Loading...
03/06/1984 . 1. e1~ " , ~ ~.J I .....4~4.....~ ~..r' ':" ;...~.. ',." .,..' ", '.' ", ..... \' ..' .' ':' '.'.. ,:, .' ~:.+." ," : . .. " , I .} .. . , 'r_C.r~ r...~.:;.;{: :~i.., ." ,"",".. '.. >0. . "., ~.' u ..... '." .." ... .~, +", .~. ?'.. CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE ,II MINUTES ' ~ '. '. ': . , ,Date :, ,1 ,Co t'!' , . '. II .'> . ,,' , ~. , , , " . , .' . . , , , (,;"i~~:;"",~: <.<>t~~ : \, ,', ",,' ,', '" ",.' ' " ,,', >", ':', , . ' ,': ,': ' . " , , '" , , "', '" ", ,': .-.,' ' , 'I " ~ : ~I " r." , " ' , \ ,,",", ' ..' ., " .T;....~...:.'._... :,....,.. ~.......'.. ~,..... .... ..... ',.:. ..,~' .: . "', '. " ~ ;' .... ". .'. . \ . . I ' ,. ;' ~ .' ~ .,1,' 'j"'-O,',, " , . ~ "..... . F '.. ", '.... ',. . ~ " o MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA March 6, 1984 A meeting of the Charter Review Committee of the City of Clearwater was held on March 6, 1984 at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayor's Conference Room, City Hall. Members Present: William Schwob Frank Donnell Jeff Butler Mary Lou Dobbs Charles LeCher Howard Groth Nancy Pappas Elaine Cornillaud , Lee Regulski ',' Helen Theofilis Members Absent: '0 Jerry Lancaster After discussion on attendance of members at charter committee meetings, the Committee decided that the commissioner appointing the absent member will be notified when his appointee has missed two consecutive meetings and that if they miss one more, the committee will suggest that the'member be replaced. Chairman Schwob asked for any corrections, additions or changes to the minutes of the preceding meeting. On page 4, paragraph 2, second to last line, regarding motions and voting for next meeting, change lIsuggested" to "agreed". The minutes were approved as corrected. , A list of the members of the first charter committee and a copy of the ordinance amending Sect. 2.01(c) of Article n of the Charter, which will be in the next codification, were distributed. ~ -1- ; ~"P""'l~':""""l':':"'."-I' ''':-. '". " ',"""1<" t. . ".1 .i .~. ' I "" .: ';, ,0' '1'.>, .:'." ~ .:f~':""~_~-""_"""'~"f;"I':."~'_,'"" ". ",' "," "'I'~ " '11' .,':"'. ", "'1' ' \ ,.' . ~ " " r '. ') A discussion of the individual sections of the charter (Sections 1.01 through 2.06) followed: Section 1.01 Corporate existence and powers: It was indicated that the National Municipal League model city charter recommends including a paragraph on intergovernmental,relations and a clear statement of the City's authority. After discussion, it was concluded that Sections 1.01(b) and 1.01.(d) include the appropriate language. A typographical error at top of page 2, second line, was found. Ways of changing the first full sentence, or striking the "alf before "particular powers", or changing "powers" to "power" were discussed. It was agreed that this would be an item to be voted on at the end of the charter review. There was a discussed on whether it should be mentioned in Sect. 1.01 the form of government (home rule). It was agreed that it would be brought up for ,,:) consideration. Section 2.01 City commission; composition; powers: Section. 2.01(8) Composition, regarding number of commissioners and procedure of electing them at large. There was a discussion regarding increasing the number of commissioners and/oi" lengthening their terms to 3 or 4 years; the setting up of a ward or district system; methods of candidates running for specific seats or against 8 specific candidates; "single shotll voting. A revision of Section 2.01(8) was suggested regarding election of 4 commissioners from districts and the mayor elected by city at l~ge to possibly increase the number of voters. Another suggestion regarding having candidates run for a specific seat on the com mission but not connected with a a specific district 'or waz'd. It was brought up that some committee members do not oppose the present system. ...:~.A .. -2- '~1""'~~oV'-".".,,,:,,,,,,,,,~"'_4 . '~L_._...j.'..I;_"~"".',o......."".... ......"..............._..~___. , ; ,,., ,.' ..... , ........ ": -1',' ',~ 0.- t. ... ~~~,I'~"" " \.,'....'. """<'::>:"':'~,"",',""'.""...:',,\."; ~"'(',""."""::,,:\,,,'><.':.. ':"',:',',::""\"" . , '." . " - \ ," ...... ' . &:.... ,',,' . , , " . . " , ' . . ,1',. 