment in this County and to remain competitive, noting that businesses bring jobs and money to our community. Commissioner Sosa commented that she was also sponsoring similar legislation relating to construction, inspection and permitting. She said that Miami-Dade needed to have rules and regulations, yet become a friendlier County and provide an easier process for everyone. Commissioner Sosa noted Mayor Gimenez was supportive of this effort and was currently obtaining community input. Commissioner Bell commented that inconsistent information was continually being provided to local business and homeowners related to construction or renovation approvals. She noted she supported providing more information in a single location and proceeded to read an amendment to the foregoing proposed resolution into the record as follows: “the one-stop information and processing center shall also provide information including but not limited to contact information and the required forms regarding any applicable municipal, state and/or federal requirements which must be satisfied to open a new business in Miami-Dade County”. Commissioner Sosa accepted Commissioner Bell’s amendment. Commissioner Monestime noted that not every understood the steps required to open a business and questioned whether the one-stop center would be able to expedite the entire permitting process. Mr. Danger responded that not all businesses were required to have a construction permit in order to begin operations. He noted the one-stop center could provide prospective business owners with information whether a building was compatible with the desired use and had adequate water and sewer infrastructure needed before they entered into a lease agreement and began costly engineering and architectural studies. Mr. Danger said the intention of the one-stop center was to provide information up-front before prospective business owners start the process. Mr. Goderich noted a series of workshops on starting a business were being held throughout the County in response to the need to obtain sufficient information about the process of business ownership. He said that 75 potential new businesses were registered for the first session. Commissioner Jordan noted the feasibility study requested in Resolution No. R-368-11 by the County Commission on May 3, 2011 was not received. She said the foregoing proposed resolution under consideration today (4/03) directed the Mayor or designee to develop and implement a physical one-stop information and processing center with as many geographic locations as necessary to ensure excellent service delivery. Commissioner Jordan inquired whether this proposal could be implemented without additional staff, within the reorganization structure and the existing budget. She said she believed the feasibility of establishing the information centers was needed before their implementation. Commissioner Sosa acknowledged Commissioners Bell, Bovo, Monestime and Vice-Chairwoman Edmonson for their co-sponsorship of the foregoing proposed resolution. She noted an additional amendment to this proposal to read: “at no additional cost to the County”. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as amended. The foregoing proposed resolution was adopted as amended to include the provision that “the one-stop information and processing center shall also provide information including but not limited to contact information and the required forms regarding any applicable municipal, state and/or federal requirements which must be satisfied to open a new business in Miami-Dade County” and “at no additional cost to the County”.

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT A PHYSICAL ONE-STOP INFORMATION AND PROCESSING CENTER FOR OPENING A NEW BUSINESS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

BODY
WHEREAS, the United States and South Florida are currently suffering through one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression; and
WHEREAS, small businesses are an integral component of our economy; and
WHEREAS, private businesses and entrepreneurs drive research and development and the creation of jobs; and
WHEREAS, any initiative which can attract and assist in the creation of new businesses should be implemented by government; and
WHEREAS, the high unemployment rate in Miami-Dade County (the �County�) magnifies the importance of assisting in the creation of small businesses; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a physical one-stop information and processing center, whereby County residents and visitors can, among other things, inquire about the requirements to open a new business in the County and process the required applications and documentation, should stimulate small business development; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. R-368-11, which was adopted on May 2, 2011, directed the County Mayor or designee to prepare and conduct a feasibility study on the creation of a virtual or physical one-stop information center for opening a new business in Miami-Dade County within sixty (60) days of May 2, 2011; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission has not received the study required by Resolution No. R-368-11; and
WHEREAS, a streamlined one-stop information and processing service is likely to result in efficiencies and cost savings to the County; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Miami-Dade County to develop and implement a physical one-stop information and processing center as soon as practicable,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor or designee is directed to develop and implement, at no additional cost to the County, a physical one-stop information and processing center, with as many geographic locations as are necessary to ensure excellent services are delivered, for opening a new business in Miami-Dade County as soon as practicable. One-stop information and processing centers shall also provide information including, but not limited to, contact information and the required forms regarding any applicable municipal, state and/or federal requirements which must be satisfied to open a new business in Miami-Dade County.