08/13/2015 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 13, 2015
Present: Brian J. Aungst, Jr. Chair
Bud Elias Vice Chair
Nino Accetta Committee Member
David E. Allbritton Committee Member
Jane D. Bongo Committee Member
Karen Cunningham Committee Member
Dirk A. Curls Committee Member
Leann J. DuPont Committee Member
Rosemarie Kibitlewski Committee Member
David Loyd Committee Member
George Mantzaris Committee Member
William Sturtevant Committee Member
Also Present: Pamela Akin City Attorney
Nicole Sprague ORLS Coordinator
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 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 July 23, 2015 Charter Review Committee Meeting as submitted
in written summation by the City Clerk.
Vice Chair Elias moved to approve the minutes of the July 23, 2015 Charter Review
Committee meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. New Business
3.1 Guest Speaker: Councilmember Doreen Hock-DiPolito.
Councilmember Hock-DiPolito said she served on the Community Development Board
prior to being elected to Council. As a councilmember she serves on the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO), the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC), and the Tampa Bay Area Regional
Transportation Authority (TBARTA). It is important to put the strong mayor form of government
on the ballot in 2020. Clearwater is the county seat and with current development and future
growth, the form of government will need to change.
In response to questions, Ms. Hock-DiPolito said the City would be able to produce the
right caliber person for strong mayor when the time comes. In her opinion, the strong mayor
form of government is no more political than the council-manager form. A strong mayor will
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form of government is no more political than the council- manager form. A strong mayor will
attract a certain type of person, typically one that is seasoned in the political side of things. She
said it would attract large business stakeholders and would allow the City to be more involved in
regional development. A councilmember position is more than a part time job; committee
meetings and worksessions are scheduled during the business day. She supported increasing
Council salary She said the biggest economic driver is transportation and art. Clearwater is in
the midst of a branding effort to catch up with St. Petersburg and Tampa. She said a restaurant
is needed in the downtown area.
Discussion ensued regarding regionalizing PSTA/ HART and area recreation centers.
3.1 Discuss Public Hearing.
Chair Aungst said the committee will vote on governance issues and any other issues
that have not been finalized at the September 10 meeting. There was consensus to hold a
public hearing on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. Comment was made that the main
library would be a good location.
4. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
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Chair, Charter Review Committee
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