Item Coversheet

Ordinances - R5  A




COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission 
FROM:Alina T. Hudak, City Manager 
DATE:June  28, 2023
 

10:10 a.m. Second Reading Public Hearing

SUBJECT: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 CREATING DIVISION 33, ENTITLED "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; AND, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the Ordinance codifying the North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee as a permanent Commission Committee in section 2-22 of the City Code.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

On January 13, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31560, establishing the Ad Hoc North Beach CRA Advisory Committee (the "Committee") as an advisory body to the Mayor, City Commission, and City Manager, in connection with the North Beach CRA.

On February 10, 2021, Resolution No. 2021-31594 amended Resolution No. 2021-31560 and modified the requirements for composition of the Committee. The Committee convened ten (10) times between March and October 2021, primarily to provide input on preparation of the North Beach CRA Redevelopment Plan, which was approved by Miami-Dade County via Resolution R-696-21 on July 20, 2021. The Committee sunsetted on January 13, 2022, in accordance with City Code Section 2-22, which requires all ad hoc agency, board, and committee terms to expire after one (1) year.

On January 20, 2022, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2022-32005, re-establishing the Committee and extending the term of the existing Committee members for an additional year. Following regular monthly meetings, the Committee sunsetted on January 20, 2023.

On February 1, 2023, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2023-32455, re-establishing the Committee and extending the term of the existing Committee members for an additional year, unless terminated earlier by the City Commission.

ANALYSIS

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

The Committee’s members are appointed at-large by the City Commission as a whole, as opposed to direct appointment by individual commissioners. Per City Code Section 2-22, the City Commission is obligated to adopt a resolution once every 12 months for the Committee to remain active. During its most recent complete term, the Committee met virtually on a monthly basis (i.e., 11 occurrences per year with an August recess) with in-person meetings held in North Beach on a quarterly basis.

Given the frequency of the Committee’s meetings and its contribution to administering the CRA, the City Commission seeks to ensure the direct participation of residents, stakeholders, and community members in the North Beach CRA by establishing the Committee on a permanent basis.

As the Committee members are appointed at-large by the City Commission acting together, the Administration recommends the continuation of the existing term of the six (6) incumbent Committee members through January 20, 2024. The current Committee members include:

(i) Jose Smith, Chair
(ii) Betsy Perez, Vice Chair
(iii) Romina Orozco-Encio
(iv) Ronnie Issenberg
(v) Manning Salazar
(vi) David Sexton
(vii) Vacant

 

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 Ordinance 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 and again via Resolution No. 2023-32455 on February 1, 2023.

The Economic Development Department and Office of Capital Improvement Projects will remain as the Committee’s liaisons with assistance from the City Attorney’s Office.

SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA

The North Beach CRA Redevelopment Plan’s Redevelopment Goal No. 3, Strengthen Cultural Arts, Branding & Marketing, and Communication, encourages strategies to spur community engagement and resident participation, and to effectively communicate the vision of the Redevelopment Area to residents and stakeholders. According to the Miami Beach 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey, 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%. Appointment of North Beach residents and stakeholders onto the Committee boosts public participation in the CRA process.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

There is no fiscal impact associated with this resolution.

CONCLUSION

The Ad Hoc North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee members have made significant effort and progress in their roles including, but not limited to, reviewing the Redevelopment Plan and Interlocal Agreement, helping plan for implementation of the Redevelopment Plan via budgetary recommendations, and providing feedback regarding the North Beach CRA’s initial programming initiatives. The Administration recommends approval of the ordinance authorizing permanent establishment of the North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee, subject to any future amendment to Chapter 2 of the City Code.

Applicable Area

Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
Yes No 

Strategic Connection

Non-Applicable
Legislative Tracking
Economic Development
Sponsor
Commissioner Laura Dominguez

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Ordinance