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RESOLUTION NO. 2025 - '3902-- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING OR EXPANDING AN ECONOMIC CRIMES INVESTIGATIVE UNIT WITHIN THE SUNNY ISLES BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS CONDOMINIUM AND HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION FRAUD; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE TERMS OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, condominium and homeowners' association ("HOA") fraud, including embezzlement, bid rigging, and financial mismanagement, poses a significant threat to property owners in the City of Sunny Isles Beach (the "City"); and WHEREAS, at least 97% of residential units in the City are part of HOAs or condominiums, making the vast majority of residents uniquely exposed to such fraud and underscoring the urgent need for local protections; and . WHEREAS, such crimes disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including seniors on fixed incomes who may lose life savings and face housing instability, and the international community who may encounter barriers due to language differences and limited familiarity with U.S. legal systems; and WHEREAS, the State of Florida, through agencies like the Department of Business and Professional Regulation ("DBPR"), has failed to adequately protect residents, as DBPR's enforcement lacks sufficient authority and "teeth" to address criminal fraud, often limited to administrative remedies and leaving victims to pursue expensive civil lawsuits without meaningful state intervention; and WHEREAS, the City has a large concentration of high-rise condominiums and HOAs, making targeted investigations essential to protect residents and maintain community trust; and WHEREAS, with the City's robust taxpayer -funded budget, Sunny Isles Beach can afford to provide this essential service to those who need it most, including our seniors and international residents, without undue financial strain; and WHEREAS, the outdated excuse that "there is nothing the City can do" is no longer acceptable, as it is untrue—local action is both feasible and necessary to fill the gaps left by state shortcomings; and WHEREAS, the City's Police Department ("SIBPD") is highly effective and well -resourced positioning it ideally to spearhead this initiative and deliver results; and @BCL@7C14B6F3 Page 1 of 3 677