[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471819,"mediaKeyId","5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940","parentId",5777805,"title","Miami-Dade charter review task force adopts placement and wording changes for constitutional officers","audioSeconds",2431,"startMs",141000,"endMs",2572000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940&start=141&end=2572","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940/thumbnail_141000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471819/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Miami-Dade-charter-review-task-force-adopts-placement-and-wording-changes-for-constitutional-officers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471819-e284248e188f203b8f469eb4c751d83e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035746&Signature=Q01IPURy1UoX0y9WkdhkSQ~0CDGqmoFB8SabpJX4RY6YvmtmgOv5aH0HLO7NxzSOGPqNITB7kdGmV~CXWI9Uxp3F-B5Ys2MMZVj9ryuRusbmvuPb-WAXYzsENFnWClIGBm43PySWfJQ1r6QwYSyj1V2kqk5ySRa8VLetEaoMrfEVK1NgYPeiD5JeKLYEWfhDUJwvZy6xRXEOo8r3kXnDvNFLzzYCTF4uVc9asN1tBN~tjUjZiDtDUiSEZ0I9LLFY-HlWN5-KZOs2q4ZN-X-4BkY5oSokfyQhCzSKMhxdY7fIHQrZxKFbEhWuQ8ywenlVb0ipcZ2Ng00RybjoDeRYww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Miami-Dade County","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","Task Force Chairman Dennis Kerbel and members voted to adopt a package of charter edits that preserve a broad prohibition on abolishing, impairing or transferring the powers of county constitutional officers and to move forward with related ballot language.

The change instructs that the charter reflect the limits placed by Amendment 10 and other provisions of the Florida Constitution and state law on county actions affecting constitutional officers. Oren Rosenthal, general counsel for the Supervisor of Elections of Miami‑Dade County, told the task force the earlier task force vote adopted language prohibiting the county from \"abolishing, impairing, or transferring the jurisdiction, responsibilities, powers, or duties of the county constitutional officers set forth in the Florida constitution and general law, except as permitted therein.\" He recommended that prohibition be retained in section 9.01 rather than only appearing as a limitation inside the list of affirmative powers in section 1.01(a).

Why it matters: The edits decide where in the charter the limits on the Board of County Commissioners are stated and how prominent that prohibition is. Task force members debated whether restating the prohibition in more than one section made the charter clearer to readers or merely repetitive. The county attorney said the drafting choice was intended to avoid needless repetition but confirmed a scrivener's fix — the insertion of the word \"transfer\" into 1.01(a)(19) — would be made.

At the meeting the task force approved the package as read, including the insertion of \"transfer\" and other agreed clarifications. The motion to adopt the amendments was made on the record by Mister Reichenberg; the motion was seconded and the task force voted in favor (voice vote; no roll-call tally provided).

The county attorney told members that 1.01(a)(19) captures affirmative powers of the board and that 9.01 serves as a historical marker describing Amendment 10 and related constitutional limits. Several members suggested a middle ground: add a short cross-reference (\"except as provided in section 9.01\") to 1.01(a)(19) so the longer prohibition remains in 9.01 while the affirmative‑powers list points back to that limitation.

The task force also approved the ballot titles and summaries for two questions — a standalone technical‑changes amendment and the constitutional‑officers amendment — in forms the county attorney described as \"legally sufficient\" for placement on the ballot. That motion to approve the ballot language was moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote.

What the task force did not decide at this meeting: several members pressed for the adopted prohibitions to remain clearly visible in 9.01 rather than rely on cross‑reference, arguing the prohibition is more than a limitation on a single affirmative power and should stand alone. The county attorney said the board could opt to place the prohibition in one or both sections but emphasized the constitutional and state law limits on county actions exist regardless of where the text sits in the charter.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt the charter edits described above, including insertion of the word \"transfer\": motion made by Mister Reichenberg; second recorded on the public record; voice vote in favor — motion carries.
- Motion to approve ballot titles and summaries for the technical changes and the constitutional‑officers amendment: motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor — motion carries.

