07/12/2011
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 12, 2011
Present: Cyndie Goudeau Chair
Jack Geller Vice-Chair
Norma Carlough Committee Member
Bud Elias Committee Member
– arrived at 4:39 p.m.
Keith Protonentis Committee Member
Ana Tuzzo Committee Member
Donald van Weezel Committee Member
Stan Vittetoe Committee Member
Douglas Williams Committee Member
Absent: Nicholas Fritsch Committee Member
Howard Warshauer Committee Member
Sara Weber Committee Member
Olin Wright Committee Member
Also Present: Pamela Akin City Attorney
Rosemarie Call City Clerk
Nicole Sprague ORLS Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the June 28, 2011 Charter Review Meeting as submitted in
written summation by the City Clerk,
Committee Member Van Weezel moved to approve the minutes, as amended by
the City Clerk, of the June 28, 2011 Charter Review Committee meeting. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously
3. New Business
3.1 Election Date Discussion - Vice-Mayor Cretekos
Charter Review 2011-07-12 1
Vice-Mayor George Cretekos expressed his concerns regarding moving the
City’s election date permanently to November. In addition to documented voter drop-
off, he expressed concern regarding municipal candidates competing with federal
candidates for media coverage, impact to fundraising efforts, and need for increased
candidate mailings. He stated that he does not feel comfortable deciding to extend his
term of office; that it is a decision best left to the voters, as the term is stated in the
Charter. In response to a question, the Vice-Mayor said that pension and union
negotiations should not factor into the extension of council terms.
3.2 Election Date Discussion - Councilmember Jonson
Councilmember Bill Jonson expressed his concerns regarding moving the City’s
election date permanently to November. He commented that changing the election date
is inconsistent with the spirit of the Charter and a City election/referendum would get
lost during a general election. He stated that he would like the decision of an election
date change to go to the voters. In response to a question, Councilmember Jonson
stated that a first time candidate would be more intimidated by a November general
election.
Discussion ensued regarding changing the election date as well as who should
decide if the election date should change.
Vice-Chair Geller moved to recommend to Council that any decision regarding
changing the election date be made by citizens at the next regularly scheduled election.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
One citizen spoke in support of leaving the election date as is.
Member Tuzzo moved to recommend to Council to move the election date to
November. The motion was duly seconded and upon the vote being taken: Committee
Members Tuzzo and Carlough voted “Aye”; Committee Members Goudeau, Geller,
Elias, Protonentis, van Weezel, Vittetoe, and Williams voted “Nay”.
Motion Failed.
Member van Weezel moved to recommend to Council to keep the election date
as is. The motion was duly seconded and upon the vote being taken: Committee
Members Goudeau, Geller, Elias, Protonentis, van Weezel, Vittetoe, and Williams voted
“Aye”; Committee Members Tuzzo and Carlough voted “Nay”.
Motion Carried.
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• 3.3 Set agenda for next meeting.
Section 2.01(6) —Waterfront Property including Harborview and Bandshell will be
discussed. Rod Irwin, Assistant City Manager, is scheduled to come speak on that topic
as well as Economic Development. Staff will ask representatives from the Clearwater
Downtown Development Board and the Clearwater Downtown Partnership to come
speak as well.
4. Citzens to be Heard
4.1 Citizens to be Heard - Persons speaking before the committee shall be limited to 3
minutes.
Anne Garris— requested that the waterfront be part of the discussion for the next
meeting.
5. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m.
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Charter Review 2011-07-12 3