The placement of non-Miami Beach related resolutions on City Commission agendas (usually on the consent agenda) has become a regular practice that I propose we should curtail voluntarily or, if necessary, by legislative action. I believe that non-Miami Beach related resolutions should be minimized and/or prohibited for the following reasons:

• The non-Miami Beach related resolutions utilize City resources such as our legal department to draft multi-page documents and place them on the City Commission agenda. As an elected body, the City Commission acts as a fiduciary of taxpayer dollars and non-Miami Beach related resolutions needlessly expend these scarce resources.

• On multiple occasions, the non-Miami Beach related resolutions have been added to the City Commission agenda within 48 hours of City Commission meetings. This makes it challenging to conduct the proper due diligence, outreach and research befitting any City Commission legislation.

• Most topics addressed in these non-Miami Beach related resolutions are outside the scope of local government’s authority to act, inaccurately suggesting to Miami Beach residents that we can and/or should be legislating on the extraneous issue addressed therein.

• Most items included in non-Miami Beach related resolutions are not properly vetted through the residents and may not reflect a consensus of the City’s community.

• Most non-Miami Beach related resolutions contain no administration analysis or input. Therefore, it is incumbent solely on each Commissioner to research the non-Miami Beach related issue, conduct the appropriate due diligence, and conduct resident outreach on complex and sensitive issues often under tight time constraints. This is time that is better spent focusing on legislation that directly impacts Miami Beach residents, businesses, and visitors and communicating with residents and stakeholders to listen to and understand their concerns and suggestions.

• The frequency with which these extraneous non-Miami Beach related resolutions appear on the City Commission agenda dilutes any possible symbolic authority that they may provide (which is minimal anyway).

• Most non-Miami Beach related resolutions appear focused on partisan interests that I believe are inappropriate for this Commission, which, pursuant to the City Charter, is nonpartisan.

This Memorandum intends to start a discussion on non-Miami Beach related resolutions coming before the City Commission that is beyond our local government’s authority to act.