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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-97 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING HELD JANUARY 27, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Member Beatty, as chairman of the previous Charter Review Commission, called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. in the commission chambers. Member Dabbs led in prayer and the pledge of allegiance. City Clerk Grafton called the roll and announced a quorum present. PRESENT: Members Steve Anderson, Bruce Beatty, Vern Combs, and Lester Dabbs. Also present were City Attorney Rosenthal and City Clerk Grafton. ABSENT: Member Moulton Poplin. Member Beatty reviewed the background of the Charter Review Commission which he chaired in 1988, noting highlights as follows: • Appointed by City Commission to bring the 1969 City Charter up to date • Determined to clean up the basic charter but keep it essentially intact, and to take controversial issues (single member districts and length of terms) before the citizens by referendum • Submitted recommendations to Commission and, upon approval, the amendments and viebey issues went on the ballot • Citizens approved the Charter Amendments as presented and approved single member districts, but did not approve 4 year terms. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chairperson At the end of this review Member Beatty offered to chair this commission as well. Following brief discussion, Member Dabbs, seconded by Member Combs, moved to cast a unanimous ballot for Bruce Beatty as chairperson of the Charter Review Commission. Motion carried 4 -0. (Member Poplin was not present.) Vice - Chairperson Chairman Beatty nominated Member Combs for Vice Chairperson and Member Anderson seconded the nomination. Motion carried 4 -0. (Member Poplin was not present.) DISCUSSION /ACTION RE: PURPOSE AND PROCEDURES Chairman Beatt seconded b Member Combs, moved to request that the City Irovide clerical su . . ort to record the minutes of the meetin . s and do the necessa research. Motion carried 4 -0. (Member Poplin was not present.) Charter Review Commission January 27, 1997 Chairman Beatt seconded b Member Dabbs moved that le. al su • e ort be • rovided for this Commission by the City. Motion carried 4 -0. (Member Poplin was not present.) In response to Member Dabbs' question as to why this Commission was called at this time rather than waiting until 1999 as provided in the current Charter, Chairman Beatty explained that a group of citizens had approached City Commission requesting that certain issues be placed on the ballot and that he had spoken up, reminding Commission that the existing Charter provided for the Charter Review Commission to be appointed (either on particular years or at need) in order to examine proposed Charter changes as to form and content with appropriate legal direction. He pointed out that this was because of the legal issues and potential challenges involved. At that meeting, the City Commission had determined that it would be appropriate to appoint a Charter Review Commission, as there were other issues that needed to be brought forward as well. Chairman Beatty asked City Attorney Rosenthal to list those concerns. Mr. Rosenthal said that several issues have come up to the Commission level from time to time; i.e., the term of office, and the single member form of government. However, no specific directions were given by City Commission as to which items were to be brought back to them with recommendations. Member Dabbs pointed out that the Ocoee City Commission would more properly be called the Ocoee City Council (with a member called councilman or councilperson) and he would like to see that addressed. He stated further that a public hearing should be called in order to receive input from the citizens regarding the changes the public would choose to have addressed by this Commission before launching into the task. Chairman Beatty said that he did not know what the current trends are in other cities and he asked staff to contact other Florida cities of similar size to Ocoee (in particular, Winter Park, Longwood, Maitland, Winter Garden, and Apopka) and ask questions regarding population, form of city government, how long that has been in effect and what were the motivating circumstances. He said to send them a copy of our charter and request a copy of their charter, and also ask about the duties of particular boards. Member Dabbs said that the League of Cities has that information and he would be interested in seeing the percentage figures. Chairman Beatty noted that Commissioner Gleason's Masters Thesis would include some information that may be helpful and that should be included in the packet of information if he would make it available. DIRECTION TO ATTORNEY /STAFF Chairman Beatty said that, upon hearing from the citizens at the public hearing, the issues could be identified by this Commission and directions would be given to the City Attorney at that time. 2 MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 10, 1997 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Beatty at 7:05 p.m. in the commission chambers. Member Dabbs led in prayer and Chairman Beatty led in the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Beatty, Vice Chairman Combs, Members Anderson, Dabbs, and Poplin. Also present were City Attorney Rosenthal and City Clerk Grafton. ABSENT: None APPROVAL OF JANUARY 27, 1997 MINUTES Chairman Beatty corrected page 3 of the January 27 minutes to reflect that the next meeting had been called for February 10 instead of February 20. Vice Chairman Combs, seconded by Member Dabbs, moved to approve the minutes of the Janua 27, 1997 meeting as corrected. Motion carried 5 -0. