2017-4115 Ordinance RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW
ORDINANCE NO. 2017-4115
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER
2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, ENTITLED
"ADMINISTRATION," BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED
"CITY COMMISSION," BY CREATING SECTION 2-14 TO BE
ENTITLED "RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW," TO CODIFY THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, DEFINE
MATTERS THAT IMPACT RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE,
PROVIDE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT A
PROCESS FOR REGISTERING NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS WHO CHOOSE
TO REGISTER, REQUIRE TARGETED ELECTRONIC
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTICES FOR MATTERS THAT IMPACT
RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE, ALLOW FOR TIMELY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT, SUPPLEMENT
EXISTING PROVISIONS IN THE CITY CODE RELATING TO
PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS IN QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS,
PROVIDE THAT ANY AMENDMENT OR REPEALER OF THIS
ORDINANCE SHALL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF
5/7THS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DIRECT THE CITY
MANAGER OR THE MANAGER'S DESIGNEE TO CONDUCT
PERIODIC REVIEW AND PREPARE ANNUAL WRITTEN
REPORTS, AND PROVIDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER;
AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION,
SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Paragraph (A)5 of the Citizens' Bill of Rights provides for a right to be heard
before the City Commission or any City agency, board, or department with regard to the
presentation, adjustment, or determination of an issue, request, or controversy within the
jurisdiction of the City; and
WHEREAS, likewise, Paragraph (A)6 of the Citizens' Bill of Rights provides that
"[p]ersons entitled to notice of a City hearing shall be timely informed as to the time, place and
nature of the hearing and the legal authority pursuant to which the hearing is to be held"; and
WHEREAS, in the spirit of encouraging public notice and public participation in City
government, the Mayor and City Commission desire to enact this Residents' Right to Know
Ordinance to provide for targeted neighborhood notices, timely opportunities for input, and
procedural fairness in quasi-judicial hearings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That Section 2-14 of Chapter 2 of the Miami Beach City Code is hereby created to
state as follows:
CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION
Article II. City Commission
* * *
Sec. 2-14. - Residents' Right to Know.
01 Legislative intent. It shall be the policy of the city to provide targeted neighborhood
notice, timely opportunities for input, and procedural fairness in hearings for any
proposed policy, ordinance, project, or other matter that impacts residents' quality of life.
(b) Impacts to residents' quality of life. Matters that impact residents' quality of life shall
include the following:
0.1 any position that has been formally adopted by resolution of a registered
neighborhood association and transmitted to the city through its city manager;
gi any application for development review before the city's land use boards, or any
proposed zoning legislation before the city commission, that includes the potential for
lot aggregation, or that includes the potential for material increase in (i) traffic over
current levels, (ii) required parking, (iii) building height, (iv) base elevation, (v)
intensity of uses, (vi) density, or (vii) floor area ratio;
(3) development proposals that require approval by the city commission which propose
a. changes of use or commercialization in a public park, public beach, or other
public property or public easement; or
b. the design and implementation of a streetscape, transit, pedestrian, parking, or
area improvement project (other than routine repairs and maintenance); and
any material change to any of the matters listed in subsections (b)(1) through (b)(3)
above.
For purposes of this Ordinance, a "material increase" shall be defined as any
increase in building height or base elevation over three (3) feet, any increase in
density, or any increase in floor area ratio. Additionally, a "material increase" shall be
defined as any increase in traffic over current levels, required parking, or intensity of
uses that the planning director considers to be substantial.
Lcl Targeted neighborhood notice. The city commission shall adopt a process by resolution
(as may be amended from time to time) for registering neighborhood associations and
shall provide targeted electronic notices on matters that impact residents' quality of life,
as defined above and, in addition to targeted electronic notice, the city shall post such
notices on the city's website. Targeted neighborhood notices at each step in the public
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process, excluding emergency matters requiring immediate action, shall be in addition to
any other public notices required by law. Registered neighborhood associations shall
have the opportunity to register for specifically categorized notices based on whether a
particular action affects North Beach, Mid-Beach, or South Beach. Notices shall be
written in plain English, and both the title and summary shall objectively describe the
proposed action.
For purposes of this Ordinance, the term "neighborhood association" shall be defined as
an organization of residential homeowners and tenants created to address quality of life
issues in a defined neighborhood or community.
Notwithstanding the above, an individual resident of Miami Beach may also register to
receive targeted neighborhood notices. In order to be eligible for registration, an
individual shall have been a resident of the city for a minimum of six (6) months, and
must provide the city with a reasonable form of identification exhibiting proof of residency
(to be defined in the resolution described above) upon registering.
Registered neighborhood associations (and individuals who choose to register) must
renew their registrations on an annual basis.
