09/13/2023 Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes September 13, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
4:00 PM
City Hall Offices - 600 Cleveland Street, 6th Floor
Charter Review Committee
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes September 13, 2023
Roll Call
Present:7 - Gladys Andrews, Bill Jonson, Travis Norton, Ryan Cotton, Mike
Riordon, Cory Chase, and Jonathan Wade
Absent: 4 - Nathan Hightower, Karen Cunningham, Patricia Rodriguez, 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 4:11 p.m. at City Hall Offices, 600
Cleveland St. Ste 600, Clearwater
2. New Business
2.1 Districting Presentation - Kurt Spitzer
Consultant Kurt Spitzer provided a PowerPoint presentation. He reviewed
common types of district systems and said Pinellas County has a hybrid
system of four single member districts and three at-large seats. This system
allowed the County to create a minority influence district in the southern
portion of the County. He said this system allows for the majority of the
electors to vote for the majority of the commission, the three at-large seats
and one single member district seat.
In response to questions, Mr. Spitzer said policy decisions would have to
be made, for example, how many districts are needed, before research
may begin. He said community data is loaded into software where it can be
determined if it is possible to create districts. He said the time-consuming
part is getting council and community consensus. He said a true minority
majority district may not be possible to draw but there are other factors, such
as economic status, to consider when drawing district lines. He said he does
not think districts lead to partisanship. He said creating districts does not
involve party affiliations. He said the cost to create districts ranges between
$30,000- $50,000.
Discussion ensued with a comments made that artificial intelligence (Al)
could be used to create districts. It was said that it would be worthwhile to
recommend to Council to conduct a feasibility study to include single
member districts and expanding the Council to include minorities. It was said
that running in an at-large race without districts and a March election, those
who get Chamber of Commerce support and support from other
organizations will have a better chance of getting their name out to the
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes September 13, 2023
public. Those that do not have name recognition or are not known in the
community will have a harder time raising funds. Districts might open up an
opportunity for a minority to get elected.
Discussion ensued regarding Council's discussion regarding run-off
elections at the work session on September 5, 2023. A comment was made
that Council knew the Charter Review Committee had discussed the issue
and had voted down the idea. It was said the Committee should draft a letter
of concern to Council to let them know the Committee does not feel like they
are being heard.
Concerns were expressed that Council provided the City Attorney direction
to draft ballot language at a work session where public input is not taken. It
was said that because no vote by Council was expected, the work session
was an appropriate place for Council to discuss the issue and provide
feedback. There was Council consensus for the City Attorney to draft ballot
language at that work session which will come back as an ordinance that will
have two public hearings.
The City Attorney said he will present Council with ballot language in
October for the March 2024 ballot, if approved.
Member Andrews moved to write a letter to City Council expressing the
Committee's dissatisfaction with Council not waiting for completion of
discussion and recommendations from the Charter Review Committee,
knowing that election process discussions are in process. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
2.2 Discuss amending the charter to include language that requires continuing education for
elected officials.
Vice Chair Jonson provided draft charter verbiage regarding continuing
education for elected officials. He said he wants Council to follow a
professional governance process that considers facts and alternatives.
In response to questions, Mr. Jonson said it would help Council better
understand the budget process and benchmarking data from other cities.
New councilmembers need to understand the importance of setting
strategies.
A concern was expressed that Council is a part-time job and imposing
additional education requirements could be a burden and that less younger
people would pursue running for office.
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City of Clearwater
Charter Review Committee
Meeting Minutes September 13, 2023
A comment was made that continuing education should be encouraged
and that newly elected officials should be made aware of the education
resources that are available.
Member Wade moved to recommend to Council that they discuss
continuing education for new councilmembers from Florida League of
Cities and FEMA. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
2.3 Discuss modifying language addressing the removal of the city manager, addressing the
uncertainty of the Manager's decisions during the interim between the two separate
meetings when only three councilmembers vote initially for termination (place city
manager on administrative leave and appoint acting city manager).
Discussion deferred to the next meeting.
3. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda: None.
4. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
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Chair, Charter view Committee
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City of Clearwater