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Beatty opened the public hearing and announced that this hearing was called to give citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions regarding all issues in the Charter. Mr. Harold Switzer, 609 E. Lakeshore Drive, member of the 1988 Charter Review Commission, spoke in favor of keeping the present form of government (Mayor /Commission -City Manager). Former Commissioner Sam Woodson, 814 Chicago Court, spoke in favor of returning to city -wide vote for all commissioners. Mayor Vandergrift, 2625 Cedar Bluff Lane, asked that the following items be put on a ballot for referendum: 1. Strong mayor form of government (By taking away the mayor's vote, the mayor could converse with each commissioner individually without violating the Sunshine Law.) 2. 3 year terms. 3. Vote city -wide for all commission seats. RECESS 7:35 - 7:40 P.M. Mr. John Linebarier, 1308 Center Street, commented on Mayor Vandergrift's proposals above: 1. Disagreed regarding the strong mayor type of government as that position is too political and also is too much for a non - professional. ,,,, 2. No objections to individual districting but did object to current distribution. He Charter Review Commission likor February 10, 1997 said that a redistricting board should be working all the time instead of just every 5 to 10 years. 3. Agreed with placing 3 year terms on the ballot. Commissioner Scott Anderson, 510 Orange Avenue, proposed the following: 1. Two districts instead of four districts with all of the City north of Silver Star Road in one district and all south of Silver Star in the other. Having two commissioners (elected alternate years) serve each district. 2. Wanted the decision made once and for all regarding strong mayor vs. mayor /commissioner -city manager form of government. 3. Tailor item Q on page C9 of the Charter. 4. On item Z on page C11 of the Charter, clarify who should be stocking fish in the lakes. 5. On page C14, give a definition of bona fide (line 3). 6. On item D (Procedure for Filing) on page C19, the several places specifying that the City Clerk send documents by registered mail should be changed to certified mail. 7. On item C- 21(Appointment qualifications; compensation) on page C22, change to require the City Manager to reside in the City. 8. On item C -22 Removal - D on page C23 "...shall continue to receive a salary during the period of suspension and..." - review the whole paragraph. 9. Charter review should be done every 4 -5 years instead of 10 years. 10. Supported 2 year terms for office. Mr. Richard G. Simmons, retired City Manager and now a Range Rider, presently residing at 806 Hastings Drive, Kissimmee, 34744, offered his services and information on the council /manager form of government. He handed Chairman Beatty a packet of information, a video tape, and a model city charter in booklet form. The paper items will be copied and distributed to the Charter Review Commission, and the video tape will be viewed at a future meeting. Commissioner -elect Nancy Parker, 6748 Sawmill Blvd., spoke in favor of the mayor /council -city manager form of government and redistricting. Mr. Robert J. Murray, 1411 Charleon Drive, spoke in favor of city wide ballots for commissioners. Mrs. Mary J. Kicinski, 1102 Bellini Lane, spoke in favor of city wide ballots for commissioners. 2 Charter Review Commission February 10, 1997 trog A i.41•°414 04" Ben Griffin, 345 S. Lakeshore Drive, said that he also was in favor of the following: 1 Retaining the mayor /council -city manager form of government. 2. Returning to city -wide commission seats. 3. 3 year terms. DISCUSSION /ACTION RE: INPUT FROM CITIZENS Chairman Beatty thanked all those who spoke and assured them that their comments would be taken into consideration. He said that Howard Tipton, Chief Administrator for the City of Orlando, has asked to address this Commission and he planned to invite him for the next meeting. DIRECTION TO ATTORNEY /STAFF Chairman Beatty directed City Clerk Grafton to copy the packet of material provided by Mr. Simmons for the Commission, order additional copies of the Model City Charter booklet, and prepare to show the video at the next meeting. Member Dabbs also suggested that additional copies of the City Charter be made available to the public. `"' SET NEXT MEETING DATE Chairman Beat seconded b Member Dabbs moved to hold the next • ublic hearin . on Februa 24 199 at 7:00 ..m. with the same advertisin . in the news . a . er to solicit citizen input. Motion carried 5 -0. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chairman Combs seconded b Member Dabbs moved to ad'ourn at 8:30 • .m. Motion carried 5 -0. Approved: C 1 / Charter Review Commission k.,J11 ,L Je .1 Grafton, Ci 1 lerk B ce Beatty, irman 3