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062807 Charter Review Committee CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE ,..... ... Date: Time: Place: Thursday, June 28, 2007 6:00 PM Railroad Depot Room, 2nd Floor, Sanford City Hall, 300 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771 Present: Stephen H. Coover, Chairman James L. Davis, Vice Chairman Jason Brodeur Dorothea Fogle Otto Garrett Robert J. Kinney {joined meeting 6: 13 PM} Dennis Stewart Attorney: Kenneth W. Mcintosh, Assistant City Attorney ,... Janet R. Dougherty, City Clerk -- Absent: Edward L. Blacksheare Chris McLeod Call to Order Mr. Coover called the meeting to order at 6: 11 PM. Approval of Minutes of June 14, 2007 Mr. Brodeur moved to approve the Minutes. Seconded by Mr. Davis and carried by a vote of the Committee as follows: Stephen H. Coover Aye James Davis Aye Jason Brodeur Aye Dorothea Fogle Aye .... Otto Garrett Aye ... Dennis Stewart Aye CRC 062807 ., ...J Subcommittee Reports Public Officials Subcommittee: Ms. Fogle stated they discussed Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.08, 4.01 and 10.1. She stated at the next subcommittee meeting they would finalize the wording and present it to the Charter Review Committee in writing at the next meeting on July 12,2007. Mr. Coover asked if the subcommittees are recommending taking action on a topic put the proposal for action in writing and get it to Mrs. Kent far enough in advance to be circulated to the entire committee for review before the item is voted on. {Mr. Kinney joins meeting 6:16 PM} Redistricting and Related Topics Subcommittee: Mr. Davis stated they discussed the presentation of a proposal in regards to a new redistricting outline and is not recommending any action be taken by the Charter Review Committee. He stated they looked at manifest destiny in regards to annexation, and financing expenditures in each district. Mr. Davis stated he suggested a special election that would exclude the 5,000 people and just have people vote in that election based on the 2000 census and Mr. Colbert vetoed that suggestion. {Mr. Brodeur leaves meeting 6:38 PM} J Mr. Davis stated there was some discussion with the City Manager adding pie charters to the annual report which would show spending by district, tax payer's money, government spending and grant spending. Mr. Coover suggested the Redistricting and Related Topics Subcommittee meet with the Finance Director. Mr. Stewart stated there was discussion about the role annexation played and should there be any mention of annexation issues in the charter. He discussed adding general language to the charter regarding the city having a more proactive approach to annexing property; consider enclaves when annexing property, not excluding areas with a specific demographic location. 2 , ... ....... .... ....... .... .... ... CRC 062807 Relationship with City, Budget and Finance Subcommittee: Mr. Stewart stated their recommendation was that there not be specific charter language for each committee but there may be general charter language stating the Commission sets up, determines the scope of, and sets deadlines for the committees and boards as a whole. Mr. Coover stated there was a question as to whether or not the city's Home Rule Power gives the city the power to set up committees and advisory things. Mr. Stewart stated there was some clean up language to be done in Sections 5.04, 5.05, 5.07 and 5.10 which will be presented to the Charter Review Committee at a later date. Mr. Stewart stated there was discussion regarding the CRA and they would be included in the charter listing particularly in the budgeting process, Article 5. Mr. Coover stated there was concern regarding what role the CRA's budget has via the city's budget, and is it an enterprise fund. He stated Ms. Dougherty discussed the CRA not having staff, so the city provided the aCcounting, and cut the checks for them. He stated they have requested the Finance Director to the next meeting to discuss the CRA further. Mr. Stewart stated the Subcommittee was concerned about how affective is the Civil Service Board, does it have any teeth, when was the last meeting and is it viable today. He stated the Subcommittee is looking into having an outside arbitrator come in, listen to disputes, and make a final decision. He stated the Subcommittee has requested the City Manager to the next meeting to discuss this option further. Mr. Stewart stated the City of Sanford has had their own PERC Board since the 1970's consisting of members appointed by the City Manager. He stated there is some concern in terms of due process, and whether or not the people who make the rules, do the hiring, levy the sanctions, making disciplinary decisions are also the same people who conduct the appellate process. Mr. Coover stated there were specific things they wanted to include in the budget requirements. He stated they will have a discussion with the Finance Director before making any recommendations. Mr. Stewart stated some 3 CRC 062807 of the requirements are capital improvements, projects and spending in districts. Mr. Stewart stated the consensus of the Subcommittee is they are against recommending a levy of specific dollar amounts to spend x amount of dollars equally in each district and the monies should be levied to where the district has need. Mr. Stewart stated they discussed bids contracting city business and proposed specific language similar to an antidiscrimination clause. Election Matters Subcommittee: Mr. Stewart stated the consensus of the Election Matters Subcommittee was the Vice Mayor be rotated among the Commissioners annually and would be chosen by seniority of service and there after the next senior Commissioner would serve as Vice Mayor for one year periods. Mr. Stewart stated the consensus of the Election Matters Subcommittee was to continue to have a Mayor and four Commissioners, four year terms and no term limits. Mr. Kinney stated he disagrees with having no term limits. {Ms. Fogle leaves meeting 7: 19 PM} Mr. Stewart stated the consensus of the Election Matters Subcommittee was to have redistricting, for city elections, done with the Federal census every 10 years. Mr. Stewart stated all candidates and municipally elected officers must physically reside in the proposed district which they are running or serving from the date of qualification until the date they leave office and verified by certain source documents. He stated some proposed language, unless an exigent circumstance causes their abode to become unreside able. Mr. Stewart stated there was a unanimous recommendation that candidates announce what seat they are running for in their qualification papers and petitions. He states there was a consensus that candidates must meet residency requirements, is a registered city voter, and not convicted of a felony unless their rights have been restored. 4 ...... .! ..J J ..... J ....... CRC 062807 .... Mr. Stewart stated there was a unanimous recommendation that candidates may qualify to be on the ballot by petition of 250 registered voters' signatures of the district for which they run or in the case of the Mayor 500 signatures or a qualification fee of 20/0. Mr. Stewart stated there was a unanimous recommendation that the petition for inclusion on the ballot includes at a minimum lines for name, signature, address, phone number, precinct, and voter ID number for verification process. Mr. Stewart stated there was discussion of the $250 fee that candidates have to pay upfront in order to put out any signs and whether or not that is a charter issue. Mr. Stewart stated there was a unanimous recommendation that the election dates be moved forward to coincide with general elections. ..... Mr. Coover asked that Subcommittees be provided with and restrict their .... inquiry to the topics assigned to their respective Subcommittee based upon the list agreed to by the entire Charter Review Committee. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 PM. A~ CHAIRMAN Attest: )i.mwJ-t< · ~r/~ ecretary jk "... ... 5