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01-17-2008 Workshop The C~ of AVentura fA ->.",....,../' 19200 West C:ountrv Clnh T>rive AvenlllTa FI, City Commission Workshop Meeting January 17, 2008 9A.M. Executive Conference Room AGENDA 1. Legislative Program And Priorities (City Manager)* Future Action Required: Resolution 2. Local Business Tax Receipt Equity Study (City Manager)* Future Action Required: Ordinance and Resolution 3. 2008 Meeting Schedule (City Manager)* 4. City Sponsorship for Federal Grant to Assist Point East Condominium Association with Seawall Restoration (City Attorney) 5. Annexation Update (City Manager) 6. Key to the City Request (Vice Mayor Diamond) 7. Adjournment * Back-up Information Exists This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the Office of the City Clerk, 305-466-890 I, not later than two days prior to such proceeding. CITY OF AVENTURA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES 2008 Mayor Susan Gottlieb Commissioner Zev Auerbach Commissioner Bob Diamond Commissioner Teri Holzberg Commissioner Billy Joel Commissioner Michael Stern Commissioner Luz Urbaez Weinberg City Manager Eric M. Soroka City Clerk Teresa M. Soroka City Attorney Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske, P.A. CITY OF A VENTURA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES 2008 This document is intended to provide direction to the City Manager, City Attorney and Legislative Lobbyist as to the official City position regarding issues and pending legislation which would affect the operation of local government. This document further provides priorities for the acquisition of supplemental funding (grants) for various programs. The City of Aventura will endorse and support legislation that will: 1. Provide a dedicated revenue source for Charter School capital improvements at the same levels provided to the local school boards. 2. Provide property insurance rate relief for all homeowners and businesses. 3. Provide a dedicate revenue source to cities that are located within 1 mile of a facility that houses legalized gambling to offset police and road impact costs to the community. 4. Authorize detection devices at traffic signals of red light runners and the issuance of citations. 5. Adopt the 2008 Policy Statement of the Florida League of Cities. 6. Revise the property tax system without having any adverse impacts on the City's revenue amounts. The City of Aventura will seek financial assistance and grants for the following projects: 1. Funding for Stormwater drainage improvements. DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR FLC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF , URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ISSUES DURING THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WHEREAS, as Florida's population continues to increase, cities are challenged to meet the service demands and infrastructure needs to account for new growth; and WHEREAS, a majority of Florida's municipalities are challenged to meet the increasing infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation, and water quality needs of their citizens; and WHEREAS, the state has imposed greater accountability III comprehensive planning and fiscal feasibility standards on municipalities; and WHEREAS, Florida's municipalities are dependent on other governmental entities for financial stability and presently the state, counties, and school districts, control every funding source that has been authorized for implementing growth management capital improvements and complying with concurrency requirements; and WHEREAS, municipal self-determination and local self-government are constantly under attack from a variety of public and private interests; and WHEREAS, the role and function of municipal government IS constantly evolving from new demands from its citizens and businesses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF Section 1. That the City of urges Governor Charlie Crist and members of the Florida Legislature to support legislation that: . Reauthorizes the affordable housing trust funds, preserves the documentary stamp fee as the trust funds' funding source and removes the legislative cap on fund distribution; . Enhances public notice of and participation in state environmental permitting processes; . Fully funds state growth management marIdates and provides municipalities with state and local option revenue sources to meet financial feasibility requirements and infrastructure demands; . Allows municipalities and counties to