A nomination submitted by the mayor to name Commissioner Jennifer Viscara as vice mayor produced a heated procedural dispute at the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach on Nov. 20, with no confirmation achieved and the matter postponed to the commission's January meeting.

The city clerk read a memo from the mayor nominating Viscara in the required November window. Multiple commissioners questioned whether the nomination could proceed in the mayor’s absence and whether the presiding officer (the vice mayor acting as mayor) could unilaterally accept or delay the nomination. Commissioners repeatedly cited the city charter’s November timing requirement as mandatory and urged adherence; others followed the city attorney’s parliamentary interpretation that the nomination process could be tabled if the commission could not reach the required vote.

City Attorney (reading charter language) summarized the governing rule: in a year with no regular city election, "at the first commission meeting in the month of November of such year, the mayor shall nominate a vice mayor... subject to commission approval." Commissioners debated whether failure to confirm would constitute a charter violation and whether the presiding officer could defer action. Several procedural motions were made but either failed for lack of a second or resulted in a 2–2 tie, leaving the status quo in place and requiring the item to return in January for a definitive vote.

Commissioners who pushed to delay said additional clarity from legal counsel and the mayor’s presence would be preferable; those urging an immediate vote said the charter’s timing is mandatory. No final appointment was made during the Nov. 20 meeting. The item is scheduled for reconsideration at the first regular commission meeting in January 2026.

The commission’s decision to return the nomination in January means the vice mayor selection remains unresolved but the acting vice mayor will continue in the presiding role until a successor is confirmed.