05/24/2023 Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes May 24, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
4:00 PM
Main Library - 2nd Floor Board Room
Charter Review Committee
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes May 24, 2023
Roll Call
Present: 9 - Gladys Andrews, Bill Jonson, Travis Norton, Nathan Hightower, Mike
Riordon, Karen Cunningham, Patricia Rodriguez, Cory Chase,
Jonathan Wade (arrived 4:09 p.m.)
Absent: 2 - Ryan Cotton and Kathy Milam
Also Present: — David Margolis — City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, and Nicole
Sprague — Deputy City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the May 10, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation by the City Clerk.
Committee Member Andrews moved to approve the minutes of the May
10, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
3. New Business
3.1 Discuss date of elections.
The City Clerk said she updated the peer city information spreadsheet with
election dates and if candidates are elected at-large or in districts. She
introduced former Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos who provided his
perspective as a poll worker and how it relates to the election date.
Mr. Cretekos said the way a ballot is put together contributes to the number
of votes each question may receive. Municipal questions will always appear
last on a ballot and if elections are in November, Federal, State, and County
questions will appear first. March elections are considered "Municipal
Elections"as most cities in Pinellas County hold their elections then. When
there is a Presidential Preference Primary, municipal elections will coincide
with that race. He said questions at the end of a longer ballot may get less
votes due to voter fatigue. More people turn out for November elections but
that does not mean that a vote will be cast on every race or question. He
said campaigning during a November election cycle is tougher because
there is more competition for voter attention. Federal, state, county, and
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes May 24, 2023
school board candidates are also campaigning and typically have higher
contributions that allow them to advertise on the radio, tv, and send mailers.
The last election had a three-page ballot and the City's referendum was the
very last question on it. He said the Committee needed to decide if the city
should appear last on a November ballot that is competing with federal,
state, and county elections, or appear on a ballot during a time when there
is more focus on the city.
In response to questions, Mr. Cretekos said the Supervisor of Elections
(SOE) decides if a ballot will be one-sided or two-sided, it depends on how
many questions. The SOE has authority over the ballot design and precinct
placement. Florida law sets forth the order of the ballot. He said it would be
beneficial for candidates to go through the mandatory poll worker training
that is offered each election cycle, so they get a different. He said local
candidates are asked about national issues, like abortion, when elections
coincide.
In response to a question, the City Clerk said if the city were to hold its own
election, the city would have to purchase or rent the voter equipment,
software, arrange for and negotiate polling precincts and hire poll workers.
She said contracting with the SOE still provides a cost savings for the city
even if no other jurisdiction races or questions are on the ballot.
Discussion ensued with comments made that March elections encourage
face-to-face neighborhood campaigning and having fewer questions on the
ballot is less overwhelming but that November elections have higher voter
turnout.
One individual said moving the elections to November makes more
sense.
Committee Member Riordon moved to recommend changing the
election date to coincide with general presidential and mid-term
election cycle. The motion was duly seconded and failed with the
following vote:
Ayes:4 — Mike Riordon, Travis Norton, Jonathan Wade, and Nathan
Hightower
Nays:5 - Gladys Andrews, Bill Jonson, Karen Cunningham, Cory Chase,
and Patricia Rodriguez.
The chair stated that further discussion is tabled for the next meeting when
absent members are present.
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee
Meeting Minutes May 24, 2023
3.2 Discuss run-off elections.
3.3 Discuss districting.
3.4 Discuss Ranked Choice Voting.
4. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda: None.
5. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:31 p.m.
Attest:
La--ntli. ette
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
Chair, CharteifReview Committee
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