06/19/2018 - Strong Mayor Task Force and Joint City Council Meeting JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND STRONG MAYOR TASK FORCE
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 19, 2018
CLEARWATER MAIN LIBRARY
Present: Bud Elias, Chair Committee Member
David Loyd, Vice Chair Committee Member
Nino Accetta Committee Member
Norma Carlough Committee Member
Jack Geller Committee Member
Karen Graham Cunningham Committee Member
Cyndie Goudeau Committee Member
Keith Protonentis Committee Member
Stan Vittetoe (Arrived 5:47 p.m.) Committee Member
Howard Warshauer, Vice Chair Committee Member
Absent:
Rosemarie Kibitlewski Committee Member
George Mantzaris Committee Member
William Sturtevant Committee Member
Hoyt Hamilton Councilmember
Also Present: George Cretekos Mayor
Doreen Caudell (Arrived 5:39 p.m.) Vice Mayor
Bob Cundiff Councilmember
David Allbritton Councilmember
Pamela Akin City Attorney
Rosemarie Call City Clerk
William B. Horne II City Manager
Nicole Sprague ORLS Coordinator
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
Item #1 - Call to Order
Mayor Cretekos called the City Council meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
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Chair Elias called the Joint Task Force meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
Item #2 -Approval of Minutes
Councilmember Cundiff moved to approve the minutes of the June 5 and
June 12, 2018 Strong Mayor Task Force meetings as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
Item #3 - New Business
3.1 -Task Force Chair Comments
Chair Elias requested a motion to amend quorum, currently set at eight
members, to seven members since one member recently resigned and one
member never attended a meeting.
Vice Chair Warshauer moved to amend the Rules of Procedure, Rule 2 -
Quorum, as follows: "A quorum for the transaction of business by the
Strong Mayor Task Force shall consist of eight members." The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3.2 Approve Amendments to Article III, Sections 3.02(c), 3.02(d) and 3.06.
The City Attorney reviewed changes to Article /// (See Exhibit A).
In response to questions, the City Attorney said the office budget comparisons
are not apples to apples, as some cities include department heads or staff.
Salaries are typically amended each year. The proposed language provides a
baseline, the salary cannot be amended below that amount, most charters allow
council to set the salary by ordinance. She said elected officials receive health
benefits only and reimbursement for allowable travel expenses.
Discussion ensued with comments made that that salary should be high enough
to attract qualified candidates. It was stated that one chooses to run for public
office and that a head hunter is not used to attract candidates to run for public
office.
Committee Member Geller moved to set the baseline salary for the mayor at
$150,000. The motion was duly seconded.
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A concern was expressed that the salary was almost as high as the mayor for
Tampa, which is three times larger than Clearwater.
Mayor Cretekos moved to amend the motion to set the baseline salary for
the mayor at $120,000. The motion was duly seconded and carried with the
following vote:
Ayes 12: Chair Elias, Committee Members Accetta, Carlough,
Cunningham, Geller, Goudeau, Protonentis, Vittetoe,
and Warshauer, Mayor Cretekos, Vice Mayor Caudell
and Councilmember Allbritton.
Nays 2: Committee Member Loyd and Councilmember Cundiff
Committee Member Geller moved to set the baseline salary for the mayor at
$120,000. The motion was duly seconded and carried with the following
vote:
Ayes 12: Chair Elias, Committee Members Accetta, Carlough,
Cunningham, Geller, Goudeau, Protonentis, Vittetoe,
and Warshauer, Mayor Cretekos, Vice Mayor Caudell
and Councilmember Allbritton.
Nays 2: Committee Member Loyd and Councilmember Cundiff
Discussion ensued regarding vacancy in office or unavailability of mayor.
Concerns were expressed related to having the city administrator, an unelected
official, fill the position.
Committee Member Accetta moved to accept the amendments presented
by the City Attorney for Section 3.02(c). The motion was duly seconded and
carried with the following vote:
Ayes 12: Chair Elias, Committee Members Accetta, Carlough,
Cunningham, Goudeau, Loyd, Protonentis, Vittetoe, and
Warshauer, Mayor Cretekos, Vice Mayor Caudell and
Councilmember Allbritton.
Nays 2: Committee Member Geller and Councilmember Cundiff
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In response to questions, the City Attorney said the current city charter requires
the city manager to obtain city residency within one year after appointment. The
assistant city manager is not required to obtain city residency.
