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ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING ''SPECIAL AMBASSADOR'' PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT, TERM, QUALIFICATIONS, ORGANIZATION, PROCEDURE, POWER AND DUTIES; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

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WHEREAS, this Board recognizes that there are many great individuals who dedicate their energy and talents to spreading goodwill on behalf of the citizens of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, many governments and nongovernmental organizations utilize ambassadors to promote their good relations and to reach out to others; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires to establish a method to appoint a ''Special Ambassador'' for the purpose of promoting increased interchange of ideas, goodwill, cooperation, and understanding on behalf of the citizens of Miami-Dade County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Chapter 2, Article LXIXA, of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, is hereby created to read as follows:
Sec. 2-956. Creation of Special Ambassador Program.

There is hereby created and established a Miami-Dade County Special Program to which the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint a Special Ambassador. The Special Ambassador appointed shall have national or international stature and shall provide symbolic representation on behalf of the County at various events, functions, meetings, gatherings and social occasions.


Sec. 2-957. Organization, appointment, term and qualifications.

The Miami-Dade County Economic Development Committee, or its successor, shall nominate to the Board of County Commissioners those individuals worthy of serving as the Special Ambassador of Miami-Dade County.

Sec. 2-957.1. The Miami-Dade County Economic Development Committee, or its successor, shall have the power and duty to recommend criteria and qualifications of persons worthy of serving as the Special Ambassador of Miami-Dade County, and to consider and nominate to the Board of County Commissioners those individuals worthy of the title of Special Ambassador. The selection criteria shall include, but not be limited to consideration of the national or international stature of the nominee, the nominee’s ability to serve as an ambassador-at-large on behalf of Miami-Dade County, the nominee’s commitment to the interchange of ideas, and the nominee’s ability to promote goodwill, cooperation, and understanding on behalf of the citizens of Miami-Dade County.

Sec. 2-957.2. The Miami-Dade County Economic Development Committee, or its successor, shall provide its nominations to the Board of County Commissioners no later than six (6) months prior to the expiration of the term of the presently-serving Special Ambassador. The Board of County Commissioners shall appoint one (1) Special Ambassador per term, except that legal spouses may serve jointly as Special Ambassadors during a single term provided that both spouses independently meet the criteria to serve as Special Ambassadors.

Sec. 2-957.3. A Special Ambassador shall serve a four-year term commencing on January 1 of the year of appointment. Except as expressly provided herein, no Special Ambassador shall serve more than one (1), four (4) year term. Vacancies during a term shall be filled by the Board of County Commissioners and such vacancy appointments shall serve during the remainder of the current term. A vacancy appointment shall not count towards the term limit.

Sec. 2-958. Duties of Special Ambassador.

The Special Ambassador shall have, and may discharge, the following duties:

(a) Attend and observe various meetings, events, gatherings, functions and social occasions;
(b) Share points of interest and provide information about Miami-Dade County;
(c) Provide reports to the Board of County Commissioners upon request of the Board;
(d) Provide his or her services and transportation at no cost to the County; and
(e) Other duties, upon the request of a member of the Board of County Commissioners.
Sec. 2-959. Limitations of Authority.

The Special Ambassador shall be subject to the following limitations of authority:

(a) The Special Ambassador shall not have any advisory or final decision-making authority on behalf of the County;
(b) The Special Ambassador shall not serve as an alternate member of any commission, board, committee, subcommittee, or the Board of County Commissioners; and
(c) The Special Ambassador shall not constitute a public board or committee, shall not have authority to meet as a public board or committee and shall not have voting privileges afforded to members of a public board or committee.
Section 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from the effective date of this Ordinance, Emilio Estefan shall be named inaugural Special Ambassador of Miami-Dade County during the initial term, which expires December 31, 2017.


Section 3. 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 4. 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 a 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 5. 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.