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1. Who is a Lobbyist?

An individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity employed or retained, whether paid or not, by a principal who seeks to encourage the approval, disapproval, adoption, repeal, passage, defeat, or modifications of (a) any ordinance, resolution, action or decision of any elected official or City Commission; (b) any action, decision, recommendation, any city board or committee, including but not limited to Quasi-Judicial, Advisory Board, Trust, Authority, or Commission.

2. Who is not a Lobbyist?

Exceptions to registration – not required to register:

1. Any public official or city staff discussing matters relevant to their official duties
2. Any person (citizen/resident) who only appears in his individual capacity for the purpose of self-representation without compensation or reimbursement, whether direct or indirect, to express support of or opposition to any item, including but not limited to those who are member or homeowner or neighborhood associations
3. Any person who must appear or is requested to appear before the City Commission, City Board, Committee, or any member thereof, or the City Manager or city staff in a quasi-judicial proceeding or any agent, attorney, officer or employee of such person
4. Any person under contract with the City who communicates with any public official or city staff regarding issues related only to the performance of their services under contract
5. Any person who has been designated and is so recognized by the city as a representative of a collective bargaining unit composed of city employees, foreign dignitary appearing in his/her official capacity, a person who owns, publishes or is employed by a newspaper, periodical, radio station, or other bonafide news media a person who merely appears before, the Mayor, City Commission, City Board or Committee, the City Manager or city staff in an individual capacity for the purpose of self-representation
6. Any non-profit community based organization seeking grant services and/or grant funding from the city
7. Non-bid vendors making initial “sales” presentations to city administration

3. What is an Expenditure?

A payment distribution, loan, advance, reimbursement, deposit, or  anything of value made by a lobbyist or principal paid or provided  directly or indirectly to or for the benefit of any elected official or  employee of the City for the purpose of lobbying.

4. Who is a Principal?

The person that has employed or retained the services of a lobbyist.

5. Who is a Person?

Any individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity or an agent or employee thereof.

6. What is the Lobbyist Registration Procedure?

All lobbyists (every person required to so register) shall, before engaging in lobbying activities:

1. Register with the City Clerk
2. Register on a form prepared by the City Clerk
3. State under oath the name and business address of the registrant the name and business address of each principal which has employed or retained the registrant to lobby the specific issue for which he/she has been employed or retained to lobby and the existence of any direct or indirect business association, partnership, or financial relationship with any employee of the City of North Miami Beach
4. Any change to any information originally filed shall require that he/she file an amendment to the registration forms. He/she has a continuing duty to supply information and amend the forms filed through the period for which the lobbying occurs.  For each separate principal/even/occurrence or representation, an additional disclosure form shall be filed

7. What are the penalties for Lobbyists who violate the City of North Miami Beach Ordinance?

Once the Office of the City Clerk has been notified of a failure to comply with registration requirements, he may administratively double the (late) registration fee and register the lobbyist.  If any further action is deemed necessary, as determined by the Mayor and Commission, they may set additional fines, reprimand, suspend or prohibit the lobbyist from lobbying before the City Commission, a City Board, a City Committee, or members thereof, for a period not to exceed 2 years.

8. What if I have additional questions?

Should you have any additional questions regarding the registration and reporting requirements which are applicable to you, you may contact:

Jose Arrojo, Executive Director
Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust
19 West Flagler Street
Suite 207
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: 305-579-2594
Fax: 305-579-0273