The North Miami Beach City Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 21, debated the city manager recruitment process, heard calls for better on‑site legal support from the city attorney’s office, and approved a package of ordinances and purchase orders including a new public‑arts requirement for large private and public projects and changes to the city’s water and sewer code.

The meeting opened with routine roll call and public comment, then moved into a broad set of legislative and consent matters. The commission approved a number of routine purchase orders and contract renewals on the consent agenda, adopted the public‑arts ordinance and amended the city charter sections governing water and sewer accounts after extended questions from commissioners.

Why it matters: Commissioners said staffing and responsiveness from key charter offices — most notably the city attorney and the forthcoming city manager — are central to the city’s ability to deliver capital projects, process developer requests and respond to resident complaints. Several adopted items will affect developers, utility customers and public art funding; the commission also authorized litigation against Miami‑Dade County over a county ordinance it concluded raises legal issues.

City manager recruitment and headhunter debate

Commissioners reopened and widened the city manager recruitment (the posting period was extended and the top salary was raised), but rejected paying an outside executive search firm after debating the cost, schedule and likely benefit of a retained recruiter. The council voted to discontinue the proposed headhunter engagement (motion approved by vote recorded in meeting minutes). Supporters of a headhunter said recruiters can reach passive candidates and provide a neutral vetting step; opponents said an expanded posting and the higher salary already drew a large candidate pool and that the city should use that internal pool first.

Interim assistant city manager Marlene Monasteen told the commission staff is continuing recruitment and will present candidates; several commissioners urged transparent timelines and agreed to move forward without a retained firm.

City attorney performance and legal action against Miami‑Dade

Several commissioners raised concerns about responsiveness and on‑site coverage by the city attorney’s firm. The commission asked for clearer benchmarks and for the firm to provide more regular written status reports. On the same subject of legal strategy the commission authorized the city to retain outside counsel and to pursue litigation challenging a newly adopted Miami‑Dade County ordinance; the vote to authorize the city to join litigation and retain the named outside counsel passed unanimously.

Public‑arts ordinance adopted

The commission adopted a new “Art in Public Places” ordinance that requires some private developments and city capital projects to dedicate 0.5% of total project cost to public art or pay a fee in lieu. The ordinance establishes a public‑arts fund, a public‑art selection committee made up of professionals, and a process for calls to artists and for a citywide public‑art plan. Commissioner Smith said the requirement should be transparent and proposed that bylaws clarify recusal and conflicts for committee members; the commission approved the ordinance unanimously.

Water and sewer code changes adopted

On second reading the commission approved amendments to Chapter 19 of the city code (water and sewers), which update definitions, deposits, account continuity and turn‑on/shut‑off procedures. Commissioners pressed staff on proof of ownership rules for new accounts, how the city will verify owners for commercial or LLC accounts, and how the city will handle leak/waste situations and deposits when shutoffs have occurred. The ordinance passed on second reading 7‑0 after the commission and staff clarified the city’s ability to require additional deposits or other assurances when needed.

Other legislation and enforcement measures

- The commission adopted a revised smoking/vape‑shop zoning ordinance intended to prevent clustering of retail smoke shops: new separate definitions, 1,000‑foot separation between those shops and buffers to sensitive uses; the ordinance passed 7‑0.
- The shopping‑cart nuisance ordinance was updated to require businesses that maintain five or more carts to submit a cart‑retention plan to public works and authorizes civil fines and enforcement for noncompliance; the commission adopted the ordinance on first reading and directed staff to bring a second‑reading amendment to require cart‑locking devices for new retail permits.
- The commission approved on consent multiple contracts and renewals including (but not limited to) the FIU transfer‑station license renewal (R2025‑147), roundabout construction award (R2025‑148), purchase of a Grady White boat for the police marine unit (R2025‑149), water‑meter fittings purchase order (R2025‑150), tank‑inspection sole‑source contract (R2025‑151), third‑party claims services (R2025‑152), audiovisual installation at the McDonald Center (R2025‑153) and several grant application authorizations for FDOT beautification and other partnership MOUs and strategic plans (R2025‑154–159). The consent items passed as presented.

Business tax receipts and public‑safety review

A business tax receipt request to extend operating hours for a nightclub (Taboo Miami / G5) drew public comment focused on noise and safety, and the commission renewed the business tax receipt with the department’s annual renewal condition; police reported 11 incident reports during the prior 12‑month window and told commissioners the business has reduced incidents since prior enforcement.

Public comment and community priorities

Residents used public comment to press several community concerns: pay and staffing for city grounds crews, preservation work and a planned Washington Park documentary led by a local producer, requests for more police/community engagement, and repeated calls for faster remediation and clearer communications about damage and paving work in Eastern Shores. The mayor and interim managers committed to additional outreach and said staff will present a remediation plan and schedule for Eastern Shores and will improve resident notifications about construction and remediation steps.

Where this goes next

Several first‑reading ordinances and staff requests will return for second reading and implementing resolutions with more detailed schedules and fees (including details on the shopping‑cart rule, and the new department of housing and economic development which passed first reading). The commission set a procedural schedule for the city‑manager search and asked staff to provide a clearer timeline of candidate review and interview dates.

Ending

The meeting closed after appointing several board members and asking staff to return detailed implementation plans on the water code changes, the public‑arts fund and the Eastern Shores remediation plan. Commissioners asked staff to increase outreach to residents before second readings or implementing actions so the public can review details and submit comments ahead of final votes.