Civil Service Board Meeting – May 12, 2026
Civil Service Board Meeting – May 12, 2026
The Miami Civil Service Board convened on May 12, 2026, at 3:30 PM UTC. The meeting included the adoption of the agenda and minutes, resolution of one disciplinary appeal, and extended deliberation on an unsatisfactory service rating hearing that was continued to a future date.
Consent Calendar
- Adoption of the agenda: Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Solomon, passed unanimously.
- Approval of the minutes: Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Soleiman, passed unanimously.
- A hearing on behalf of Shayla White, Crime Scene Investigator I (20‑hour suspension effective November 4, 2025) was removed from the docket after the city announced the discipline had been reduced to a reprimand, placing it outside the board’s purview. Ms. White thanked the board and the city attorney.
Discussion Items
- H1 – Unsatisfactory Service Rating Hearing – Tashara Elaine, Police Sergeant
The hearing concerns Sergeant Elaine’s annual evaluation for the period ending September 19, 2023, under Civil Service Rule 13.2. The city’s attorney (Ms. Mana) requested that the board hold the hearing in abeyance because a related appeal is pending before the Miami‑Dade County Commission on Human Rights. She argued that judicial economy favors waiting for the county’s determination, noting that the board lacks jurisdiction to change the evaluation itself (only to remove, suspend, or reduce in grade). The employee’s attorney (from the South Florida Police Management Association) stated that Sergeant Elaine was ready to proceed and requested a definite hearing date, expressing concern about being denied a second forum if the county ruled first. Board Member Lanier initially moved to grant the abeyance as requested; the motion was seconded by Board Member Jimenez.
During discussion, Board Chair (unnamed in transcript) advocated for setting a specific date, stating that the employee should not remain in an indefinite holding pattern. After Board Member Cabrera and Board Member Soliman expressed similar concerns, the motion was amended to include a continuation to September 1, 2026, with the understanding that if the Miami‑Dade appeal is resolved by then, the board may cancel the hearing; otherwise, the hearing will proceed on that date. The city attorney confirmed that the employee would still be entitled to a board hearing regardless of the county outcome. The amended motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- The hearing for Sergeant Tashara Elaine (H1) was continued to September 1, 2026, at 3:30 PM UTC. If the Miami‑Dade Commission on Human Rights appeal is resolved before that date, the hearing may be canceled; otherwise, the board will conduct the hearing as scheduled.
- The appeal of Shayla White (H2) was dismissed as moot after the city reduced the discipline to a reprimand.
- The next regular board meeting is June 9, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the civil service board meeting. Today's May 12, 2026. We'll begin with a Pledge of Allegiance. Adoption of the agenda. Undertain a motion. Motion. Motion by Board Member Jimenez. Second. Second by board member Solomon. All in favor? Approving of the minutes. Motion. Motion by board member Jimenez. Second by board member Soleiman. All in favor. Aye. D disciplinary matters. D1. Please take note. Board members. F1 hearings pendings list as of May 12, 2026. Board members, please take note. Our next board meeting is scheduled for June 9th, 2026. Any board members? Anything on the agenda? No. H today's hearings. H1 unsatisfactory service rating hearing on behalf of Tashara Elaine, police sergeant relative to civil service rule 13.2 concerning her annual evaluation period ending September 19, 2023. Good morning, Ladigier, on behalf of the city. She told me she's running a little late. I don't know if maybe we can pass this, go to the next hearing and address that so we can wait for her to get here. If nobody on the board has an issue, we can table H1 and move on to H2. Let's do that. So we will table H1. Moving on, H2. Appeal hearing on behalf of Shayla White's crime scene investigator one concerning 20-hour suspension effective November 4th, 2025. Good morning again. Okay, um, so just for clarification. Um because the discipline is uh says 20 hours. Yes, it's a reprimand with a 20-hour suspension. So um CSI Whites will be receiving her 20 hours that um I guess she was suspended for, she'll receive that as soon as the memo is everything signed once everything goes through HR in the process. It'll just be a reprimand. So it's a so it's there's a settlement basically kind of I mean it's not a it's not really a settlement, it's um I guess the decision of the department to reduce it to just a straight reprimand, and at this time, if since it's just a straight reprimand, it's no longer in the purview of the civil service board. Okay. Because they're rescinding the hours and they'll be giving her her hours back and her money for that for those hours. Good morning. Good morning. Can you state your name and your title? Taylor White. Sorry.
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