The City Commission of Sunny Isles Beach approved first readings of multiple ordinances and passed a slate of resolutions and contract actions after routine staff presentations on matters ranging from building design rules to vessel anchoring and year-end budget adjustments.

Those actions included first readings of ordinances to move exterior color and material rules into the land development regulations and to create a city color palette; amendments to the city’s election code (including changes to qualifying periods and a procedure for resolving runoff ties); rules governing anchoring and overnight mooring in city waters; and a fiscal-year-end budget amendment. Commissioners also approved consultant and procurement items including a $30,000 amendment for police accreditation consulting, a $205,700 purchase for two lifeguard towers, a 35-day contract extension with UKG Kronos, IT maintenance and hardware contract renewals, and increases to several purchase orders. The commission voted to award the Bella Vista seawall replacement contract and to reject proposals for a temporary holiday-themed experience after bidders failed to meet submission requirements.

Why it matters: The ordinances change how the city administers aesthetic rules and local election procedures and give the city explicit local authority to regulate vessel anchoring under recently passed state law. The budget and procurement approvals close out fiscal-year obligations and authorize equipment and professional services paid from budgeted funds.

Most items were routine and passed unanimously on first reading or by resolution. The commission also approved joining a multi-jurisdiction lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 180, which staff said restricts local land-use authority; that measure drew brief remarks supporting the defense of home rule.

Key details and outcomes
- Ordinance (exterior color/materials): Approved for first reading; second reading scheduled for November. Effect: moves regulations into land development code and creates a city color palette to be adopted by resolution.
- Ordinance (election code updates): Approved for first reading; changes include new qualifying-window dates, a supplemental qualifying period when a candidate withdraws, and a tie-break procedure for runoffs (drawing names from identical paper slips at a public meeting). Second reading scheduled for November.
- Ordinance (vessels and waterways): Approved for first reading; establishes local rules that prohibit overnight anchoring for more than 30 days within any six-month period and restricts live-aboard vessels and floating commercial structures in city waters. Second reading scheduled for November.
- Budget amendment (fiscal year closeout): Approved for first reading; staff said it reallocates funds including a reduction in employee health insurance costs to close out the fiscal year. Second reading scheduled for November.
- Resolution: Second amendment to agreement with Douglas Robertson for police accreditation consulting — amount not to exceed $30,000 — approved.
- Resolution: Purchase and installation of two lifeguard towers with Bosch Enterprises — amount not to exceed $205,700 — approved.
- Resolution: Fourth amendment to UKG Kronos agreement — 35-day extension approved to align contract dates.
- Combined resolutions: Renewals/closeouts for IT maintenance and hardware (CentralSquare, PC Solutions, Dell, Staples and related vendors) and two continuing landscape-services amendments were approved as combined items.
- Resolution: Award of Invitation to Bid 250401 to YC Group for the Bella Vista seawall replacement project — approved; design includes pilings as part of the new wall.
- Resolution: Reject proposals for RFP 250801 (temporary holiday-themed experience) — approved; staff reported bids were rejected for failure to submit required financial information.
- Resolution: Authorize participation in multi-jurisdiction litigation challenging Senate Bill 180; initial joining fee $10,000 — approved.
- Resolution: Proclamation recognizing UNESCO International Day of Tolerance (11/16/2025) — approved.

What the votes mean: Most items were routine administrative, procurement or first-reading ordinances; second readings are scheduled for November for the ordinances. The litigation vote signals the city’s intention to join other jurisdictions in challenging state legislation the city attorney described as an “encroachment on home rule.”

Next steps: Ordinances will return for second reading in November where final adoption will be considered. Contracts and procurements approved by resolution will move to procurement and implementation as directed by staff.

Votes at a glance (summary)
- All listed items passed on the record during the meeting. Individual roll-call tallies were recorded as unanimous when called; where the transcript recorded collective “Aye” responses, staff recorded approval and scheduled second readings as noted above.