On the ballot in Miami: Broader public corruption oversight and contested outdoor fitness equipment

Miami Referendum 1 & 2:

MIAMI – District 4 Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes proposed both. Referendum 1 asks voters if they want to eliminate the “Independent Auditor General” in favor of an “Office of the Independent Inspector General,” which voters decide in Referendum 2.

The most significant difference between an independent “auditor general” and the newly proposed “inspector general” is that the inspector general would be empowered to issue subpoenas.

In reviewing the sample job functions obtained by Local 10 News, the duties and powers of the inspector general are far more robust. In addition to performing audits, the inspector general “has the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of records.”

The new office would be empowered to conduct “investigations into allegations against potential political candidates in the City,” and if corruption or fraud is detected, be required to “notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies.”

“This added oversight is crucial for holding city officials accountable and ensuring transparency in our government,” District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo told Local 10 News. “The Office of the Independent Auditor General would investigate legal and ethical violations involving city employees, agencies connected to the city, and candidates running for office in Miami. The office would have the authority to initiate investigations on its own.”

The proposal for voters to decide if they want more comprehensive oversight of city business comes in the wake of the arrest of former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla on several criminal charges to include money laundering and bribery.

“Whether you like it or not, there is a lack of the trust from the public on us policing ourselves the way that it should be,” Reyes told commissioners from the dais in January. “All this cloud that we have about corruption — I want to do away with it.”

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Miami Referendum 1 reads: “Charter Amendment to Eliminate Independent Auditor General and references thereto: Shall Sections 4, 20, 36, and 48 of Miami’s Charter be amended to eliminate the Office of the Independent Auditor General and references thereto, such duties and responsibilities being assumed by the Office of the Independent Inspector General?” Yes or No

Miami Referendum 2 reads: “Charter Amendment to Create the Office of the Independent Inspector General: Shall the City Charter be amended to create an Independent Office of the Inspector General who shall, at a minimum, be empowered to perform investigations, audits, reviews, and oversight of all City officials, employees, and departments, City funded contracts, programs, and projects for abuse, waste and mismanagement, issue subpoenas, and provide services to other City agencies and authorities, with such office’s terms, powers, duties and responsibilities to be further established by ordinance?” Yes or No

What happens if voters decide yes for 1 and no for 2? A spokesperson for Reyes’ office says the city is “required by the state to have independent audits so that will continue.” If voters decide to create an Independent Office of the Inspector General, that office replaces the current Auditor General.

Miami Referendum 3:

The third question for registered voters in Miami pertains to whether they want to keep outdoor gym equipment at Maurice A. Ferré Park.

Some downtown residents have said they don’t like it and the city commission already voted to remove it.

Championed by Bayfront Park Management Trust Chairman and Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, the referendum reads: “Shall the City of Miami keep already installed outdoor gym equipment like in many of our parks at the City park located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Fl 33132, also known as Maurice A. Ferré Park, to enhance recreational facilities and promote community health and fitness for all our residents?” Yes or No.

In a statement, District 3 Commissioner Carollo told Local 10 News he wants voters to decide, adding that the city “has over forty parks that have outdoor exercise equipment. The Bayfront Park Trust Board of Directors that has nine members with me as its chairman voted unanimously to install outdoor exercise equipment in Maurice A. Ferre Park after receiving many requests for it. Ferre Park is 20 acres, over 871,000 square feet; and only a tiny area of around 3,000 square feet is being used for the outdoor exercise equipment. There has never been a city in the free world where outdoor exercise equipment has ever been taken down because of a small group of elitists and haters not wanting it. Maurice A. Ferre Park is a regional park, not a neighborhood park. It is a park for all Miamians of all races, colors, and backgrounds.”

Campaigning against the referendum is District 2 Commissioner Damain Pardo. The park is in his district.

In a statement, Pardo told Local 10 News, “Referendum Question #3 supports Commissioner Joe Carollo’s position to keep outdoor gym equipment installed at Maurice A. Ferré Park despite widespread neighborhood opposition. The gym installation originated by Commissioner Carollo without public input has faced criticism for bypassing proper procedures and ignoring resident requests for preserving green space and minimizing commercialization. After much effort, residents won an appeal to the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board and further won the votes at the city commission to remove the equipment. This question seeks to deceive voters and silence residents.”