04-26-23 Charter Review Committee - Final AgendaCity of Atlantic Beach
Agenda
Charter Review Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 6:00 p.m.
Commission Chamber
City Hall, 800 Seminole Road
Page(s)
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.A. Approve minutes of the March 23, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting. 3 - 6
03-23-23 CRC - Draft Minutes
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
3. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
3.A. City Attorney re: Charter Amendments
3.B. Sections 4, 5, and 6, and other applicable sections of the Charter
3.C. May meeting topics
3.D. May Meeting City Staff attendance requests
4. ADJOURNMENT
This meeting will be live -streamed and videotaped. The video recording will be posted within
four business days on the City's website. To access live or recorded videos, visit
www.coab.us/live.
Any person wishing to speak to the Charter Review Committee at this meeting should submit
a request prior to public comment. For your convenience, forms for this purpose are available
at the entrance to the Commission Chamber.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes,
persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should
contact the City Clerk's Office at (904) 200-9790 at least three business days prior to the
meeting. .
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Agenda Item #1.A.
26 Apr 2023
Present:
MINUTES
Charter Review Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 6:00 PM
Commission Chamber
Bruce Andrews, District 1308 Member, ESC
Debbie Buckland, Member
Charles "Chip" Drysdale, Member
Kelly Elmore, Member
William "Bill" Gulliford, Chair
Kirk Hansen, Member
Mitchell Reeves, Member
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Vice Chair
Jennifer Lagner, CDB Member & CRC Secretary
Dawn Scott, Member
Steve Swann, City Engineer (CE)
Donald Young, Member
Absent: Ellen Golombek, Member
Also Present: Donna Bartle, City Clerk (CC)
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Gulliford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Secretary Lagner called the roll.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the February 16, 2023 Charter Review Committee.
MOTION: Approve minutes of the February 16, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting.
Motion: Steve Swann
Second: Donald Young
Chairman Gulliford asked if there was any discussion. With no further discussion, Chairman
Gulliford called for a vote: all were in favor of minutes approved as submitted. Minutes were
approved.
Bruce Andrews For
Debbie Buckland For
Charles "Chip" Drysdale For
Kelly Elmore For
William "Bill" Gulliford For
Charter Review Committee
March 23, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
26 Apr 2023
Kirk Hansen For
Mitchell Reeves For
Suzanne Shaughnessy For
Jennifer Lagner For
Dawn Scott For
Stene Swann (Mored By) For
Donald Young (Seconded By) For
Motion passed 12 to 0.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairman Gulliford explained the process for public comment and opened the Courtesy of the
Floor to Visitors.
Secretary Jennifer Lagner called each speaker to the podium.
Steve Piscitelli shared as a member of Mayor's Council on Health and Well -Being, suggested
the CRC to hold a meeting(s) at the Gail Baker Center and to review the report the Council
submitted to commission, specifically the March and April meetings focused on transportation
and senior programming including affordable housing.
Michael Hoffmann spoke of the question of electoral fairness in Atlantic Beach; that 3
votes of the Commission does not always reflect the opinion of the electorate. He stated
we do not have fair elections in AB because we have at large election, and there is a dilution
of voting specifically on the other side of town.
3. PRESENTATION
A. Presentation and discussion led by Dr. Georgette Dumont on the CRC's important
role in framing the future of Atlantic Beach.
DCM Hogencamp introduced Dr. Dumont to the CRC. She reviewed the importance of the
recommendations the CRC will make to the Commission and to do an environmental scan
when making recommendations. Dr. Dumont provided various examples.
Member Swann asked how long for review; Dr. Dumont articulated 10 years is state of FL
and should be at a constant interval, taking account elections so as to have different people
involved. Member Elmore shared there should be time between reviews so the charter
should stand up, that the framework changed is with thought and not often. Member
Shaughnessy stated it appears changes to charter originate with committee and asked if the
changes can occur from the Commission.
Discussion ensued regarding whether the Atlantic Beach City Commission had the
authority to change the Charter based on Ordinance. Member Steve Swann clarified the
Commission can't change the Charter but can propose changes to the Charter; it has to go
back to the citizens. Further discussion of whether recommendations presented by a CRC
can be brought forth at other times and no time limit on when recommendations are used.
Member Andrews mentioned the prior Commission had initiated a change 5-6 years ago to
Charter Review Committee
March 23, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
26 Apr 2023
elections with plurality; prior Commission initiated it and CA at the time interpreted the
Commission had power to make changes. Chairman Gulliford stated the point of that
section of the charter was for the citizens to make recommendations, Dr. Dumont stated
must be very specific in the charter.
Chairman Gulliford requested the question to be asked of CA Gabriel to clarify and could be
topic of committee to discuss based on the response from CA Gabriel.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Discussion on Meeting Schedule, Timeline, Agendas, etc.
A general discussion ensued regarding meetings to be for up to two hours and the agenda
will include the articles and sections to be discussed for the next meeting. The CRC
would start at the beginning of the Charter and review each item and section, but will
withhold discussion for what is not contained in the Charter and bring up after existing
sections are reviewed.
The amount of time for each section time will be estimated due to the unknown type of
discussion. Member Reeves suggested we get the minutes and agenda uploaded on the
website as soon as possible. Meetings will be from 6pm— 8pm.
Chairman Gulliford stated he would like as much citizen participation as possible.
Member Buckland asked what the procedure was to add items to the agenda and CRC
can contact Chairman Gulliford without discussion of the agenda item.
Chairman Gulliford requested the CRC meetings be added to newsletters to increase
citizen participation.
Member Shaughnessy thanked City Clerk Bartle for the historical documents provided
to current CRC.
B. Discussion on Charter
No discussion regarding Article I, Section 1. Discussion regarding Article I Section 2
Reaffirmation of the incorporation of City of Atlantic Beach and confirming the
boundaries of Atlantic Beach. Member Steve Swann volunteered to get the information
for the next meeting.
Member Young asked about annexation and the process. Member Reeves confirmed the
City can't solicit annexation; the City of Jacksonville has to approach City. Member
Andrews would like to discuss the process for annexation when CRC gets to that section
of the Charter.
Article I Section 3 Form of Government Member Elmore shared he feels we are in
agreement that there are no changes in this section. Chairman Gulliford reminded the
CRC that any member can bring back any section that has been discussed to ensure all
Charter Review Committee
March 23, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
26 Apr 2023
are heard. Member Elmore suggested the CRC be prepared in reading the sections
moving forward.
Florida Statute 166.031 was read by Jack Rowan, an interested person. He states it
pertains to charter amendments and discussion ensued that the commission can put things
on without CRC recommending because current charter does not state. Need to check
that it is not in conflict with Florida State statute.
Article I Section 4 General Powers did not have any further discussion. Article II Section
5 Number of commissioners: selection: tern brought forth historical discussion as to
district representation, including the positives and negatives for not having it.
For the April meeting, the Chair will entertain a motion relative to change put forth in
Section 5 then move on to Section 6.
C. Discussion on April agenda topics
Section 5 and Section 6 will be discussed at the April meeting.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chair Gulliford declared the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Attest:
Jennifer Lagner, Secretary William Gulliford, Chair
Date Approved:
Charter Review Committee
March 23, 2023
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