AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," BY AMENDING ARTICLE Ill, ENTITLED "AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES," BY AMENDING DIVISION 29 AND SECTIONS 2190.128 - 2-190.133 THEREOF, ENTITLED "RESERVED," TO ESTABLISH THE "AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE," AND TO SET FORTH THE PURPOSE, POWERS AND DUTIES, COMPOSITION, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT; AND, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Pursuant to the request of Mayor Gelber, the above-reference Ordinance is submitted for consideration on First Reading at the September 16, 2020 City Commission meeting.

The creation of the African American Affairs Committee was referred to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC), and at its meeting on July 15, 2020, the NQLC considered the proposed creation and provided a favorable recommendation.

The Office of the Mayor and City Commission has advised that current resources will be utilized to provide support to the African American Affairs Committee.

The ability to advocate more meaningfully for African American interests in the management and administration of the City of Miami Beach is important to the growth of the City. The input of diverse voices and opinions by specific City stakeholders is what makes Miami Beach special. We invest in the collective and individual contributions from diverse groups such as the Hispanic Affairs Committee, LGBTQ Advisory Committee, Commission for Women, Next Generation Council, Senior Affairs, and the Youth Commission because their interests and contributions matter to the success, health and wealth of our community.

Accordingly, with the City's commemoration of Juneteenth this June 2020, it is an auspicious time for the City of Miami Beach to create an African American Affairs Committee. By creating and providing a safe space where the African American community can explore their concerns on how the City can leverage and incorporate those ideas and efforts to improve the quality of life of our residents, businesses, visitors and more.

The Mayor recommend a nine (9) member committee: seven (7) direct appointment by the Mayor and City Commissioners, and two (2) at large appointments.

The appointees would advise on how the City can create cultural and community connections by working to preserve, present, and maintain cultural history and advocate for educational, social and economic equity with the understanding that service is to focus on cultures representing Blacks/African Americans and all individuals within the African Diaspora in the City of Miami Beach.

The Administration also recommends an ordinance to create the African American Affairs Committee to encourage and enhance the contributions of the Black/African American community into everything that is Miami Beach.