INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE

 

MEMORANDUM NO. 2007-029

 

TO:                  Mayor Jack Brady

                        Members of the City Commission

 

CC:                  Richard Sala, City Manager

                        Ambreen Bhatty, Assistant City Manager

                        C. Milli Dyer, City Clerk

                       

FROM:            Samuel S. Goren, City Attorney

                        Jacob G. Horowitz, Assistant City Attorney

 

DATE:             April 11, 2007

 

RE:                   City of North Lauderdale (“City”) / Vice Mayor Election Date Ordinance

 

On May 31, 2006 the City Commission, on the recommendation of the City’s Charter Review Committee, adopted Ordinance No. 06-05-1157, which proposed a change in the date of General Municipal Elections in the City from March to November. This change in election date was embraced by the City’s electorate during the General Election of November 7, 2006, and resulted in a modification to Article III, Section 3.2 of the City’s Charter.

 

This change did not effectuate a substantive amendment to Article III, Section 3.3 of the Charter, which governs the election date of the Vice Mayor.

 

Pursuant to the City Commission’s authority under Florida law to interpret the City Charter, our office has prepared an ordinance further embracing Ordinance No. 06-05-1157 to provide for consistency between the ordinance and the remainder of the Charter. This new ordinance will result in a change in the date of election of the Vice Mayor from the last meeting in March to the last meeting in November.

 

At the City Commission meeting on March 27, 2007, the Commission embraced this change by extending the term of the current Vice Mayor until November 2008.

 

If there are any questions pertaining to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

 

SSG:JGH:js

H:\790287.NL\MEMO 2007\2007-029 (Vice Mayor Election Date).doc


ORDINANCE #__________________

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, INTERPRETING ARTICLE III OF THE NORTH LAUDERDALE CHARTER, ENTITLED “LEGISLATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT”; SPECIFICALLY CLARIFYING SECTION 3.3, ENTITLED “MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR” TO PROVIDE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH ORDINANCE NO. 06-05-1157; CHANGING THE DATE OF THE ELECTION OF THE VICE MAYOR FROM THE LAST MEETING IN MARCH TO THE LAST MEETING IN NOVEMBER; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

            WHEREAS, on May 31, 2006 the City Commission of the City of the City of North Lauderdale (hereinafter referred to as the “City”) passed on second and final reading Ordinance No. 06-05-1157, which sought to change the date of General Municipal Elections in the City from March to November; and

            WHEREAS, during the General Election of November 7, 2006, the City’s electorate embraced Ordinance No. 06-05-1157 and approved by referendum a revision to Article III, Section 3.2, of the City’s Charter, providing for a future change in the City’s elections from March to November; and,

            WHEREAS, at the time Article III, Section 3.2 was revised, the provisions of the City’s Charter regarding the election of the Vice Mayor (Article III, Section 3.3) was not specifically reviewed by the City’s Charter Review Board, nor were any direct revisions discussed by the City Commission or approved by the electorate; and

            WHEREAS, at the City Commission meeting on March 27, 2007 the City Commission unanimously voted to extend the term of current Vice Mayor Rich Moyle until November 2008 thereby embracing the intent and legal purpose of Ordinance No. 06-05-1157; and

            WHEREAS, the City Commission is authorized under Florida law to interpret the City’s Charter, and finds it necessary to interpret Article III, Section 3.3 in light of the revisions approved by the electorate to Article III, Section 3.2, to address the election of the Vice Mayor; and,

            WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that Article III, Section 3.3 of the City’s Charter shall be interpreted to expressly provide for the election of a Vice Mayor annually at the last meeting in November in a manner consistent with Ordinance No. 06-05-1157; and

            WHEREAS, the City Commission deems it to be in the best interests of the citizens and residents of the City to provide for consistency between Ordinance No. 06-05-1157 and the remainder of the City Charter.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, THAT:

            Section 1.        The foregoing “Whereas” clauses are hereby ratified as true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.

            Section 2.        The City Commission hereby interprets and applies Article III, Section 3.3 of the City’s Charter to expressly provide for the election of Vice Mayor annually at the last meeting in November pursuant to Ordinance No. 06-05-1157, as embraced by electors of the City of North Lauderdale at the General Election of November 7, 2007.

            Section 3.        If any clause, section or other part of this Ordinance shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutional or invalid part shall be considered as eliminated and in no way affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Ordinance.

            Section 4.        All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances, Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict herewith, be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.

            Section 5.        This Ordinance shall become effective upon passage and adoption.

 

THE REST OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.


 

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, ON THE FIRST READING, THIS _____ DAY OF _______________, 2007

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, ON THE SECOND AND FINAL READING, THIS _____ DAY OF _______________, 2007.

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

 

______________________________

SAMUEL S. GOREN

CITY ATTORNEY                                        

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        MAYOR JACK BRADY

 

ATTEST:

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        VICE MAYOR RICH MOYLE

 

______________________________

C. MILLI DYER, CMC