Speakers (selected)

- Oren Rosenthal, General Counsel, Supervisor of Elections, Miami‑Dade County (public commenter representing Supervisor of Elections' office)
- Dennis Kerbel, Chairman, Miami‑Dade County Charter Review Task Force (task force chair)
- County Attorney (counsel to the task force; spoke on drafting choices and legal framing)
- Gara (task force member)
- Robert Fernandez (task force member)
- Mister Reichenberg (task force member; moved the motion on record)

Authorities cited

- Florida Constitution (referenced generally in the discussion as the source of limits on county authority)
- Amendment 10 (referenced explicitly in discussion about section 9.01)
- Miami‑Dade Home Rule Charter, proposed sections 1.01(a) and 9.01 (referenced by section number in debate)

Actions

- Kind: motion
Motion: \"Adopt the charter edits as circulated, including insertion of the word 'transfer' into 1.01(a)(19) and the other agreed clarifications; approve the constitutional‑officers amendment language as drafted.\"
Mover: Mister Reichenberg
Second: not specified on the public record
Vote_record: []
Tally: {}
Outcome: approved
Notes: voice vote; no roll‑call tally provided

- Kind: motion
Motion: \"Approve ballot titles and summaries for the technical‑changes amendment and the constitutional‑officers amendment.\"
Mover: not specified on the public record
Second: Mayor Crystal Wager (second noted later in the meeting for a related motion)
Vote_record: []
Tally: {}
Outcome: approved
Notes: voice vote; county attorney described the language as legally sufficient

Clarifying details

- category: placement
detail: \"Task force debated whether the prohibition on abolishing/impairing/transferring constitutional officers should appear in section 9.01 (historical/prohibitory) or as a limitation inside 1.01(a)(19) (limitation on affirmative powers).\"
value: \"dispute over placement\"
source_speaker: \"Oren Rosenthal\"

- category: scrivener_correction
detail: \"The word 'transfer' was missing from 1.01(a)(19) in the draft and will be inserted.\"
value: true
source_speaker: \"County Attorney\"

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"Amendment 10\",\"type\":\"other\"},{\"name\":\"Supervisor of Elections\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Miami‑Dade County\",\"type\":\"agency\"}]

Community relevance

- geographies: [\"Miami‑Dade County\"]
- impact_groups: [\"voters\",\"constitutional officers\",\"Board of County Commissioners\"]

Meeting context

- engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":10,\"duration_minutes\":135,\"items_count\":5}
- implementation_risk: \"medium\"
- history: [{\"date\":\"2018-11-06\",\"note\":\"Amendment 10 referenced in discussion as effective date\"}]

Provenance

- transcript_segments: [{\"block_id\":\"block_14\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":207,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Thank you, mister chair. Oren Rosenthal, general counsel for the supervisor of elections of Miami Dade County. On August 25, this task force adopted 2 of our 3 proposals to amend section 9.01 of the charter. Those 2 proposals had to do with the county being prohibited from adopting any from abolishing, impairing, or transferring powers from the elected constitutional officers to other officers, and then an affirmative statement the county could enter into into local agreements with the constitutional officers for the joint performance of the responsibilities. Even though they were adopted as amendments to 9.01, in the draft provided to you today, they were not included in section 9.01.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_49\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":177,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"We have a motion and a second. Any questions? Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay. The next item on the agenda is, from the attorney, we had asked for, to see what the ballot title and summaries would look like for the technical changes amendment, which would be a stand alone, and now what would be the constitutional officer's amendment. That's the slate that we've just approved.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Miami-Dade County - Charter Review Task Force","oneSentenceSummary","The Miami‑Dade County Charter Review Task Force voted to adopt a set of charter edits preserving a broad prohibition on abolishing, impairing or transferring powers of county constitutional officers and approved ballot language for technical and constitutional‑officer amendments.","taxTitle","Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",2864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471813,"Task force tweaks charter language on municipal police standards, audits and historical tax‑collection date",208,1655000,1863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940&start=1655&end=1863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940/thumbnail_1655000.jpg","/articles/6471813/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Task-force-tweaks-charter-language-on-municipal-police-standards-audits-and-historical-taxcollection-date","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471813-b792b9fda5fe8c27c6ece52fc2ca20dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035746&Signature=h-wR3IHBchOb9e79G9bRZV6gpZYqiP8zdD-WQhi2GFBy-upzF~n2aNA15E5ZQCi1gT1qYWMXJr6RQ9NsftnudhJ~xc4~LJ7~Ztq4WfjRBIKxhvqrakufs0OjF3Ir2X5U27RMF4XWvftvFQDfcYESch9JT5ILRj5wpbJJ~3dhDaSFpqP1PEHjNT~CK1SZA5FM58RiW20lePYinZ1od4S0ur4OcgjUMopXdbfMqc8hCN1oRRaN~hQOTr1MlHqmXTyjxdJMLm53EwlAbzLwGqP32-23bLWKpoO2Jav1eSDd0uvKZ7h4ue0fdeIx0~D7ytEbVwMHTTl7G5JmCOytjEOFAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Miami‑Dade County Charter Review Task Force agreed on a set of technical wording changes that clarify county authority over fire protection and municipal police standards, adjust audit wording, and remove a historical date from the tax collector provision.

