TITLE
ORDINANCE CREATING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INTERFAITH ADVISORY BOARD; CREATING ARTICLE XXIVA OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR PURPOSE, COMPOSITION, AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS; AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 200427]

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WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is a diverse melting pot; it is a community comprised of people from countries all over the world, many different cultures, and a variety of faiths, religions, and denominations; and
WHEREAS, faith-based, religious, and spiritual leaders often hold prominent positions within the communities that they worship and hold services; and
WHEREAS, as such, many members of those communities often discuss issues of great concern with and seek guidance from said leaders; and
WHEREAS, an interfaith advisory board would:
(1) provide faith-based, religious, and spiritual leaders with an opportunity to discuss such matters collegially through interfaith dialogue as well as voice relevant concerns to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (�Board�);
(2) serve as a liaison between the Board and faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities;
(3) encourage adherents from different faiths, religions, and spiritual backgrounds to come together and work cooperatively on common issues that affect members of their respective communities; and
(4) assist with conflict transformation, education, and communication to increase understanding and build relationships across belief systems; and
WHEREAS, further, an interfaith advisory board would allow the County to acknowledge and celebrate the rich diversity and unity of the various beliefs that are the framework and fabric of Miami-Dade County�s faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities; and
WHEREAS, an interfaith advisory board would also provide a means for people from different backgrounds to work collaboratively on matters of common interest, which would contribute to enhanced sensitivity toward and appreciation for each other and could lead to a more harmonious and peaceful coexistence among groups that have different beliefs; and
WHEREAS, an interfaith advisory board would be able to advise the Board on various matters that affect the faith or religious or spiritual well-being of community members,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Article XXIVA of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, is hereby created to read as follows:
ARTICLE XXIVA. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INTERFAITH ADVISORY BOARD.

Sec. 2-221. Creation and Purpose.

The Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board (�IAB�) is hereby created. The purpose of the IAB is to encourage greater understanding, respect, and cooperation among diverse faith-based, religious, and spiritual groups, institutions, and people in Miami-Dade County.

Sec. 2-222. Composition; membership.

(a) Composition. The IAB shall be comprised of a total of 27 voting members. Each member of the Board of County Commissioners (�Board�) shall appoint two members to the IAB and the Mayor shall appoint one member.

(b) Qualifications. Each member of the IAB shall be a permanent resident and duly qualified elector of Miami-Dade County in accordance with section 2-11.38 of the Code, as may be amended, and shall have knowledge of and interest in matters of importance to faith-based, religious, or spiritual communities.

(c) Compensation. IAB members shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for parking in a County leased or owned parking facility.

(d) Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner by which original members were appointed.

(e) Tenure and Removal. All IAB members shall serve four-year terms. The term limits of IAB members appointed by Board members shall be in accordance with section 2-11.38.2 of the Code, as may be amended from time to time. Any Board member who has appointed a member of the IAB may at any time, with or without cause, remove said board member from the IAB by filing a notice with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners (�Clerk of the Board�) and appointing a different person to fill the position.

(f) Attendance. Attendance requirements for members shall be in accordance with section 2-11.39 of the Code, as may be amended from time to time.

Sec. 2-223. Organization.

(a) Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations. The IAB shall establish, adopt, and amend bylaws, rules, and regulations for its own governance. In the event that the IAB does not adopt rules or policies, or its adopted rules or policies do not address a particular situation, then the applicable provisions of the Board of County Commissioners� Rules of Procedure, as such may be amended from time to time, shall apply.

(b) Officers. IAB members shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and such other additional offices as the board shall deem necessary. All officers shall serve one-year terms. No member shall remain in the same office for more than two consecutive years. After one year of not holding the office, a member may be elected to the same office that was previously held, for up to two additional consecutive years. Officer elections shall take place each November, with newly elected officers installed in January.

The chairperson shall preside at all meetings. The vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. In the absence of the chairperson and vice-chairperson, the IAB, through a majority vote of appointed members, may select a member of the board to preside over meetings.

(c) Staff support. The Office of Community Advocacy, County Attorney, and the Clerk of the Board shall provide appropriate support to the IAB

(i) The Office of Community Advocacy, an office that is under and reports directly to the Board, or its successor office, shall provide adequate staff and support services to the IAB. Such support and services shall enable the IAB to carry out its duties and responsibilities. Among such other duties and responsibilities, the Office of Community Advocacy shall:

A. maintain and keep the records of the IAB, including ensuring the IAB�s roster is current;

B. prepare, in cooperation with the chairperson, the agenda for each meeting;

C. be responsible for the preparation of such reports, documents, resolutions, or correspondences as the IAB may direct;

D. take minutes and make such minutes available on the Miami-Dade County website; and


E. generally administer the business and affairs of the IAB, subject to budgetary limitations.

The Chairperson of the Board >>of County Commissioners<<1 shall have the power to appoint, employ, remove, and supervise staff as deemed necessary to provide appropriate staff and support to the IAB, who shall serve at the will of the Chairperson of the Board >>of County Commissioners<<.

(ii) The County Attorney shall provide legal counsel to the IAB.

(iii) The Clerk of the Board shall maintain a current roster of the IAB membership and maintain minutes of the IAB�s meetings.

(d) Quorum. A quorum shall be required to transact any business or exercise any power vested in the IAB. A quorum for the IAB shall consist of a majority of those persons duly appointed to the board, provided that at least half of the full board membership has been appointed. The IAB shall not transact business or exercise its powers unless a majority of the quorum in attendance votes in favor of the activity.

(e) Committees. The IAB may appoint committees and subcommittees to accomplish its tasks.

Sec. 2-224. Meetings.

The IAB shall hold regular monthly meetings and such other meetings, as it deems necessary. The chairperson, or a minimum of 14 members of the IAB, upon written request to the chairperson, may call for a special meeting. Further, the IAB, at any duly noticed public meeting, may fix and call a meeting on a future date.

Sec. 2-225. Duties; powers; responsibilities.

The IAB shall have the following duties, powers and responsibilities:

(a) The IAB shall advise the Board on issues relevant to faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities.

(b) The IAB shall serve as a liaison between the Board and faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities. This relationship will enable outreach with the faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities and receipt of input on the needs of said communities that may involve or be addressed by the County.

(c) The IAB shall recommend activities or programming that promote cooperative service, encourage collaboration, work to eliminate prejudice, and increase sensitivity throughout faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities.

(d) The IAB shall act as an advisor to the Board on all other policy matters pertaining to the faith-based, religious, and spiritual communities in Miami-Dade County, as may be requested by the Board.

(e) The IAB shall report at least annually to the Board as to its activities, recommendations, and other relevant issues and shall appear as needed before the Board to present any matters pertinent to the IAB. The completed reports required by this section shall be placed on an agenda of the Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.

Sec. 2-226. Applicability of State and County rules and procedures.

The IAB shall at all times operate under the Florida�s open government laws, including, but not limited to the Government in Sunshine Law and the Citizens� Bill of Rights of the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter as well as other laws applicable to public advisory board membership. Additionally, the IAB shall be deemed an �agency� for the purposes of the state�s 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, as may be amended, including, but not limited to, section 2-11.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.
The IAB shall also provide members of the public a reasonable opportunity to be heard, consistent with section 286.0114, Florida Statutes. Accordingly, rule 6.06 of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners Rules of Procedures is incorporated herein.


Sec. 2-227 � 2-230. Reserved.

Section 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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.

1 Committee amendments are indicated as follows: Words double stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] are deleted, words double underlined and/or >>double arrowed<< are added.