reclassify businesses, professions, and occupations and establish new rate structures for local business taxes on a periodic basis; . Enhances municipal control over municipal employee pension plan management and funding; . Preserves and protects property rights of mobile home owners, when mobile home parks are rezoned, but not in a manner that requires removal costs to be the responsibility of local governments; . Broadens municipal home rule and other authority to issue tax-increment financed bonds and other forms of indebtedness without approval by referendum; . Provides an equitable, dedicated and recurring revenue source for municipal transportation projects and opposes legislation that transfers or diverts state transportation trust fund revenues to balance the state budget; . Prohibits the Florida Department of Transportation from eliminating, deferring, or delaying capacity improvement projects contained in the 5-year Work Plan when it negatively impacts the comprehensive plan of the local government; . Authorizes the use of electronic traffic infraction detectors at traffic intersections; and . Maintains or increases funding of the state Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund. Section 2. That a copy of this resolution shall be provided to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, House Speaker Marco Rubio and members of the Florida Legislature. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of 2008. , this _ th Day of CITY OF AVENTURA FINANCE SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FROM: MEMORANDUM TO: Eric M. Soroka, ICMA-CM, Cit ces Director DATE: SUBJECT: Local Business Tax Receipt - Equity Study Commission Based on your request, I have researched the above-named Program and offer the following recommendation. Recommendation Before adopting a reclassification and revision ordinance that governs the City's Local Business Tax Receipt process, the City must establish an Equity Study Commission (ESC) and appoint its members. Each member of the ESC must be a representative of the City's business community. The ESC should be made up of the Finance Support Services Director and 7 members appointed by each of the City Commissioners. An ordinance establishing the ESC and a resolution approving its members will need to be adopted by the City Commission. BackQround In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed a law permitting local governments to reclassify and restructure the rates of Local Business Tax Receipts. In response to this new legislation, the Finance Support Services Department will compile a report outlining proposed changes/additions of the City's Local Business Tax Receipts Classification Schedule and Local Business Tax Receipts. In order to prepare this report, the Finance Support Services Department will first contact other local governments for samples of various ordinances and rate structures. This information will be compiled into a classification of Local Business Tax Receipts that is determined to be the most comprehensive and reflective of the classifications most frequently used by other governments. This will then be presented to the ESC. The following is State Statute 205.0535 which outlines the ESC Process. 1 Title TAXATION AND FINANCE XIV Chapter 205 View Entire Chapter LOCAL BUSINESS TAXES 205.0535 Reclassification and rate structure revisions.-- (1) By October 1, 2008, any municipality that has adopted by ordinance a local business tax after October 1, 1995, may by ordinance reclassify businesses, professions, and occupations and may establish new rate structures, if the conditions specified in subsections (2) and (3) are met. A person who is engaged in the business of providing local exchange telephone service or a pay telephone service in a municipality or in the unincorporated area of a county and who pays the business tax under the category designated for telephone companies or a pay telephone service provider certified pursuant to s. 364.3375 is deemed to have but one place of business or business location in each municipality or unincorporated area of a county. Pay telephone service providers may not be assessed a business tax on a per-instrument basis. (2) Before adopting a reclassification and revision ordinance, the municipality or county must establish an equity study commission and appoint its members. Each member of the study commission must be a representative of the business community within the local government's jurisdiction. Each equity study commission shall recommend to the appropriate local