Opa-locka commissioners direct staff to draft charter amendments on pay and benefits ahead of July election deadline

Opa-locka, Fla. — At a June 1 workshop, the Opa-locka City Commission agreed to draft two charter amendments: one to raise commissioner compensation and another to provide elected officials the same health and life insurance options afforded to regular city employees. The commission asked staff to prepare budget figures and the city attorney to draft legally sufficient language, with the clerk aiming to meet the July 24 supervisor-of-elections submission deadline.

The Clerk told the commission that "pursuant to state statute" the city must request permission and receive consent from the Supervisor of Elections before placing charter questions on the ballot, underlining the timing constraints the body faces. The group concluded the county primary deadline had passed and that the November general-election ballot is the viable target if the commission chooses to proceed.

Vice Mayor Kelly framed the workshop as a chance to set parameters before formal readings and said, "that's why it's important that we put something in place or at least propose something to the voters," arguing voters should decide whether the city should change how elected officials are compensated and covered.

City staff told commissioners that city employees currently receive a $50,000 life-insurance benefit paid by the city. The manager also outlined four enrollment tiers shown in the packet (employee-only; employee+spouse; employee+child; family) and explained that the city pays the base employee-only premium while covering 50% of dependent coverage, a formula commissioners weighed for parity with elected officials.

On compensation, commissioners debated whether to keep a drafted monthly figure or to raise it so officials would not see insurance costs deducted from a pay increase. The draft in the packet listed $1,000 per month; several members proposed increasing that to $1,500 to preserve take-home pay after any dependent-cost contributions. One commissioner noted that $1,500 per month for five seats was roughly $90,000 annually in total compensation, and commissioners asked the manager to provide precise per-plan and total cost estimates based on the five incumbents.

The city attorney recommended drafting insurance language that affords elected officials the same coverage "to the same extent as regular city employees" rather than embedding a fixed dollar amount for insurance in the charter. Commissioners expressed a preference to present compensation as a specific monthly figure while describing insurance by parity with employee benefits.

To meet timing requirements, staff recommended (and several commissioners supported) using ordinance readings to provide public notice and two readings: a proposed first reading on June 24 and a final reading on July 8, with the intention of submitting approved language to the state and then to the Supervisor of Elections in time for the July 24 deadline. The Clerk noted that a resolution would not normally require two readings but commissioners said an ordinance would offer more transparency and public input.

Next steps: the manager will meet individually with commissioners to get their coverage preferences so staff can produce concrete budget numbers; the city attorney will draft ordinance language based on the commission's direction; and the clerk will coordinate state review and the supervisor-of-elections submission schedule. The workshop adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Santiago, seconded by Commissioner Irvin.

The commission did not take a formal vote on placing charter questions on the ballot during the workshop; the direction given was to draft language and return for formal readings that would determine whether amendments will appear on the November ballot.