City Attorney Heidi Sarah outlines Miami Springs charter amendment to move elections to November, lengthen terms and stagger seats

City Attorney Heidi Sarah told a Miami Springs information session that a single charter amendment on the November ballot would extend mayor and council terms from two years to four, stagger which seats come up for election and move general municipal elections from April to November.

Sarah, who identified herself as the city attorney, said the city council adopted Resolution 2024-4206 to place the measure before voters and that the resolution includes the proposed charter text. "The charter is the equivalent of the city's Constitution," she said, and the text is available from the city clerk and on the city's website so voters can review the exact language before voting.

Why it matters: The change would keep municipal elections on a November schedule that typically sees higher turnout and, according to the city attorney, lower per-election costs when the city joins a countywide cycle. Sarah gave cost estimates saying past April municipal elections cost about $40,000; joining a November countywide election would reduce per-election expenses to about $10,000–$15,000, producing material savings over multiple election cycles.

How the transition would work: If voters approve the amendment, April 2025 will still include a municipal election. In that election all five seats would appear on the ballot. The mayor and the member in "group one" would serve through November 2028 (slightly under four years) while council members in groups two, three and four elected in April 2025 would serve until November 2026 (slightly under two years) so that thereafter seats are staggered and elections occur every two years in November.

Sarah explained the mechanics: elections would still occur every two years, but some contests would be for four-year terms and others for the shorter transitional terms to begin staggering. She said the amendment also includes a limit so no one could serve more than about 10 years under the new rules; a current council member could serve "as much as nine years, seven months" in the transition scenario she described.

Voter information: Sarah advised voters to check a custom municipal sample ballot on the supervisor of elections website by entering an address and date of birth; she noted municipal questions often appear at the end of a lengthy November ballot. She asked voters to "wait till the end of your ballot and make sure to fill in your response to that question." The city clerk will post the full proposed charter text and the ballot question on the city's website, Sarah said.

Public question and materials: During the session an audience member who identified herself as Tammy asked that the meeting materials and the charter text be posted with the recording so viewers can review them later. Sarah and the clerk (identified in the session as Madam Burke) confirmed the posting and demonstrated where the municipal question link appears on the city's website.

Next steps: Early voting is underway and the election is scheduled for Nov. 5; the charter amendment would take effect only after voter approval and after current terms conclude according to the transition schedule Sarah described. For help or to request the charter text the city clerk's office can be reached by email or in person at 2011 West Drive, second floor.

The session consisted of an overview, a reading of the ballot language and a short audience exchange; no council action or vote occurred at the meeting itself.