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Ordinance 2024-4666ORDINANCE NO.2024-4666 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,ENTITLED "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES,"BY AMENDING ARTICLE I,ENTITLED "IN GENERAL,"BY AMENDING SECTION 70-1 THEREOF,ENTITLED "STATE MISDEMEANORS,"BY ADOPTING,THROUGH SPECIFIC REFERENCE, THE STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OF THREATENING OR HARASSING SPECIFIED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS,TO AFFIRMATIVELY ESTABLISH OFFENSES AGAINST MUNICIPAL LAW FOR THE SAME ACTS THAT CONSTITUTE SUCH OFFENSES AGAINST STATE LAW;AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY,CODIFICATION,AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,on September 25,2017,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No.2017-30023,which authorized the City Attorney's Office to commence the in-house prosecution,by and through a City municipal prosecution team,of those individuals exclusively charged with violating the City's criminal ordinances;and WHEREAS,the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office {the "Miami-Dade SAO")continues to be the prosecutorial entity responsible for the prosecution of those offenders arrested for the commission of all felony,misdemeanor,and/or County ordinance violations committed in Miami- Dade County;and WHEREAS,although statistical data reflects a downward trend in crime within the City largely due to the efforts of law enforcement and the successful municipal prosecution program, the City continues to contend with certain quality of life offenses being committed within its jurisdictional bounds;and WHEREAS,the commission of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance offenses adversely impact residents'quality of life and tourists'vacation experience,and continues to generate complaints from the City's residents,visitors,and business establishments;and WHEREAS,some of those misdemeanor offenses which most adversely affect the City's residents,visitors,and businesses include battery,indecent exposure,criminal mischief,breach of the peace I disorderly conduct,and trespassing;and WHEREAS,in order to acquire greater control and discretion regarding the prosecution of certain misdemeanor offenses occurring in the City,and to relieve the Miami-Dade SAO of some of its prosecutorial burden,the City desires to become the entity responsible for the prosecution,as criminal municipal ordinance violations,of the same conduct that would otherwise constitute the State law criminal offenses of trespassing in a structure or conveyance and trespassing on property other than a structure or conveyance;and WHEREAS,Florida caselaw has established that a municipality may enact an ordinance which creates an offense against municipal law for the same act that constitutes an offense against State law (see Jaramillo v.City of Homestead,322 So.2d 496 (Fla.1975));and WHEREAS,Florida law has further established that a municipality,by ordinance,may adopt State misdemeanor statutes by specific reference or by general reference,such as that contained in an ordinance making it unlawful to commit,within City limits,any act which is (or shall be)recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor (Id.at 498);and WHEREAS,the City previously established,pursuant to Section 70-1 of the City Code, that it is unlawful for any person to commit within the City any act that is (or shall be)recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and that the commission of such acts is forbidden; and WHEREAS,on January 20,2022,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No.2022-32020,which expanded the City's municipal prosecution program by directing that the City shall become the primary entity responsible for the prosecution of the State law misdemeanor offenses of battery (except domestic battery),criminal mischief,and indecent exposure;and WHEREAS,on March 9,2022,pursuant to Resolution No.2022-32020,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No.2022-4477,which created specific offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of battery (non-domestic),criminal mischief and exposure of sexual organs (indecent exposure);and WHEREAS,on October 26,2022,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No.2022-4520 which created a specific offense against municipal law for the same acts that constitutes the State law misdemeanor offense of breach of the peace I disorderly conduct;and WHEREAS,on February 10,2024,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No.2024-4588 which created specific offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of assault,loitering or prowling,and disorderly conduct on the premises of an establishment;and WHEREAS,the Mayor and City Commission hereby desire to adopt the following amendments in order to further expand the City's municipal prosecution program by creating, through specific reference,offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of threatening or harassing specified public employees,officers, and officials. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1.That the Section of the City Code creating offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute misdemeanor offenses against State law,as such Ordinance is codified in section 70-1 of the City Code,be amended as follows and as hereinafter set forth below: CHAPTER 70 MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES *k * ARTICLE I.IN GENERAL ** 2 * Sec.70-1.State misdemeanors. (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit within the city any act that is or shall be recognized by the laws of the state as a misdemeanor,and the commission of such acts is hereby forbidden. {b)Repealed. (c)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit.within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor battery,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§784.03. (d)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor criminal mischief,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§ 806.13. (e)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor exposure of sexual organs (indecent exposure),as such offense is set forth in F.S.§800.03. (f)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor breach of the peace/disorderly conduct,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§877.03. (g)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor assault,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§784.011. {h)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor loitering or prowling,as such offense is set forth in F.S. §856.021. (i)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor disorderly conduct on the premises of an establishment,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§509.143. (j)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor trespass in a structure or conveyance,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§810.08. (k)It shall be unlawful for any person to commit,within the city,any act that is or shall be recognized as a misdemeanor trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§810.09. ill It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and willfully threaten a law enforcement officer,a state attorney,an assistant state attorney,a firefighter,or an elected official, or a family member of any such person,with death or serious bodily harm,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§836.12(2)(a). illJ1 It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and willfully harass a law enforcement officer,a state attorney,an assistant state attorney,a firefighter,or an elected official, with the intent to intimidate or coerce such a person to perform or refrain from performing a lawful duty,as such offense is set forth in F.S.