HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-November 22, 2021 SCMCITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
November 22, 2021
5:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 5:41 p.m. on Monday, November 22, 2021
at Sherbondy Village, 215 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida.
2. ROLL CALL:
The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Sherelean
Bass, Commissioner Chris Davis, Vice Mayor John H. Taylor Jr., and Mayor Veronica
Williams. Also, in attendance were: City Manager John E. Pate, City Attorney Burnadette
Norris -Weeks, Assistant City Attorney Candice Cobb and City Clerk Joanna Flores.
3. INVOCATION:
The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Bass.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
5. PUBLIC INPUT: (agenda items only)
City Clerk Joanna Flores announced the protocol for public participation at City
Commission meetings.
Mayor Williams opened the floor for Public Input.
There being no members of the public to address the Commission, Mayor Williams closed
Public Input.
6. RESOLUTIONS:
a) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-
LOCKA, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL FROM MARCUM
LLP IN RESPONSE TO RFP NO. 21-1115200 FOR INDEPENDENT
Special Commission Meeting Minutes — November 22, 2021 1
AUDITING SERVICES; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, ATTACHED HERETO
AS EXHIBIT "A"; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF
REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sponsored by City Manager
The above resolution was read by Assistant City Attorney Candice Cobb.
It was moved by Commissioner Bass, seconded by Vice Mayor Taylor to discuss Agenda
Item 6-a.
Mayor Williams asked City Manager Pate to introduce Agenda Item 6-a.
City Manager Pate asked Financial Consultant Gerri Lazarre to introduce Agenda Item 6-
a.
Financial Consultant Gerri Lazarre stated that the City issued a request for proposals for
independent auditing services and received 3 proposals on Monday, November 15th from
S. Davis & Associates, HCT Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, and Marcum
LLP. Ms. Lazarre explained that the City's evaluation committee met on November 17th
to evaluate and rank the proposals, and Marcum LLP received the highest rank. She
reported that the Audit Committee convened on Thursday, November 18th to evaluate the
proposals and the recommendation from City Staff, and they voted to accept the
recommendation of the evaluation committee. Ms. Lazarre said that the recommendation
of the Audit Committee was being brought before the Commission, to approve the selection
of Marcum LLP and allow the City Manager to negotiate with the firm.
Mayor Williams stated that she was there during the Audit Committee, when a few
questions were asked, and it was determined that the Committee was comfortable with
passing the approval of Marcum LLP.
Commissioner Davis asked which audit years the item is procured for.
Financial Consultant Gerri Lazarre informed the Commission that the resolution proposed
by Agenda Item 6-a is for 2 audit periods, including fiscal years 2020 which they are hoping
to begin as soon as it's negotiated with the goal of having the audit done around February
or March and then fiscal year 2021 which they want to have done by June 30th. Ms.
Lazarre pointed out that the June 30th deadline to complete both audits is noted in the
request for proposals and the proposal responses, and she said that then the 2022 audit will
be submitted on a regular schedule based on an extension if the Commission agrees to it.
Commissioner Davis stated his understanding that the resolution proposed by Agenda Item
6-a is for the past due audits from 2020 and 2021.
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Financial Consultant Gerri Lazarre clarified that the resolution proposed by Agenda Item
6-a is for 2 years, including 2020 which is past due, but she pointed out that 2021 is not
past due yet.
There being no additional discussion, the resolution proposed in Agenda Item 6-a passed
by a 4-0 vote.
Commissioner Davis Yes
Vice Mayor Taylor Yes
Commissioner Bass Yes
Mayor Williams Yes
7. APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR CITY COMMISSION VACANCY:
Mayor Williams stated that City Clerk Joanna Flores provided the Commission with the
application to fill the City Commission vacancy created upon the resignation of Mayor
Pigatt and asked if there were any questions.
Commissioner Bass said that she has no questions but wanted to say that she likes the way
the application looks, and she thinks it has all the information for the Commission to make
an intelligent decision.
Commissioner Davis stated that he is okay with the application as presented, noting that it
seems to have all the Commission's wishes that were presented at the last Special Meeting.
Mayor Williams stated that the application looks good with everything that the
Commission suggested in there. The Mayor noted that the information is included on the
application, but asked City Clerk Flores to explain how the application can be picked up as
well as the deadline to turn in the application.
City Clerk Flores asked if everyone on the Commission agreed with the dates that she
provided, including Friday, December 3rd at 4 PM as the application deadline, and the
appointment being made at the Regular Commission Meeting on December 8th.
Vice Mayor Taylor asked if the Commission will be able to access all the applicants for
the Commission vacancy, on Friday, December 3rd.
City Clerk Flores assured the Commission that she will prepare a package including all the
applications received for the Commission and she will have it delivered to them based on
their preference a little bit after 5 PM on Friday, December 3rd.
Mayor Williams clarified that there will not be a scoring system for the applications
submitted for the Commission vacancy. The Mayor said that this is a way for the board to
Special Commission Meeting Minutes — November 22, 2021 3
decide based on information that will be provided to them, and that they will be choosing
a board member based off the applications that are given, but that it is one process that they
think is a great process to make the decision. Mayor Williams informed City Clerk Flores
that the applications to fill the Commission vacancy can be made available to the residents
who would like to apply.
City Clerk Flores stated that the information for the application to fill the Commission
vacancy, will be made available to the public via the City Clerk's web page and
applications can be picked up in the office or downloaded from the internet. The Clerk
added that all interested applicants shall be qualified electors of the City of Opa-locka,
having resided in the City for more than 365 days prior to the application date.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by Vice Mayor
Taylor, seconded by Commissioner Davis to adjourn the meeting at 5:54 p.m.
V onica Williams
Attest:
J,anna Flores, CMC
City Clerk
Mayor
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