government a classification system and rate structure for business taxes. (3)(a) After the reclassification and rate structure reVISions have been transmitted to and considered by the appropriate local governing body, it may adopt by majority vote a new business tax ordinance. Except that a minimum tax of up to $25 is permitted, the reclassification may not increase the tax by more than the following: for receipts costing $150 or less, 200 percent; for receipts costing more than $150 but not more than $500, 100 percent; for receipts costing more than $500 but not more than $2,500, 75 percent; for receipts costing more than $2,500 but not more than $10,000, 50 percent; and for receipts costing more than $10,000, 10 percent; however, in no case may the tax on any receipt be increased more than $5,000. (b) The total annual revenue generated by the new rate structure for the fiscal year following the fiscal year during which the rate structure is adopted may not exceed: 1. For municipalities, the sum of the revenue base and 10 percent of that revenue base. The revenue base is the sum of the business tax revenue generated by receipts issued for the most recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of revenue that would have been generated from the authorized increases under s. 205.043(1)(b), whichever is greater, plus any revenue received from the county under s. 205.033(4). 2. For counties, the sum of the revenue base, 10 percent of that revenue base, and the amount of revenue distributed by the county to the municipalities under s. 205.033(4) during the most recently completed local fiscal year. The revenue base is the business tax revenue generated by receipts issued for the most recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of revenue that would have been generated from the authorized increases under s. 205.033(1)(b), whichever is greater, but may not include any revenues distributed to municipalities under s. 205.033(4). (c) In addition to the revenue increases authorized by paragraph (b), revenue increases 2 attributed to the increases in the number of receipts issued are authorized. (4) After the conditions specified in subsections (2) and (3) are met, municipalities and counties may, every other year thereafter, increase or decrease by ordinance the rates of business taxes by up to 5 percent. An increase, however, may not be enacted by less than a majority plus one vote of the governing body. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a municipality or county from decreasing or repealing any business tax authorized under this chapter. (5) A receipt may not be issued unless the federal employer identification number or social security number is obtained from the person to be taxed. History.--s. 8, ch. 93-180; s. 60, ch. 98-419; s. 12, ch, 2006-152; s. 2, ch, 2007-97. Exhibits The following Exhibits have been attached as support to the ESC Process: 1. Mission Statement 2. Schedule of Activities 3 MISSION STATEMENT Local Business Tax Receipts - Equity Study City of Aventura Name The name of the Commission shall be the Local Business Tax Receipts - Equity Study Commission herein referred to as the "ESC." Authorization The ESC exists by the City of Aventura City Commission, pursuant to the provisions of Section 205.0535, of the Florida Statutes. Purpose The purpose of the ESC is to examine and review the Local Business Tax Receipts Ordinance (Chapter 18 of the City of Aventura Code of Ordinances) regarding classifications and rate structure and to recommend revisions to such classifications and rate structure for the Local Business Tax Receipts. The ESC shall be guided by the following objectives in formulating its recommendations: 1. The ESC shall review the businesses, professions and occupations within each classification and recommend any reclassification or new classifications. 2. The ESC shall recommend a classification for any business activity not currently paying a Local Business Tax Receipts. 3. The ESC shall review the rates of each classification and recommend any fee changes necessary to establish equity between the rates for such classifications. 4. After considering objectives 1 - 3 above, the ESC shall propose a rate structure that will generate an aggregate revenue increase of no more than ten (10%) in reven ue for Local Business Tax Receipts for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008. The additional revenue shall be generated from rate structure changes applied to the existing Local Business Tax Receipts or increases in variable factors such as assets, value of inventory, number of employees, etc. The final report and recommendation of the Staff and Committee shall be made to the City Commission no later than June 2008. 