05/22/2019 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
MAY 22, 2019
Present: Michael R. Mannino Chair
Darryl James Henderson Vice Chair
Michael D. Anderson Committee Member
Richard Adelson Committee Member
Kathleen Agnew Committee Member
Marilyn Kagan Committee Member
Kelly S. Kelly Committee Member
David Lillesand Committee Member
Bruce Rector Committee Member
Mike Riordon Committee Member
Becca Tieder Committee Member
Absent: Marita Lynch Committee Member
Sean Schrader Committee Member
Also Present: Pamela Akin City Attorney
Rosemarie Call City Clerk
Nicole Sprague ORLS Coordinator
The meeting was called to order at 4:34 p.m. at the Clearwater Main Library, 2nd Floor
Conference Room.
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 May 8, 2019 Charter Review Committee Meeting as submitted in
written summation by the City Clerk.
Committee Member Riordon moved to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2019 Charter
Review Committee meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. New Business
3.1 Continue discussion on council composition and districting.
Discussion ensued regarding the 2020 census committee with comments made that
several areas, identified as populations higher in ethnic diversity, within Clearwater were
undercounted in the 2010 census due to poor response rate.
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Discussion ensued regarding districting, with comments made that there is an
opportunity to extend representation and it is less expensive to run for office in a district. It was
said that a diverse council will never depend on districts because the people living in the areas
with ethnic diverse populations work a full time job and will not have time to serve on Council. It
was also stated that the population of Clearwater has grown but the number of council seats
has not. A point was made that young people entering the workforce today may not focus on
demographics the same way as the committee; they may see age as a major factor and not
race or gender.
Discussion ensued regarding councilmember salaries. It was said that people who want
to serve will find the time. Comment was made that anyone with an 8 to 5 job will not have time
to serve as there are worksessions during the working day as well as other regional board
meetings that Councilmembers serve on. The City Attorney said there is a variety of salaries
among Clearwater's peer cities and that if Councilmembers were full time positions, they would
require additional support staff.
A suggestion was made to hold a public hearing to get the community's input on
instituting districts.
Committee Member Lillisand moved to set up an advertised public meeting regarding
districting in the near future. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Comment was made that if the committee decided to take districting as a
recommendation to Council, it would carry more weight if public input was provided. It was
suggested that it would be beneficial to provide educational information on the City's website in
advance of the public hearing. The City Attorney recommended providing the public with
information as to how the city council is currently structured and include a couple alternatives on
how districts can be established.
3.2 Discuss voting methods.
Discussion deferred to the next meeting.
4. Public Comment
Lisa Lanza said during the strong mayor meetings last year, it was said that you could
not have a strong mayor without districts. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
have reported that at-large voting enhances discrimination. There is nobody representing true
minorities in the City.
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5. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:06 p.m.
hair, Charter Review Co ee
Attest:
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