5-30-07 Minutes vMINUTES
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING
May 30, 2007
CITY HALL, 800 SEMINOLE ROAD
Attendance IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr. Steve Litton (Acting Chairman)
Ms. Carol Anderson
Mr. Bob Ballow
Mr. Johnny Bass
Mr. Reed Beaubouef
Ms. Ann Bowers
Ms. Kathy Carithers
ABSENT:
Chairman Lyman Fletcher
Ms. Gail Baker
Ms. Joan Carver
Ms. Joyce Freeman
Ms. Maureen Shaughnessy
Mr. Norm Thompson
City Manager/Liaison Jim Hanson
City Clerk Donna Bussey
Mr. John Fletcher (resigned)
Mr. Jack Robbins
Call to Order Active Chairman Steve Litton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Approval of minutes 1. Review and approval of minutes of 5/21/07
Motion• Aparove minutes of Apri130, 2007 meeting as written
Motion carried unanimously. •~
Report on absences 2. Report on member absences, quorum requirements- Jim Hanson
quorum requirements
Mr. Litton asked Jim to explain the quorum rules and absences. Jim Hanson indicated
that at the last meeting, questions were brought up about what constitutes a quorum and
whether there is a provision that addresses automatic removal of members for absences.
Jim referred to a Resolution adopted by the Commission creating the committee and
explained if a member misses three consecutive meetings, the member will be
automatically removed from the committee. He reported that Jack Robbins has missed
all the meetings and Gail Baker missed the last five previous meetings and explained
they are now off the committee. He further reported that a quorum of eight is required
to conduct business and the majority of the members present will be able to take action
or make recommendations.
Discussion of final 3. Discussion of final committee report, nett steps
committee report,
next steps Mr. Litton distributed a list of Commissioner Election Options which included Single
Member District, Hybrid, At-Large with Residency Requirement, and At-Large
Options. He asked that each option be discussed and welcome recommendations for
other options.
Mav 30, 2007 DISTRICT REPRESENTATIQN STUDY COMMITTEE Pace 2
Option 1. Single Member District -Candidates must reside in a defined geographic
district and are elected by voters residing in that same district.
Feedback from the Committee members were as follows:
1. Concerned that the district representatives would not represent the entire
City; therefore, citizens would only talk to one elected official instead of
all of them and only one Commissioner would be representing a
neighborhood.
2. Unsure of the change to voter turnout.
3. Few other cities our size have this type of district election system.
tion 2. Hybrid- where two commission seats aze elected At-Large, two commission
seats are elected by district. Two districts would be drawn and each district
commissioner would be elected by voters in their district. Each district commissioner
must reside in the district they represent.
'The Committee believed that more would be involved with Commissioners elected
from four separate districts rather than two. Different ideas of the district boundaries
were discussed. Population was a major factor in making a decision.
The Committee discussed adding a new option which would add 2 more commissioners
for a total of seven. After discussion, concerns were expressed that this would be a
greater difference in the city's present system and could be less likely to pass on vote as
a referendum.
Option 3 At-Lazge with Residency Requirement- four districts would be created and
candidates must reside in the district they intend to represent. Each district
commissioner would be elected At-Large.
Discussion followed about usingihe currently drawn precinct boundaries for the new
districts. It was agreed that the district makeup would be the most important part of the
process. Discussion of the possible ways to create boundaries were discussed again.
Mr. Hanson explained that one way to keep common interest in the same districts is to
try to draw district lines that would not split up neighborhoods or subdivisions.
Comments were made that this option would have elected officials spend more time in
each area of the city but may be more expensive than running in one district.
A lengthy discussion ensued regazding ideas and options for re-drawing the districts.
Option 4. At-Larne-the current electoral format for commissioners in the City of
Atlantic Beach. Candidates may reside in any part of the city and aze elected by all
voters within the city.
This options was discussed and the Committee believed that evidence has been
presented that apathy and less involvement is the perception. It was believed that the
current system is not broke but change could be an improvement.
May 30, 2007 DISTRICT REPRESENTATION STUDY COMMITTEE Pace 3
Mr. Litton opened the floor to visitors.
Bill Gulliford, 75 Beach Avenue, said that he wished more former elected officials
were on the Committee to give a better understanding of how Commission works. He
believes creating districts will not create better representation.
Dorothy Kerber, 365 First Street, gave a history of the elected officials' focus. She did
not support districting. She believes we will have polarization if divided into districts.
Mr. Litton asked fora "non-binding" vote. The Committee voted on which option to
recommend. The majority vote resulted in recommending Option 3. Mr. Bass did not
vote.
A vote was taken to get an idea of whether the districts should change. The majority
vote resulted in recommending the districts stay very similar to what the city currently
has.
Set dates, times 4• Set dates, times and subjects for future meetings
and subjects for
future meeting Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled for the following dates:
Monday, June 18, 2007 at 7:00 pm.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 7:00 pm
A sub-committee was appointed to draft the Executive Summary and other portions of
a Final Report. These members are Joan Carver, Norm Thompson, Maureen
Shaughnessy, and Steve Litton.
Mr. Hanson suggested that the Report be completed and given to him by June 14, 2007
at the latest so he could distribute the draft to all members prior to the full Committee
meeting.
Adjournment There being no further discussion, Acting Chairman Steve Litton declared the meeting
adjourned at 9:01 p.m.
Steve Litton, Acting Chairman