CITY OF MIAMI

INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM

To: / Honorable Members of the
City Commissionthe City Commission / Date: / October 17, 2003
/ Subject: / Planning Advisory Board
From: / Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk / References: / November 13, 2003 Agenda
Enclosures: / List of members, resumes

The Planning Advisory Board was created to advise and make recommendations to the Commission in phases of the City’s comprehensive planning program.

Three appointments are needed at this time:

  • *Commissioner Regalado has one nomination for a seat currently held by Doris Scheer whose term expired on January 12, 2003. Ms. Scheer has served as a member since July 26, 1994. Pursuant to Code Sec. 2-885(b), no board member shall serve more than eight consecutive years on any one board. This requirement may be waived by a unanimous vote of the members of the City Commission. Additionally, Ms. Scheer has exceeded the number of absences allowed per City Code.
  • Commissioner Sanchez has one nomination for seat currently held by Arva Moore Parks McCabe, who has exceeded the number of absences allowed per City Code.
  • Chairman Winton has one nomination for seat currently held by Luis Revuelta, who has exceeded the number of absences allowed per Code.

Pursuant to requirements under City Code Section 62-123, our office placed a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. Our office has received applications (copies attached) from the following individuals:

  • Joseph E. Bradman
  • Juan Carlos (JC) Garrido
  • Alan Sirkin.

All applicants comply with the residency requirement. Ordinance 12080 provides that incumbent members need not apply.

By copy of this memorandum, we are requesting the Agenda Office to place this issue on the November 13, 2003 Commission agenda. For your convenience, we are including a copy of the current membership of said board. *This matter was deferred from the January 9, 2003, March 27, 2003, July 24, 2003 and September 11, 2003 Commission meetings.

Please be aware that City Code Section 62-124 states in part:

“In reaching a decision on appointment to a vacancy on the planning advisory board or on the zoning board, the city commission shall give due regard to, and be guided by the necessity for representation on the boards, of:

(1)Geographical sections and areas of the city;

(2) Social, economic and demographic characteristics of the city;

(3) Qualifications, background, experience and abilities of appointees to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of board membership or alternate membership; prospective appointees shall be subject to a personal appearance before the city commission, to afford the city commission an opportunity to ascertain prospective nominees’ proficiency in the English language, educational background and general knowledge of planning and zoning.

(4) Prior demonstration by prospective appointees of interest in and concern for planning and planning implementation, as may be evidenced by previous attendance at planning or land use control seminars;

(5) Membership in organizations having the primary aim of the furtherance of dissemination of knowledge of and support of sound planning and implementation programs;

(6) Other activity evidencing knowledge and interest in the public purposes of planning and plan implementation;

(7) Potential conflicts of interest;

(8) Demonstrated maturity and objectivity of judgment; and

(9) Needs for expertise, if any, in the membership and alternate membership of boards.

Appointees shall be persons in a position to represent the public interest and no person shall be appointed having personal or private interests likely to conflict with the public interest.

No person shall be appointed who has any interest in the profits or emoluments of any contract, job, work, or service for the city. Before making any appointment, the city commission shall determine that the persons so appointed satisfies the requirements of sections 2-611 (Conflicts of Interest) et seq., and no person shall be confirmed in appointment who has not filed the statement required by section 2-615 (List of real estate owned - Required of certain officials). In addition, the code of ethics of Metropolitan Dade County shall apply to members and alternate members of the planning advisory board and of the zoning board.

c:Yamile Marrero-Trehy, Assistant City Attorney

Teresita Fernandez, Liaison/Executive Secretary, Hearing Boards

Elvi Alonso, Agenda Coordinator

James Black, Chairperson