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01-30-2001MINUTES Biscayne Medical Arts Center CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION 21110 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 101 JANUARY 30, 200t 7 PM Aventura= Florida 33180 1. Call to Order/Roll Call. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Burton Young at 7 p.m. City Clerk Teresa M. Soroka called the roll. Present were Charter Revision Commission Members Burton Young, Esq., Michael Abrams (arrived at 7:20 pm), Leonard Brenner, Ginger Grossman and Commissioner Harry Holzberg. Others present included City Manager Eric M. Soroka, City Clerk Teresa M. Soroka, and City Attorney Richard Jay Weiss. 2. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2001 meeting was offered by Ms. Grossman, seconded by Commissioner Holzberg and unanimously passed. 3. Public Hearing: Mr. Weiss read each proposed Charter question, the public responded and the Commission voted as follows: 1. Authority To Create And Appoint Sub-Committees Of The City Commission. The City Charter currently authorizes the Mayor to create and appoint sub-committees of the City Commission. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to remove the authority of the Mayor to create and appoint sub-committees of the City Commission. No comments from the public. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Ms. Grossman and unanimously passed. 2. Revision Of Compensation For Mayor And City Commissioners. The City Charter currently provides for the payment of annual compensation in the amount of $3,500.00 for the Commissioners and $5,000.00 for the Mayor. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to provide for an increase in compensation, so that the Mayor will be paid $10,000.00 and Commissioners will be paid $7,500.00, per year. Commissioner Jeffrey M. Perlow spoke to this issue. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Abrams and unanimously passed. 3. Authority To Remove Members Of Boards And Agencies Appointed By The Mayor. The City Charter currently provides for members of City boards and agencies to be appointed by the Mayor subject to approval of the City Commission, but does not specifically recognize the Commission's authority to remove such members. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to provide that the City Commission, by majority vote, may remove members of boards and agencies appointed by the Mayor. Commissioner Perlow spoke to this issue. Motion to approve was offered by Ms. Grossman, seconded by Commissioner Holzberg and unanimously passed. 4. Authority To Call Special Meetings Of The City Commission. The City Charter currently provides for the Mayor or four (4) members of the City Commission to have authority to call special meetings of the Commission. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to also authorize the City Manager to call special meetings of the Commission. No comments from the public. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Abrams, seconded by Ms. Grossman and unanimously passed. 5. Rotation Of Selection Of Outside Auditors. The City Charter currently provides for an independent annual audit of all City accounts, but does not specify that the accountants utilized for such audit must be periodically changed, it is proposed that the Charter be amended to provide that the work of conducting the independent annual audit be rotated to a new accountant or accounting firm at least every five (5) years. Commissioners Perlow and Ken Cohen spoke to this issue. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Abrams and passed, 4-1, with Ms. Grossman voting no. 6. Restriction On City Commission's Authority To Initiate City Charter Amendments. The City Charter currently enables the City Commission to submit to the City's electors, by ordinance, proposed amendments to the Charter. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to provide that the City Commission may not propose an amendment to the Charter by ordinance unless adopted by the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members of the City Commission. 2 No comment from the public. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Ms. Grossman and unanimously passed. 7. Charter Revision Commission. The City Charter currently provides for one member of the City Commission to serve on the Charter Revision Commission which periodically reviews the Charter. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to: (1) provide for an additional elector of the City to serve on the Charter Revision Commission, instead of a City Commission member; and (2) revise certain time frames for the Charter revision process. No comment from the public. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Abrams and unanimously passed. 8. No Discrimination In Use Of City Facilities. The City Charter currently prohibits discrimination against any person based upon race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, creed, sexual preference or sex. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to expand the prohibition against discrimination by providing that the City shall not adopt any policy regarding the use of City facilities that would discriminate against any person upon such basis. No comment from the public. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Abrams, seconded by Mr. Brenner and unanimously passed. 9. Revision Of Restriction On Maximum Length Of Service On City Commission. The City Charter currently provides that any Commissioner elected in the 1996 election may serve for a maximum of nine (9) consecutive years. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to enable Commissioners who were re-elected in the March 1999 election to serve a maximum of eleven (11) consecutive years, so that such Commissioners may serve a complete third term in office if again re- elected. Ms. Grossman, Commissioners Perlow and Cohen and Mayor Arthur I. Snyder spoke to this issue. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Abrams, seconded by Mr. Brenner, and passed 4-1, with Ms. Grossman voting no. 3 Motion to approve proposed Charter amendments as set forth in proposed Resolution and transmittal of Resolution to City Commission for adoption at the February 6, 2001 City Commission meeting was offered by Mr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Abrams and unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Approved by the Charter Review Commission on Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the Charter Revision Commission with respect to any matter considered at a meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. 4