SR.7 - Establish Accessibility Advisory Board
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AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 11 AND 12 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED (“CITY CODE”), TITLED “ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS/RESERVED,” MORE SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING DIVISION 11, SECTION 2-1145 THROUGH DIVISION 12, 2-1174 OF THE CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE “ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY BOARD” ("BOARD"), STATING THE BOARD'S PURPOSE, POWERS, DUTIES, COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR OFFICERS, RULES OF PROCEDURE, MEETINGS, QUORUM, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT, ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL, WAIVERS, OTHER NECESSARY PROVISIONS, AND PUBLIC NOTICE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
May 14, 2026
Sponsors
Higgins
King
Gabela
Pardo
Escalona
Rosado
Vote Details
ADOPTED
Motion to: Adopt
Mover: Christine King, Commissioner
Seconder: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
Ayes (5):
King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Enactment Number: 14464
Department: Commissioners and Mayor
Category: Elected Official Item
WHEREAS, City of Miami (“City”) is home to a large and growing population of residents, visitors, and workers living with disabilities—including physical, sensory, cognitive, and developmental \- whose full participation in civic life depends on accessible infrastructure, services, and systems; and
WHEREAS, there are legal frameworks to address accessibility concerns, however, despite such policies, there continue to be gaps in accessibility policy; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the creation of an Accessibility Advisory Board can serve as a formal advisory forum connecting residents with disabilities, their families, advocates, accessibility professionals, and City officials to identify barriers and improve accessibility across City programs, infrastructure, and services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 2/Article XI/Divisions 11 and 12 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended (“City Code”), is further amended in the following particulars:
"CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION
\*\*\*\*
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
\*\*\*\*
DIVISION 11. RESERVED ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Secs. 2-1145—2-1149
Sec. 2-1145. Accessibility Advisory Board Establishment; Purpose.
There is hereby created and established the Accessibility Advisory Board, and herein referred to as “Board”, to function as an advisory forum for residents with disabilities, their families, advocates, accessibility professionals, and City officials to identify barriers and improve accessibility across City programs, infrastructure, and services.
The Board will advise on capital projects, public right-of-way upgrades, parks and facility renovations, digital infrastructure, and City-operated services to ensure accessibility and universal design principles are integrated from planning through implementation. It will also act as a liaison to the broader disability community—facilitating ongoing dialogue, informing emergency preparedness efforts, and advancing policies that promote inclusion, equity, and quality of life for all residents.
Sec. 2-1146. \- Powers and Duties.
(a)Powers and Duties. The Board shall:
(1) Hold public hearings to receive public and expert input regarding capital projects, public right-of-way upgrades, parks and facility renovations, digital infrastructure, and City-operated services in regards to accessibility to all;
(2)Encourage the fullest and most public dialogue informing emergency preparedness efforts, and advancing policies that promote accessibility and quality of life for all residents;
(3)Create, coordinate, and manage policies and procedures for events related to
the Board's purpose;
(4)The Board may, by majority vote, sponsor advisory items for placement on the City Commission agenda, provided such items are sponsored by a City Commissioner, the Mayor, or the City Manager and are submitted in accordance with established City Commission agenda procedures. All sponsored City Commission agenda items shall be advisory in nature and shall have no binding effect unless formally adopted by the City Commission;
(5)Make recommendations to the Mayor, the City Commission, and the City
Manager regarding policies that may affect any faith-based organizations, congregations, and surrounding communities such as zoning, housing, community development, social service coordination, and safety;
(6)Any resolution of the Board making recommendations to the City Commission shall be submitted to all City Commissioners by the Board liaison, The Board liaison shall solicit sponsorship by City Commissioner for the item to be placed on the next feasible City Commission agenda as a discussion item with the Board resolution and any corresponding supporting documentation approved by the Board at the time the resolution was adopted by the Board; and
(7)Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Board shall exercise only such powers and duties as are granted pursuant to this Article.
Sec. 2-1147. Composition; Appointment and Terms of Office of Members; Filling of Vacancies.
(a)Composition and Qualifications. The Board shall consist of seven (7) voting members, who shall be City residentsand must either be: a person with a disability as defined under the American Disabilities Act, have a relative with a disability that resides within the City of Miami, or be a professional with demonstrated expertise in accessibility, universal design, disability law, or rehabilitation of properties in compliance with the American Disabilities Act,
(b)Appointment of Members. The seven (7) voting members shall be appointed to the Board as follows:
(1)Each of the five (5) City Commissioners shall appoint one (1) voting member.
(2)The Mayor shall appoint one (1) voting member
(3)The City Manager shall appoint one (1) voting member.
(c)Term. The terms of office for Board members shall be for two (2) years from the date of appointment.
(d)Minimum Attendance Requirements. The minimum attendance requirements as provided in Section 2-886 of the City Code shall apply.
(e)Removal. The Mayor and each City Commissioner shall have the power to remove, at any time and for any reason, his/her respective appointee without a finding of cause. The City Commission shall have the power to remove, at any time, any Board member by a majority vote of the City Commission without a finding of cause.
