2004 0520 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting May 20, 2004 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Rorida the remaining term of the vacancy is less than four years and that is the one that doesn't count. Commissioner Iglesias said that if one of them chooses to move into a vacant term and is doing it of their own free will, that is an elected term, and City Attorney Dannheisser said then you want it to count, and Commissioner Iglesias said that is what he is saying but there is a flip side, what happens if he is doing a great job and he gets into a auto accident and he cannot fulfill his duties, and a couple of years later you are fine and you want to run, how much time can he put in, in the future? Commissioner Thaler said if he resigns, then that is the one four-year term he was elected to, no matter how long he sits there. City Attorney Dannheisser clarified that a term is deemed commenced upon election whether or not it is actually completed, and what is on the table right now is one exception if a person is filling a vacancy caused by death, disability, or whatever for any seat, that will not count as a term, and she said that Commissioner Iglesias is saying if you assume that you are doing it knowingly and you are making a choice and it should also fall under this category, and Mayor Edelcup is saying no, that should be the exception. Vice Mayor Goodman said if they are incapacitated or not, our Charter says now if within 90 days if it is more than six months we need an election, and now you are saying that that will not be considered a term, and City Attorney Dannheisser said because you are not being elected for a four-year period, you are only being elected to fulfill the rest of that term. Vice Mayor Goodman said that he would like it to be considered that there be a time limit set, whether that should be a completed term or not, at two or three years, and Mayor Edelcup said if it is less then three years it doesn't count, if it is more than three years, it counts. After discussion, it was decided to have a time limit of two years, if it is less than two years, it doesn't count. City Attorney Dannheisser clarified that a term is deemed commenced on the election except in the case of a filling of a vacancy which unexpired term is less than two years, the remaining unexpired term is less than two years, that doesn't count as a term, more that that, it counts as a term. City Attorney Dannheisser stated that no person shall serve more than four elected terms on the Commission as either Mayor, City Commissioner or a combination thereof, which is the same as in the original Charter. She said we are leaving it the way it was but we are adding the definition of a term, and Commissioner Brezin said but no one can serve for sixteen years in one position, and the Commission agreed. Mayor Edelcup said that the next issue is the compensation issue. He said what was suggested is the dollar amount to be paid and that the proposal is for Commissioners to receive $1,000.00 a month compensation, and the Mayor would receive $1,250.00 a month compensation. Vice Mayor Goodman and Commissioner Thaler said that we are one of two cities in Miami-Dade County at the present time, that do not receive a compensation. Mayor Edelcup agreed with what Vice Mayor Goodman said to attract people in the future after this Commission has served their time so we can get a broader segment of the public to at least be interested in doing some public duty and service, as a form of recognition that you are doing something for the City and giving your time and hopefully it increases the scope of people who may some day have an interest in running in government. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission to approve this. Vice Mayor Goodman moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to accept this 4