2018-30661 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2018-30661
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RE-ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC
ANTI-BULLYING TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES AND LAWS TO PROTECT YOUTH
FROM BULLYING IN ALL CITY SERVICES, CITY-SUPPORTED
SERVICES, AND CITY FACILITIES; AND, PRESCRIBING THE
DUTIES, COMPOSITION, MANNER OF APPOINTMENT,
SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT, AND TERM OF OFFICE OF TASK
FORCE MEMBERS.
WHEREAS, bullying creates a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair
the physical and psychological well-being of its victims, creating conditions that negatively
affect learning, thereby undermining the ability of students to achieve their full potential; and
WHEREAS, bullying has become the subject of local, state, and national concern,
resulting in an increased focus on prevention in Florida schools through policies that permit
students to transfer to other schools to ensure a safe environment for students; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Commissioner Michael Gongora championed a partnership
between the City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade Public Schools, and the Anti-Defamation
League to implement a citywide anti-bullying program in the 2013-14 School Year, entitled
"No Place for Hate," which resulted in the designation of the City of Miami Beach as a
Community of Respect by the Anti-Defamation League; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 2017-29731, adopted by the City Commission
in February 2017, the City of Miami Beach again partnered with Miami-Dade Public Schools
and the Anti-Defamation League to implement the "No Place for Hate" anti-bullying program
in all six Miami Beach public schools to continue to address bullying prevention and to foster
a safe and respectful school environment where youth can flourish and learn; and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on June 13, 2017, the City's LGBTQ Committee
unanimously approved a motion recommending that a task force be created and charged with
ensuring that all youth—including at-risk LGBTQ youth—are protected from bullying (in
policies that prohibit bullying on the express basis of sexual orientation and gender identity) in
all City services, City-supported services, and City facilities; and
WHEREAS, in both the 2017 and 2018 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the City of
Miami. Beach received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in its
annual national evaluation of municipalities, which rates municipalities in such categories as
non-discrimination laws, municipal employer benefits and policies, municipal services, law
enforcement, and relationships with the LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, in order to continue to maintain the City's strong commitment to anti-
bullying and anti-discrimination policies and programs, an Ad Hoc Anti-Bullying Task Force
("Task Force") was created pursuant to Resolution No. 2017-30109 to ensure that all youth,
/ including at-risk LGBTQ youth, are protected from bullying in all City services, City-supported
services, and City facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Ad Hoc Anti-Bullying Task Force will sunset on January 1, 2019;
however, in order for the Task Force to continue its important work, the Task Force, as
initially constituted and established in Resolution No. 2017-30109, should be re-established
for one year with the terms of membership to begin on January 1, 2019 and to expire on
January 1, 2020, subject to earlier or later sunset by the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, the duties of the Task Force shall be to provide ideas and
recommendations to the Mayor and City Commission for the development of anti-bullying
policies and laws to protect all youth including at-risk LGBTQ youth, from bullying in all City
services, City-supported services, and City facilities; the Task Force shall be composed of
seven (7) members who shall be direct appointments by the Mayor and City Commissioners
and shall report to and receive direction and input from the Mayor and City Commission; and
the supporting department for the Task Force shall continue to be the Police Department; and
WHEREAS, the terms of membership on the Task Force shall begin on January 1,
2019 and expire on January 1, 2020 (subject to earlier or later sunset by the City
Commission).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby re-establish the Ad Hoc Anti-Bullying Task Force, whose members shall
have the duty to provide ideas and recommendations to the Mayor and City Commission for
the development of anti-bullying policies and laws to protect all youth from bullying in all City
services, City-supported services, and City facilities and shall report to and receive direction
from the Mayor and City Commission, the Task Force shall be composed of seven (7)
members who shall be direct appointments by the Mayor and City Commission with terms of
membership to begin on January 1, 2019 and to expire on January 1, 2020 (subject to earlier
or later sunset by the City Commission), and the Task Force shall be supported by the Police
Department.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 12th day of December, 2018.
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ATTEST: _
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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