The City of North Miami Beach (“City”) is currently governed by the State of Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees and the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance which establish minimum standards of ethical conduct and behavior for elected officials, public employees, members of boards and committees.

The Mayor and City Commission considered and discussed proposed items to be included in an ethics ordinance at workshops held on August 21, 2018, and September 27, 2018, and adopted, on first reading, a proposed Code of Ethics on October 16, 2018.  After the newly elected Mayor and Commissioners were sworn into office additional meetings and workshops were held on January 15, 2019, February 19, 2019, March 15, 2019, and April 15, 2019.   

The attached proposed Code of Ethics has been substantively amended from the initial version which was approved on first reading on October 16, 2018, in addition to non-substantive format and language changes, the proposed Code of Ethics includes the following;

·         additional disclosure requirements;

·         clarification to the existing gift prohibitions and exceptions;

·         identifies certain appearances that are prohibited;

·         limits a campaign consultant from lobbying the City for twelve (12) months after the election;

·         modifies the applicable cone of silence;

·         requires lobbyist sign in sheets;

·         requires a travel policy for elected officials;

·         requires a charitable expenditure and solicitation policy for elected officials;

·         requires training for employees, board/committee/commission members, charter officers, and elected officials;

·         provides penalties, procedural process and gives the Miami Dade Commission on Ethics jurisdiction for enforcement.

The proposed Code of Ethics is presented for consideration on first reading and reflects the discussions held during the workshops and meetings.  A more detailed summary of is included in this agenda.