Commissioners discussed whether to permit limited remote voting at City of Sunny Isles Beach commission meetings and directed staff to research options and legal constraints.

The item returned to the commission after an earlier July discussion; proponents said limited remote participation would prevent agenda items from being delayed when a member is unexpectedly absent, while opponents said in-person deliberation is central to public transparency and effective debate.

Commissioner Rescara, who introduced the item, said the current code is unclear and “we need at least three elected officials physically present in order to have a quorum. And the presiding officer needs to be physically present.” She described real-life examples—illness, family emergencies, traffic—that have prevented members from voting and urged the body to consider narrowly tailored allowances such as a per-member cap on remote voting occasions.

Commissioner Joseph and other commissioners raised concerns about future misuse by officials who might routinely avoid appearing in person. Vice Mayor (unnamed) supported limited allowances and suggested a two-times-per-year cap per commissioner. Several commissioners said any telephonic-only participation is inadequate and recommended video-based systems if remote participation is allowed.

City Attorney Alan warned about conflicts between any new rules and state and charter requirements. He told the commission that under Florida law, “if you are deemed present, you have to vote,” and explained that the city’s charter and statutes would need reconciliation if remote participation were to change whether an official is considered present or absent for charter purposes. City Clerk Mauricio confirmed current practice: “If someone appears remotely, they’re deemed absent” for charter attendance allotments.

No ordinance change was adopted. Instead the commission agreed to have Commissioner Rescara meet with the city manager and the city attorney to compile legal options, examples from peer cities, and recommended policy language for possible code or charter amendments. The commission asked staff to return with a memo or draft policy describing how remote participation might work, technical requirements, limits on use, and approaches to protect quasi‑judicial proceedings.

Next steps: staff will research how other municipalities reconcile remote participation with Florida law and the city charter and return with recommendations for the commission’s consideration.