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Home My WebLink AboutReso 2009-1459 III RESOLUTION NO. 2009--cl..59 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, APPOINTING REGINE MONESTIME, ESQ. AND RAFAEL E. SUAREZ, ESQ. AS SPECIAL MASTERS TO FILL THE SEAT VACATED BY SONJA DICKENS, 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 Master 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 approval; and WHEREAS, Sonja Dickens has resigned as Special Master and the City needs to appoint new Special Masters; and WHEREAS, Regine Monestime, and Rafael Suarez are both highly qualified local government lawyers who can serve in the capacity of Special Master. They have extensive experience in administrative, zoning, land use, municipal and governmental law. Regina Monestime is currently the City Attorney for the City of Florida City and Rafael Suarez is presently an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami, Florida. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Appointment of Special Masters. Regine Monestime, Esq. and Rafael Suarez are hereby appointed Special Masters to fill the seat vacated by Sonja Dickens in accordance with City Code Section 14-3. Section 2. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this l"~ ATTEST: Special Master Appointments Page I of2 d~l h~ Jane A. Hines, City Clerk' . \ APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGA UFFI IENCY: Vote: ~-O Mayor Edelcup Vice Mayor Thaler Commissioner Goodman Commissioner Brezin Commissioner Scholl Special Master Appointments Moved by: \{lCl M~oY"~~te Seconded by: ~O'M\'Y\\.s..~o-o<cxt ~'E:Z..ltJ ~(Yes) V (Yes) v (Yes) V(Y es) ~(Yes) _(No) _(No) _(No) _(No) _(No) Page 2 of2 RECINE MONESTIME, ES<'.H JIHE 909 North Miami Beach, Blvd., Suite 501 North Miami Beach. FL ;.mIG2 :~0.r,-G5:~-/l71 0 * ;.~05-G5:~-/l709 rcgillemollestimc@!Jells(llllll.llct . EXPERIENCE: CITY AITORNEY: The City of Florida City, Miami, FL 02.08-Present Legal advisor to the City Commission, City Administrative Staff, and various boards of the City; directs the City's legal services; analyzes legislation affecting the City; prepares legislation, contracts, agreements and other legal documents; reviews the legality or sufficiency of resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents; attends meetings of the City Commission, and various committees and boards; renders legal advice on matters on the agenda; represents the City in law suits and administrative hearings; researches, interprets laws, court decisions, and other legal authority in the preparation of opinions and briefs. AITORNEY AT LAW: The Monestime Firm, P.A., Miami, FL. 04/05-Present Board Certified in Appellate Practice. Handle civil, criminal and immigration state and federal appeals, research and write legal memorandum as well as trial support and consultation. Handle Foreclosure Defense and Bankruptcy cases. ASSISTANT CITY A ITORNEY: Citv of Miami, Miami, Fl., OV02 -0 4/05 Handled the office's multi-discipline comprehensive appellate practice, covering many diverse areas of law including general tort, federal civil rights, labor, code enforcement and general municipal law issues. Provided legal advice and direction to City Commission, City Manager, Deparbnent Heads, Boards and Committees. ASSISTANT AITORNEY GENERAL: Office of the Attorney General-Criminal Appeals, Miami, FL. 05/99- 12/01 Handled Criminal Appeals before the Third District Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Florida, Post conviction related Cases before the Criminal Circuit Court and Federal District Court. AITORNEY AT LAW: Law Offices of Regine Monestime, Miami, FL. 02/98- 05/99 Solo Practitioner. Handled immigration, family and real estate cases. JUDICIAL LAW CLERK: Third District Court of Appeals, Miami, FL. 08/96-02/98 Clerked for Appellate Court Judge. Researched and Drafted Memoranda and Court Opinions. Advised and Assisted Judge on Solving Various Civil and Criminal Legal Issues. JUDICIAL LAW CLERK: State of Florida 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL. Summer 1995 Researched and Drafted Memoranda on Various Civil Law Issues. Drafted Opinions for County Court Appellate Cases. Assisted Judge in Organizing and Managing Caseload. lof2 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator Florida Bar Board Certified in Appellate Practice United States District Court-Southern District of Florida United States Court of Appeals, 11 th Circuit Florida International University College of Law Advisory Board Past President, Haitian Lawyers Association Florida Association of Women Lawyers EDUCATION: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF LAW Juris Doctorate, May 1996 UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO PARIS INSTITUTE ON INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW PROGRAM Paris, France - Summer 1994 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA B,S. in Psychology, May 1992 REFERENCES A V AILABLE UPON REQUEST Page 2 of2 AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL CONCENTRATION LEGAL EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIA TIONS EDUCA TION REFERENCES Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas, Esq. 4766 Alton Road Miami Beach, Florida 33140 (305) 674-9546 Home (786) 368-6797 Cellular suarezrivasr@bellsouth.net Florida Bar Board Certified - City, County and Local Government Law Land Use/Real Estate Law and Litigation Procurement Law Commercial Law- Public Works and Contracts 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 Lecturer, Procurement and Public Records/Sunshine Law, Lorman Educational Systems, 200 I-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 Florida Bar Association, member since 1980 American Bar Association, member Dade County Bar Association, member Cuban-American Bar Association, member Nova University Law Center, Juris Doctor, 1979 University of Miami, Bachelor of Arts, 1976 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 suarezrivasr@bellsouth.net Joel E. Maxwell, Esq., Akerman, Senterfitt, Miami, Florida Writing samples and additional references available upon request. Preview Page 1 of 1 City of Sunny Isles Beach 18070 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 (305) 947-0606 City Hall (305) 949-3113 Fax MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Hans Ottinot, City Attorney DATE: 9/17/2009 RE: Special Master Appointments RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Commission approve the attached Resolution appointing Regine Monestime, Esq. and Rafael Suarez, Esq. as Special Masters for the City of Sunny Isles Beach. REASONS: Unfortunately, Special Master Sonja Dickens resigned as she has accepted a position as in-house City Attorney for the City of Miami Gardens and will not be available to serve as Special Master. Therefore, with the pending need for Special Masters due to the future enforcement of the Red Light Camera Ordinance, I am recommending that the City Commission appoint Regine Monestime, Esq. and Rafael Suarez, Esq. as Special Masters. As indicated by their resumes, both of these individuals are highly qualified local government lawyers, who can serve in the capacity of Special Master. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Regine Monestime has extensive experience in administrative, zoning, land use, municipal, and govemmentallaw and serves on the City Attorney for the City of Florida City, Miami. She is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Court Mediator. Rafael Suarez, Esq. is a board certified Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami since 1992. His experience includes but not limited to serving as City Attorney for the City of Miramar. ATTACHMENTS: . Resolution . Resumes http://sibagenda.sibfl.net/agenda/Preview .aspx?I temID=78&MeetingID= Agenda Item \ 0 C- Date 9-11-09