1 ~ \ , 1\-.1' ','. " " " ' , ,',' , , , "". . " pC , ~ .' . The fact that many people would oppose increasing the number of commissioners because of the increased spending that would occur was also given consideration. Another suggestion of having the city divided into 4 geographic districts and having 7 commissioners, 4 from districts and 3 at large was made. There was discussion on how the city could be divided into districts. Helen Theofilis made a detailed analysis of some of the points brought up at last meeting comparing them to the sample charters and a copy was distributed to the committee. Section 2.01(b), Powers, was approved as is. Section 2.01(c), Limitations - Subsection (1) regarding total indebtedness was discussed. It was noted that the limitations in this section were not in old charter but were put in present charter. However, it was indicated that there appeared to be no real problem with this section and that the city has never really been close to hitting /.:> the 2096. Subsection (2) regarding purchases in excess of $5,000 made to lowest bidder was discussed. It was agreed that responsive and responsible should be left in. There was discussion on the raising the $5,000 amount and the fact that purchases made from "lowestll bidder was not always best. A suggestion was made regarding increasing the limit in proportion to the inflation rate over the past 5 years and possibly extending to the next 5 or 10 years. It was decided to invite Mr. Shoemaker to the next meeting to make his presentation and to answer any specific questions the committee had regarding this section. Subsection (3) (limitations on dredging) is most likely superseded by environmental concerns. Subsection (4) -new language to be presented by City Attorney. ,/':A W -3- . . .' 0"') It was suggested the the City Attorney might want to obtain a copy of the National Municipal League Model Municipal Bond Law to review before making presentation. Regarding this section a 25-year maximum lease term was suggested for consideration. Section '2.02 Qualifications - The discussion was not at the end of tape side 2 and not at beginning of tape side 3. Section 2.03 Election and terms - There was a discussion on terms of commissioners. Most committee members agreed that terms should be increased to give commissioners more exper~ence with the city's concerns. Regarding the present 2-year system, it was brought up that it keeps current interest in the politics of the city and commissioners can be elected more than one term. Pros and cons were discussed concerning limiting the number of terms if terms were raised to 3 or 4 years in length. Section 2.04 Compensation and expenses - There was discussion regarding a :~ suggestion that the commissioners be compensated every year at 1% less than the incree.se the unions receive. Also a cost of living increase or one based on the cumulative price index could be considered. Another suggestion was made that the provision in the present charter not be changed at all. Section 2.05 Mayor-Commissioner, functions and powers - The Chairman indicated there may be a grammatical error in the second sentence and that perhaps an "Sll should be added to the word "requires. II The Legal Department was asked to check on this. There was a discussion on veto power. It was commented that the veto power would not work anyway in a weak mayor situation, but only that veto power would make the com mission meetings smoother and quicker. The state legislature must give these powers to the city. ~ -4- '\,"" ,','., ,,: , ',' "',,1....,,,"', ~ :""","""', ,,", "", . ","::"~ ,,', ' . Y':, ',",':<",: ,~"","',",,~ . . \ I ; . . /.' .. . , ",,' ''':~J~''!~ : \, . "',, ;-f;T:,i"'~~JJ Q:;t. l~ .~~!#..... u V<l " .. : , " I' , , , " . . ,~o "1" ,~ ~::'. . 'j~ :':t'. "",~:))1 t~...... I ~""''''.l\< ~. ..-.:... ~/ r_q"+' P~"_ ~~ .. ~ 'L., Q Section 2.06 Prohibitions - It was decided that provision (a) means that the commission may not order any appointments or removals but it implies that they may suggest or recommend to city manager. Regarding subsection (b) there was a discussion as to how a commissioner could question a city employee as provided for in the present charter. It was noted that this needs to be done through the city manager. ' r:') Regarding subsection (c), after discussion on the one-year provision for ex- commissioners to hold city positions, it was decided that this was a reasonable time period. It was proposed and agreed to that the discussion for the next meeting would be Section 2.07 through Section 2.10. The next meeting will be held March 20. It was noted that both the city manager and the city clerk had some items which 'they wanted to bring to the attention of the charter review committee. A question was brought up as to whether solicit citizen input into the charter review. The newspapers have been asked to indicate in their articles that any citizen input should be in writing to City Hall. . t ~>\t, W -5- ~ ,. , ....~: ' '.... ,,"n hF,~\'::/; <' '.:, .