(d) Timely opportunities for input. Once a matter that impacts residents' quality of life (as
defined above) is referred to a city commission committee or land use board, or once a
matter is placed on an agenda for approval by the city commission, the city shall use
reasonable good faith efforts to ensure that registered neighborhood associations (and
individuals who choose to register) have an opportunity to participate in city processes
that shape any matter that impacts residents' quality of life (as defined in subsection (b)
above).
igl Procedural fairness in quasi-judicial hearings. The city shall ensure that representatives
of registered neighborhood associations (and individuals who choose to register) shall
have the opportunity at quasi-judicial hearings before the city's land use boards, or the
city commission, to present or rebut evidence relevant to matters that impact residents'
quality of life. Registered neighborhood associations (and individuals who choose to
register) do not need to retain legal counsel to exercise these procedural rights. Notices
of filing, and a copy of each quasi-judicial application, shall promptly be made available
on the city's website within three (3) days of filing, and amendments thereto or
supplemental information shall be filed and promptly made available on the city's
website in advance of the date of the scheduled hearing.
fl Amendment or repealer. Any amendment to this Ordinance (including the repealer of
any provision herein) shall require the affirmative vote of five-sevenths (5/7ths) of the city
commission.
igl Periodic review and annual report. The city manager, or the city manager's designee,
shall, annually during the city commission's review and approval of the city's annual
operating budget, present a written report to the city commission tracking and identifying
the operational implementation and fiscal impact of this Ordinance. The report shall
include statistics relating to the number of registered neighborhood associations and
individuals registered under the Ordinance and any amendments thereto; issues
pertaining to impacts to residents' quality of life that have resulted in the issuance of
3
targeted notices; the number of registered neighborhood associations and individuals
registered under the Ordinance that open each targeted notice and whether any links
therein are viewed; and any violations and/or complaints received by the city
administration with regard to the implementation of the procedures set forth in the
Ordinance.
101 Administration of this Ordinance. This Ordinance shall be administered by the office of
the city manager.
SECTION 2. REPEALER.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then said holding shall in no way affect
the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
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 a part of the
Code of the City of Miami Beach, Florida. The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or
re-lettered 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 January 1, 2018.
PASSED and ADOPTED this aV day of ,--7-61/y , 20
ATTEST: .47/
Philip Lev'? I � B Eel 14444 Mayor
Raf el E. r nado
City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissio - -' fist�;�`'�'=-nn • - Commissioner Michael Grieco)
Underline denotes addition-. - \ C,(0
0
Strike through denotes dele l�•ns ' � 0
APPROVED AS TO
F:\ATTO\KALN\ORDINANCES\Residents'Right to Know-Second Reading(as amended-clean).docxFORM & LANGUAGE
4
jar, ELUTION
Pri
City Attorney ` Date
Agenda Item R 5 6-
Date 7-26-17
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Philip Levine
Members of the City Commission
cc: Raul J. Aguila, City Attorney
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
FROM: Commissioner Ricky Arriola
DATE: July 26, 2017
SUBJECT: Residents' Right to Know Ordinance
Attached for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission are my proposed amendments
to the Residents' Right to Know Ordinance, which is scheduled for Second Reading/Public
Hearing on July 26, 2017.
Proposed amendments to Item R5G — Residents' Right to Know Ordinance
July 26, 2017
Sec. 2-14. - Residents' Right to Know.
* *
Lei
Procedural fairness in quasi-judicial hearings. The city shall ensure that representatives
of registered neighborhood associations (and individuals who choose to register) shall
have the opportunity at quasi-judicial hearings before the city's land use boards, or the
city commission, to present or rebut evidence relevant to matters that impact residents'
quality of life. • - -•- • - - - - •- - - - - • - e - -
Registered neighborhood associations (and individuals who
choose to register) do not need to retain legal counsel to exercise these procedural
rights. Notices of filing, and a copy of each quasi-judicial application, shall promptly be
made available on the city's website 40014 within three (3) days of filing, and
amendments thereto or supplemental information shall be filed and promptly made
available on the city's website in advance of the date of the scheduled hearing.
Ordinanoo. A roconcidoration may only bo roquoctod at tho publicly notiood land uco
Ordor, a motion to roconcidor muct bo mado by a board mombor or commiccionor who
* * *
Ordinances- R5 G
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: July 26, 2017
10:10 a.m. Second Reading Public Hearing
SUBJECT RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," BY AMENDING ARTICLE II,
ENTITLED "CITY COMMISSION," BY CREATING SECTION 2-14 TO BE
ENTITLED "RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW," TO CODIFY THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, DEFINE MATTERS THAT IMPACT RESIDENTS'
QUALITY OF LIFE, PROVIDE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT A
PROCESS FOR REGISTERING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND
INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO REGISTER, REQUIRE TARGETED
ELECTRONIC NEIGHBORHOOD NOTICES FOR MATTERS THAT IMPACT
RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE, ALLOW FOR TIMELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PUBLIC INPUT, SUPPLEMENT EXISTING PROVISIONS IN THE CITY CODE
RELATING TO PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS IN QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS,
ALLOW A REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR INDIVIDUAL
RESIDENT WHO CHOOSES TO REGISTER TO REQUEST DEFERRAL OR
RECONSIDERATION OF A MATTER IF SUCH MATTER IS NOT DULY NOTICED
PURSUANT TO THIS ORDINANCE, PROVIDE THAT ANY AMENDMENT OR
REPEALER OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE
OF 5/7TH OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER OR THE
MANAGER'S DESIGNEE TO CONDUCT PERIODIC REVIEW AND PREPARE
ANNUAL WRITTEN REPORTS, AND PROVIDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL
BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER;AND PROVIDING
FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY,AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ANALYSIS
See memorandum attached.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Staff has conducted an analysis of the Resident's Right to Know Ordinance to provide targeted
neighborhood notice, timely opportunities for input, and procedural fairness in hearings for any
proposed policy, ordinance, project, or other matter that impacts residents' quality of life and has
concluded that the following tools can be used to disseminate information to residents and meet the
requirements of the proposed ordinance:
• ListServe: this is a system used by Communications Department to send out email blasts to users
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who sign up. Individuals or neighborhood associations are able to sign up for the distribution list.
