Section 2-11.1(w) of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinances prohibits the acceptance of travel expenses from anyone who is a contractor of the City of North Miami Beach (“City”) unless a majority of the City Commission waives the prohibition.

Staff and the Mayor and City Commission routinely attend conferences as part of professional development and continuing education for certain professional licenses and certifications.  Because the travel expense prohibition includes meals and often times there are social events organized by vendors which includes food and light refreshments staff and the Mayor and City Commission wish to waive the travel expenses prohibition on meals for conferences attended outside of Miami-Dade and Broward County.   

The Florida Municipal Attorney’s Association (“FMAA”) Annual Seminar will be held in Palm Beach, Florida from July 11-13, 2019, and City Attorney Sarah Johnston, will be attending.

The Florida League of Cities (“FLOC”) Annual Conference will be held August 15-17, 2019, in Orlando, Florida. At this time the following individuals may attend the annual conference and to ensure compliance with any travel prohibitions seek approval of the waiver: Mayor Anthony F. DeFillipo, Vice Mayor Paule Villard, Commissioner McKenzie Fleurimond, Commissioner Michael Joseph, Commissioner Fortuna Smukler, Commissioner Barbara Kramer, Commissioner Phyllis Smith, City Manager Esmond K. Scott, City Attorney Sarah Johnston, Assistant City Manager Sharon Ragoonan, and Chief of Staff Gregory Williams.

Both FMAA Annual Seminar and the FLOC Annual Conference are organized by non-profit organizations, during the seminar and conference there may be social events sponsored by private organizations which may be vendors to the City.