HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2007-1139
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-Jl39
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, APPOINTING
JIMMY L. MORALES AS SPECIAL MASTER FOR A
PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY
CODE SECTION 14-3; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 14-3 of the City of Sunny Isles Beach Code provides that appointments
of Special Masters shall be made by the City Manager, as needed, on the basis of experience, skills
and abilities and, whenever possible, shall include persons with legal zoning, engineering and/or
construction experience for a term of one year; and
WHEREAS, said Section 14-3 provides that appointments shall be submitted to the City
Commission for ratification; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy L. Morales has extensive experience in administrative, zoning, land use,
municipal, and governmental law and serves on the City Attorney team for the City of Marathon,
Florida, and is currently Chief Special Master for the City of Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy L. Morales has also served on the Board of Miami-Dade County
Commissioners, District 7, as well as the County's liaison to the Downtown Development Authority
and the Dade League of Cities.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Appointment. Jimmy L. Morales is hereby appointed Special Master for a period of
one year, is hereby ratified by the City Commission, in accordance with City Code Section 14-3.
Section 2.
Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of August 2007.
ATTEST:
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Jane A; Hines,. CMc" City Clerk
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Page I of3
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R2007- Special Masters Appt - Jimmy L Morales.Doc
FORM AND
CY
Vote: S-D
Mayor Norman S. Edelcup
Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler
Commissioner Roslyn Brezin
Commissioner Gerry Goodman
Commissioner Danny Iglesias
R2007- Special Masters Appt - Jimmy L Morales.Doc
V(Yes)
V(Y es)
----o(Y es)
V(Yes)
V(Y es)
Moved by: ~a rY\~()'{1Hf\L~~
Seconded by: Ct)mrN.u\o~~ I<:bL~t ~
_(No)
_(No)
_(No)
_(No)
_(No)
Page 2 of2
City Commission
Norman S. Edelcup
Mayor
Lewis J. Thaler
Vice Mayor
Roslyn Brezin
Commissioner
Gerry Goodman
Commissioner
Danny Iglesias
Commissioner
A. John Szerlag
City Manager
Hans Ottinot
City Attorney
Jane A. Hines
City Clerk
August 20, 2007
Jimmy Morales, Esq.
Stearns Weaver, Et. AI.
150 W Flagler St, Ste.2200
Miami, FL 33131-1536
Re:
Appointment as Special Master for City of Sunny Isles Beach
Dear Mr. Morales:
At its regular meeting of August 16, 2007, the City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2007-1139, which appointed you as a "Special Master" for the City of Sunny Isles
Beach. Attached is a copy of the approving resolution and "Chapter 14 Code
Enforcement" of the Sunny Isles Beach Code, which covers the duties, qualifications,
etc. of a Special Master, to assist you in this regard.
As you know, Special Masters preside over the administrative hearings for the City's
code enforcement issues. On average, the City conducts one administrative hearing per
month, and a Special Master is scheduled to preside over these hearings on a rotation
basis. The Office a/the City Clerk will contact you in advance ofa scheduled hearing to
confirm your availability, and we kindly ask that you set aside adequate time (at least
four hours) for each hearing.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (305) 792-1703.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
s;1~ W~
Priscilla Walker, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
Attachments
cc: A. John Szerlag, City Manager (w/o attachments)
Hans Ottinot, City Attorney (w/o attachments)
Jane A. Hines, City Clerk (w/o attachments)
Robert C. Solera, Community Development Director (w/o attachments)
Office of the City Clerk (305) 792-1703 Phone (305) 949-3113 Fax
Special Master Reappointment -Jimmy Morales Ltr
City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
(305) 947-0606 City Hall
(305) 949-3 113 Fax
(305) 947-2150 Building Department
(305) 947-5 107 Fax
City Commission
Norman S. Edelcup, Mayor
Lewis J. Thaler, Vice Mayor
Roslyn Brezin, Commissioner
Gerry Goodman, Commissioner
Danny Iglesias, Commissioner
A. John Szerlag, City Manager
Hans Ottinot, City Attorney
Jane A. Hines, CMC, City Clerk
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor and
FROM: A. John Szerlag, City Man e
DATE: August 16, 2007
RE: SPECIAL MASTER APPOINTMENT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Commission approve the attached resolution appointing Jimmy
L. Morales as Special Master for the City of Sunny Isles Beach.
REASONS
Special Masters are the presiding officers at our Code Enforcement Administrative Hearings.
Administrative hearings provide a means by which individuals cited for code violations can
plead their case and be heard before an impartial party. Sunny Isles Beach Code Section 14-3
states that appointments of Special Masters shall be made by the City Manager, as needed, on the
basis of experience, skills and abilities and, whenever possible, shall include persons with legal
zoning, engineering and/or construction experience, for a term of one year. The ordinance
further states that appointments shall be submitted to the City Commission for ratification.
Judge Robert Newman, Attorney Darcee Siegel, Attorney Maurice Donsky, and Attorney Sonya
K. Dickens are our current Special Masters, serving with favorable results to date.
Unfortunately, Darcee Siegel has resigned as she has accepted a position of Special Master for
the City of Miami. Therefore, I recommend the appointment of Jimmy L. Morales as Special
Master.
ADDITONAL INFORMATION
Jimmy L. Morales has extensive experience in administrative, zoning, land use, municipal, and
governrnentallaw and serves on the City Attorney team for the City of Marathon, Florida, and is
currently Chief Special Master for the City of Miami Beach. He has also served on the Board of
Miami-Dade County Commissioners, District 7, as well as the County's liaison to the Downtown
Development Authority and the Dade League of Cities.
Cover Memo Spec Master - j\ppointmentJimmy MoralcsDoc
Agenda Item \ 0 '6
Date 0 - J ~ - 0 1
Shareholder. Miami
305-789-3532
jmorales@swmwas,com
Practice Areas
Government Law
Commercial
Transactions
Education
J.D., magna cum laude,
Harvard Law School,
1987
B,A., magna cum laude,
Harvard University, 1984
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1987
District of Columbia,
1989
Languages
Spanish
Memberships
The Florida Bar
Dade County Bar Assn.
Cuban American Bar
Assn,
Jimmy L. Morales
Jimmy Morales, a shareholder in the firm, practices in the Miami office's
Governmental Affairs and Land Use practice group. He has extensive
experience in administrative, zoning, land use, municipal, and
governmental law. He also brings the perspective of a former elected
official to his role as counsel to municipal governments.
Relevant Experience
o
Currently serves on the City Attorney team for the City of Marathon,
Florida
.
Board of Miami-Dade County Commissioners, District 7 (Coral Gables,
Key Biscayne, Miami, Pinecrest and South Miami) (1996-2004)
Miami-Dade County's liaison to the Downtown Development Authority
and the Dade League of Cities (1997-2004)
. Chief Special Master, City of Miami Beach (2005 - present)
.
Professional and Community Involvement
. Chairman, Dade Community Foundation (2003)
. Chairman, Livability Task Force of the Alliance for Human Services
. Board Member of various organizations, including Neighborhood
Lending Partners, Urban Environment League, and the American Red
Cross
. WLRN Community Advisory Board
. Graduate of the Leadership Florida and Leadership Miami programs