Tuesday, July 17, 2018

June 5, 2018 Resolution calling special election in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to be held in conjunction with the General Election on November 6, 2018, for the purpose of submitting to the electors residing within the proposed new municipality in unincorporated Northeast Miami-Dade the question of whether the BCC should be authorized to create the new municipality with the following general outermost boundaries: County line to the north; the city limits of the City of Aventura to the east; the city limits of the City of North Miami Beach to the south; and Interstate 95 to the west; and designating Greynolds Park, Water and Sewer pump stations, and the Ojus Urban Area District as areas of countywide significance.

If you found the title too long to read then society may have bigger issues than whether NE unincorporated Dade should incorporate into a city. However that title, dear readers, serves as the title of a June 5th ordinance before the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, proposed by District 4 Commissioner Heyman, to decide whether or not to give the voters of the affected area an election to incorporate. (form a new city)

While on face I like the idea of a smaller, more local government implementing policy in my neighborhood, my initial enthusiasm made way for more long-term critical thinking. As an idealist I regularly forget that other opinions exist in the universe, and likewise other concepts of local governance. What conditions would exist in this new municipality? What debts and responsibilities would it have before existing? And what would might it look like if we voted Yes to the ballot question in November on incorporation?

Actual ballot language.
I have to wonder how anyone could make a reasonable decision without further research? This language, without important details, does not nearly convey the extensive structure which already exists around this as-yet non-existent city.
On June 5, 2018 the BCC decided to ask resident electors in the North East Municipal Service Area the question, shall the BCC create a new municipality? In attempting to decide for myself the answer to the question I started a series of blog posts to inform my neighbors of facts, as explained in governing documents, and to raise questions to which I haven't found the answer or for which the answer necessarily requires a new effort by the community.
I welcome you on my journey, encourage you to put forth the effort to read provided documents, to comment with your opinions and concerns, and finally to do your own research and contribute it to the public discussion.

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