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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO TRANSFER $300,000.00 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY RESERVE TO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL DURING THE 2017-2018 FISCAL YEAR; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY A FUNDING SOURCE FROM WHICH THE BOARD MAY ANNUALLY ALLOCATE $750,000.00 FOR THE OPERATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL COMMENCING IN THE 2018-2019 FISCAL YEAR AND PROVIDE A REPORT; AND DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO INCLUDE SAID ALLOCATION IN FUTURE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGETS

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WHEREAS, the Independent Review Panel (�IRP�) was created in 1980 after substantial unrest in the community; and
WHEREAS, the IRP is empowered to hold public hearings, prepare reports and propose recommendations regarding serious complaints or grievances made against employees, agencies or instrumentalities of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the IRP was last funded during the 2008-2009 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, the County Commission did not provide funding for the IRP because of the economic downturn, and its funding has not since been recommenced; and
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2016, this Board adopted Resolution No. R-1075-16, which created the Miami-Dade County Independent Review Panel Working Group (�Working Group�) and charged it with: 1) reviewing Article IC � Independent Review Panel - of the Code of MiamiDade County; 2) analyzing the history and effectiveness of the Independent Review Panel; 3)�reviewing and analyzing similar entities from other jurisdictions; 4) obtaining input from the community; 5) reviewing relevant literature relating to citizens review panels, such as the Independent Review Panel; and 6) providing the Board with a list of recommendations for proposed amendments to IRP ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2017, the Working Group presented its initial report to this Board and its findings therein were accepted; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, on October 17, 2017, the Working Group presented its final report, which was, likewise, accepted by the Board; and
WHEREAS, among other recommendations, the Working Group proposed changing (1) the name of the IRP to the Independent Community Panel, (2) the composition and number of its membership, (3) the scope of the IRP to include jurisdiction for review of less serious complaints grievances and (4) the IRP�s staffing; and
WHEREAS, in light of the Working Group�s final report and such recommendations included therein, partial funding, which would allow the IRP to recommence its valuable work in the community should be allocated during the current fiscal year and a dedicated funding source should be identified for funding the IRP in fiscal year 2018-2019 and each fiscal year thereafter,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. This Board adopts the foregoing recitals incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
Section 2. This Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to transfer, during the 2017-2018 fiscal year, $300,000.00 from the Public Safety Reserve to the panel currently identified as the Independent Review Panel established by Chapter 2, Article IC of the Code of Miami-Dade County, as may be amended.
Section 3. This Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to identify a funding source from which it may allocate $750,000.00 for the operation of the Independent Review Panel established by Chapter 2, Article IC of the Code of Miami-Dade County, as may be amended.
Section 4. This Board directs the County Mayor to include the allocation of $750,000.00 in future proposed annual budgets, commencing with the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Section 5. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65, this Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to provide a report to this Board, within 45 days of the effective date of this resolution, providing the funding source required to be identified by this resolution.