Miami, Florida
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Miami is a major center and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade.[4] In 2010, Miami ranked seventh in the United States in terms of finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, fashion, education, and other sectors. It ranked thirty-third among global cities.[5]
In 2008, Miami was ranked as "America's Cleanest City" according to Forbes Magazine for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling programs.[6] In 2009, UBS study of 73 world cities, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States and the world's fifth-richest city, in terms of purchasing power.[7]
Downtown Miami and South Florida are home to the largest concentration of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large companies both nationally and internationally.[8][9]
For more than two decades, the Port of Miami, known as the "Cruise Capital of the World" has been the number one cruise passenger port in the world, accommodating some of the world's largest cruise ships and operations, and is currently the busiest in both passenger traffic and cruise lines.[10][11]
[edit] Website evaluation
In 2011 Miami earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
This website was most recently reviewed Jan. 23, 2012.
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida city websites
[edit] The good
- The fiscal year 2011 budget as well as past budgets are available.[12]
- Monthly financial reports and the City's financial policies are posted.[13]
- Meeting schedule is posted. Meeting minutes, agendas, and videos for the City Commission are also posted.[14]
- Contact information for the city officials is available.[15]
- Contact information is available for administrative staff.[16]
- Zoning information and planning permit information is available.[17][18]
- The City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR) and audit reports from 2003 through the present are posted.[19]
- Current solicitations and awarded contracts are posted.[20]
- Registered lobbyists are posted and information on how to register as a lobbyist is provided.[21]
- Public records request information is available.[22]
- A revenue manual is posted from 2008 is posted on the website; more current manuals are not available. Information regarding business taxes is available in the Economic Development Department.[23]
[edit] Elected Officials
The government of the City of Miami uses the mayor-city commissioner system. The city commission consists of five commissioners, are elected from single member districts. The city commission constitutes the governing body with powers to pass ordinances adopt regulations and exercise all powers conferred upon the city in the city charter. The mayor is elected at large and appoints a city manager.
[edit] Mayor
The City of Miami is governed by Mayor Tomás Regalado.[24]
[edit] Commissioners
Five City commissioners[15] oversee the five districts in the City. It holds regular meetings in the City Hall of Miami located in 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida 33133 in the neighborhood of Coconut Grove on Dinner Key.
The Mayor's website lists key initiatives:[25] Preservation Miami, Bike Initiatives, Recovery Miami, Elevate Miami, Green Miami, ACCESS Miami
Current commissioners, as of June 2011:[26]
| Member | Title | District |
|---|---|---|
| Wifredo Gort | Chairman | District 1 |
| Marc Sarnoff | Commissioner | District 2 |
| Frank Carollo | Vice-Chairman | District 3 |
| Francis Suarez | Commissioner | District 4 |
| Richard P. Dunn | Commissioner | District 5 |
[edit] Budget
In 2011, the city has faced a $100 million budget shortfall and a 13.5 percent unemployment rate. As a result the city council has adopted emergency powers to slash the wages and benefits of public workers, which account for 90 percent of city expenses. As a result of this action, the Miami Police Union has since filed suit. City officials maintain that current public employee pensions are too expensive with the average worker collecting a lump sum of $832,000 in retirement total, and up to $92,000 annually.[27]
Miami will face a $20 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2012. In order to fill the current deficit, the city tapped into $141 million in reserves, which dwindled to nothing in March. To raise the required amount, the city also resorted to service hikes for vehicles, monthly fees to use public pools and imposing additional fees. Projections were off by millions, forcing Miami to recalculate.[28]
The $20 million deficit could rise to as much as $40 million if mid-June estimates are correct, potentially forcing officials to shave 10 percent off department budgets. “If I were an employee of the city of Miami, I’d be concerned too — ‘Am I going to have to take another pay cut?’ ” asked Commissioner Frank Carollo. Last year, cuts to city employees' salaries amounted to approximately 20 percent of their annual pay.[29]
[edit] Public employee salaries
- Main article: Miami employee salaries
County Manager George Burgess earns a compensation package which totals at 425,000 annually, and comes with a 2010 Infiniti M35 car. Additionally, it's been reported that near 100 public employees are earning more than $200,000 per year, costing the city $23 million annually. There is an additional 1,751 public employees, almost half of the public workforce, who earn six-figure paychecks.[30]
[edit] Lobbying
- Main articles: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying and Florida League of Cities
Miami has reported $1.5 million spent on lobbying since 2000 (see table).
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $130,000 |
| 2009 | $240,000 |
| 2008 | $200,000 |
| 2007 | $160,000 |
| 2006 | $100,000 |
| 2005 | $130,000 |
| 2004 | $180,000 |
| 2003 | $40,000 |
| 2002 | $120,000 |
| 2001 | $120,000 |
| 2000 | $80,000 |
Miami pays membership dues[32] to the Florida League of Cities, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association. Miami also pays for services of the lobbying firm Alcade & Fay. [33]
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
- ↑ Miami population
- ↑ 2009 Population Estimates
- ↑ The World Almanac 2011, page 611 (List of US Census Bureau MSA Estimates)
- ↑ [http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network
- ↑ The Global Cities Index 2010
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ World's richest cities by purchasing power
- ↑ Nest Seekers International
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Miami-Dade.gov Port of Miami
- ↑ Cruise lines departing from the Port of Miami
- ↑ Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Performance
- ↑ Finance Department
- ↑ Past agendas
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Elected Officials
- ↑ Phone Directory
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Planning Department
- ↑ Financial Information
- ↑ Procurement
- ↑ Lobbying
- ↑ Public Records
- ↑ Business Taxes
- ↑ Mayor
- ↑ Mayor Initiatives
- ↑ City Officials
- ↑ Watchdog, Distressed cities balking on bills, contracts, Sept. 3, 2010
- ↑ Reserves diminished
- ↑ 2011 budget shortfall
- ↑ Red Tape Chronicles, 20 government workers with super-sized pay, Oct. 5, 2010
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Membership Directory
- ↑ Client List
