Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s MBU Forum on the proposed amendments to our City Charter, which will be on the November ballot. Here’s a link to the recorded video if you missed it:

https://youtu.be/CFvIEMleSS4 

Thanks to our MBU Board panel – Jorge Gonzalez, Ron Starkman and Elizabeth Latone, all of whom served on the Charter Review Board, and special thanks to our guest panelists, Deputy City Attorney Nick Kallergis, City Clerk Rafael Granado, and Special Counsels to the Charter Review Board Jean Olin and former Miami Beach Attorney Raul Aguila.

BACKGROUND ON MIAMI BEACH CITY CHARTER

The Miami Beach City Charter is analogous to a constitution for the City. The Charter defines such important matters as the structure and authorities of government, the rights of residents, the responsibilities of elected officials and charter officers, the conduct of elections to the Commission and requirements for the sale/lease of City property. Any changes to the Charter must be approved by voters.

Every ten years the Mayor and Commissioners appoint seven residents to serve on the Miami Beach Ad Hoc Advisory Charter Review Board.

The most recent Ad Hoc Advisory Charter Review Board began work on February 6, 2023, and held 18 public meetings for purpose of getting substantial input before finalizing its recommendations in a final report issued on May 3, 2024. MBU was fortunate to have three of its own directors appointed to the Charter Review Board and two were elected to leadership positions: Jorge Gonzalez (Chair); Ronald Starkman (Vice Chair); Elizabeth Latone (Member).

To read MBU’s comments on the Charter amendments, click here

To read full background and a summary of the amendments, click here