The Town of Miami Lakes Charter Revision Committee met on January 22 to review the preamble, the proposed Citizens Bill of Rights and Article 1, hear public comment and take several drafting votes.

The committee approved the meeting minutes by voice vote after the chair took the gavel. It then approved two technical edits to the Citizens Bill of Rights: replacing the word “hearing” with “meeting” in two places to broaden applicability, and changing a cross‑reference from the word “article” to the phrase “bill of rights” in the remedies section. The panel also approved a motion to replace Figure 1 (the town map) with a more up‑to‑date exhibit; the town attorney will advise whether that update is ministerial or requires voter approval.

Residents used the public‑comment period to raise procedural and structural issues. Angelo Cuadra Garcia urged clearer handoffs when the town manager is out of town and said "we don't need 2 town managers." Steven Herzberg asked that the committee give residents notice and time to comment before votes on major structural changes such as a move to a strong‑mayor form. Remote participant Abel Fernandez recommended clarifying Article 1 to prevent overbroad authority and to strengthen notice requirements for boundary changes.

Commissioners discussed budget‑notice timing and transparency. Commissioner Abad and others asked whether the charter should require a minimum number of days for the publication of budget materials; staff and counsel noted statutorily prescribed timelines, including TRIM (Truth in Millage) deadlines, and cautioned that overly prescriptive charter language can constrain necessary flexibility during the multi‑step budget process.

The committee also debated public‑records practice. Commissioners and staff described how Florida law (Chapter 119) governs exemptions and special service charges for large requests, how the clerk provides cost estimates for substantial requests, and the town’s practice of balancing transparency with the administrative burden of voluminous requests.

The committee agreed to focus the next meeting on Article 2 and asked commissioners and residents to submit proposed language to the clerk in advance so staff can prepare redlines. The meeting was adjourned after a final voice vote.

What’s next: the town attorney will report back on whether the map update is ministerial or material; commissioners plan to take up Article 2 at the next meeting and may schedule a separate, longer session to consider any proposal to change the form of government.