04/26/2007
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 26, 2007
Present: Jay E. Polglaze Chair
Howard Warshauer Vice-Chair
Elizabeth Drayer Committee Member – arrived 2:35 p.m.
Candace Gardner Committee Member
Joseph Harra Committee Member
Joshua Magidson Committee Member
Joyce E. Martin Committee Member
Kathy Milam Committee Member
Alex Plisko, Jr. Committee Member
William Wallace Committee Member
Absent: William Blackwood Committee Member
Frank L. Dame Committee Member
Also Present: Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Rosemarie Call Management Analyst
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:30 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 – April 12, 2007
Referencing page two, paragraph four, Member Wallace clarified his viewpoint regarding
his concern that Council could overspend if sentence two of Article IX is deleted. He said the
change would reduce existing checks and balances. He did not want to amend the minutes.
Member Magidson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 12,
motion
2007, as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
3. Presentation – Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, Deborah Clark
Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark reviewed the Motor Voter Act of
1993 and recent voter turnout. In 2003, the City of St. Petersburg moved their municipal
elections from March to November, in odd numbered years. Beginning in 2007, the City of
Largo also will hold municipal elections in November. 2003 and 2005 data indicate that St.
Petersburg voter turnout decreased since the change.
In response to questions, Ms. Clark said the County is not required to conduct city
elections but is mandated to conduct special district and County elections. The County provides
municipalities with voter registration information, and the cities contract with the County to hire
and train pollworkers. Ms. Clark expressed concern with scheduling municipal elections in
November during even-numbered years, as voters are frustrated by lengthy ballots. Voter
turnout in states with elections by mail is significantly greater while costs related to polling
Charter Review 2007-04-26 1
locations and recruiting workers are reduced. Florida Statutes allow some elections by mail for
ballots without candidates.
Discussion ensued. City Clerk Cyndie Goudeau expressed concern that scheduling
Clearwater's municipal elections in November could adversely impact results due to the listing
order of municipal questions.
Concern was expressed that elected officials on Clearwater's Canvassing Board may be
up for election. Ms. Goudeau said Councilmembers can appoint representatives in those
instances and reviewed her role as the City's Supervisor of Election. City election dates can be
changed without referendum, however Canvassing Board procedures can only be changed by
referendum.
Staff was directed to provide information regarding how other municipalities handle
canvassing boards.
Ms. Goudeau reported voter turnout in March's election was 17%. Although candidates
were listed first on the ballot, approximately 1,000 people who voted on referendum questions
did not vote for candidates.
In response to a question, Ms. Clark said after elections, the County mails explanations
to all absentee voters if their ballots were not accepted. She was unaware of any city interested
in promoting common election dates. Ms. Goudeau said the Pinellas County Municipal Clerks
Association has discussed possibilities of a common election date but concerns were expressed
that smaller city candidates would be overshadowed by larger city elections.
4. Set aaenda for next meetina
Discussion ensued. It was suggested the Committee discuss forms of government prior
to considering term limit recommendations.
On May 10, 2007, the Committee will review a list of recommendations, review
information provided by staff, and discuss Council list items not yet addressed.
Dr. Susan McManus will speak on May 24,2007, at the Main Library. Committee
Members were encouraged to submit questions to the City Clerk's office prior to the meeting.
5. Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 3:51 p.m.
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Charter Review Committee
Attest:
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Charter Review 2007-04-26
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