A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RE-ESTABLISHING THE AD HOC NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN; EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE EXISTING MEMBERS FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR TO JANUARY 20, 2024, UNLESS TERMINATED EARLIER BY THE CITY COMMISSION; PRESCRIBING THE PURPOSE, POWERS AND DUTIES, COMPOSITION, TERMS OF OFFICE, AND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS; AND, FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISON TO THE COMMITTEE.

Under the leadership of Chair Jose Smith and Vice Chair Betsy Perez, the Committee has provided the City Commission with advisory recommendations on subject matter, including the North Beach CRA’s FY 2023 budget priorities, advocacy for development projects of public interest, exploring economic development activities, and encouraging greater residential and business community involvement in North Beach CRA affairs.

Accordingly, the City Commission seeks to re-establish the Committee for an additional year to ensure continuity and the direct participation of residents, stakeholders, and community members in the North Beach CRA. As the Committee members are appointed at-large by the City Commission acting together, the Administration recommends that the term of the seven (7) incumbent Committee members be extended for an additional year. The current Committee members include:

1. Jose Smith, Chair
2. Betsy Perez, Vice Chair
3. John Bowes
4. Romina Orozco-Encio
5. Ronnie Issenberg
6. Manning Salazar
7. David Sexton

City Code Section 2-22 requires that the enabling legislation for all boards and committees contain qualifications for membership as to knowledge and experience. Exhibit "A" to the Resolution accompanying this Memorandum outlines the purpose and powers of the Committee, its membership composition requirements, and administrative liaisons. None of these substantive requirements have been modified post Resolution No. 2021-31594 on February 10, 2021, nor when the Committee was extended for one year via Resolution No. 2022-32005 on January 20, 2022. The Economic Development Department and Office of Capital Improvement Projects remain as the Committee’s liaisons with assistance from the City Attorney’s Office.

The Administration is also preparing an ordinance for consideration by the City Commission, on a subsequent date, to permanently establish the North Beach CRA Advisory Committee going forward. The resolution currently being proposed would extend the Committee, on an ad hoc basis, until such time as the City Commission may determine that the Committee be made continuous.

According to the 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey conducted by the ETC Institute, between 2019 and 2022, the percentage of respondents who perceive the City as open and interested in hearing the concerns or issues of residents fell from 56.4% to 49.0%. Active public engagement plays a vital role in the success of the North Beach CRA and this resolution supports public participation in the planning process for North Beach.