Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Review Board topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Miami planning board recommends changes to Design Review Board schedule and quorum
Summary
The City of South Miami Planning Board voted to recommend that the City Commission adopt revisions reducing DRB membership, adding a second monthly meeting (specified as 1st and 3rd dates) and clarifying schedule language so meeting times and dates are explicit. The board emphasized chair discretion and member reliability as primary concerns.
The Planning Board recommended the City Commission adopt an ordinance to amend the Design Review Board's composition and procedural language, including specifying two monthly meetings and lowering the number of members required for a quorum. The board's motion, as finalized, asked that the ordinance explicitly list meeting dates (for example the 1st and 3rd Tuesday) and reduce membership so the quorum threshold is achievable.
Board members debated whether to include a firm time certain or leave meeting‑length control to the chair. "I think it's important for all board members to know that we are trying to be diligent and get through this," said Daniel Guerra, urging bounds that would make volunteer service feasible. Other members cautioned that a strict time cap could leave applicants unhearing: "If you set a time certain, is that fair to leave some things uncovered you can't get to?" Jay Miller asked, urging that chair discretion and the option to extend be preserved.
Legal staff told the board municipalities may set meeting limits but that the code currently specifies a day (Tuesday) and not a time. The staff presentation noted prior options — retaining seven members (quorum of four), adding alternates, or formally limiting applications/time per meeting — and said those proposals exceeded the commission's original direction; staff recommended approval of the ordinance with any specific amendments the board deems appropriate.
After discussion and a friendly amendment to state the two meeting dates explicitly, the board voted to forward the recommendation to the City Commission. The motion passed; the board's recommendation asks the Commission to adopt two monthly meetings (explicit dates to be specified in the ordinance) and to reduce total DRB membership so the quorum is more attainable. The record of individual roll‑call votes in the transcript is partially ambiguous; the chair recorded that the motion passed.
