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Home My WebLink AboutReso 2015-2376 RESOLUTION NO. 2015 - x376 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, REAPPOINTING RAFAEL E. SUAREZ-RIVAS, ESQ. AND ELLEN LAVIN, ESQ. AS SPECIAL MASTERS, FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR,IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 14-3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Section 14-3 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Sunny Isles Beach provides that appointments of Special Masters shall be made by the City Manager,as needed,on the basis of experience for a term of one year; and WHEREAS, said Section 14-3 of the City Code provides that appointments shall be submitted to the City Commission for ratification; and WHEREAS, Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas, Esq., and Ellen Lavin, Esq. were previously re- appointed last year as Special Masters; and the City being satisfied with their excellent work as Special Masters desires to reappoint them; and WHEREAS,the City Manager desires to reappoint Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas and Ellen Lavin as Special Masters for the City of Sunny Isles Beach. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Reappointments of Special Masters. The City Manager's reappointments of Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas, Esq., and Ellen Lavin, Esq. as Special Masters for a period of one year, are hereby approved by the City Commission, in accordance with Section 14-3 of the City Code. Section 2. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon passage. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of February 2015. Georg- . Scholl, Mayor R20I5-Special Master Appointments Revised Page 1 of 2 ATTEST: Jane A. fines, MMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND EG• SUFFICIENCY: I1 A i vino , City Attorney Moved by: e A A D-0 Seconded by: N v c.Q ACL 5 ' cja_ Vote: rj b Mayor Scholl Yes) (No) Vice Mayor Gatto Yes) (No) Commissioner Aelion Yes) (No) Commissioner Goldman Yes) (No) Commissioner Levin (Yes) (No) R2015-Special Master Appointments Page 2 of 2 Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas, Esq. 4766 Alton Road Miami Beach,Florida 33140 (305)674-9546 Home (786)368-6797 Cellular suarezrivasr@bellsouth.net AREAS OF Florida Bar Board Certified—City,County and Local Government Law PROFESSIONAL Land Use/Real Estate Law and Litigation CONCENTRATION Procurement Law Commercial Law—Public Works and Contracts LEGAL EXPERIENCE City of Miami,Florida,Assistant City Attorney, 2002-present Broward County Hearing Officer,2003-07 City of Hollywood, Florida, Senior Assistant City Attorney, 1999-2002 City of Boca Raton,Florida, Special Counsel, 1999 Broward County,Assistant County Attorney, 1992-1998 Katz, Kutter, Haigler& Alderman,Associate, 1991-1992 City of Miramar, Florida,City Attorney, 1989-1991 City of Miami,Florida,Assistant City Attorney, 1985-1989 City of Miami Beach,Florida,Assistant City Attorney, 1982-1985 Britton, Cohen,Kauffman,Benson,&Schantz, Associate, 1981-1982 Michael N. Weiss, Esq.,Associate, 1980 United States Attorney's Office, Civil Division, Clerk 1979 ACTIVITIES Lecturer, Procurement and Public Records/Sunshine Law, Lorman Educational Systems, 2001-present Recipient, Deborah M. Smoot Memorial Editor's Award, Florida Bar Journal, 1998 Member,Central and East European Law Initiative, American Bar Association, 1997-1998 Adjunct Professor,Continuing Legal Education Program Florida International University, Miami,Florida 1994-1997 Editor in Chief,Court Handbook for Dade County Lawyers Dade County Bar Association,Pub. 1990 Editorial Board Member,Florida Bar Journal, 1989-2002, 2005-present Board of Editors,The Public Lawyer, 1994-1995 Member, Local Government Law Section Executive Council The Florida Bar, 1992-1994 Editor, Dade Bar Bulletin, 1987-1988 Member, Editorial Advisory Committee, Local Government Law Symposium, Stetson Law Review, 1987-1993 PROFESSIONAL Florida Bar Association, member since 1980 ASSOCIATIONS American Bar Association, member Dade County Bar Association, member Cuban-American Bar Association, member EDUCATION Nova University Law Center,Juris Doctor, 1979 University of Miami, Bachelor of Arts, 1976 REFERENCES Daniel L. Abbott, Weiss, Serota, Ft. Laud., Florida Lucia A. Dougherty, Esq.,Greenberg, Traurig,Miami, Florida Writing samples and additional references available upon request. Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas, Esq. 4766 Alton Road Miami Beach,Florida 33140 (305) 674-9546 Home (786)368-6797 Cellular s u a rez riv as r @b el lso u th.n et Joel E. Maxwell, Esq., Akerman, Senterfitt, Miami, Florida Writing samples and additional references available upon request. Ellen Lavin, Attorney At Law h: 305-935-0195 c: 612-385-4488 ehenlavin@yahoo.coni 17555 Collins Avenue,#1205 Sunny IsicsBach F133160 Objective To use my legal,administrative and governmental experience,strong communication skills,and interest in local government to make a positive contribution to my community. Relevant Skills • COMMUNICATION:Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • PROJECT MANAGEMENT:Outstanding,self-motivated project manager with extensive history of navigating detailed projects from inception to completion.Forty years of demonstrated capability in managing assistants and volunteers. • MEDIATION:Skilled group mediator,labor arbitrator,and hearing officer. • STRONG BACKGROUND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Professional Experience Field &Stream Licenses Company,Plymouth MN 1996-2002. In house legal counsel providing services relating to litigation,real estate and human resources. Litigation manager for litigation in U.S.and Canada. Negotiated purchases,sales and leases relating to commercial real estate. Human Resources Manager involved in personnel decisions and the processing of employee hiring,benefits,payroll, termination and COBRA. City of Hopkins,Mayor and City Council Member, Hopkins,MN 1981 - 1987 Supervised the operation and management of the City of Hopkins,comprised of 92 employees and 16,000 residents. Determined the annual city budget. Set goals and objectives for the Council and Manager. Hired the city Manager and the City Attorney,as well as consultant specialists. Chaired the City Council meetings. Lobbied and testified at the State Legislature,the Hennepin County Commission,and the Metropolitan Council. Hosted a local cable network television show interviewing subjects about topics of local interest. Participated and facilitated numerous community meetings with business leaders,community activists,senior citizens, residential groups,school district members,and officials of other municipalities. Independent Labor Arbitrator and Hearing Examiner,Minnesota and Wisconsin, 1975— 1981 State of Wisconsin/Wisconsin State Employees Union. Labor Arbitrator conducting hearings,preparing written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,and issuing Orders on violations under the contract. State of Minnesota Office of Hearing Examiners. Hearing Officer holding pre-hearing conferences,hearings on Motions,final hearings and preparing Findings, Conclusions,and Orders for the Department Of Education,the Human rights Department,the Department of Public Welfare,the Department of Labor and Industry,the Department of Public Welfare,the Department of Labor and Industry—OSHA,the Department of Revenue,the Department of Health,the Department of Commerce-Securities and Banking Divisions,City Council of St.Paul Personnel Board,Board of Nursing and the Minneapolis Public Schools. Sussman and Lavin,general practice of law, Minneapolis MN 1972- 1976 MN Department of Human Rights,EEOC Special Counsel, St. Paul MN, 1971 - 1972 Litigation preparation. Supervised the investigations of large companies for patterns of discrimination in hiring and recruiting. Prepared Policy Letters for the Commissioner of Human Rights. Prepared Guidelines for the Department. Assisted in the drafting of legislation. MN Department of Human Rights,Director of Enforcement St. Paul MN 1970— 1971 Hired and supervised a staff of investigators. Supervised the investigations of allegations of discrimination under the State Human Rights Act. Conducted conciliation hearings. Assisted the State of MN Assistant Attorney General in the preparation of litigation. ADMITTED TO THE MN STATE BAR IN 1970;currently on retired status. Ellen Lavin, Attorney At Law h: 305-935-0195 c: 612-385-4488 331,60 Volunteer Committees and Boards The Blake School Board of Trustees,Minneapolis MN, 1986-1993 Board member and Chairperson of the Building Committee. Jewish Vocational Services,Board of Directors,Hopkins MN, 1985 -1987 Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board,Minneapolis MN, 1985— 1986 Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority SW Advisory Board,Minneapolis MN. 1987 Hennepin county Light Rail Transit Joint Powers Commission,Minneapolis MN, 1987 City of Hopkins Centennial Committee, Co-Chair,Hopkins MN, 1986-1997 City of Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission,Hopkins MN, 1981 — 1983 Hopkins Mainstreet Task Force, 1981 - 1895 Education The University of Minnesota Law School,Minneapolis MN,J.D., 1970 Hunter College of the City University of New York,NY, NY, 1967 2/13/2015 Item Coversheet oNNY ist '` City of Sunny Isles Beach n 18070 Collins Avenue " "' �� f Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 •'A9' X01- 0. (305)947-0606 City Hall Fe • FL°C ,:34- (305)949-3113 Fax Tt or svµ MEMORANDUM, TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Christopher J. Russo, City Manager DATE: 2/19/2015 RE: 2015 Special Master Appointments RECOMMENDATION: The City Manager recommends the appointment of Rafael E. Suarez, Esq. and Ellen Lavin, Esq. as Special Masters. REASONS: Special Masters preside over cases involving code violations and are appointed on an annual basis. ATTACHMENTS: Description Resolution Resumes Item Number: 10.B. http://sunnyisles.novusagenda.com/CoverSheet.aspx7ItemID=1575 1/1