05-29-14 CRC Minutes Minutes
Charter Review Committee Meeting
May 29, 2014
City Hall, 800 Seminole Road
In Attendance:
Committee Members Staff
Mike Borno City Attorney Richard Komando
Joan Carver, Secretary City Clerk Donna Bartle
Sally Clemons City Manager Nelson Van Liere
Judith Leroux
Tom Goodrich
Mark Tomaski,Vice Chairman
David Vincent
Absent:
Katherine Carithers
Donald Wolfson, Chairman
Call to Order:
Vice Chairman Mark Tomaski called the second meeting of the Charter Review Committee
to order at 5:00 p.m. He asked that the committee members introduce themselves since
two members had not been present for the first meeting. Following the brief introductions
Mr. Tomaski asked if any members of the public wished to address the committee. Chris
Jorgensen took this opportunity, commending the committee on creating an inviting venue
for participation and on the City's website which makes information available to the public.
Vice Chairman Tomaski asked for approval of the minutes of the April 29 meeting and a
motion to accept the minutes as distributed was made, seconded and approved
unanimously. Ms. Leroux was commended for her work on the minutes.
Vice Chairman Tomaski then turned to unfinished business. The position of secretary
needed to be filled since Ms Leroux had indicated at the prior meeting that she did not want
to hold the position past the first meeting. Vice Chairman Tomaski asked for a volunteer for
the position. Joan Carver volunteered and it was moved, seconded and passed to appoint
her as secretary,
A second item of unfinished business was setting a meeting time for the committee. After
discussion there was a general consensus that it would be best to set a regular time which
members could schedule. It was moved, seconded and passed to meet on the second and
fourth Thursdays at 5:p.m. in June and July. Ms. Bartle, the City Clerk, stated that the City
Hall, Commission Chamber would not be available in August because of scheduling
conflicts. It was agreed that the dates for meetings in August and beyond would be
determined at the last meeting in July. Minutes should be available a week before the
meeting so there is time for review.
There was a general discussion of how to approach charter review. Mr. Komando, the City
Attorney, pointed out that the Charter is supposed to be the general guide and thus is more
difficult to change than the ordinances. He also noted that there is no provision in the
Charter for its amendment or for a set review of the Charter. Since there are no provisions
for change in the Charter, Atlantic Beach follows Florida statutes. Anything the Charter
Review Committee recommends has to go to the City Commission for action. It was pointed
out that this is the first Charter review since 1993.
Vice Chairman Tomaski noted that the Charter and the Ordinances are on the City website
and so available to committee members. He stated that members might want to look
initially for problematic provisions; for example those that are confusing or in conflict.
Mr. Borno stated that the committee should be talking about the process for change. Any
ideas for change in the Charter itself should go to the City Attorney for review to ensure the
proposed change does not conflict with state or federal regulations and laws.
Mr. Borno said he initially thought we should always have a motion, a second, and a vote on
any item. However, since committee members are sometimes absent, he considers it
preferable that the motion be for consideration of the change so every member of the
committee has an opportunity to vote on the proposal. Mr. Borno pointed out that all
committee action should be traceable: it should include the motion, the second, discussion
and the vote.
There was additional discussion of how the committee should proceed with its work; Vice
Chairman Tomaski suggested that the committee might proceed by going through the
document item by item. It was pointed out by Mr. Borno that we are not required to change
anything. Clay County had a charter review and made no changes. Mr. Vincent suggested
we review the first 25 sections for the next meeting. It was agreed by consensus that the
committee should be prepared to review the first 25 sections at the next meeting and if the
consideration of items moves quickly, items beyond the first 25. Suggestions for change
can be made directly to the City Attorney.
There was a consensus that the work of the committee should be open and driven by the
concerns of the citizens as well as the committee. There was discussion of how to make
citizens aware of the committee's work and encourage their input. Ms. Bartle pointed out
that there is no money in the budget for advertising meetings in the newspapers.
Questionnaires to Atlantic Beach residents was raised as a possibility as was putting a
notice on the sign board in front of City Hall and including information in the Atlantic Beach
Newsletter. Vice Chairman Tomaski volunteered to write a letter to the Beaches Leader
explaining the committee's charge and inviting citizen input.
The next meeting of the committee will be Thursday June 12, at 5:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
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Mark Toma'Vice Chairman
Minutes of the Charter Review Committee Meeting of May 29, 2014 Page 2 of 2