Vice Mayor Michael Góngora wishing you peace, love and joy in the true spirit of the season

Dear Miami Beach Residents,

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to reach out and discuss our past year in Miami Beach. Reflecting upon all of the good work we have accomplished together, I am proud that our City is a center for arts and culture, home to more diverse residents than ever and a leader in sustainable initiatives. I am excited about the accomplishments we made in 2018 as I strive to move Miami Beach forward for ourselves, our children and future generations. In all my deliberations as Commissioner, I think of you and look out for the best for the Miami Beach community.

Upon being sworn in as Commissioner, I vowed to improve our quality of life and am glad that my prior experience as Commissioner has allowed me to better serve you. I have tackled quality of life issues as Vice Chair of both the Land Use and Development as well as the Neighborhood and Community Affairs Committees. I sponsored important legislation to address red tides, urged Miami Dade County to expand its recycling bin pilot program, urged federal and state elected officials to limit the availability and use of military-grade and/or high capacity magazine assault weapons to law enforcement agencies, and opposed any expansion of casino gambling by the Florida legislature.

I continue to champion the quality of life of our beloved Miami Beach senior citizens and children. I sponsored an item to award UNIDAD of Miami Beach $230,000 to create a senior meals program for North Beach; and recently, sponsored another idea to increase the number of daily meals served to 180. Also, the Senior Affairs Committee I created is already making progress toward improved quality of life. They are striving to improve senior lunch programs, transportation, and parking. The Ad Hoc Anti-bullying Taskforce I established to protect children is raising awareness that any form of bullying is unacceptable in today’s ever-changing world.

My 2019 goals include managing and implementing the GO Bond projects approved by voters, working more closely with our State lobbying team to increase our influence with State government, and working closely with City administration to enhance our public services in a cost-effective, efficient, professional, and timely manner.

In all things, I will operate with integrity and ethics. Thomas Jefferson said “The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.” I am here to serve the residents of Miami Beach. I will continue to move our community forward in a positive direction.

On a personal note, I’m excited about new opportunities in 2019! From my family to yours, we wish you all the best this holiday season. At City Hall, Diana and I are just a phone call or email away whenever you need our help.

Happy Holidays!

Stay Tuned and Save the Dates for the Next City Commission Meetings:

January 16- City Commission Meeting (City Board Appointments)

January 23- Presentation and Awards Meeting (Selection of An Individual for Group 4 Commission Seat Vacancy)

Haga clic aquí para leer en español

PHOTOS SHOT ON SITE

Vice Mayor Michael Góngora and Diana Fontani Wishing You Peace, Love and Joy during this Holiday Season

Attending the Annual Art Basel Press Conference

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 12 ADDITIONAL PHOTOS SHOT ON SITE, SELECTED FOR THIS THIS E-NEWSLETTER

“Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.” – Walt Disney

CONDO CORNER

Changes to Leasing Restrictions May Not Apply to All Owners

By JOSEPH ADAMS, ESQ.

Q: Recently there was a discussion in my condominium association about amending our declaration to increase the minimum lease term from 30 days to 6 months. Many of our owners are in favor of this change, but we have been told it would not apply to current unit owners and would only apply to future owners. Shouldn’t the association be able to require 6-month leases? (N.A., via e-mail)

A: Generally, properly adopted amendments to the condominium documents apply to all unit owners, regardless of when they acquired title to their units. However, amendments which change rental rights are different.

The Florida Condominium Act, in Section 718.110(13), Florida Statutes, limits the ability of a condominium association to amend its documents to impose new rental restrictions. The statute states that “an amendment prohibiting unit owners from renting their units or altering the duration of the rental term or specifying or limiting the number of times unit owners are entitled to rent their units during a specified period applies only to unit owners who consent to the amendment and unit owners who acquire title to their units after the effective date of that amendment.”

Accordingly, if your association wished to adopt an amendment which increased the minimum lease term from 30 days to 6 months, it could do so pursuant to the amendatory procedures contained in the declaration of condominium. However, such an amendment would only apply to those unit owners who voted for the amendment or to unit owners who take title to their unit after the effective date of the amendment. Therefore, any unit owners who do not vote for the amendment would be entitled to lease their units pursuant to the current 30-day lease minimum. While this is the rule for condominium associations, Chapter 720, Florida Statue, the Florida Homeowners’ Association Act, does not contain a similar provision.