§836.12(3). SECTION 2.REPEALER. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be and the same are hereby repealed. 3 SECTION 3.SEVERABILITY. If any section,subsection,clause or provision of this Ordinance is held invalid,the remaindershall not be affected by such invalidity. SECTION 4,CODIFICATION. It is the intention of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach,and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made part of the Miami Beach City Code.The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such intention,and the word "ordinance"may be changed to "section,""article,"or other appropriate word. SECTION 5.EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect on the32 day or _/lout»ye ,2024. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20 day of _ob¢•,2024 . ATTEST: ~NOV 2£2021 Rafael Ee.oaaG .Cy Clerk Underline denotes additions. Strikethrough denotes deletions. (Sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez) Co-S ponso red by Mayor Steven Meiner A P PRO V ED AS TO FO R M &LA N G U A G E O R EX EC U TIO N 1o]2 Jzo z ( Date 4 Ordinances -R5 P MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM:City Attorney Ricardo J.Dopico DATE: TITLE: November 20,2024 10:35 a.m.Second Reading Public Hearing AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,ENTITLED "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES,"BY AMENDING ARTICLE I,ENTITLED "IN GENERAL,"BY AMENDING SECTION 70- 1 THEREOF,ENTITLED "STATE MISDEMEANORS,"BY ADOPTING,THROUGH SPECIFIC REFERENCE,THE STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OF THREATENING OR HARASSING SPECIFIED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS,TO AFFIRMATIVELY ESTABLISH OFFENSES AGAINST MUNICIPAL LAW FOR THE SAME ACTS THAT CONSTITUTE SUCH OFFENSES AGAINST STATE LAW;AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER,SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION,AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RECOMMENDATION Click or tap here to enter text. BACKGROUND/HISTORY The proposed Ordinance was approved on First Reading at the October 30,2024 City Commission meeting.No changes have been made between First and Second Reading. ANALYSIS The proposed Ordinance,sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez,is submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission. The proposed Ordinance,sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez,seeks to adopt,by specific reference,the state law misdemeanor offenses of threats or harassment against specified public employees,officers,and officials.The specified persons,as set forth in the Fla.Stat.836.12 and the Ordinance include,amongst others,law enforcement officers,firefighters,and elected officials.The Ordinance would affirmatively make the conduct underlying these crimes offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute such offenses against State law,and thereby permit the City's Municipal Prosecution Team to prosecute such criminal violations under City law. On September 25,2017,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No.2017-30023, which authorized the City Attorney's Office to commence the in-house prosecution,by and through a City municipal prosecution team,of those individuals exclusively charged with violating the City's criminal ordinances.However,the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office (the "Miami- Dade SAO")remained the prosecutorial entity responsible for the prosecution of persons arrested for the commission of all felony,misdemeanor,and/or County ordinance violations committed in Miami-Dade County. Although statistical data reflects a downward trend in crime within the City largely due to the effortsPage890of1993 of law enforcement and the successful municipal prosecution program,the City continues to contend with certain quality of life offenses being committed within its jurisdictional bounds.The commission of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance offenses in the City adversely impact residents'quality of life and tourists'vacation experience,and continues to generate complaints from the City's residents,visitors,and business establishments. Some of those misdemeanor offenses which most adversely affect the City's residents,visitors, and businesses include battery,indecent exposure,criminal mischief,and trespassing.In order to acquire greater control and discretion regarding the prosecution of certain misdemeanor offenses occurring within the City,and to relieve the Miami-Dade SAO of some of its prosecutorial burden,the City desires to become the primary entity responsible for the prosecution,as criminal municipal ordinance violations,of the same conduct that would otherwise constitute the State law criminal offenses of trespassing in a structure or conveyance and trespassing on property other than a structure or conveyance.Accordingly,on March 9,2022,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No.2022-4477,which created specific offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of battery (non-domestic),criminal mischief and exposure of sexual organs (indecent exposure). Then,on October 26,2022,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No.2022-4520, which created a specific offense against municipal law for the same act(s)that constitute the State law misdemeanor offense of breach of the peace /disorderly conduct. Most recently,on February 10,2024,the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2024-4588 which created specific offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of assault,loitering or prowling,and disorderly conduct on the premises of an establishment;and The proposed Ordinance would create,through specific reference,offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitute the State law misdemeanor offenses of threats and/or harassment against specified public employees,officers,and officials (Fla.Stat.836.12).Florida caselaw has established that a municipality may enact ordinances which create offenses against municipal law for the same acts that constitutes offenses against State law.Under Florida law,a municipality may,by ordinance,adopt State misdemeanor statutes by specific reference or by general reference,such as that contained in an ordinance making it unlawful to commit,within City limits,any act which is (or shall be)recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT NIA. Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?Yes (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) If applicable,the Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on:11/5/2024. See BIE at:https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCLUSION Applicable Area Page 891 of 1993 Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know"item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Is this item related to a G.O.Bond Project? No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec_2.481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): Department City Attorney Sponsor(s) Commissioner Laura Dominguez Cosponsor(s) Mayor Steven Meiner Condensed Title 10:35 p.m.2nd Rdg.Adopt State Law Harassment Misdemeanors Against Specified Persons. (AD/SM)CA Page 892 of 1993