03/15/1995 CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
March 15, 1995
The City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at City Hall, Wednesday, March 15, 1995 at 12:04 p.m., with the following members present:
Rita Garvey Mayor/Commissioner
Richard Fitzgerald Commissioner
Sue A. Berfield Commissioner
Absent:
Fred A. Thomas Vice-Mayor/Commissioner
Arthur X. Deegan II Commissioner
Also present:
Elizabeth M. Deptula City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Mary K. Diana Assistant City Clerk
The purpose of the special meeting was to canvass the returns from the March 14, 1995 election.
The City Clerk presented three (3) certificates of testing of the automatic tabulating equipment dated as follows:
March 9, 1995 - 2:07 p.m.
March 14, 1995 - 11:30 a.m.
March 14, 1995 - 9:30 p.m.
Commissioner Fitzgerald moved to accept the three (3) certificates of testing. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
The City Clerk presented the tabulations of votes as follows:
A. Absentee Ballot Report:
Total returned 620
Questionable 18
No Signature 4
No Witness 8
Signature Variations 1
One Witness - No Title 2
One Witness - With Title 2
Witness' Signature
Similar to Voter's 1
Total rejected as invalid 16
Total accepted as valid 2
Total absentee ballots processed 604
B. Total Precinct and Absentee Ballots:
City Commissioner, Seat 4 (Three Year Term)
Mike Dallmann 6,481
Arthur "Art" Deegan 3,120
City Commissioner, Seat 5 (Three Year Term)
Bob Bickerstaffe 1,798
J. B. Johnson 5,808
Robert E. Wright 1,905
Referendum Questions:
YES NO
#1 Enterprise Zone Ad Valorem Tax Exemption 5,726 3,629
#2 Commissioners Compensation & Expenses 2,637 6,728
#3 Vice Mayor Election; as Acting Mayor 7,738 1,500
#4 Vacancies; Forfeiture of Office; Advisory Boards 7,534 1,781
#5 Special Meetings; Voting Procedures 3,217 6,071
#6 Transfer of Use of Certain City Property 7,519 1,843
#7 Initiative or Referendum Petitions 6,622 2,497
#8 Fiscal Management Procedure 2,121 7,038
#9 Legal Staff Appointment; Salaries 6,506 2,664
#10 City Attorney Residence; Removal 4,472 4,734
#11 Commission Elections & Candidate Vacancy 6,825 2,240
Total ballots cast: 9,917
Total Registered Voters: 61,518
16.12%
Commissioner Fitzgerald moved to accept the City Clerk's report and declare the results as reported official. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Commissioner Berfield moved to declare Mike Dallmann elected to Commission Seat No. 4 and J. B. Johnson elected to Commission Seat No. 5. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Commissioner Berfield moved to accept Referendum Questions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 approved and Referendum Questions 2, 5, 8 and 10 denied. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
The City Clerk noted the election went smoothly; however, indicated her disappointment in the voter turn-out. She noted some voters complained regarding polling places being different
than for a countywide election. Ms. Goudeau indicated we will be looking for better ways to address this in the next City election.
In response to a question, the City Clerk indicated, in the past, churches used for polling places have not been supportive of petitions being solicited outside their facility as they
do not always agree on the issue at hand. She noted a solicitation area is designated at each polling place.
Discussion continued in regard to receiving a number of complaints regarding locations of polling places. A suggestion was made to post signs at polling places noting a change in location
and noting the new location. The City Clerk said we will look at all options.
The meeting adjourned at 12:22 p.m.