Objectives

Ethics

Mission Statement

Miami Neighborhoods United will:

Represent the interests of residents of the City of Miami as a non-governmental, non-partisan organization – in particular the interests of its member associations of neighborhoods and their residents.

Provide a forum where residents of all cultures and origins from all parts of the City can reach consensus through an open process of education and on-going, transparent dialogue.

Strive for a well-functioning and dynamic urban environment, with thriving commercial activities, adequate housing stock for all socio-economic levels, and a high-quality, healthy environment with aesthetically attractive surroundings.

Seek to protect neighborhoods from inappropriate development and commercial intrusion and to demand appropriate infrastructure and concurrence, thus insuring an excellent quality of life for neighborhood residents through better planning and oversight.

Access lessons learned in other cities which have been successful in providing a stimulating, beautiful and healthy environment for their residents and visitors.

Positively impact, with informed public participation, those governmental processes relating to urban planning, growth management and development, which affect the historic and new neighborhoods in the City and in Miami-Dade County.

Develop, together with the City, the County and their consultants, Comprehensive Plans, zoning, and other ordinances and regulations consistent with our Mission.

Assemble an information center and clearing house with in-house expertise and linkages among our member organizations, other civic organizations, and governmental bodies at the city, county, regional, and state levels.

Develop sources of funding and an endowment to provide financial support for the activities of MNU going forward; create a database of sources of funding for member associations and for their projects, as well.

Statement of Objectives

Miami Neighborhoods United will:

Communications & Support
Work actively to promote education for and dialogue among residents of all cultures and origins in order to identify common goals and solutions; identify goals and solutions for specific issues which are consistent with the common goals; assist efforts to resolve other controversies among residents of different cultures and origins.

Raise the consciousness and understanding of growth issues among residents of all socio-economic levels, cultures and origins to promote a united and engaged citizenry in the City and County.

Assist governmental departments and officials in the gathering of community views on issues. Act as a two-way communication center for broad issues relating to the Comprehensive Plan, Land Use, zoning regulations, planning projects, and RFP’s among the member associations and with City and County officials, Departments and Boards.

Communicate individual neighborhood issues to other member associations and prepare position papers in support of individual members’ issues, as appropriate.

Prepare, propose and publicize a Citizens’ Bill of Rights for adoption by the City.

Maintain working relationships with local environmental, civic, and single purpose organizations which focus on areas of mutual interest.

Maintain working relationships with The South Florida Regional Planning Council, the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Community Affairs, and other governmental entities in order to access their technical expertise. These relationships will be available to member associations for their inquiries and use.

Research and establish contact with nationally recognized experts in areas of interest to MNU and member associations, in order to access the highest level and quality of knowledge and technical skills available nationally.

Maintain a pool of qualified professionals (volunteers and paid) to provide technical, administrative, legal and regulatory assistance on specific issues.

Be a knowledge and information center on subjects relating to its mission: for working committees focusing on particular issues, for member associations and for other entities or individuals requesting assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Planning
Work closely with the City and the County Planning Departments and consultants to make amendments to the respective Comprehensive Plans, including drafting amendments for discussion.

Initiate new projects or studies to address previously unidentified issues originated from MNU’s own research, member associations or other parties and bring the issue to the attention of appropriate governmental bodies.

Draw on the Technical Assistance of, and keep informed through Formal Comments as appropriate, both the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Department of Community Affairs in Tallahassee; and study and provide recommendations on MCNP Concurrency Issues, in conjunction with the South Florida Regional Planning Council.

Actively review zoning changes and support individual neighborhoods in seeking revisions or disapproval of proposed changes.

Work very closely with the City and County Planning Departments as well as directly with all consultants involved in development of “ Miami 21” and Comprehensive Plan amendments related thereto.

Work closely with the South Florida Water Management District, the South Florida Regional Planning Council and other Interested Parties to address the interactions of the city, county and region with the Everglades and Biscayne Bay regarding water, sewage and all other dependency and environmental impact issues affecting maximum sustainable growth.

Processes
Improve participation the City’s planning processes. Specifically, MNU will strive to insure that departmental and other internal government processes and procedures provide for review of new regulations, amendments, ordinances, and all other new initiatives or proposed changes by MNU and other Interested Parties, with sufficient time for:

• a) technical review, preparation of suggested improvements/comments/position papers;
• b) presentation of (a) to the relative department/other;
• c) discussion with the department of requests/changes/issues; and
• d) time for the department/other to incorporate changes to the item before a first reading at any public Board.

And at the request of MNU or other Interested Party, the right to designate an issue as “Major”, thereby provide for a second round of review, as above, with sufficient time for all steps. Internal, local government timelines for all projects and initiatives must provide for these steps in the process.

Take steps to improve local government compliance when requests are made for any or all internal documentation, working papers, etc. requested by MNU or other Registered Interested Party without- the need to file a Public Information Request.

Encourage the City to implement an internet-based system for public information and dialogue relating to all existing and proposed Plan regulations, ordinances, amendments, operating procedures, etc. AND keep this site current at all times.

Financial Support
Raise monies for an endowment fund and for the annual operating expenses of MNU.

Assist member associations and other groups with their financing needs and to projects in the City/County, through on-going relationships with foundations and other sources of funding.

Establish a database and links to sources of public and private funding for use by member associations, civic organizations and others whose missions are consistent with MNU’s mission.

Other
MNU will focus on or assist with any other activities consistent with the organization’s mission, if suitable resources are available.

Code Of Ethics

1. The MNU is a non-partisan organization and will not pursue any partisan-oriented activities.

2. Individuals serving the MNU as volunteers or as paid employees/consultants will recuse themselves from participation in any MNU activities or affairs in which the individual has or could be perceived to have a personal interest of any kind.

3. The MNU demands proper moral and correct ethical behavior from all officers, member associations, volunteers, and paid employees/consultants.

4. The MNU will use all donations exclusively for Mission-related projects and administrative expenses necessary for the operation, growth and development of the organization and its member associations.