Lobbyist Registration

NOTE: The following information is based on the Miami Shores Village Code Section 2-100
"Lobbyist" means all persons, firms, or corporations employed or retained by a principal who seeks to encourage the passage, defeat, or modifications of (1) ordinance, resolution, action or decision of the Village Council; (2) any action, decision, recommendation of the Village Manager or any Village board or committee; or (3) any action, decision or recommendation of Village personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process on such action, decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the Village Council, or a Village board or committee. "Lobbyist" specifically includes the principal as well as any employee whose normal scope of employment includes lobbying activities. However, if a principal of any corporation, partnership or other entity who appears as a lobbyist on behalf of that entity, without special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or opposition to any item, shall register with the Office of the Village Clerk, but shall not be required to pay any registration fees.
For additional information pertaining to who is considered a lobbyist, please refer to Miami-Dade County Code Section 2-11.1(s) (Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance).

Any person who only appears as a representative of a not-for-profit corporation or entity (such as a charitable organization, or a trade association or trade union), without special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or opposition to any item, shall register with the Clerk as required by the Miami Shores Village Code, but, upon request, shall not be required to pay any registration fees.
For additional information pertaining to individuals lobbying on behalf of a non-profit organization, please refer to Miami-Dade County Code Section 2-11.1(s) (Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance).

The term "Lobbyist" specifically excludes the following persons: attorneys or other representatives retained or employed solely for the purpose of representing individuals, corporations or other entities during publicly noticed quasi-judicial proceedings where the law prohibits ex-parte communications; expert witnesses who provide only scientific, technical or other specialized information or testimony in public meetings; any person who only appears as a representative of a neighborhood association without compensation or reimbursement for the appearance, whether direct, indirect or contingent, to express support of or opposition to any item; any person who only appears as a representative of a not-for-profit community based organization for the purpose of requesting a grant without special compensation or reimbursement for the appearance; employees of a principal whose normal scope of employment does not include lobbying activities; and any public officer, employee or appointee who only appears in his or her official capacity is not required to register as a lobbyist.
For additional information pertaining to who is exempt from having to register as a lobbyist, please refer to Miami-Dade County Code Section 2-11.1(s) (Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance).

A lobbyist shall annually submit to the Office of the Village Clerk a signed statement under oath, listing all lobbying expenditures and the sources from which funds for making lobbying expenditures have come. The lobbying expenditures shall include, but not be limited to: meals, entertainment, travel, lodging, and gifts for public officers and employees for the preceding calendar year. Lobbying expenditures shall not include the lobbyist's own personal expenses for lodging, meals, travel, salary, and office expenses. Such statement of expenditures for the preceding calendar year shall be due on January 15 of each year. Such statement shall be rendered on the form provided by the Village Clerk's Office and shall be open to public inspection. If the lobbyist has no expenditures in the preceding calendar year, then he or she shall not be required to submit an annual expenditures report.

If you have any further questions regarding this information, please contact the Office of the Village Clerk via email at rodriguezy@msvfl.gov or by telephone at (305) 762-4870.