(f)Resignation. Members may resign by submitting a signed letter of resignation to the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall immediately notify the appointing official of the vacancy. It shall be the obligation of each Board member to notify the City Clerk if the member ceases to meet the qualification criteria set forth in Subsection (a) above.
(g)Vacancies. In the event a vacancy occurs on the Board, whether automatically, by vote of the City Commission, by removal by the Mayor or the City Commissioner who appointed such member, by resignation of the member, or for any other reason, the Mayor for Mayoral appointees and the City Commissioner for their respective appointees may appoint a qualified person to fill the remaining term of the vacant position. Only notice of such appointment by the appointing City official on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission or as soon as practicable thereafter is required and no action is required of the City Commission except for the at-large member. All such appointments shall be consistent with the membership requirements stated in Subsection (a) above.
(h)Waiver. The City Commission shall have the power to waive any of the requirements of Subsection (a) above by four-fifths (4/5) vote of the members of the full City Commission.
Sec. 2-1148. Officers.
(a)The Board shall have a Chair and Vice-Chairperson of the Board.
(b)At the first meeting of each calendar year for the Board, the members of the Board shall select and designate a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among the voting members of the Board. Chairperson and Vice-chairperson shall serve one (1) year terms as those respective officers of the Board.
Sec. 2-1149. Meetings; Parliamentary Authority; Rules and Regulations; Quorum.
(a) Procedure. The Board may adopt its own order of business, rules of procedure, and bylaws to govern its meetings and actions not inconsistent with the provisions set forth herein, which shall be filed with the City Clerk. Unless and until the Board adopts its own rules of procedure, it shall follow Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) except that the provisions set forth herein shall control in case of conflict.
(b) Notice and Public Participation. All meetings and workshops of the Board shall be noticed and open to the public as required by the State of Florida's Sunshine Law. In addition, the public shall be encouraged to submit oral and written comments to the Board at all meetings.
(c) Minutes. The minutes of each meeting and workshop shall be taken by applicable staff and shall promptly be provided to the City Clerk as the official record of each such meeting. Such records shall be open to public inspection. Copies of minutes of all Board meetings shall be furnished to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager.
(d) Quorum. A minimum of three (3) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of convening any meeting. An affirmative vote of no fewer than two (2) of the members present at any meeting is required for any action to be taken by the Board.
Sec. 2-1150. Legal Counsel.
The Office of the City Attorney shall provide an attorney to serve as legal counsel to the Board and shall provide legal advice on all matters considered by the Board.
Sec. 2-1151. Liaisons to Board and Assignment of Staff.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the City Code, the City Manager shall designate the Administration's liaison to the Board. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to provide administrative support to the Board, which shall include the services of an individual to maintain Board correspondence, post meeting notices with the City Clerk, file reports, and perform all other necessary administrative support functions. In addition to any administration liaisons assigned to the Board, upon the Board's request, the Mayor and the City Manager may also participate in deliberations of the Board and may offer technical and policy advice.
DIVISION 12. RESERVED
Secs. 2-11501152—2-1174. Reserved.”
Section 4. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.
WHEREAS, there are legal frameworks to address accessibility concerns, however, despite such policies, there continue to be gaps in accessibility policy; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the creation of an Accessibility Advisory Board can serve as a formal advisory forum connecting residents with disabilities, their families, advocates, accessibility professionals, and City officials to identify barriers and improve accessibility across City programs, infrastructure, and services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 2/Article XI/Divisions 11 and 12 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended (“City Code”), is further amended in the following particulars:
"CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION
\*\*\*\*
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS
\*\*\*\*
DIVISION 11. RESERVED ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Secs. 2-1145—2-1149
Sec. 2-1145. Accessibility Advisory Board Establishment; Purpose.
There is hereby created and established the Accessibility Advisory Board, and herein referred to as “Board”, to function as an advisory forum for residents with disabilities, their families, advocates, accessibility professionals, and City officials to identify barriers and improve accessibility across City programs, infrastructure, and services.
The Board will advise on capital projects, public right-of-way upgrades, parks and facility renovations, digital infrastructure, and City-operated services to ensure accessibility and universal design principles are integrated from planning through implementation. It will also act as a liaison to the broader disability community—facilitating ongoing dialogue, informing emergency preparedness efforts, and advancing policies that promote inclusion, equity, and quality of life for all residents.
Sec. 2-1146. \- Powers and Duties.
