I am recommending reappointing Enrique Zamora, Esq. as Chief Special Master. Mr. Zamora possesses the knowledge, skills, and attributes to undertake this important role. Attached are two Resolutions providing for the reappointment by the City Commission of Mr. Zamora. The first Resolution reappoints Mr. Zamora as Chief Special Master for Code Enforcement violations under Chapter 30 of the City Code; the second Resolution reappoints Mr. Zamora to hear appeals from citations and violations or denials, suspensions, and revocations of certificates of use pursuant to Chapter 102 of the Miami Beach City Code. Language has been added to the Resolutions prohibiting the Chief Special Master and each Special Master from engaging in practice where he/she represents a client in a manner adverse to the interests of the City of Miami Beach, and from lobbying the City during his/her service with the City. Mr. Zamora was first appointed as the Chief Special Master for the City of Miami Beach on the April 23, 2014 City Commission Meeting.
Mr. Zamora is a partner with the law firm of Zamora & Hillman. Mr. Zamora’s practice includes the areas of probate administration, probate litigation, guardianship, estate planning and elder law. He is also a certified civil mediator. He has been the chair of the Guardianship Committee of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and member of the Guardianship Task Force where he represents the Elder Law Section. Mr. Zamora is an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University School of Law where he teaches Elder Law. He is the past chair of the Probate and Guardianship Committee of the Dade County Bar Association, where he also served as Vice-Chair and Secretary. Mr. Zamora has served as general counsel, director and president of the South Florida Guardianship Association. Mr. Zamora has acted as General Master, Guardian Advocate and Special Public Defender in Baker Act proceedings for the last nine years. Mr. Zamora was the recipient of the 2000 Put Something Back Pro Bono Award presented by the Dade County Bar Association, and he received the Leo Pelitic Outstanding Legal Service Award in 1999 from the Association for Retarded Citizens, South Florida.
Mr. Zamora has a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami School of Law (1985); a Master of Business Administration (1975) and a Master of Science Management in Accounting and Taxation (1981) from Florida International University; and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1971) from the University of Florida.
A copy of Mr. Zamora’s resume is attached for your review.
Statistics:
1. Since February 6, 2020, the Special Master hearings have concluded as follows:
February 6, 2020 - 6:25 p.m. *
February 10, 2020 - 11:38 a.m.
February 13, 2020 - 7:02 p.m. *
February 27, 2020 - 7:00 p.m.*
March 12, 2020 - 4:35 p.m.
April and May of 2020 - No hearings due to COVID-19
June 4, 2020- 4:15 p.m.
June 11, 2020 - 4:02 p.m.
June 18, 2020 - 4:07 p.m.
July 9, 2020 - 3:16 p.m.
July 16, 2020- 4:08 p.m.
July 23, 2020 - 12:59 p.m.
July 30, 2020 - 11:51 a.m.
Cases labeled with an asterisk (*) include a night session, commencing at 6:00 p.m.
2. Neither the Office of the City Clerk, the Office of the City Manager, nor the Office of the City Attorney has received either formal complaints or internal complaints against the Chief Special Master or the Special Masters since the appointment of Enrique Zamora as Chief Special Master on April 23, 2014.