LTC 041-2017 Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust ResolutionMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
No.
041-2017
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
DATE: January 24, 2017
SUBJECT: MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST RESOLUTION
Please see attached Civility Resolution passed on January 11, 2017 by the Miami-Dade
Commission on Ethics and Public Trust.
RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND
PUBLIC TRUST RECOMMENDING ADOPTION BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
AND EVERY MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE COUNTY OF AN AMENDMENT
ADDING AN OATH OF CIVILITY TO THE OATHS OF OFFICE
ADMINISTERED TO ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED PUBLIC
OFFICIALS.
Mr. Joseph Centorino, Executive Director and General Counsel of Miami-Dade Commission on
Ethics and Public Trust, has requested that a copy of this resolution be provided to the Miami
Beach Mayor and Commissioners.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673.7411.
LC/REG
Attachment
FACLERULL\LILIAITC's - Transmittars\Civility Resolution.docx
RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON ETHICS
AND PUBLIC TRUST RECOMMENDING ADOPTION BY MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY AND EVERY MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE
COUNTY OF AN AMENDMENT ADDING AN OATH OF CIVILITY
TO THE OATHS OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO ALL ELECTED
AND APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS
WI-I
FREAS, the establishment of ethics in government and the practice of ethical
conduct by public officials requires that those who hold the public trust practice and
maintain respect for the human dignity of -their peers, subordinates; political allies
and adversaries, as well as members of the general public; and
WHEREAS, the level of respect or disrespect for human dignity is most often on
display in personal interactions between and among those who engage in public
service, as well as those who aspire to public office in political campaigns; and
WHEREAS, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "It is the manners and spirit of a
people which preserve a republic in vigour...a degeneracy in these is a canker which
soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution; and
WHEREAS, through our common experience and the observed behavior of public
officials, either personally or through the media, it has become apparent that there
has occurred a degeneracy in the level of civility shown by too many of those who
participate in government, including public servants, those who aspire to be public
servants, and those who interact with public servants; and
WHEREAS, it has reached a point where uncivil, rude, and insulting behavior,
which demeans both the perpetrators as well as those subjected to such behavior, has
become too prevalent and too accepted in government and in political campaigns at
all levels; and
WHEREAS, this lack of civility threatens the integrity and proper functioning of
government and politics, not only in Miami-Dade County, but throughout the
country; and
WHEREAS, the practice of civility in government may be maintained at no cost to
the taxpayers and without impeding the free flow of ideas or the vigorous debate of
important public issues; and
I-DADE COMM. SS ON ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST
v(ff:i"Ze Schwa hair
TH
WI-TEREAS, in 2011, the Florida Supreme Court added language to the Oath of
Admission to The Florida Bar, sworn to by every newly-admitted attorney, requiring
civility by attorneys to opposing parties and their counsel in court and i.n all written
and oral communications; and
WHEREAS, the same requirement and expectation of civility and integrity ought to
apply to all of those sworn to serve in govermnent; and
WHEREAS, a review conducted by the staff of the Miami-Dade Commission on
Ethics and Public Trust has revealed that such a requirement is absent from oaths of
office administered to public officials in Miami-Dade County government and in the
municipalities with the County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
1) That the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust recommends
the adoption by the Miami-Dade County Commission and by the governing
bodies of all municipalities within the County, of the following language, or
language of similar import and meaning, in oaths of office administered to all
elected and appointed public officials:
"To my colleagues and to all of those I represent and serve, I pledge fairness,
integrity and civility, in all actions taken and all communications made by me
as a public servant"
2) That this RESOLUTION shall be communicated to the Clerks of all County
and municipal governing bodies in Miami-Dade County together with a
request that this proposed action be placed on the agenda at a fortacoming
public meeting of each body.
Adopted this day of I , 2017