4 January 2008 Mar/April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 October 2008 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Local Business Tax Receipts The Finance Support Services Department researches available information and prepares a report This report will be forwarded to the ESC Ese reviews Local Business Tax Receipt Equity Report, provides input and make recommendation to the City Commission. City Commission Meeting - first reading of proposed Local Business Tax Receipt ordinance containing rate restru ctu re/reclassification City Commission Meeting - Public hearing and second reading of proposed Local Business Tax Receipt ordinance, Commission takes action 2009 Local Business Tax Receipt invoice mailed Deadline for payment of Occupation License fee paid for 2009 5 ORDINANCE N.J. 200ts- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF A VENTURA, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING THE A VENTURA BUSINESS TAX EQUITY STUDY ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH SHALL SERVE AS THE EQUITY STUDY COMMISSION FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECLASSIFICATION AND REVISION, AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS, A TIMETABLE AND RULES OF PROCEDURE; PROVIDING A SUNSET PROVISION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1178 amends Section 205.053 and Section 205.0535, Florida Statutes to provide that by October I, 2008, any municipality that has adopted a local business tax after October 1, 1995 may by ordinance reclassify businesses, professions, arId occupations arId may establish new rate structures; and WHEREAS, state law provides that prior to the adoption of a reclassification arId revision ordinance, the municipality must establish arI equity study commission arId appoint its members; and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to establish the Aventura Business Tax Equity Study Advisory Board (the "Equity Study Board"), which shall serve as the Equity Study Commission, arId to establish procedures for appointment of members; arId WHEREAS, Section 205.0535, Florida Statutes, provides that each member of the Equity Study Board must be a representative ofthe business community within the City; arId WHEREAS, the City Commission believes it is in the best interest of the City to establish the Equity Study Board, provide procedures for appointment of members, arId provide a timetable and rules of procedure. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF A VENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals Adopted. That the foregoing recitals contained III the preamble to this OrdinarIce are hereby adopted and are incorporated by reference herein. Section 2. Board Established. That the Equity Study Board is hereby established to serve as the Equity Study Commission pursuarIt to Section 205.0535, Florida Statutes. The Board shall consist of seven (7) members. Section 3. Authority. That the powers and duties of the Equity Study Board (the "Board") shall be solely of arI advisory nature to the City Commission and City MarIager. Accordingly, although Board members shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Code of Ethics for Public Officers arId Employees as provided in Part III of Chapter 112, F.S., Board members shaH be exempt from the provisions of the Miami-Dade County Ethics Code, which is provided by Sec. 2-11.1 of the County Code, pursuant to the advisory board exemption which is authorized by Sec. 2-11.39-2 of the County Code. Section 4. Qualifications. That each member of the Board shall be a representative of the business community within the City, arId shall own or be employed by a business entity that possesses a valid Business Tax Receipt issued by the City at the time of the appointment arId throughout the term of service on the Board. Section 5. ADDointments. That the Mayor shall appoint the members of the Board, subject to approval by a majority ofthe City Commission. Section 6. Chak of Board. Board and the Vice-Chairperson. That the Board shall elect the Chairperson fOT the Section 7. Timetable. That the timetable for the Board process, attached as Exhibit "A", is hereby adopted, and shall serve as a general guideline. Section 8. R~des of Procedure. That the Rules of Procedure for the Board, attached as Exhibit "E", are hereby adopted. Sectian 9. Implementation. That