A concern was expressed that no qualifications are listed for the city
administrator.
Committee Member Accetta moved to accept the amendments presented
by the City Attorney for Section 3.06. The motion was duly seconded and
carried with the following vote:
Ayes 13: Chair Elias, Committee Members Accetta, Carlough,
Cunningham, Geller, Loyd, Protonentis, Vittetoe, and
Warshauer, Mayor Cretekos, Vice Mayor Caudell and
Councilmembers Allbritton and Cundiff.
Nays 1: Committee Member Goudeau
A concern was expressed with the proposed language allowing council to
request the mayor to attend a meeting. It was stated that the group previously
discussed the matter and voted to include the language. A comment was made
that it is not burdensome for the mayor to attend a meeting and that it was a
balanced approach.
Committee Member Loyd moved to amend Section 3.03(c) by adding "...or
the mayor's representative." The motion was duly seconded and carried
with the following vote:
Ayes 10: Chair Elias, Committee Members Accetta, Geller, Loyd,
Protonentis, and Warshauer, Mayor Cretekos, Vice
Mayor Caudell and Councilmembers Allbritton and
Cundiff.
Nays 4: Committee Members Cunningham, Carlough, Goudeau
and Vittettoe.
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3.3 Review Articles I and 11.
The City Attorney reviewed proposed changes to Articles 1 and // (See Exhibit 8).
In response to questions, the City Attorney said city council would provide the
Charter Review Committee direction, who would then provide recommended
changes for council's consideration. Having elections every three years would
require the extension of terms. The next Charter Review Committee could consider
the addition of two more councilmembers when discussing the implementation of
districts. City council rules have not allowed the mayor to pass the gavel. She said
the requirement for councilmembers to deal through the mayor reflects the current
requirement for councilmembers to deal through the city manager. The City
Council has the ability to do an investigation, in the course of the investigation the
mayor could not deny access to individuals.
There was consensus to accept the language presented by the City Attorney for
Section 2.05, Chair, vice-chair, functions and powers.
There was consensus to amend Section 2.04, Compensation and expenses, to
reflect that the mayor's salary would be increased annually.
The City Council and Strong Mayor Task Force group recessed from 7:00 p.m. to
7:11 p.m.
There was consensus to accept the language presented by the City Attorney for
Section 2.06(c), Prohibitions.
Discussion ensued regarding council staff. In response to questions, the City
Attorney said it is possible to have legal aid on retainer, years ago, the City of
Tampa's legal aide was part-time. There was consensus to include language
allowing Council to hire a Council Executive, Executive Assistant and any other
staff. The City Attorney was directed to present proposed language at the next
meeting.
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The City Attorney reviewed West Palm Beach City Charter, Section 4.05—
Internal Audit.
Committee Member Geller moved to accept the language presented by the
City Attorney related to the Internal Audit. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
In response to questions, the City Attorney said Section 3.02 established the
election and term limits, starting 2020, the new mayor is not a council position.
The existing mayor can run for the new mayor position. The language does not
address term limits for current councilmembers. She said current councilmembers
could run for mayor.
Vice Chair Warshauer moved to allow current councilmembers who would
be term limited out to run for council. The motion was duly seconded and
failed with the following vote:
Ayes 4: Committee Members Cunningham, Geller and
Warshauer, Vittetoe and Vice Mayor Caudell.
Nays 8: Mayor Cretekos, Councilmembers Allbritton and
Cundiff, Chair Elias and Committee Members Accetta,
Carlough, Goudeau, Loyd, and Protonentis.
Committee Member Geller moved to amend Section 7.02, Charter Review
Advisory Committee, allowing members of the committee to be appointed
as follows: the mayor will appoint two individuals, the council chair will
appoint 3 individuals, and the remaining councilmembers will each appoint
two individuals. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Committee Member Geller moved to accept the changes presented by the
City Attorney for Section 3.04, Veto Power. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
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Item #4 — Public Comment
Bill Jonson suggested requiring other qualifications for mayor other than
residency. He said the City of Bradenton Beach's city charter has a continuing
education requirement for the council which could also apply to the mayor; each
elected official should receive adequate training throughout their active term of
office.
Item #5 — Adjourn
The City Council meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
The Strong Mayor Task Force meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Chair
Attest:
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