02/08/2007
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 8, 2007
Present: Jay Polglaze Chair
Howard Warshauer Committee Member
Frank L. Dame Committee Member
Elizabeth Drayer Committee Member
Joshua Magidson Committee Member
Kathy Milam Committee Member
Alex Plisko Committee Member
William Wallace Committee Member
William Blackwood Committee Member – arrived 4:39 p.m.
Absent: Candace Gardner Committee Member
Joyce E. Martin Committee Member
Also Present: Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Rosemarie Call Management Analyst
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The meeting was called 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.
Presentations
2. Approval of January 30, 2007 minutes
Committee Member Milam moved to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2007
meeting, as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Committee Member. The
motioncarried
was duly seconded and unanimously.
3. Discussion re meeting dates
Discussion ensued regarding the date and times for meetings. Some members stated
they had a conflict with the fourth Thursday of each month.
Committee Member Magidson moved to change the meetings held on the fourth
motion
Thursday of each month from 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
4. Begin Reviewing Charter
It was noted that due to the Sunshine Law, committee members cannot contact one
another regarding the Charter. Any questions, suggestions, requests, etc. should be routed
through the City Clerk’s office.
It was remarked that Article I of the Charter does not need to be reviewed.
Charter Review 2007-02-08 1
.
.
.
Discussion ensued regarding the Committee's role in reviewing the Charter.
In response to questions, Ms. Akin said some sections were derived due to current
events during a specific period. Staff will provide information regarding the time period when
the three-year term limit for Councilmembers was added to the Charter, and why Coachman
Park has been given more status than other parcels in the City and included in the Charter.
It was suggested that consideration be given to inviting Mayor Baker of St. Petersburg to
a future meeting, as he was in office prior to St. Petersburg changing to a strong mayor form of
government. Ms. Akin said Mayor Fisher was the first mayor elected after the strong mayor
form of government was enacted in St. Petersburg; Mayor Baker was a Councilman at that time.
It was remarked that Dr. Susan MacManus has been invited to discuss forms of government
and government trends.
Article I
Discussion ensued regarding Article I, Corporate Existence, Powers, and Boundaries.
Consensus was that no changes are needed to Article I.
Article II
In response to a question, Ms. Akin said the last Charter Review Committee decided to
change the name of the "City Commission" to "City Council" to reflect that Clearwater has a
council-manager form of government.
Consensus was not to recommend any changes to Section 2.02.
Staff was directed to provide the Committee with questions from the last referendum; to
invite Finance Director Margie Simmons to review the financial issues associated with Section
5, Real Property and Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark to discuss election statistics and
costs.
Consensus was to table Article II for future discussion.
Committee Member Warshauer said he could not attend the March 8, 2007 meeting.
5. Set Aqenda for next meetinq - No action taken.
6. Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m.
Attest:
.R D hi ~{lall!
Deputy City Clerk
Charter Review 2007-02-08
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