After discussion, the task force agreed to change proposed section 1.01(a)(4) to read that the county may \"provide a uniform system for fire protection and uniform standards for municipal police protection.\" Mayor Losmer proposed the wording and emphasized the distinction between a county fire system and setting standards for municipal police departments; the county attorney agreed the revised phrasing accomplishes that intent.

On auditing language, staff proposed and members agreed to frame the commission auditor authority as \"provide the commission with audits as permitted by law\" and to remove a redundant uses of \"audit\" in a long adjectival list so the charter reads more smoothly. The county attorney said this was a grammatical and drafting fix rather than a substantive policy change.

Members also questioned a historical date inserted in the tax assessment and collection subsection that suggested the county had been collecting taxes \"since 1961.\" Staff and task force members agreed the date was a holdover from older charter text; the group directed staff to either strike the date or move the historical explanation to the history section in 9.01. Office of Management and Budget staff later confirmed 1956/1961 references relate to how taxes were consolidated on one bill under prior charter changes; the task force directed staff to remove the standalone 1961 reference from the operational tax provision.

These edits were incorporated into the package the task force approved on the record.

Speakers (selected)

- Mayor Losmer, Task Force member
- County Attorney, counsel to the task force
- Office of Management and Budget staff (Carlos Maxwell)

Authorities cited

- Miami‑Dade Home Rule Charter, proposed sections 1.01(a), 9.01, 5.04 (assessment and collection of taxes), 9.10/9.11 (audit/commission auditor language)

Clarifying details

- category: police_protection_edit
detail: \"Changed to 'provide a uniform system for fire protection and uniform standards for municipal police protection.'\"
source_speaker: \"Mayor Losmer\"

- category: audit_wording
detail: \"Revised to 'audits as permitted by law' and removal of duplicate 'audit' in adjectival list.\"
source_speaker: \"County Attorney\"

- category: tax_collector_date
detail: \"Directed staff to strike the standalone 1961 date from the operational tax collection clause and, if needed, preserve historical note in 9.01.\"
source_speaker: \"Office of Management and Budget\"

Meeting outcome: wording edits incorporated into the charter draft approved by the task force; staff to finalize language.

Provenance

- transcript_segments: [{\"block_id\":\"block_34\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":84,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"If we mean standards, let's say, provide uniform standards for fire and municipal police protection.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_70\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":170,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"It was to add at the beginning of the list, limited to providing the commission with audits as permitted by law as well as then the list and strike the word audit from the list because there it was in this weird adjectival phrase.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]","Members agreed to reword a powers clause to separate fire system authority from municipal police standards, to revise audit language to 'audits as permitted by law,' and to remove a 1961 date tied to tax collector language while retaining a historical notation in section 9.01.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471816,"Charter review task force debates commission pay, formulas and term limits but takes no final vote",265,2923000,3188000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940&start=2923&end=3188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777805-3840d1733d46e6374295cfd5e1098940/thumbnail_2923000.jpg","/articles/6471816/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Charter-review-task-force-debates-commission-pay-formulas-and-term-limits-but-takes-no-final-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471816-e9cc4a4cb9dd8c62c67fff20d4a1cc71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035746&Signature=apzx~EtOCqtE~wYdy7-D---T3X3woYFhOG~9dq0hYAgihrciUQyhpMG293GBfLw1JJbJigG4P6lWKXoiAHWnejAMq6GuMwvfTOPrLKGjx8rKJ273UlWIEbNFrwL51aE6hyFY~qWKnvxFgDs0JGWkc6EOHHHdR0E8dp8UIvzvYWUhDiTNx3spqx~Dm3CKXpunyxBXgwznKkWivpqZL0S9rM9-sNdf0BHnoXZBj4E9sKuRGRa-Z3J7HDoOo166OA-jsHoZyGH5u0r72FEYavNqFZWYiYruRSDPNX0S-hsO64o~IpR2dQ7y3efbk4oDcAYYZFG4ocQlhvd8Bq9TIZdSDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Miami‑Dade County Charter Review Task Force spent a lengthy portion of its meeting discussing whether and how to change the county commissioners' compensation and whether to alter term limits, but took no formal vote on either issue.

