With so much media attention focused on the Presidential debates and primaries, it’s easy to lose focus on issues that hit closer to home.
Critically important Miami Dade County charter reform questions will appear on the local ballot on January 31st – issues that Palmetto Bay and all county residents must decide.
Additionally, the Village of Palmetto Bay will conduct a public workshop on January 25th to garner public input as to future revisions to its own village Charter.
Here are the actual charter reform questions that will appear on the Miami–Dade County ballot
on January 31st:
A HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATING TO SALARIES, SERVICE, AND TERM LIMITS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT, AS OF JANUARY 31, 2012, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL: * DEVOTE FULL-TIME SERVICE TO
THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOLD NO OTHER EMPLOYMENT; * NO LONGER
RECEIVE THE $6,000 ANNUAL SALARY ESTABLISHED IN 1957, BUT RECEIVE INSTEAD
THE SALARY PROVIDED BY STATE FORMULA, ADJUSTED ANNUALLY (CURRENTLY
APPROXIMATELY $92,097); AND * SERVE NO MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE FOUR-YEAR
TERMS IN OFFICE EXCLUDING TERMS OF SERVICE PRIOR TO 2012?
CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATING TO INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND ELECTIONS ON CHARTER
AMENDMENTS SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO INCREASE FROM 60 TO 120 DAYS THE
TIME ALLOWED TO CIRCULATE INITIATORY PETITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT
ELECTIONS TO AMEND THE CHARTER, EITHER THROUGH INITIATORY PETITIONS OR BY
BOARD ACTION, BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEXT SCHEDULED GENERAL
ELECTION RATHER THAN WITHIN 60 TO 120 DAYS, AS CURRENTLY REQUIRED?
Early voting has already begun in Miami-Dade County. The closest early
voting location for Palmetto Bay is the Coral Reef Library, located at 9211
SW 152nd Street. For your convenience, here is a (clickable) link from the Miami-Dade
Elections Department listing all of the early voting sites that are open
throughout the County:
http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/wait-times.asp
January is also the first opportunity for many village residents to comment on their own city’s constitution. The Village of Palmetto Bay is currently reviewing the city’s Charter. An appointed committee of residents (the Charter Review Commission) will hold a public workshop on January 25, at 7PM to garner resident input concerning items contained in the Charter that may require modification. This is an important meeting that can help shape the future of this Village.
The items discussed will be presented to the Village Council at an upcoming Council meeting for review and possible approval, prior to being placed on the ballot for the November, 2012, election.
The meeting will be held at Village Hall, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL.
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What is your opinion regarding the county and village charters? We encourage you to speak your mind and share your thoughts with your neighbors and fellow residents.