(a)Powers and Duties. The Board shall:
(1) Hold public hearings to receive public and expert input regarding capital projects, public right-of-way upgrades, parks and facility renovations, digital infrastructure, and City-operated services in regards to accessibility to all;
(2)Encourage the fullest and most public dialogue informing emergency preparedness efforts, and advancing policies that promote accessibility and quality of life for all residents;
(3)Create, coordinate, and manage policies and procedures for events related to
the Board's purpose;
(4)The Board may, by majority vote, sponsor advisory items for placement on the City Commission agenda, provided such items are sponsored by a City Commissioner, the Mayor, or the City Manager and are submitted in accordance with established City Commission agenda procedures. All sponsored City Commission agenda items shall be advisory in nature and shall have no binding effect unless formally adopted by the City Commission;
(5)Make recommendations to the Mayor, the City Commission, and the City
Manager regarding policies that may affect any faith-based organizations, congregations, and surrounding communities such as zoning, housing, community development, social service coordination, and safety;
(6)Any resolution of the Board making recommendations to the City Commission shall be submitted to all City Commissioners by the Board liaison, The Board liaison shall solicit sponsorship by City Commissioner for the item to be placed on the next feasible City Commission agenda as a discussion item with the Board resolution and any corresponding supporting documentation approved by the Board at the time the resolution was adopted by the Board; and
(7)Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Board shall exercise only such powers and duties as are granted pursuant to this Article.
Sec. 2-1147. Composition; Appointment and Terms of Office of Members; Filling of Vacancies.
(a)Composition and Qualifications. The Board shall consist of seven (7) voting members, who shall be City residentsand must either be: a person with a disability as defined under the American Disabilities Act, have a relative with a disability that resides within the City of Miami, or be a professional with demonstrated expertise in accessibility, universal design, disability law, or rehabilitation of properties in compliance with the American Disabilities Act,
(b)Appointment of Members. The seven (7) voting members shall be appointed to the Board as follows:
(1)Each of the five (5) City Commissioners shall appoint one (1) voting member.
(2)The Mayor shall appoint one (1) voting member
(3)The City Manager shall appoint one (1) voting member.
(c)Term. The terms of office for Board members shall be for two (2) years from the date of appointment.
(d)Minimum Attendance Requirements. The minimum attendance requirements as provided in Section 2-886 of the City Code shall apply.
(e)Removal. The Mayor and each City Commissioner shall have the power to remove, at any time and for any reason, his/her respective appointee without a finding of cause. The City Commission shall have the power to remove, at any time, any Board member by a majority vote of the City Commission without a finding of cause.
(f)Resignation. Members may resign by submitting a signed letter of resignation to the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall immediately notify the appointing official of the vacancy. It shall be the obligation of each Board member to notify the City Clerk if the member ceases to meet the qualification criteria set forth in Subsection (a) above.
(g)Vacancies. In the event a vacancy occurs on the Board, whether automatically, by vote of the City Commission, by removal by the Mayor or the City Commissioner who appointed such member, by resignation of the member, or for any other reason, the Mayor for Mayoral appointees and the City Commissioner for their respective appointees may appoint a qualified person to fill the remaining term of the vacant position. Only notice of such appointment by the appointing City official on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission or as soon as practicable thereafter is required and no action is required of the City Commission except for the at-large member. All such appointments shall be consistent with the membership requirements stated in Subsection (a) above.
(h)Waiver. The City Commission shall have the power to waive any of the requirements of Subsection (a) above by four-fifths (4/5) vote of the members of the full City Commission.
Sec. 2-1148. Officers.
(a)The Board shall have a Chair and Vice-Chairperson of the Board.
(b)At the first meeting of each calendar year for the Board, the members of the Board shall select and designate a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among the voting members of the Board. Chairperson and Vice-chairperson shall serve one (1) year terms as those respective officers of the Board.
Sec. 2-1149. Meetings; Parliamentary Authority; Rules and Regulations; Quorum.
(a) Procedure. The Board may adopt its own order of business, rules of procedure, and bylaws to govern its meetings and actions not inconsistent with the provisions set forth herein, which shall be filed with the City Clerk. Unless and until the Board adopts its own rules of procedure, it shall follow Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) except that the provisions set forth herein shall control in case of conflict.
(b) Notice and Public Participation. All meetings and workshops of the Board shall be noticed and open to the public as required by the State of Florida's Sunshine Law. In addition, the public shall be encouraged to submit oral and written comments to the Board at all meetings.
(c) Minutes. The minutes of each meeting and workshop shall be taken by applicable staff and shall promptly be provided to the City Clerk as the official record of each such meeting. Such records shall be open to public inspection. Copies of minutes of all Board meetings shall be furnished to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager.
(d) Quorum. A minimum of three (3) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of convening any meeting. An affirmative vote of no fewer than two (2) of the members present at any meeting is required for any action to be taken by the Board.
Sec. 2-1150. Legal Counsel.
The Office of the City Attorney shall provide an attorney to serve as legal counsel to the Board and shall provide legal advice on all matters considered by the Board.
Sec. 2-1151. Liaisons to Board and Assignment of Staff.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the City Code, the City Manager shall designate the Administration's liaison to the Board. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to provide administrative support to the Board, which shall include the services of an individual to maintain Board correspondence, post meeting notices with the City Clerk, file reports, and perform all other necessary administrative support functions. In addition to any administration liaisons assigned to the Board, upon the Board's request, the Mayor and the City Manager may also participate in deliberations of the Board and may offer technical and policy advice.
DIVISION 12. RESERVED
Secs. 2-11501152—2-1174. Reserved.”
Section 4. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.