The task force considered several approaches: adopt the state statutory formula that would set commissioners' pay at the level shown in a state table (the packet calculated $123,781 under that formula for Miami‑Dade), tie compensation to the county's area median income (AMI), adopt a multiplier of the state table (for example, 140 percent), or create a local formula or commission to set pay. Members also discussed whether to condition higher pay on restrictions on outside employment and whether any increase should take effect only after future election cycles to reduce the appearance of self‑dealing.

\"I start from the premise that I think it's strange to put the salary in the charter,\" said Task Force Chairman Dennis Kerbel, reflecting a recurring theme: members prefer a durable, legally defensible mechanism rather than a fixed dollar figure that would quickly become outdated.

Commissioner Dennis Moss said the present $6,000 annual chartered salary is untenable. \"We've got to find a way to raise the salaries of the individuals who sit in these seats,\" Moss said, adding that the job is full time and many commissioners lack sufficient retirement to replace lost income.

Members proposed multiple compromise approaches. Some urged tying pay to a known, regularly updated index — e.g., HUD area median income — so the figure changes annually without further charter amendments. Others favored the state table because it is established by statute, but noted counties that adopt the state mechanism cannot exceed the statutory table without setting a local figure in the charter. Several members recommended staff return with comparative data, including: actual pay and benefit packages for Miami‑Dade constitutional officers and school board members; what the state salary table yields for the county; how other charter counties and municipalities compensate elected officials (salary plus benefits); whether the state formula includes automatic cost‑of‑living adjustments; and what San Antonio did in 2024 when voters approved increases for that city's council and mayor.

The task force also discussed timing for any increase. One member suggested making a raise effective Jan. 1, 2029, to reduce the appearance that current incumbents would immediately benefit; members did not vote on that proposal.

No motion to change salaries or term limits passed at the meeting. The task force directed staff to compile additional research — including AMI figures, salaries paid to comparable local officials, and the constitutional officers' current salaries under state law — to support a future, more detailed recommendation.

Speakers (selected)

- Dennis Kerbel, Chairman, Miami‑Dade County Charter Review Task Force
- Dennis Moss, County Commissioner, Miami‑Dade County
- Michael Redondo, Vice Chairman, Task Force member
- Rebecca Wakefield, Task Force member
- Mayor Lawson (surname provided in transcript), Task Force member

Authorities cited

- Florida statutory salary table for county commissioners (referenced in discussion and in packet materials)
- HUD Area Median Income (AMI) (referenced as a possible indexing option)

Clarifying details

- category: statutory_table_example
detail: \"Packet indicated $123,781 would be the commissioner salary for Miami‑Dade if the state formula were adopted.\"
source_speaker: \"Office of Economic and Demographic Research (packet)\"

- category: AMI_value
detail: \"HUD AMI for Miami‑Dade: $87,000 (May, countywide 4‑person household reference cited by staff).\"
source_speaker: \"Office of Management and Budget\"

Meeting outcome: no action taken; staff tasked to return with comparative data and legal research to inform a future motion.

Provenance

- transcript_segments: [{\"block_id\":\"block_54\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":67,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"In the interest of pushing the discussion since we've started the salary conversation, I start from the premise that I think it's, strange to put the salary in the charter.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_96\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":207,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"We've got to find a way to raise the salaries of the individuals who sit in these seats. I mean, the number $6,000 a year and, you know, yes, there are other, you know, amenities and and those kinds of things that come along with that. But it just it didn't make any sense.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]","Members spent extensive floor time weighing options for raising Miami‑Dade County commissioner pay, possible formulas, ties to Area Median Income or state tables, limits on outside employment and staggered effective dates; they asked staff for comparative data and did not make a binding decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Miami-Dade charter review task force adopts placement and wording changes for constitutional officers

Task force tweaks charter language on municipal police standards, audits and historical tax‑collection date

Charter review task force debates commission pay, formulas and term limits but takes no final vote