the appropriate City officials are authorized to execute all necessary documents to effectuate the intent of this OrdinarIce. Section 10. Sunset Provision. That once the City MarIager certifies that the auties of the Board have been finally arId fully completed arId that the new OrdinarIce adopting the reclassification and rate structure has been adopted by the City Commission and is in full force arId effect, the work of the Board and the term of office of Board members shall conclude and terminate. Section 11. Effective Date. upon adoption on second reading. That this Ordinance shall take effect immediately The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner moved its adoption on first reading. This motion was seconded and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: , who by Commissioner Commissioner Zev Auerbach Commissioner Billy Joel Commissioner Michael Stern Commissioner Teri Holzberg Commissioner Luz Urbaez Weinberg Vice Mayor Bob Diamond Mayor )usan Gottlieb The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner , who moved its adoption on second reading. This motion was seconded by Commissioner and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Zev Auerbach Commissioner Billy Joel Commissioner Michael Stern Commissioner Teri Holzberg Commissioner Luz Urbaez Weinberg Vice Mayor Bob Diamond Mayor Susan Gottlieb PASSED on first reading on this _ day of JarIuary, 2008. PASSED AND ADOPTED on second reading this _ day cfFebruary, 2008. Susan Gottlieb, Mayor ATTEST: TERESA M. SOROKA, MMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: CITY ATTORNEY ORDINANCE NO. 2008- EXHIBIT" A" PROPOSED (NON- BINDING) TIMETABLE FOR EQUITY STUDY COMMISSION (1) Establish Board via Ordinance. February 5, 2008 (2) Appoint members ofthe Board. Febm'Clry 5, 2008 (3) Board holds necessary meetings arId performs its statutory tasks. February 7 - April 25, 2008 (4) City Commission reviews recommendations of the Board May, 2008 (5) City Commission adopts Business Tax Ordinance including new rate structure and classification~ June, 2008 ,~ (6) Business Tax OrdinarIce in effect in time for Sp:.le of Local Business Tax Receipts July 1, 2002 u!:wlNANCE NO. 2008- EXHIBIT "B" RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR A VENTURA BUSINESS TAX EQUITY STUDY ADVISORY BOARD Section 1 Section 2 SectiollJ; 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE GENERALLY 2 MEETINGS Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 2.3 Generally r"leeting Time and Location Board Member Attendance 2 2 2 3FF1iCERS Section 3.1 Section 3.2 8ej,~;;;fion 2 3-4 Dutie,s and Responsibilities CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Section 4.1 . Motions Section 4.2 Voting Section 4.3 Minutes Section 4.4 City At~Gmey Section 4.5 City MarIager Section 4.6 Public Comment 4 4 5 5 5 5 ETHICAL CONDUCT 5 AMENDMENTS 5 Section 1. GenerallY. These Rules of Procedure, as am~nded from time to time, shall govern the A ventura Business Tax Equity Study Advisory Board (the "Board") in the conduct of its business. Section 2. \:Ieetine:s. Section 2.1. Generally. The business of the Board shall be conducted ",t ]~eg'.llar meetings only. All meetings shall be scheduled to provide sufficient notice to the public, and shall be open to the public. At a meeting, four (4) members in. a:teulaL.c.~ shall constitute a quorum. Failure to obtaiil a quorum shaH res'ccit in c31J.cellation of the meeting. Prior to each mep<:irc:, the City Managet '/ill lietermine the agenda of the orde:' of OL.::;:X~;S3, showing in th.~ exact order what is to come before the Board. Section 2.2. Meeting Time and Location. The City MarIager shall des~E:1at ~ the meeting time. AE meetings will be held at the A ventura Gove:T211e:Dt Center. The City Manager may cancel a meeting if there is no b:.:siijCSS to conduct. .. .~ Se:c;J,u~I\ :l.?J. Board Men:: rer ,f;tenc.1nG~. All Board members shall attend all arId remain unt~.I the ~L~etings are adjourned or the member is exe):. 'l 'Jy the CLairpel~or J:~que2~ to be excused arId n.otice (.f a f2.:O ii1tenticn to be.: ~'i')SE:( shall be communicated to the CitJ Manag-;;r cr ~., o-c "CO ~ '",,"' ~.~ ., ,-:::",signee. Section 3. Officers. Section 3.1. Selection. The Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson shall be sele;;I.E/r ;;j a majority vote of tbe Board. In the event neither the Chairpersor: !if,t Vice ChairpersOfL attends a meeting, the Board shall select frOE< :ts members a Chairperson Pro-Tempore for that meeting. Section 3.2. Duties and Responsibilities. It shall be the duty arId responsibility of all officers to be thoroughly familiar with the applicable City of A ventura Code of Ordinances and Chapter 205, Florida Statutes, as they apply to the Board and these Rules of Procedure. 