Staff would use this to disseminate information as needed per the proposed Ordinance.
• MB Resident Connect: this is a tool to stay up-to-date on the topics that matter most to the user.
The online system, accessible via the internet at https://secure.miamibeachfl.gov/mbresidentconnect,
lets users sign up to receive electronic alerts based on keywords of their choosing. When city
meeting agendas are published, the user receives an email if one of the keywords they set up is part
of the agenda. These keywords may be found within documents from a City Commission meeting or
committee meetings, including Finance & Citywide Projects Committee, Land Use & Development
Committee, Neighborhood / Community Affairs Committee, and Sustainability & Resiliency
Committee; the Planning Board, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Board, and Board of
Adjustments. The system checks for keywords daily and notifies the user via email when a new
document containing the keyword is found. The initial alert contains results dating back 30 days.
Considering the use of these existing technology tools, Staff does not initially anticipate a financial
impact to departments, however, the need for additional resources will be monitored over time.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Commissioner Michael Grieco
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Memorandum Re Residents Right to Know
o Ordinance
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
RAULJ.AGUILA,CITY ATTORNEY
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor Philip Levine
Members of the City Commission
Jimmy Morales, City Manager
From: Raul J.Aguila, City Attome , , `-—
Date: July 26, 2017
Subject: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, ENTITLED
"ADMINISTRATION," BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED "CITY
COMMISSION," BY CREATING SECTION 2-14 TO BE ENTITLED
"RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW," TO CODIFY THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, DEFINE MATTERS THAT IMPACT
RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE, PROVIDE THAT THE CITY
COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT A PROCESS FOR REGISTERING
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS
WHO CHOOSE TO REGISTER, REQUIRE TARGETED ELECTRONIC
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTICES FOR MATTERS THAT IMPACT
RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE, ALLOW FOR TIMELY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT, SUPPLEMENT EXISTING
PROVISIONS IN THE CITY CODE RELATING TO PROCEDURAL
FAIRNESS IN QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS, ALLOW A REGISTERED
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT WHO
CHOOSES TO REGISTER TO REQUEST DEFERRAL OR
RECONSIDERATION OF A MATTER IF SUCH MATTER IS NOT DULY
NOTICED PURSUANT TO THIS ORDINANCE, PROVIDE THAT ANY
AMENDMENT OR REPEALER OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL
REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF 5I7THS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION, DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER OR THE MANAGER'S
DESIGNEE TO CONDUCT PERIODIC REVIEW AND PREPARE
ANNUAL WRITTEN REPORTS, AND PROVIDE THAT THIS
ORDINANCE SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE
CITY MANAGER; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION,
SEVERABILITY,AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Grieco and Commissioner Kristen Rosen
Gonzalez, attached is an Ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the City Code to create a
"Residents' Right to Know" Ordinance. The Ordinance passed on First Reading at the May 17,
2017 City Commission meeting.
The intent of the Ordinance is to supplement any notice and procedural requirements set forth in
the City Code or State law that are currently applicable to the City, in order to provide targeted
neighborhood notice, timely opportunities for input, and procedural fairness in hearings for any
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proposed policy, ordinance, project, or other matter that impacts residents' quality of life, which
matters are defined in the Ordinance.
The Residents' Right to Know Ordinance is a groundbreaking proposal that, together with the
recent implementation of the MB Resident Connect system,' will provide residents with
unprecedented targeted electronic notices of specific City actions. The notices contemplated in
the Ordinance will require the coordination of the City Administration (especially the Information
Technology Department), the City Clerk, and the City Attorney to develop a system and a
procedure to implement the Ordinance.
F:WTTO\KALN\COMMISSION MEMOS1Residents'Right to Know May 17,2017(July 26,2017-Second Readinp).docx
1 The MB Resident Connect system, which allows residents to sign up to receive electronic
alerts based on keyword searches, may be accessed at https://secure.
miamibeachfl.govlmbresidentconnect.
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