HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-30-88 CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING
AUGUST 30, 1988
Chairman Beatty called the Public Hearing to order at 7:39 P.M. and declared a
quorum present. Member Mitchell led in the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the
flag.
Present: Chairman Beatty, Members Hendrix, Mitchell, Switzer, and Assistant City
Attorney Lauri Mlsna
Presentation
Mr. Beatty recited the history of the Charter Review Board. Established in
January of this year, this is a citizen board that has spent a great deal of time
considering revisions to the Charter. With a goal of placing the Charter
revision on this year's ballot in November, the work has involved: 1) a general
"clean -up" of the Charter to make it responsive to Florida Statutes, and 2) two
separate amendments to begin the single member district approach and to extend
the terms of commissioners from two to four years.
Mr. Mohnacky asked if dividing the city into four districts would necessarily
limit the division of the City to four districts or could it go to seven. Charter
would have to be amended.
Chairman Beatty explained the breakdown of the base Charter and the two separate
amendments on the November ballot: The City will continue with a City Manager
form of government, with a part -time mayor and 4 part -time commissioners. A
Personnel Board was established. A Charter Review Board was set -up in the
Charter. The Mayor will vote on all issues. A Mayor Pro -tem will be selected
from the Commission. The Mayor must prepare and give a State of the City Message.
The City Manager would be hired by a majority of the Commission, and would be
subject to an annual review and evaluation by the Commission. The City Attorney
will be hired by a majority of the Commission, and the Commission is permitted
to retain counsel for special legal matters. Some staff positions were enhanced.
Fiscal matters were refined.
Amendment # 1, establishing single member districts, was explained. This will
appear on the ballot as a separate item from the Charter revision. Districts
would be defined on the basis of census numbers at intervals. Commission members
would be elected from and would represent the district in which they live, the
mayor would be elected at large. Mr. Linebarrier objected to the single member
district system on the basis that the City is not large enough to use this system
effectively.
Amendment # 2, extending terms for Commissioners and Mayor from two to four years
was discussed. The Committee felt four year terms would add some professionalism
to the Commission and would avoid elections every year. Mr. Mohnacky objected
to the four year term. He felt that it would be difficult to remove a bad
representative elected for that period. Recall is a prolonged process.
Messrs. Mohnacky and Linebarrier expressed their appreciation for the time and
effort put into this Charter revision. Mr. Beatty explained that it had been an
extensive effort to produce a good product.
°`.► Adjournment
Upon a motion by Member Hendrix and second by Member Switzer the meeting was
adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
J n Grafton, C ty Clerk Bruce Beatty, Chairman