Resolution No. 2024-38 Amending Rules of Decorum Further Elaborating on Disruptive Conduct Language - July 2, 2024 CITY OF AVENTURA RESOLUTION NO. 2024-38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RULES OF DECORUM SET
FORTH IN RESOLUTION 2023-30 BY FURTHER ELABORATING ON
THE MEANING OF DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT DURING PUBLIC
MEETINGS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 4.01 of the City Charter of the City of Aventura, Florida,
provides that the City Commission may establish procedures relative to City Commission
meetings and agendas; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 96-18 set forth the general authority for the Mayor to
maintain decorum at Commission meetings but cites no specific rules or policies for the
Mayor to rely on when a speaker or member of the audience acts in a manner prejudicial
to the proper conduct of a City Commission meeting; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission adopted Resolution 2023-30 to establish rules
of decorum and also require speakers to refrain from disruptive conduct when addressing
the City Commission at a public meeting; and
WHEREAS, the term "disruptive conduct" is not defined in Resolution 2023-30
other than referencing impertinent or slanderous comments; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to amend the Rules of Decorum by
offering further guidance to the public by providing additional examples of prohibited
disruptive conduct, potentially resulting in a person relinquishing the right to continue to
speak at a meeting; and
WHEREAS, the approval of this Resolution is in the best interest and welfare of
the residents of the City of Aventura.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS THAT:
Section 1. Resolution 2023-30 is hereby amended to further define the term
"disruptive conduct."
Section 2. Section 3 "Decorum Speaker" is hereby amended to read as follows:
That any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who becomes boisterous
while the addressing the Commission shall relinquish the right to continue to speak. If,
after sufficient warning by the Mayor, the speaker fails to cease the disruptive conduct,
City of Aventura Resolution No. 2024-38
including, but not limited to, making comments characterized as hate speech, fighting
words, or defamation of character, the individual shall be removed from the meeting by
the Aventura Police Department, at the direction of the Mayor, for the remainder of the
meeting.
Section 3. Conflict. All Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict herewith
be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict,
Section 4. SeverabilitV. If any clause, section, or other part of the application
of this Resolution shall be held by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutional or invalid part or application shall be
considered as eliminated and so as not affecting the validity of the remaining portions or
applications of this Resolution,
Section 5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
its passage and adoption.
The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner Kruss, who moved its
adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bloom, and upon being put to a
vote, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Amit Bloom Yes
Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Yes
Commissioner Billy Joel Yes
Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Yes
Commissioner Michael Stern Yes
Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks Yes
Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Yes
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of July, 2024.
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City of Aventura Resolution No. 2024-38
WARD S. WEINBERG, E
MAYOR
ATTEST:
ELLISA L. HORVAT , MMC
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
A', ? j I '
ROBERT MEYERS
CITY ATTORNEY
WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE + BIERMAN, P.L.
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