QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS -
Please be advised that given the novel COVID-19 VIRUS, Miami Lakes Town Hall is closed for the public and public meetings will be taking place virtually. However, Town Hall Council Chambers will be opened for those who wish to testify as part of the hearing but do not have the ability to remotely participate in the hearing by video conference.
Please be advised that the following items on the Board's agenda are quasi-judicial in nature. An opportunity for persons to speak on each item will be made available after the applicant and staff have made their presentations on each item. All testimony, including public testimony and evidence, will be made under oath or affirmation. Additionally, each person who gives testimony may be subject to cross-examination. If you do not wish to be either cross-examined or sworn, your testimony will be given its due weight. The general public will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses, but the public may request the Board to ask questions of staff or witnesses on their behalf. Persons representing organizations must present evidence of their authority to speak for the organization.
For all quasi-judicial hearings except appeals, a list of all proposed exhibits and a copy of the proposed exhibits shall be provided to the Town Clerk five (5) days prior to the hearing, in a format that is easily viewable on the Zoom platform. All exhibits shall be clearly labeled so as to allow for efficient retrieval and display on the Zoom platform during the hearing. All exhibits will be posted online as is customary.
A list of all individuals who will be called as witnesses during the hearings, shall be provided to the Town Clerk, five (5) days prior to the hearing. At the beginning of the hearing the Town Clerk shall call each witness by name, one-by-one, in order to swear each person in. Any witness who wishes to testify during the hearing and is not included in the previously-provided witness list, shall be sworn in after all witnesses on the list are sworn in and prior to the beginning of the hearing. All witnesses providing testimony must appear by video conference. A computer with Zoom capabilities will be available for those that wish to testify as part of the hearing but do not have the ability to remotely participate in the hearing by video conference. The location of said computer will be in Council Chambers, 6601 Main Street in Miami Hall, 33014.
The Town Clerk or court reporter shall administer the oath to any individual who is appearing by video conference and shall establish the identity of the witness on the record as well as the witness’ consent for the hearing to be recorded. In addition, comments to be considered during the hearing may be provided prior to the beginning of the meeting, by providing e-comments by email or pre-recorded comments, via email to clerk@miamilakes-fl.gov.
The Chair will allow for public comment using Zoom after the parties have concluded the presentation of their cases and before a vote is taken. In addition, the Chair will request that the Clerk read any comments or emails sent about the matter that is not the subject of the hearing into the record. However, those comments standing alone are not sworn and do not qualify as competent substantial evidence on which the quasi-judicial board may rely, except that they may be considered if they support sworn testimony that is considered competent substantial evidence.
The Chair may exercise their authority to limit the length of time provided to an individual for public comment. In addition, the Chair may preserve decorum and order.
A phone number and email address will be provided for individuals who may have questions on how to access the meeting or participate in the meeting, prior to the date of the meeting. A Town employee will be present during the meeting at the Council Chambers to assist the public with the computer. Please call (305) 364-6100 during business hours.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, PERSONS NEEDING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING SHOULD CALL TOWN HALL AT (305) 364-6100, NO LATER THAN (2) DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING FOR ASSISTANCE.
The public may participate in the virtual public meetings by utilizing any of the following 3 methods:
(1) A person wishing to submit a Live Remote Public Comment, will join the meeting via: https://www.miamilakes-fl.gov/remotecomments. You must have a working microphone and working web camera in order to submit a live remote public comment; this will allow you to join the scheduled Zoom meeting.
(2) A person can call in live during the meeting to listen to the meeting via phone and/or call in live during the meeting to submit a public comment, to any of the following numbers:
+1 786-635-1003
+1 312-626-6799
+1 929-205-6099
+1 253-215-8782
+1 301-715-8592
+1 346-248-7799
+1 699-900-6833
PLEASE ENTER THE MEETING ID# WHEN PROMPTED: 666 475 152#
*Please note that If you call to make public comment in live via phone or zoom (web), please do so 20 minutes before the meeting starts so you can register your name and address beforehand.
(3) A person can submit a Pre-recorded Video for Public Comments, by visiting https://www.miamilakes-fl.gov/remotecomments. Videos submitted cannot exceed 3 minutes and should be submitted one day before the meeting.
All comments or questions from the virtually attending public shall be directed to the Committee Chair, in a courteous tone.
No clapping, applauding, heckling, verbal outburst in support of, or in opposition to a speaker or his/her remarks shall be permitted. Should a member of the virtually attending audience become unruly, or behave in any manner that disrupts the orderly and efficient conduct of the meeting, such person will be asked to leave the Zoom meeting. As a courtesy to others, all electronic devices must be set to silent mode to avoid disruption of the proceedings.