1. Chairperson. The Chairperson is the presiding officer, when present and eligible, at all meetings of the Board. As presiding officer, the Chairperson's duties are generally as follows: (A) To open all meetings at the time at which the Board is to meet, by taking the chair, calling the members to order and calling the roll. (B) To announce the business before the Board in the order in whkL it is to be acted upon. ,. (C) To recognize members entiti.ed to the floor; to state &'1:';:: ~~ut to vote all questions which are regularly moved or necessarily arise: in the course of business, and to announce the result of tL,;: vete. When a motion has been s~conded it is the duty d t~l~ Chairperson, unless he or she rules it out of order, immediatelY to: state the question that is before the Eeard for it[ consideraL01< and action.. If the question is debatable or am~r.dable, the Chairperson sL'lH immediately ask, "Is therf~ any (~,iSCDS~' -"r2' L' no one then responds, he or she shall put th,; questioc, h 6e question canrot be debated or amended, he cr sr~.;; s;:"lL immediately put the questioli aftc~' stating it. The resrc:,:i;:i~t:! of am10uncing the vote lies with 'he Chairperson, ane: r~e: or she, therefore, stall have the right to ha''/I:: the vote take~1 again i[ he cre sh(~, is jr} reubt as to the :'esuk In (,':;:-~:J :;;:l(j~l:; the 'Jote Chairpersorc shall state first whether thB filnticZ'f is c:Eried. or L:;:::t; seco)"c,TJ,J"i': i~' the effect or res~'_:,t cf t]:;1'; ve!'lc; ti]iiC, v/'1at 1S ,,,.~, immecLlte:ly [.z:t1ding question or business be,f('I"; the Bo;;:d 1/ there is none he or she shall ask, "\'Jhat is the pl:;:a,sure of tb.,,:: Board?" '. . " '. (D) To protect the Board from annoYarIce from evideatly frivolcms or dilatory motions by refusing to recognize therE. Whenever th~ Chairperson is satisfied that m"Cmbers are using proc~:"~res merely to obstruct business, he or she shaH either not recognize them or rule them out of order. While the Chairperson shall always be courteous and fair, he or she shall be firm in protecting the Board from imposition, even thougn it is done in strie'; conformity with procedural rules. (E) To assist In expediting the business in every way compatible with the rights of the members, as by allowing brief comments when undebatable motions are pending, if he or she thinks it advisabie; to restrain the members when engaged in debate, within the rules of order; to enforce on all occasions the observarIce of order and decorum among the members, deciding all questions of order. To authenticate, by his or her signature, when necessary, all the proceedings of the Board, decla:ing its will and in all things obeying its commands. 2. Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall become the Chairperson Pro-tempore upon th~ absei1~e of the Chairperson at any meeting oftbe Board. ~~ction A. Conduct of Busines~. The business of the Board shall be conch::cted as follows: Section 4.1. Motions. Actions by or decisions of the Board shall be detenyjned by motions duly moved and seconded and can'ied by a majority of the members ,present. ... .- .. SGdion 4.20 Votirg. 11 is 8 rule t2.at sL ~n~m'.)ers sh2..~~ VJute :;;;:1. sJJ questicG.2. No G?t. can vote or participat~ In debate or discussion on an. iter'll at public hearing or a question or a proposal in which he or she hs: 3. conflict of iu"cel:esi:, ,1::: provided by the Code of Ordinances snd state lavv'. The method of taking a vote shall be by roll call (yeas and nays). Ii. quorum must be present in order to vote. On a tie vote the motion is lost When a vote is to be taken the Chairperson puts the question in a. form similar to this "As many as are in favor of the question will, as their names are called, answer yes (or yea); those opposed will answer no (or nay)." The Chairperson shall then direct the clerk or her designee to call the roll. The clerk or her designee calls the roll, arId each member as his or her name is called answers yes or no. A motion to approve, when defeated by a vote, shall be considered as a motion to deny which was approved by vote. A motion to deny, when defeated by a vote, shall not be considered as a motion to approve. In this instance there must be placed before the Board a motion to approve. Section 4.3. Minutes. Minutes of the Board shall contain a conCIse arId accurate