07/12/2023 Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 12, 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 July 12, 2023
Roll Call
Present:10 - Gladys Andrews, Bill Jonson, Travis Norton, Nathan Hightower,
Mike Riordon, Karen Cunningham, Cory Chase, Jonathan Wade,
Ryan Cotton (arrived 4:05), and Kathy Milam
Absent: 1 - Patricia Rodriguez
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 4:02 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the June 14, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation by the City Clerk.
Committee Member Cunningham moved to approve the minutes of the
June 14, 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 Review census data for future districting discussion.
The City Clerk said a link was provided in the agenda item for the
interactive census tract map.
Discussion ensued with comments made that the committee should
define its goal related to districting. It was stated that the 2019 Charter
Review Committee did not have an in-depth discussion. A professional
demographer is typically hired by cities to create proposed district
boundaries. Goals of districting include the reduction of cost to run for
election, more citizens would be involved, and it provides a better
representation of the city. In response to a comment, it was said that
districts are not right for Clearwater and it could limit the quality of the
candidate pool. A dominate person in a district could deter other residents
from running. A concern was expressed that a district councilmember
would only represent their own constituents.
One individual said a report was created after the 2019 Committee to
show that, statistically speaking, 11 districts would be needed for an
African-American to be elected.
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes July 12, 2023
An informal vote was taken by the Committee for those in support or
opposition of recommending to Council to explore districting. Members
Chase, Andrews, Wade, Milam, Riordon, and Norton supported the
recommendation, Members Hightower, Cotton, Cunningham, and
Jonson were opposed
In response to questions, the City Attorney said an even number of
councilmembers would not work because any motion with a split vote
would fail. He said any charter amendment takes time to feel its effects
and if citizens voted in districts and the system didn't work out as anticipated,
the charter could be amended by referendum, if approved, to go back to
at-large seats. He said if Council puts districting on the ballot, it would most
likely be in 2026. If Council agrees to hire a demographer, it would take a
couple years to complete the work and compile the data. By the time the
question is ready for referendum, a whole new Council could be seated and
they may have a different opinion on putting the item to vote. He said a
demographer will most likely want direction as to the goal of the districts and
if the committee does not specify the goal(s), it would be up to Council and
staff to make any determinations. The City Clerk said there is committee
consensus to include minority representation, socio-economic
representation, and size of council as the goals for districts.
Member Andrews moved to submit to Council a recommendation to
investigate districting that is supported by an outside consultant. The
motion was duly seconded and carried with the following vote:
Ayes:7 — Gladys Andrews, Mike Riordon, Travis Norton, Karen
Cunningham, Cory Chase, Jonathan Wade, , and Kathy Milam,
Nays:3 - Nathan Hightower, Bill Jonson, and Ryan Cotton
3.2 Set agenda for next meeting.
4. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda
David Lillisand said he served on the Charter Review Committee in 2019
and Council did not accept any of the recommendations. The 2019
Committee recommended the City pursue an ombudsman to help
reduce land use controversies in Clearwater. The Clearwater
Neighborhood Coalition appointed an Ombudsman Committee to look
into the concept and they discovered that was it not the right avenue to
pursue so they broadened their committee into the Land Use Conflict
Resolution Committee. He said Mr. Jonson will ask this Committee to
consider the recommendations from the Land Use Resolution Conflict
Committee and provide them as part of the final report.
Member Jonson requested an agenda item for the Committee to discuss
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee
5. Adjournment
Meeting Minutes July 12, 2023
this recommendation.
The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
Chair, Charter eview Committee
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City of Clearwater