In keeping with my series of good government initiatives, I would like to codify the following procedures for transitioning new elected office holders into office:

1. Provide the following documents within 5 days of an election's certification or appointment of a Council Member:

• Most current version of the Miami Lakes Town Charter;
• Most current version of the Council Rules and Procedures;
• Most current version of Robert's Rules of Order;
• Most current version of the Procurement Ordinance and an abbreviated hand out of procurement procedures with ordinance citations;
• White Paper concerning the Open Meeting and Open Records laws of Florida aka “Sunshine Laws”;
• Most current hand out from the State of Florida or Miami-Dade County concerning Ethics Laws;
• Hand out of the Land Use and Zoning Process; and
• A video copy of a recorded, basic Robert's Rules of Order workshop.

2. Orientation meeting with the Town Manager and any appropriate employee to discuss the following no later than the first Council Meeting the newly elected official or appointed Council Member is expected to begin their service:

• Basic budgetary procedure;
• Basic overview of budget by area; and
• Overview of the Miami Lakes legislative process.

3. Orientation meeting with the Town Attorney to discuss the following within sixty (60) days of an election's certification in which a new elected official is elected or from the appointment of a new Council Member:

• The Town Manager-Town Council Relationship;
• The Council's role in the land use and zoning context including legal standards and evidence requirements; and
• Highlights of Sunshine Laws and key exceptions and commonly used procedures;
• The status of pending litigation against the Town.

4. Orientation meeting with the Council Assistant to discuss the following within fifteen (15) days of an election's certification or the appointment of a Council Member:

• Select office space;
• Select preferred meeting briefing dates and times;
• Discuss Council Member's preferred arrangement for constituent meetings, communications devices, etc.; and
• Discuss the Council Member's ability to utilize mailings, e-mail lists, etc. to communicate with the public.

For candidates who are elected unopposed, the procedures and requirements described herein may invoked sooner by written request of the unopposed candidate directed to the Town Council and with the Council's affirmative majority vote. In such instance, the deadlines contained herein shall begin to run from the date of the affirmative majority vote.

The purpose of these procedures is to codify and enhance the informal transition procedures currently used and to prepare newly appointed or elected officials for their public duties while also enhancing their effectiveness and reducing staff and council meeting times.

The short title of these requirements and procedures in the Code will be the “Elected Officials Transition Procedures Act”.

Fiscal Impact: Minimal

Guiding Principles: 3, 4, 14

Objectives: 5.1 - 5.3