summary of acticns taken at meetings, but shall not include verbatim comments from Board members or of persons making presentations to the Board. Sect~Ol!1 4.4. City Attorney. The City Attorney shall rule on all legal questions and tl"e Board shall rely cilly C,:l the advice of the City Attorney for such questic;:~s. Section 4.5. City Manager. The City Manager or his designee shall be arI ex-officio member of ti1e B08iJ, with tne rigl;t to participate in the discussions; however, he or she shan not have the right to vote on Board business :~~". be counted tOW3::: a C;'lOfurn. Secti(1HJc 4.6. Public Comment. Bom-d may hear Public Comment, as it deer(~. appropriate, and rl1a? limit the comments to three (3) minutes. ~;ection 5. Etbical Conduct,. -=>-.,..: ~-- * The Board is an instmmeu" of tr1'C. providing an impcrtant function with iri!L. obligatwns, fesponsibilities an6 duti~8 In 2"ccepting an appointment to serve 23 ::nember of the Boare;, G.j,C :11;;0 lice::.;: ml~~ adopts the requirel(~ents of state law at:; the {equire.ments of City iJ~" Aventm'. COG"'; .~f Ordinances as his or ht:r standard of conduct ". fII.f *' In addition, Board appointees shall not subvert the integrity of the Board as a whole or e:f any member of the Board, or any Cit~/ official. Section 6, Amendments. These Rules of Procedure may be amended by the City Commission by resolution. An amendment, having been adopted, goes into effect immediately upon its adoption, unless the motion to adopt specifies a time for its going into effect. F:\300\328001 \Ordinances\Equity Study Commission Establishment Ordinance. DOC COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE February Commission Meeting February 5. 2008 6:00 P.M. February Workshop Meeting February 21. 2008 9:00 A.M. March Commission Meeting March 4, 2008 6:00 P.M. March Workshop Meeting March 20, 2008 9:00 A.M. April Workshop Meeting April 8, 2008 April 17, 2008 6:00 P.M. April Commission Meeting 9:00 A.M. May Commission Meeting May 6, 2008 6:00 P.M. May Workshop Meeting May 15, 2008 9:00 A.M. June Commission Meeting June 3. 2008 6:00 P.M. June Workshop Meeting June 19, 2008 9:00 A.M. July Commission Meeting July 1, 2008 July 17, 2008 NO MEETINGS 6:00 P.M. July Workshop Meeting 9:00 A.M. August September Commission Meeting September 9, 2008 6:00 P.M. ** September Workshop Meeting September 18, 2008 9:00 A.M. ** October Commission Meeting October 7,2008 6:00 P.M. October Workshop Meeting October 16. 2008 9:00 A.M. November Commission Meeting November 6, 2008 6:00 P.M. November Workshop Meeting November 13, 2008 9:00 A.M. December NO MEETINGS ** Two Budget Public Hearings to be held in September will be scheduled in July. Workshop Meetings are held in the 5th floor Executive Conference Room Commission Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber on the 2nd Floor. A ventura Government Center, 19200 W Country Club Drive, A ventura, FL 33180 SAME DA Y ELECTIONS WILL INCREASE TURNOUT AND DECREASE COSTS. The County has requested that The City Of A ventura move to Same Day Elections and we want you to know why: Miami- Dade is the only county in Florida where its cities still hold "stand alone elections," which means, we vote for mayors and commissioners on different days than we vote for Presidents, Governors and Senators. The Elections Department has concluded that these "stand alone elections" are decreasing voter turnout by forcing people to return to the voting booths multiple times. They're also costing the tax payers, in each city, millions of dollars in additional voting costs. Before the County introduces new and even more expensive voting technology, they've asked all 35 cities, including Aventura, to move their City elections to the same day as National and State Elections by 2010. Same Day Eleetions will do the following for Aventura: * Increase voter turnout. * Make it easier for A ventura residents to vote in all elections. * Save A ventura residents over $70,000 per election - every time we vote. In order to synchronize the voting cycles and accomplish Same Day Elections, A ventura residents will have to vote to extend the current term of the current commission set to expire in March 2009 to November 2010. This is a ONE TIME/ONE TERM ADJUSTMENT. All future commissions will serve the normal 4 years. The two term limit remains. You will soon be receiving a mail in ballot to vote on the issue of Same Day Elections on April 22, 2008. Simply put, Same Day Eleetions will increase voter turnout and decrease tax-payer's costs. The City of A ventura Commission.