08/07/1984
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. · CHARTER
REVIEW
, ..COMMITTEE.
MINUTES '
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MINUTES OF THE MHETING OF
CHARTER REVIEW COMMlTTBE
OF THE CITY OF CLBARWATERw FLORIDA
August 7, 1984
A meeting of the Charter Review Committee of the City of Clearwater was held
on Tuesday, August 7. 1984 at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayor's Conference Room, City Hall.
Members Present:
William Schwob
Nancy Pappas
Lee Regulski
Elaine Cornillaud
Charles LeCher
Helen Theofilis
Howard Groth
Jerry Lancaster
Members Absent:
,:)
Jeff Butler
Frank Donnell
Mary Lou Dobbs
Chairman Schwob opened the meeting. A written presentation of the Chamber
of Commerce's reeommendations on Charter changes was distributed and AlD.n
Bomstein gave an oral presentation on those recommendations. He advised that the
Chamber's Public Affairs Council appointed a task force to review the Charter and
, present back to the Council for recommendation to the Charter Review Committee.
The written presentation contained the Chamber's recommended changes and the
reasons for said changes.
The Chamber's first recommendation (Sect. 20l(c)(2) - Limitations re city
purchases) was a change from $5,000 to $20,000 with an added provision for preference
for local suppliers. Also a change ,from "lowest" to "best" bidder.
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Section 2.03 - Elections and terms - The Chamber recommended that
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Regarding Sect. 201(c)(3), the Chamber suggested the deletion of the entire
section regarding dredging and filling because it is cumbersome and this matter is
regulated by other agencies at the present time.
Sect. 201(c)(4) - The Chamber recommended that the clause "or when a public
purpose is served" be added in this section.
Commissioners' terms be changed from 2 years to 3 years.
Section 2.05 - Mayor and Commission functions and powers - Chamber
recommended adding the words Mayor responsible for preparing the agenda.
Section 2.073 - Advisory boards - The Chamber recommends that the
composition of advisory boards be broadened to include property owners or people
whose principal place of employment Is in the city.
Section 2.09(7) - Ordinances and resolutions in general - para. (c) procedure - The
::) Chamber recommends that the advertisement requirement be reduced from 7 days to 5
days and that second readings of ordinances be done by number only. Also to condense
the advertisement where common information appears in numerous ads in same paper.
All this comes under State statute but the Chamber is presently planning to go to
legislature with changing requIrements relating to city ordinance adoption and
advertisement.
Section 3.03(b) - Powers and duties of the City Manager - The Chamber
recommends giving the City Manager the power to create departments, etc. without
the prior approval of the Commission.
City Clerk provision - The Chamber recommends that the City Manager be
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authorized to appoint the City Clerk without being confirmed by Commission.
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~ Section 7.02 - Charter review advisory committee - The Chamber recommends
that the charter be reviewed every 5 years instead of 10 years.
Section 8.03 - Ballots - The Chamber recommends inserting language to include'
"punch-holett in addition to lever ballots.
Section 8.04 - Nominations - The Chamber recommends the deletion of last part
of last sentence regarding l-year residency requirement.
Article 9 - The Chamber recommends deleting the last sentence of this article,
removing the ceiling on bond issue.
Chairman Schwob asked Mr. Bomstein how the Chamber's vote lined up on all the
above recommendations. Mr. BomsteIn advised that the Chamber's vote was basically
unanimous on all issues except the $1 million cap on revenue bonds. The Board of
about 26 people went through the voting process.
There was a discussion on the Chambers recommendation to change ttlowest" to
,8 "best" bidder.
The Chairman advised that the Charter proposals would be on referendum during
the City Elections.
, The minutes of the August 7 meeting were approved as written.
Chairman Schwob distributed proposed changes to the charter which were
drafted by some of the members. There was a discussion regarding the two proposals
for the annual evaluation of the City Manager and City Attorney. It was suggested
that the words "and/or a combination" be added to the language proposed by Lee.
Regulski.
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The next proposal discussed was the rewriting of Section 2.0l to provide for
Commissioners' election from districts. Some Committee members related their
objections to changing the method of election.
There was a discussion on running for seats Instead of districts. Some of the
Committee members expressed their support for this method of election. A sample
vote was taken on the two different proposals for changing the method of election
with the following results: Districts - 2, Seats - 6. Some of the weaknesses of the
present system were then discussed. Helen Theofilis was asked to draft a proposal for
rewriting Section 2.01 to provide for election by seat.
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There was a discussion on the proposed change of Commissioners' terms from 2
to 3 years (Section 2.03). A sample vote was taken with the following results: 3-year
term, 7 ror, I ~,.
The proposed change regarding Section 2.04 (Commissioners' compensation and
(~ expenses) was brought up nnd there was a discussion on the wording of the proposed
provision. It was suggested that the word "unvouchered" be omitted.
Chairman Schwob reminded the Committee that the next meeting, August 21,
Viould be the voting for record. He would notify the newspapers.
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There was a discussion on the powers or the Mayor and the Commissioners.
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